TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please read the terms & conditions carefully as all these form the basis of your package holiday contract with Tropical Holidays Direct. When you book with us we are entitled to assume that you have read these terms & conditions and agree to them. Please note, ‘you’ and ‘your’ mean all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) or any of them, as the context requires and ‘lead name’ means the person who makes the booking. ‘We’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ mean Tropical Holidays Direct.
BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY
Your booking is accepted only once we issue an invoice. The date shown on the invoice is the date of booking. It is important to check the details on the invoice when you get it. If any details are incorrect, please contact us immediately as it may not be possible to make changes later. We cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any incorrect details immediately. We would, of course, do our best to rectify any mistake, but you may have to bear any costs incurred.
PAYMENT FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
A completed booking form and £150 per person or 10% of the total holiday cost, whichever is the greater, is required at the time of booking. Certain holidays require a higher deposit, or full payment, which will be advised at the time of booking. If you are booking within 10 weeks of departure, full payment is required. The balance due as shown on your invoice must be paid to us no later than 10 weeks before your departure. Please pay your balance online by bank transfer or by sending us a cheque. It would help us if you could copy your booking reference number when making a bank transfer or if paying by cheque then please write it on the back of your cheque and post to the address shown below. If you fail to pay the balance by the due date, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled and levy appropriate cancellation charges as detailed below.
YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. We hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority, 45-59 Kingsway London WC2B 6TE. Our ATOL number is 5744. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate, then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. For more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. In the worst-case scenario, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad for your ATOL protected booking and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. We are also ABTA members and our ABTA membership numbers are J5618/W5490.
We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). 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 (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.
PRICING POLICY
All prices shown are in UK£ Sterling per person sharing a twin/double room and are purely for guidance only. We reserve the right to increase or decrease and correct errors in advertised prices and to change any of the information. Your final holiday price will be confirmed to you at the time of booking, which will incorporate any increases or reductions known to us at that time. However, your holiday price, thereafter, is subject to surcharges for increases in: i) transportation costs e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges which Tropical Holidays Direct is obliged to pay or collect, ii) dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services (e.g. landing taxes and embarkation/disembarkation fees at ports and airports), iii) the exchange rates applied to the particular package and Government action such as increases in VAT or any other Government imposed increases. No price changes will be made within 30 days of departure. In the case of any small variation we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the confirmed holiday price, excluding any amendment charges. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £1.00 per person. If you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your travel arrangements, you may cancel your holiday and receive a full refund except for any amendment charges. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. Whether you cancel or not you will also be entitled, in the terms set out below in respect of ‘major changes to your holiday’, to accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements from us subject to availability and compensation if appropriate. It should be pointed out that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your holiday due to contractual and other protection in place.
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE INCLUDES:
* The services of our overseas appointed local agents with English-speaking staff (in Maldives, the
resorts provide assistance for transfers to their resorts from Malé airport).
* Return economy-class air travel between the stated UK departure airport and your destination.
* UK Air Passenger Duty, security tax and all other relevant ticket taxes.
* Transfers to and from the overseas airport and your accommodation.
* Accommodation as confirmed including any obligatory service charges and taxes as levied by the hotel
(there may be some taxes which are required to be only paid locally).
* Meal arrangements as booked. Holidays including main meals will generally commence with dinner on
the day of arrival and terminate with breakfast for half board and lunch for full board on the day of
departure.
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
* Travel from your home to the UK airport and vice versa.
* Holiday insurance.
* Charges made by the hotels for the use of certain facilities and extra meals, drinks and personal items
including any tax or service charge levied for them.
* Overseas airport departure taxes.
* Passport, visa and inoculation costs.
PEAK SEASON TRAVEL
Over peak holiday periods - especially Christmas, New Year and Easter - most airlines and hotels charge a supplement. Some hotels also stipulate that an obligatory minimum number of nights must be spent at the hotel and also that certain meals and Christmas and New Year Eve’s supplements are compulsory. These details will be confirmed to you at the time of booking. Due to popular demand over these periods it is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment.
