HOLIDAY INFORMATION

The Fact file for each tour gives outline information, please read these pages for more comprehensive details.

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS
Holts joining instructions will be sent out 2-3 weeks prior to departure and will include details of coach/air departures and hotels (names and contact numbers). Where there is any change to information given in the brochure, the details in the joining instructions are those in operation for your tour.

COACH TOUR DEPARTURES
Unless otherwise stated all coach tours start from London Victoria Coach Station and pick up at Dover Eastern Docks. Please specify your required departure point on the booking form. UK tours often meet at the hotel. Please check the fact file.

COACHES
Although we do try to provide coaches with toilets on board wherever possible, we regret that this facility cannot be guaranteed. It is also possible that, in certain parts of the world, the toilet may have to remain locked at the discretion of the driver where disposal points are not easily accessible. Regular stops are made on every tour for the comfort of all on board. Please note single travellers are likely to be seated alongside another single traveller.

WALKING
We often visit places (such as battlefields) where it is necessary to walk across rough ground to get a good view of the area being studied. Due to the historic nature and layout of some towns together with current transport regulations, coach access to hotels and places visited may be limited. Clients are therefore advised that a significant amount of walking may be involved. Many of the places visited are extremely old and there are often uneven steps and uneven terraces or paths. It is important that you take extra care when walking and wear appropriate footwear. You are urged to contact our office for further information if you have any difficulty in walking or mobility problems and they will be pleased to advise you on the suitability of any particular tour. Should your travel needs change from the time of making your booking you must advise us as soon as possible.

FLIGHTS
Although every effort is made to secure seating on the aircraft to satisfy requests, we cannot guarantee that your choice of seats will be available or that seats together can always be obtained.
For flight upgrades, please contact our office staff who will be happy to give you a quote, subject to availability.

MEALS
When requesting vegetarian meals or special diets, it should be appreciated that standard and choice is likely to be limited.

DISABILITIES AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Many of our holidays require a fair degree of physical fitness and regrettably are not suitable for the disabled traveller. Please let us know if you or anyone in your party suffers from a serious medical condition or disability before a booking is made, as Holts Tours cannot provide individual assistance with boarding coaches or other forms of transport, baggage handling, walking or other personal requirements, etc. and clients should be confident that they can do these tasks unaided. We are happy to give advice and assistance with the choice of your holiday, which will be dependent upon the nature of the disability and whether the person with the disability is accompanied by an able bodied companion. In order to ensure your enjoyment of the holiday, we ask all clients to provide full details of any disability or special requirements at the time of booking. Some suppliers such as airlines may request certification from your GP to confirm that you are fit to travel. We regret that we cannot be held liable for any costs you may incur as a result.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES
The price of a tour is based on a shared twin or double accommodation with private facilities. In the EU the hotel rating is shown in the fact file (***).
Single Rooms – Despite the fact that single rooms carry a supplement, single accommodation is sometimes not of the same standard as twin/double accommodation. Single rooms may not always be in the same area of the hotel as a twin/double and the single supplement does not necessarily mean a twin/double room will be provided for single occupancy.
Swimming Pools – Where a hotel has a swimming pool, the period when the pool is available is at the hotelier's discretion and is often seasonal. This may be affected by weather conditions or essential maintenance. These situations are beyond our control and the published dates are therefore not guaranteed. If a pool is expected to be out of use for a considerable period, we will endeavour to inform you as soon as reasonably possible. Please note that towel charges may apply.

NOISE, DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL FUNCTIONS
There may be redevelopment, expansion, building or road works taking place in the vicinity of your hotel during your holiday and associated noise can be unavoidable. This may occur without warning to us. If we know in advance of any impending work that could cause you disturbance, we will make every effort to inform you as soon as possible. Hotels rely on several forms of revenue to remain in business and naturally weddings, dinners and other functions may take place during your stay. If you do have a complaint at your hotel or indeed for any other service, you must tell your Tour Manager or the hotelier who will try and solve the problem on the spot.

NATIONAL AND LOCAL HOLIDAYS
During national and local holidays, certain facilities and museums may not be available and therefore sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited.

SAFETY
Your safety and security is our first consideration. In the event of the Foreign Office advising against travel to a certain country, we would act on this advice. However, we do recommend that you check Foreign Office Travel Advice before you make a booking and this can be found on the internet at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
Although we take every precaution in looking after you on tour, the responsibility for your personal safety and welfare and the care of your possessions is obviously the same as that which you exercise whilst at home. Extra care should be taken when walking around cities, especially at night and we recommend you stay in well lit, populated areas. It is also wise to avoid carrying valuables or wearing expensive jewellery.

OVERSEAS STANDARDS
It is important to remember that, in certain countries, standards are often quite different from those to which we are accustomed. Restaurants and hotel services are often quite different, roads may be little more than bumpy tracks and poverty ever-present. Energy conservation measures may mean that hotels are obliged to limit services such as water and electricity and the legal and safety requirements may be of a lower standard than the UK. These facts are readily recognised by seasoned travellers and are often well explained in good travel guides.

PRIVACY AND DATA
We want all our travellers to enjoy completely successful holidays. However, any traveller with a medical condition or disability or a dietary/religious requirement must be aware that information supplied to us will be passed to other companies and persons who supply the various parts of our travel arrangements. The suppliers may, depending upon your choice of holiday, be based outside the European Economic Area where controls on data protection may not be as stringent as in the UK. We will not, however, pass this information to any party that is not responsible for your travel arrangements.

HEALTH
Requirements can change without notice and some inoculations or precautions, although not compulsory, may be advisable. Local conditions are subject to change and we suggest that you consult your GP or one of the specialist vaccination centres for more detailed information.

For British and EU Citizens: A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles holders to reduced cost, sometimes free, emergency medical treatment whilst in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. The form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have the EHIC card please check it is still in date as they do expire. The EHIC is available free of charge through the UK Department of Health by telephone 0845 606 2030 or via online www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. You should allow some time for your application to be processed. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical or travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment in EU countries. You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. Clients are still required to take out comprehensive travel insurance.

For all non-British and EU Citizens: It is essential that you have comprehensive insurance that covers you for any medical treatment or repatriation costs whilst on tour.