Pre-departure preparation
In addition to the general information provided below, Bales Worldwide Limited (“we”) will send you confirmation of your booking and follow this up with tour notes prior to your departure. About two weeks before your departure you will receive your air tickets, itinerary with flight details, ticket wallet and labels.
Passport, Visa and Immigration Requirements
Passengers must carry passports valid for 6 months from their return date. Holders of passports which are not British should take particular care as visa requirements may differ and it is most important that your passport contains the correct visa for your journey. You should let us know, at the time of booking, what kind of passport you hold, if you would like us to advise you accordingly. However, it is the personal responsibility of the passengers travelling to make sure his or her passport is valid and contains the necessary visa and travel documents for his or her journey. As visas are issued within a time limit, we strongly advise that no visas are obtained prior to eight weeks before your departure date. We emphasise that your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements, are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements.
Health
Special needs/Pre-exisiting medical conditions
The nature of our holidays means that there is inevitably a significant amount of embarkation and disembarkation from vehicles, the negotiation of steps, etc. Travellers who will require assistance or who are not independently mobile should contact us before booking to discuss their precise requirements with us so that full advice can be given. The essence of group travel is the provision of equal amounts of assistance, attention and advice to all members of a group and this may not always be possible if individual travellers require increased assistance.
High Altitude
Some of our itineraries reach altitudes of over 2440 metres (8000 feet) and it may be inadvisable for any passenger suffering from high blood pressure or respiratory problems to undertake these. If in any doubt, we would advise you to consult your doctor before booking on any of these holidays.
Health and Safety Standards
We take health and safety abroad very seriously and have specially appointed staff who assess and monitor the safety standards for all aspects of your holiday, including the hotels, transportation and sightseeing we feature in our brochures. Some of the properties featured have been personally visited by Bales employees and they, together with hotel managers and our overseas agents, review and monitor the health and safety provisions. Many of the destinations we feature are to less developed countries and health and safety does not conform to British standards. Bearing this in mind, we recommend that you take a few sensible precautions at your hotel (such as checking where the nearest fire exit is and exercising caution when entering the swimming pool). More comprehensive literature regarding health and safety will be enclosed with your final travel documentation and we strongly urge you to read this carefully prior to your departure.
Cost of holiday includes:
a) Transportation
All travel by economy class air services (from London back to London) (excluding foreign airport taxes and airline fuel surcharges), cruise boat, rail and coach as indicated.
b) Transfers
Transportation between airport and hotel (and vice versa).
c) Accommodation
In twin or double bedded rooms (or cabins/berths on cruise boats/trains) with private bath or shower and toilet (where available). Single accommodation is not available in some of the places we visit. The right is reserved to substitute hotels for those named in the brochure when necessary.
Sharing
Individuals who wish to share a twin bedded room should advise us at the time of booking. Initially the client will be booked on a single basis and charged as such. The position will be finalised at 4 weeks prior to departure when, if another sharing person has been found, the single room supplement will be refunded.
Single and triple rooms
Whilst the facilities in these rooms are comparable to those of the twin or double bedded rooms, it should be noted that single rooms may not always be in the same area of the hotel as the twin or double bedded rooms and may tend to be on the small side. In the case of triple rooms, this usually consists of a standard size twin or double bedded room with an extra bed which may be of a camp bed type.
d) Meals
For ease of reference, meals included in any given itinerary are specified each day.
e) Sightseeing
Excursions are detailed in the itineraries (except optional excursions where details can be obtained directly from the provider of such optional excursions), including guides, cars, coaches and entrance fees for places visited. Visits to local shops or emporiums are sometimes made during or at the end of the main sightseeing excursion without any obligation for clients to make purchases.
f) Tipping
Tipping is included in the cost of your holiday only for included services on holidays accompanied by a tour manager (porterage, transfers, hotel and restaurant staff and included sightseeing). Personal tipping, as always, must remain a matter for the discretion of the individual. Tipping is not included for tour managers, optional excursions, extensions, unescorted holidays and/or Tailor Made holidays.
g) Tour manager
The service of a tour manager in all matters pertaining to the tour operation of an accompanied holiday.
h) Airport Passenger Duty Tax
The Government imposed Air Passenger Duty Tax of £20.00 and the passenger service charge of £13.00 (London Heathrow) or £7.60 (London Gatwick) per person. This is now included in the price of the holiday as notified to you at the time of booking. Costs are based on the current exchange rates and airfares applicable at the time of going to press, [19th June 2006], and are subject to increase should these rates change.
