Booking Conditions
The holidays in this programme have been planned and are operated by Britannia Services Ltd., Valletta (The company/Tour operator). Britannia’s reputation has been built on client satisfaction because we go that extra mile, striving to ensure that you, our client, get value for money. We want you to enjoy your holiday to the full and return to Malta feeling both satisfi ed and relaxed.
The Booking Conditions are written in plain English without small print or hidden extras. This is to ensure clarity, openness and fairness. They state our obligations to you regarding every aspect of your holiday from the moment you book to the moment you arrive back in Malta. Similarly, they state your commitments to us when you choose to book one of the holidays published in this brochure.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
1. Your Reservation
Once you have completed and signed the booking form and paid your deposit, (€150 per person on any package booked, €300 per person on long haul and €700 per cabin on cruises), a receipt will be issued by your booking agent. This will mean that you have confi rmed the booking and have read and accepted the accompanying terms and conditions for yourself and on behalf of all members of your party.
2. Our Price Policy
Prices in this brochure are valid at the time of publication. In the event that prices by our suppliers are increased, we reserve the right to pass on such charges proportionately. These may be due to
a) currency fl uctuations
b) increase of taxes or levies
c) aircraft fuel surcharges
3. Taxes, Service and Fuel Charge
The amount under this heading in the price panel includes all taxes, service charge at 3% and fuel surcharge known at the time of publication.
4. Our Assurance on Standard and Assumption of Liability
As part of our quality assurance standards we send staff to check hotels and locations periodically, however, our brochure descriptions are based on information obtained from hoteliers and other service providers.
As a general rule, hotel rooms and ship cabins are usually small. Britannia Services Ltd., works primarily with hotels that have single or twin/double bedded rooms. A third or fourth person sharing this space will be offered a folding bed, bunk bed or sofa bed. These beds are not as comfortable as normal beds for large people. Britannia Servies Ltd., cannot guarantee twin or double beds as requested; occasionally hotels will place two twin beds next to each other or supply a double bed when you may have asked for single beds. (In America three or four persons wanting to share a room will always be given just two matrimonial beds, individual beds for each person are not available).
All hotels provided are not air-conditioned and fans will not be provided, unless otherwise clearly specifi ed in this brochure. Breakfast is always continental unless otherwise specifi ed. Lunches and dinners are always three courses, set meals unless otherwise specifi ed as buffet. Portions served are small to moderate and may be considered small by big eaters. Drinks, including water are not included in the price. Items from the mini-bar, telephone calls and other services not specifi ed as included are also subject to extra charges and should be paid directly to the hotel or provider. Some hotels charge for the use of TV so please check and confirm this with reception.
Unless clearly specifi ed, all entrance fees to museums, shows, boat trips, metro or cable car are always extra. All optional excursions are extra and unless clearly specifi ed they only include transportation costs by coach, entrances are extra and no local guides are provided. Prices are clearly marked in the price box printed at the end of each program offered in this brochure. Only items listed under the heading “Price Includes” are included in the package price. Brochures are produced months in advance and there may be occasions when an advertised facility or entertainment is not available during your holiday, especially during ‘off peak’ times. Bad weather, essential maintenance or cleaning, lack of support or demand may all have a negative effect. Further examples can be local licensing laws, religious or local holidays, local authority or government restrictions. Similarly, touring itineraries may have to be changed, sometimes at short notice, due to weather, road or traffi c conditions, mechanical breakdowns, police activity or any other circumstance beyond our control.
We endeavour to ensure that all our coaches are fully air-conditioned and have onboard functional toilet facilities. Swimming pools may only be operational during the summer months and if still open in the winter months, may only be heated at the discretion of the hotelier. The general standard of hygiene, public utilities, drainage, plumbing and services in general may or may not meet the same standards as in Malta.