SPECIAL OFFERS
At various times throughout the year many hotels provide a range of special offers. These may include early-booking discounts, free nights (at some hotels certain meals must be paid for during the free nights), free meals (drinks not included), honeymoon/anniversary reductions (wedding certificate must be presented at hotel) and no single room supplements. These offers must start and end within the stipulated dates and cannot be combined with each other.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
At time of booking, you must advise us of any special request you may have - e.g. special diet/meal, twin or double-bedded room, particular flight seat, etc. We will, of course, pass on your request to the hotel, airline or other supplier, but cannot guarantee that they will be provided. All special requests are subject to availability.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN
Please note that child seats are not provided for transfers and that laws vary from country to country. If you are travelling with young children, and if you specifically require a car seat, please either take your own with you or call us and we will do our best to try and arrange this for you (there may be an additional cost for this).
HOTEL GRADING
Choosing the right hotel can prove to be difficult, especially when travelling to long haul destinations. Whilst most hotels have official star ratings locally, in some cases these cannot always be relied on. Our hotel gradings are based mainly on our opinion and that of our clients and not on local or international classifications. We have provided these only to give you an idea as to the type of standards to expect and they are to be used purely as a guide. Standards can vary between hotels of the same class, in different countries, and even in the same country. It is important to carefully read the individual hotel descriptions.
Connoisseur Collection: We have selected particular hotels, which, in our opinion, are some of the finest in the world and offer something special. These hotels are recognised by the Connoisseur Collection symbol.
5 Star High standards of accommodation and services usually with a matching range of facilities
4 Star Good standards of accommodation and facilities.
3 Star Comfortable accommodation with average middle-range facilities.
INSURANCE
It is a condition of booking with us that you purchase adequate independent insurance.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
All travel documents, including flight tickets, will be electronically transmitted/dispatched 14 days prior to departure.
CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE
Your booking is subject to conditions of carriage of air, rail or sea carriers some of which may limit or exclude liability. These conditions are often the subject of international agreement between countries.
MINOR CHANGES TO YOUR HOLIDAY
If we are obliged to make any minor change in the arrangements to your holiday, we will inform you as soon as possible.
MAJOR CHANGES TO YOUR HOLIDAY
If before you depart we have to make any major change to your holiday arrangements, e.g. change of departure time of more than 12 hours in each direction, change of airport (but excluding changes between airports in the London region, aircraft type or airline) it will only be because we are forced to do so by circumstances usually beyond our control. In such an unlikely event we will inform you immediately and our objective will be to minimise your inconvenience. We will, wherever possible, offer you alternative arrangements as close as possible to your original choice. You will then have a choice of accepting, taking another available holiday of similar price or cancelling. Should you choose to cancel you will be reimbursed all monies paid to us. All above conditions exclude Force Majeure (see Force Majeure note).
CHANGING YOUR ARRANGEMENTS
If you wish to alter your booking in any way once we have confirmed it, we shall do what we can to satisfy your requirements. An amendment fee of £50 per person will be charged plus any appropriate additional airline/holiday costs (some airlines do not allow any name or date changes). Any alterations by you within 70 days of departure may be treated as a cancellation of the original booking and may be subject to cancellation charges as shown in the table below.
CANCELLATION
Should you or any member of your party wish to cancel your booking at any time please notify us immediately. If we have already issued a Confirmation Invoice, it is essential that you indicate your intention to cancel in writing to ourselves by the person who made the booking and who is therefore responsible for the payment of the cancellation charges. We will not affect the cancellation until such written advice is received. As we will incur costs in cancelling your holiday you will have to pay the applicable cancellation charges up to the maximum shown in the table below. These are calculated as a percentage of the total holiday cost and the charges are calculated from the date we receive the written notice of cancellation.
Amount of cancellation charge (shown as a percentage of total holiday cost):
No of Days Notification Before Departure:
| More than 70 days | Deposit |
| 43-69 days | 50% |
| 35-42 days | 80% |
| 15-34 days | 90% |
| 1-14 days | 100% |
Please note in some circumstances 100% cancellation will apply from the time of booking. We will provide details of this after we receive your cancellation instruction. Where the full cost of the airfare is required at the time of booking, no refund will be applicable from the time of booking. Airfares affected by this 100% cancellation policy will be collected at the time of booking or soon after as soon as airline notification is issued. In such circumstances the above cancellation charges will not apply; instead the entire booking will be subject to 100% cancellation charges.