Cost of holiday does not include:
Passport and visa charges, any foreign government airport taxes (we will arrange for these to be paid for your convenience, and add them to your invoice), coaches in the UK, single room or cabin supplements, insurance, optional excursions, personal items such as wine, spirits and laundry.
Brochure accuracy
All the information given in our brochure has been thoroughly checked before going to press in August 2007. However we realise that there may be subsequent changes due to circumstances beyond our control and occasionally a holiday may not operate as planned. An airline may change its flight schedule half way through the season thereby upsetting the whole itinerary which we hastily have to amend or a hotel may be taken over or even closed down unexpectedly causing us difficulty in finding one of a comparable standard. Government action has been known to affect holidays in certain areas and the weather can be unpredictable. Should there be any changes within a holiday on which you are booked to travel, we shall do our best to keep you informed of the situation prior to departure. The travel arrangements featured in our brochure are planned up to two years in advance. We reserve the right to alter any of the prices and services offered in our brochure at any time prior to the issue of our Confirmation Invoice when a contract will exist. Any such changes will be advised at the time that you make your booking.
Validity of brochure
The programme of travel in this brochure operates from January 2008 to March 2009. Bookings for departures after this date will be treated as advance registrations. The validity of this brochure and information provided on the website regarding this brochure and bookings expires on the publication of the Company’s first 2009/10 brochure.
International Air Transport Association
The itineraries in this brochure use the regular airlines of IATA as appropriate.
Data Protection Act
In order to process your booking and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements, we need to use the information you provide to us (such as name and address, passport details and any special needs/dietary requirements, etc). We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, transport companies, etc. The information may also be provided to security or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs and immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Additionally, where your holiday is outside the European Economic Area (EEA), controls on data protection in your destination may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will not, however, pass any information on to any person not responsible for part of your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary or religious requirements. If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we cannot provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons. For further information regarding the protection of your privacy and how we use the data provided to us, please see the terms of our Privacy Policy.
Holiday Insurance
arranged through Preferential Insurance Services Limited and underwritten by Optimum Underwriting Limited as Underwriting Agents for Groupama Insurance Company Limited. Preferential Insurance Services Limited, Optimum Underwriting Limited and Groupama Insurance Company Limited are regulated and authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). You and all passengers travelling with you on a holiday featured in this brochure or on the website will be insured on payment of the insurance premium, providing you select our insurance when making your reservation. Full details of the terms, exceptions and conditions can be obtained from by contacting us using the details provided on the ‘Contact Us’ page [link]. Please note, you will be required to provide material facts regarding your health when purchasing our insurance, which relates to you and anyone upon whose health the trip may depend. If you are not completely satisfied with the policy, once purchased, we offer a 14 day cooling off period. We can offer either a Single Trip or an Annual Multi-Trip policy (premiums valid to 31st March 2009).
Single Trip
Holidays North Africa Worldwide
Up to 11 days £38.00 £74.00
Up to 17 days £45.00 £88.00
Up to 21 days £53.00 £94.00
Up to 31 days £60.00 £107.00
Each additional week £10.00 £18.00
Clients aged 65 or over at the date of travel are rated at two and a half times the above premiums. This policy is not available if you are aged 80 years or over at the time of travel.All premiums are inclusive of 17.5% Insurance Premium Tax.
Annual Multi-Trip Insurance
The Annual Insurance offered is excellent value for money and you will be covered on most overseas holidays taken within one year, subject to terms and conditions. However, the policy can only be bought at the time of the purchase of a holiday provided by us.