Each tour group is accompanied by a Maltese speaking tour leader who will be responsible for the closest, reasonable implementation of the programme as described in the brochure. The tour leader is not responsible, under any circumstances for carrying out work (unless in an emergency), over and above the offi cial programme. S#he is not obliged to accompany members of the group around shops, flea markets, or theme parks.
If you encounter a problem, please inform our representative so that, where possible, s/he will deal with it there and then. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that proper arrangements are made for all the packages which are advertised in this brochure, however, please appreciate that we have no direct control over the provision of services to you by suppliers.
5. Special Requests
Any special requests, such as rooms next to each other, rooms with sea#river view, etc., are not guaranteed by us. We will however do our best to ensure that your request is passed on to the hotel. The confi rmation will only be known upon arrival.
6. If we change your hotel arrangements
a) before departure date
We plan our holidays to give you maximum enjoyment. Although it is unlikely, we may occasionally have to change your holiday arrangements and we reserve the right to do so at any time. For instance, fl ight timings may change, a hotel may close down or over book. We may have to amend an itinerary. If we have to make any changes, we will inform you or your travel agent as soon as it is reasonable possible before departure.
b) after your holiday has commenced
After your holiday has commenced, it might be necessary to change a hotel or some other part of your holiday arrangement due to unforseen circumstances. In this event, we will do our best and maintain the overall standard of your holiday.
7. If we cancel your holiday arrangements
We may occassionally have to cancel your holiday arrangements. Sales of a particular holiday may not reach a level where it would be economical for us to operate. (A minimum number of 30 persons is required to operate packages as shown on this brochure.) We reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your holiday and, in this event, we will give you a full refund of money you will have paid us or offer you an alternative holiday to purchase of comparable standard if available.
We bind ourselves to inform you of such cancellations 14 calendar days before departure. In the unlikely event that we have to cancel your trip (unless the reasons are beyond our control, such as in the event of industrial action, acts of God, natural disasters, terrorist activities, breakdown of ship or aircraft, etc.,) Britannia Services will refund you all monies paid for the cost of your holiday plus the following amounts as compensation (per person):
- Notifi cation of more than Notifi cation between 15 days before departure 8 – 14 days 0 - 7 days Nil €25 €50
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8. Your flight
Details of airlines we anticipate in utilising are shown in the programme. We reserve the right to substitute alternative airlines and#or aircraft. Flight timings are subject to confi rmation and alteration. Our reservation system will show the latest timings as advised to us. Please check your fl ight tickets and information sheets as soon as you receive them. These will show the actual time of your fl ight. Some fl ights may stop en route and factors affecting this are not always known to us before departure therefore we cannot always notify you in advance. Flights are subject to the granting of permits and licenses by authorities both in Malta and overseas. In the event of your fl ight arrangements being changed or cancelled, as outlined in this section and sections 4 and 5, we accept no liability for extra costs or consequential loss arising, directly or indirectly, from any independent contract arrangements between the client and a third party.
9. Conditions of carriage
Transport of any kind is subject to the conditions of carriage of the company providing that vehicle. Such conditions are likely to embody the provisions of the law of the host country where the vehicle would be registered or be subject to international conventions with government(s), and of which may limit or exclude the liability of the carrier (airline, coach, ship etc.,).
10. Health and vaccinations
Health facilities, hygiene, and disease risk vary worldwide. You should take health advice about your specifi c needs as early as possible and ensure that vaccinations of preventive measures (such as malaria tablets, are taken in good time. In some cases this may be a month or more prior to departure to be fully effective by date of travel.) We advise you to call your general practitioner or phone International Travel Vaccination Bureau on 2124 9260 Monday – Friday from 08.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs for further information.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO US
1. Booking Form and Deposits
Your completed booking form, showing all clients’ names as they appear on passports must be accompanied by the appropriate deposit. The person signing the booking form confi rms that s#he has the authority of all other persons mentioned on that form to make the booking on their behalf and that s#he has already accepted the general conditions. If you are booking a ‘late offer holiday’ any information and conditions issued in conjunction with that offer are also part of your contract. If in doubt you should check with your travel agent.