FORCE MAJEURE
We accept no responsibility for and shall not be liable in respect of any loss or damage or alteration, delays or changes arising from unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, such as war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute including air traffic control disputes, terrorist activity, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, adverse weather conditions, technical problems with transport, closure or congestion of airports or ports, cancellations of schedules by scheduled airlines. You can check the current position on any country by visiting the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Travel Advice Unitwww.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
COMPENSATION FOR CANCELLATION OR MATERIAL ALTERATION BY US
In the event of cancellation or material alteration to your holiday, Tropical Holidays Direct will pay compensation as follows (except where Tropical Holidays Direct has to cancel or make a material change to your holiday as a result of any of the reasons referred to under PAYMENT FOR YOUR HOLIDAY or FORCE MAJEURE).
Period when notice of cancellation or alteration is given pre-departure:
Compensation per full fare paying passenger (excl. infants):
| More than 70 days | Nil |
| 43-69 days | £10 |
| 35-42 days | £20 |
| 15-34 days | £25 |
| 14 days or less | £30 |
For children invoiced at a reduced price, compensation will be paid on a pro-rata basis of the adult price. No other claims for compensation or expenses will be considered.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU FOR YOUR HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS
(a) We promise to ensure that the holiday arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide as part of our contract with you are delivered with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. You must inform us without undue delay of any failure or improper performance of the travel services included in this package. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable care and skill has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers).
(b) We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (for example loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:
- the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or
- the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or
- unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, which means a situation beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. See 'Force Majeure'.
(c) For claims which do not involve personal injury, illness or death, the most we will have to pay if we are liable to you is three times the price the person affected paid for their holiday (not including insurance premiums and amendment charges). We will only have to pay this maximum amount if everything has gone wrong and you have received no benefit from your holiday. Where enjoyment of only some days has been affected, we will refund reasonable related expenses and pay a daily sum of compensation up to £50 per day per person affected.
(d) Further to (b) above, our liability will also be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to:
1) The contractual terms of the companies that provide the travel services which make up your package. These terms are incorporated into this booking; and
2) Any relevant international convention, for example the Montreal Convention in respect of travel by air, the Athens Convention in respect of travel by sea, the Berne Convention in respect of travel by rail and the Paris Convention in respect of the provision of accommodation, which limit the amount of and conditions under which compensation can be claimed for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of the extent of or the conditions under which compensation is to be paid under these or any other applicable conventions.
In the event that any claim is made directly with us, our liability to pay compensation and/or the amount of compensation will be limited in accordance with these conventions, where applicable.
(e) Please note, we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised by us and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract and any excursion you purchase in resort. In addition, regardless of any wording used by us in any advertising material or elsewhere, we only promise to use reasonable care and skill as set out above and we do not have any greater or different liability to you.
(f) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the arrangements in question. Please note, however, our obligation is to exercise reasonable skill and care as referred to (a). We do not make any representation or commitment that all services will comply with applicable local laws and regulations and failure to comply does not automatically mean we have not exercised reasonable skill and care.
(g) Our suppliers - such as airlines, accommodation or transport providers - have their own booking conditions or conditions of carriage, and these conditions are binding between you and the supplier. Some of these conditions may limit or remove the relevant transport provider’s or other supplier’s liability to you.
(h) If we make any payment to you or any member of your party for death, personal injury or illness, you must agree to transfer to us or our insurers any rights you may have to take direct action against the person or organisation responsible for causing the death, personal injury or illness and you must co-operate fully with us in seeking recovery of any payment that we make.
(i) At times, operational decisions may be taken by air carriers and airports resulting in delays, diversions, overbookings, downgrades or rescheduling. We have no control over such decisions, and are, therefore, unable to accept responsibility for them. Where, as a result of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances we are obliged to change or end your holiday after departure, but before the end of your holiday, we will not pay compensation or reimburse you for expenses incurred. You should have adequate travel insurance for your holiday and claim via your insurance company for any loss or damage to luggage and/or personal possessions.
