BOOKING CONDITIONS FOR SOMEWHERE WONDERFUL TOURS ADMINISTERED BY HERITAGE GROUP TRAVEL.
Heritage Group Travel is a trading name of Group Travel Connection Ltd, which is hereinafter called “The Company”. The Company holds ATOL number 3707 and ABTOT licence number 5093. The Client here means the person who makes a booking and any other persons included within that booking.
All arrangements made by The Company on behalf of The Client are subject to The Company’s Booking Conditions as set out herein.
All arrangements are subject to the terms and conditions imposed by The Company’s suppliers, including ferry companies, hotels, airlines, coach companies, insurance companies and other companies and / or individuals.
The Company will accept responsibility for the actions/omissions of its employees. The Company will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all arrangements made are reliable and proper and that the suppliers of all relevant services are efficient and reputable.
The Company will also accept responsibility for the actions/omissions of its agents, sub-contractors and suppliers within the scope of the contracted arrangements, subject to any limitations as laid down in international conventions which govern air, sea and land carriers.
The Company will not accept responsibility for and will not be liable in respect of loss or damage or changes caused by Force Majeure events such as political unrest, civil unrest, hostilities, industrial disputes, technical problems, weather problems, traffic problems or any other such events beyond its control.
If for reasons beyond the control of The Company the arrangements cannot be fulfilled The Company will make every effort to provide suitable alternative arrangements.
Payment/Cancellation Terms
The booking form sets out details of deposit payments, with dates by which deposits must be received in The Company’s offices.
The booking details also show the dates by which the final balance must be received in The Company’s offices. The Company reserves the right to cancel any arrangements made and retain any deposits received if the schedule of payments is not adhered to.
If for any reason The Client wishes to cancel the arrangements made then The Company must be notified in writing.
Cancellation charges will be made on the following scale:
Notice Period Cancellation Fee
More than 70 days prior to departure: Loss of deposit(s)
69 to 37 days prior to departure: 50% of the total cost (or deposit if greater)
36 to 22 days prior to departure: 75% of the total cost
21 days or less prior to departure: 100% of the total
NB. The above scale of cancellation charges does not apply where additional services (eg low-cost flights,
concert tickets etc) are not included in the tour price. Any refund due will be based on the basic tour price only.
Consumer Protection
The air holidays and flights in this brochure are ATOL protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 3707. If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
Prices
Prices are based on the costs, conditions and exchange rates at the time of issuing the confirmation of the arrangements made.
Such costs include VAT at the prevailing rate at the time of the issue of the Confirmation. The Company reserves the right to amend the price in the event of changes in any of the costs, in the event of changes in the exchange rates, or in the event of changes in VAT rates or systems of charging VAT. The Company will absorb all costs associated with a fall in the exchange rate(s) up to a maximum of two per cent and it reserves the right to surcharge The Client should the rate(s) fall below this level.
Prices are based on a minimum number of participants as set out. If numbers do not reach the specified minimum by the balance date shown, The Company reserves the right to cancel all arrangements made and refund monies paid.
Flight Tickets
Flight tickets are non-transferable, non-endorsable and non-refundable. Airline schedules are subject to change and in the event of changes the Company will endeavour to minimize any inconvenience caused but reserves the right to pass on changes imposed on us by the airlines. If your tour includes a flight with a “low-cost, no-frills” airline and that flight is withdrawn prior to the departure date of the tour, the Company will endeavour to offer suitable alternatives but reserves the right to re-offer the tour with any additional costs which this may incur. Should the client wish to cancel due to increased costs the Company will offer a full refund.
Passports / Visas
For travel outside the UK, British Citizens require a valid 10 year passport which normally needs 3 – 6 months validity remaining from the date of your return. We will notify you if a visa is required for travel to a country included in your itinerary.
Complaints
Most complaints can be dealt with on the spot either with the relevant supplier or with your tour leader. Failing a satisfactory outcome The Company must be contacted immediately and every effort will be made to rectify the matter. Should there be no satisfactory outcome, The Client must write to The Company within 14 days outlining the nature of the complaint. In the unlikely event that a
dispute between a Client and The Company cannot be solved amicably, a low cost Independent Dispute Settlement may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to conclusion. This scheme is administered by an independent third party on behalf of the Association of Independent Tour Operators of which The Company is a member.
ATOL LC – June 2006