2. Balance of payment
The balance for payment is due 6 weeks before departure (8 weeks for cruises) or immediately if the booking is made within 6 weeks (or 8 weeks for cruises) from date of departure. If you book through a travel agent you should ensure that you pay the agent in suffi cient time to allow payment to reach our company by the due date. If for any reason the balance is not received by us by the due date, we reserve the right not to process the booking.
3. Form of payment
Payment of deposits and fi nal balances may be made by cash, personal cheque (allow 7 working days to clear before date of travel) banker’s cheque or internet money transfer.
4. If you change your booking
Should you wish to change your holiday arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to meet your wishes to the best of our ability. A handling fee may be levied and we reserve the right to pass on charges that may be imposed by suppliers.
5. If you cancel your booking
A cancellation can only be accepted in writing from any person listed on the booking form or from the travel agent through whom the booking was made. The cancellation will be effective from the date stamped on the form by our offi ce. In the event of a cancellation the following cancellation charges apply:- (Cruises bear a 100% cancellation fee if cancelled less than 65 days prior to departure. If cruises are cancelled more than 65 days prior departure only the deposit is lost.) If the reason for your cancellation falls within the terms of your insurance cover you may be able to claim a refund of your cancellation charges from your insurance company.
6. Transfer of booking
You have the right to transfer your booking to another person. Any charges imposed by suppliers as a result of such transfer will be passed on to you. There is also a standard minimum administration charge of €25.
7. Your Responsabilities
(a) It is your responsibility to ensure that you and those for whom you are booking, are in possession of valid passports and appropriate visas. Be sure to check passport and visa requirements with your travel advisor well in advance. You are responsible for any charges, fi nes, etc that may be levied by authorities in Malta or overseas for non compliance of regulations.
(b) It is your responsibility to check with your doctor as to what vaccinations or inoculations are advisable for your chosen destination.
(c) Airline regulations state that women who are 28 weeks or more into their pregnancy at the time of return travel must have a medical certifi cate of fitness to be able to travel.
(d) You must be responsible for a reasonable standard of behaviour for your self and those on your booking list. We reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a client if their behaviour is in our opinion, or in the opinion of the airline pilot, hotelier, accommodation owner, or manager or other person in authority, likely to cause distress, danger, damage or annoyance to other customers, employees, and other people or to property. We shall not be liable to pay any refund or compensation or costs incurred by any person whose behaviour is unacceptable.
(e) All children travelling on a reduced price holiday must not have reached their 12th birthday. Our staff do not normally check passports to verify dates of birth. If a child has reached his or her 12th birthday and was declared as a child on the booking form, the airline will refuse boarding to the child.
(f) Passengers with special needs are welcome on Britannia Tours Holidays as long as they are accompanied by an able bodied companion and do not require any assistance from Britannia Tours personnel. Britannia Tours reserves the right to refuse to carry anyone if it is felt that the individual cannot cope with the stresses of group travel and who may require services and facilities that Britannia Tours cannot guarantee will be available. Please advice us about any special needs or pre existing medical conditions that you think may be important for us to know about.
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(h) Senior citizens policy We welcome senior citizens and point out that insurance companies impose special conditions for clients over 70. Please check with your insurance company and travel advisor to ensure that the level of activity is suitable.
(i) it is your responsibility to ensure that you carry a European Health Insurance card for travel within EU countries.
8. If you have a complaint
We do our best to give you an enjoyable, trouble free holiday but occassionally even the best laid plans can go wrong. If you have a complaint whilst abroad, you must report the matter to your group leader immediately giving him or her opportunity to resolve it on the spot. If you are not satisfi ed with the outcome you must send in your complaint in writing to reach us within 7 days of your return to Malta. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in us not entertaining your complaint.
9. Important Notice
All prices and details shown in this brochure are correct as known to us on the date of printing. We reserve the right to inform and bill you for any changes or errors that may occur.