(j) Whilst you are away on holiday you may be offered the opportunity to buy optional excursions and activities. These are provided by independent local companies, which are neither owned nor controlled by Tropical Holidays Direct. If you decide to buy an excursion or activity, your contract will be made with the local company which provides it and it will not form part of your contracted holiday arrangements with us. The contract will be subject to the excursion/activity provider’s terms and conditions, some of which may exclude or limit its liability to you and will be governed by local law and jurisdiction. Tropical Holidays Direct accepts no liability for any breach of contract or act or omission of any excursion/activity provider. Some excursions/activities may contain an element of risk or require a good level of physical fitness, and, if in doubt, you should make direct enquiries with the local provider, before deciding to buy and check that you are covered by your travel insurance policy.
PERSONAL INJURY UNCONNECTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY US
If you, or any member of your party, suffer death, illness or injury whilst overseas, arising out of an activity which does not form part of your package travel arrangements with ourselves, we shall, at our discretion, offer advice, guidance and assistance. Where legal action is contemplated, and you want our assistance, you must obtain our written consent prior to commencement of any proceedings. Our consent will be given subject to you undertaking to assign any costs and/or benefits received under any relevant insurance policy to ourselves. We limit the cost of our assistance to you or any member of your party to £5,000 per booking.
CRUISE & THIRD-PARTY BOOKINGS
Where holiday products or services are booked with us as the Principal provider, your contract will be with us and our full booking conditions apply. Further conditions may also be applied by our suppliers and together these make the ‘conditions of contract’ and constitute the entire agreement between you and Tropical Holidays Direct. In such instances, your contract will be with them as the Principal provider, although the relevant terms of our own booking conditions will also apply. Many of our supplier’s terms and conditions can be found on their websites. By proceeding with a booking, you acknowledge that you have read and understood all of the Conditions of Contract and agree to be bound by them. All on board/in resort accounts must be settled directly with the supplier. The provisions of the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea 1974 (‘Athens Convention’) as amended by the 2002 Protocol and EC Regulation 392/2009 apply to cruise bookings. This means any liability we or the cruise operator may have to you will be limited in accordance with this Convention (as amended) and Regulation.
BEHAVIOUR
When you book with us you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you or any member of your party. Proper payment of any such damage or loss must be made at the time direct to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If you fail to do so, you must indemnify us against any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of your actions. We expect all clients to have consideration of other people. If in our opinion or in the opinion of any other person in authority you are behaving in such a way as to cause or to be likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to any third party or damage to property, we reserve the right to terminate your arrangements without notice. In this situation responsibility towards you (including any return transport arrangements) will immediately cease and we will not be responsible for meeting any costs or expenses you may incur as a result, or, making any refund or paying compensation. Tropical Holidays Direct has no control over the behaviour of other people staying in or visiting your holiday accommodation. Your accommodation is provided solely for the use of passengers shown in the final Confirmation Invoice as confirmed by us – subletting, sharing or assignment is prohibited.
COMPLAINTS
If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant airline, hotel, local agent or other suppliers immediately so that they can endeavour to put things right. If they cannot resolve the problems, you must contact Tropical Holidays Direct UK office so that we are given an opportunity to help. Tropical Holidays Direct will not hold themselves responsible for the non-performance of an itinerary through causes beyond their control or when they are not notified of a problem at the point when remedial action can be taken. In the unlikely event that a complaint cannot be resolved at the time, you should write to us within 4 weeks of returning home, giving your original booking reference number and all other relevant information. If you fail to take any of these steps this will hinder our ability to put any problem right and/or investigate it fully and any right, you may have to receive compensation will be reduced or completely invalidated. Disputes arising out of, or in connection with, this contract which cannot be amicably settled may (if you so wish) be referred to arbitration under a special scheme which though devised by arrangement with the Association of British Travel Agents, is administered quite independently by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The scheme provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on the customer in respect of costs. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £1,500 per person. There is also a limit of £7,500 per booking form. Neither does it apply to claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or the consequence of such injury or illness. A limit of £1,000 per person applies to any part of a claim for personal injury or illness. You must apply for arbitration within 9 months after your scheduled date of return. Details of the scheme will be supplied on request from the Association of British Travel Agents, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ or from www.abta.com.