Individual 141.00
Couple 189.00
Family 213.00
This policy is only available to persons under the age of 65 years at the date of issue. All premiums quoted above are inclusive of 17.5% Insurance Premium Tax.
Summary of cover provided
1. Cancellation/curtailments: Limited to 3,000 per person. The following amount will be deducted from each and every claim for each insured person - £50. (Note: If your holiday price exceeds 3,000, additional cover is available on request at the time of booking).
2. Travel delay: (a) ) £20 for the first full 12 hours’ delay, £10 each full 12 hours’ delay thereafter, up to a maximum payment of £100; (b) abandonment after the first full 12 hours delay up to the amount under the Cancellation section. The following amount will be deducted from each and every claim for each insured person - £50.
3. Missed departure: Up to £750.
4. Personal accident: Death - up to £15,000; Permanent total disablement - £25,000.
5. Medical and other expenses & medical emergency assistance: Up to £5,000,000. The following amount will be deducted from each and every claim for each insured person - £50. The services of Alert Assistance Wings Emergency Services is included.
6. Medical inconvenience benefit: £20 per day whilst as an in-patient in hospital abroad. Up to a maximum of £500.
7. Personal property (hired, loaned, or entrusted property is not covered): Up to £1,500 to include - single articles limit of £250; jewellery, watches, furs and photographic equipment limited to £350 in all. The following amount will be deducted from each and every claim for each insured person - £50.
8. Delayed baggage: Up to £100 after 12 hours.
9. Personal money: Limited to £500 (limited to £250 for cash losses). The following amount will be deducted from each and every claim for each insured person - £50.
10. Loss of passport: Up to £300.
11. Personal public liability: Up to £2,000,000.
12. Hijack: Up to £1,000.
13. Mugging benefit: Up to £1,000.
14. Legal expenses: Up to £10,000.
Period of cover and exceptions: Operates during the holiday period for sections 2 to 14 detailed above. Cover under Section 1 comes into force as soon as the booking is accepted. You are not covered if, when you took out this insurance or when you booked your trip, you or any person upon whose health the trip may depend:
1. were aware of any reason why the trip could be cancelled or curtailed or of any pre-existing condition which could result in a claim;
2. have, during the 12 months before this insurance started, suffered from any chronic or recurring illness for which you have received treatment, including the taking of ongoing medication;
3. were awaiting tests or investigations, or for the results of tests or investigations for pre-existing medical condition;
4. were travelling against the advice of a medical practitioner or in order to get medical treatment;
5. were diagnosed as having a terminal illness;
6. were receiving, recovering from, or on a waiting list for out/day/in-patient treatment in a hospital or nursing home, or on a waiting list to see a consultant/specialist;
7. were diagnosed to be suffering from anxiety or depression or any psychiatric condition before applying for this insurance;
If any of the above conditions apply, you must notify the Optimum Medical Helpline immediately and at any time between the time of taking out this insurance and the start of the trip if your health circumstances change. Optimum reserves the right to alter the terms of this insurance based on any changes.If any of the above conditions apply, you must notify the Optimum Medical Helpline immediately and at any time between the time of taking out this insurance and the start of the trip if your health circumstances change. Optimum reserves the right to alter the terms of this insurance based on any changes.
Policy document
It is important to remember that the above details on the insurance policy are only a summary of your cover available. A full policy document will be sent to you with your confirmation of booking (provided that the insurance premium has been paid in full). This document will detail full terms, conditions and exclusions. You should read it carefully as the policy terms with apply to you in addition to any of the Booking Conditions applicable to our contractual relationship with you.
“Cooling off period” for insurance
As mentioned above, your insurance policy contains a “cooling off period”. If you are not happy with your policy after you receive all the policy documentation, you may return it to us within fourteen days of receipt with a written request to cancel the insurance. Provided that there has not been, and will not be, a claim made or travel undertaken, a full refund will be made to you.
Claims
All communications to Claims International Limited, 14th Floor, Leon House, 201-241 High Street, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1ER. Please quote Bales Worldwide. Telephone number 0208 680 5142.