TOURISM FOR ALL
As some of the resorts and accommodation featured on our website may lack even the simplest facilities, such as ramps for wheelchairs, lifts, etc, it is important that, when booking, you advise us of any disabilities and special requirements to make sure the holiday meets your specific needs. We would be happy to discuss the possibilities and advise you accordingly.
DATA PROTECTION POLICY
Information that you provide us with about you and members of your party (name, address, special needs/dietary requirements, etc.) must be passed on to our service providers such as airlines, hotels, etc. This information may also be provided to public authorities, if required by them or as required by law, and may also be transferred abroad. Some information, for example relating to your religion or health, may be ‘sensitive personal data’ within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998. We need this information to cater for your needs, but it is collected on condition that we have your positive consent. If you do not agree to use of your information we cannot accept your booking. From time to time we may contact you to inform you of offers, new products, etc. and, we may provide your details to selected third parties for similar purposes (if you do not wish to receive such information, please notify us). By making a booking with us you agree to the use and disclosure of information as described.
Safety & HEALTH
We take the security and safety of our clients very seriously, but, you are, of course, responsible for your own safety. It is tactless for visitors to make a great show of wealth, especially in developing countries. In general, your own common sense must prevail. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit may have issued information about your holiday destination. If the Foreign Office advises that travellers should not visit a particular country, then we will act on this advice to keep you safe and reserve the right to cancel your holiday. Please look at the FCO’s travel advice before you travel. You can also find advice on your destination, including things like local laws and customs. When booking local excursions and tours please only use the services of our officially appointed local agents and not of any companies or persons who may approach you otherwise, as these companies or persons may not hold the necessary government permits and licenses to operate excursions and tours. Also, if you purchase any items locally, e.g. jewellery/furniture, etc. we cannot accept responsibility for their quality and/or value. We also recommend that you check whether or not any extra charges will be payable for import duty or freight, as we are unable to assist with any costs you may incur in this respect. Please remember that in some destinations the sun can be deceptively strong and those inviting crystal-clear waters may conceal strong undercurrents, sharp coral or sea urchins and the like. Also, please note that in some destinations, hotels, public transport or local food vendors don’t necessarily meet British health and safety standards. Take every precaution and take heed of local warnings and advice from our official representatives. Inoculations are entirely your responsibility - please consult your doctor or health centre.
OVERSEAS TRANSFERS
Our holidays include seat-in-coach transfers or speedboat transfers from airports to the hotels and vice versa, unless otherwise stated with your confirmation. A seat-in-coach transfer or speed boat transfers are generally a shared transfer and the type of vehicle/boat used will normally be dependent upon the number of people, with stops being made en route to drop off/pick up other clients. In many destinations, we offer the choice of upgrading your transfer to your own private transfer at the relevant additional cost.
ADVANCE BOOKINGS
We offer option of booking your holiday well in advance and airlines generally do not load their seats to sell until around 9/10 months before the departure. In this case, we will advise you at the time of booking and work out the price assuming that seats will be available in the specific airline booking class to which our contracted airfares apply. We will issue an invoice showing the arrangements reserved for you and will take a deposit. A contract between us will then exist on the basis that the final price payable may be different to that advised at the time of booking. When the airline eventually releases the seats and the timings and other flight details we will then advise you of the final details of the holiday and the price. If different to the original details, we will give you 7 days to inform us whether you wish to continue with the booking on the basis of the revised price and other details or cancel and receive a full refund. If you wish to continue with the booking, we will issue a revised invoice. If the flight seats do not become available, you will receive a full refund of your deposit. We will have no other liability and will not be responsible for refunding the cost of any services booked in conjunction with the flights.
PHOTOGRAPHY
A huge number of images used on this website are by kind permission of our hotel, airline and tourist board partners and are protected by copyright.
WEATHER
All weather details shown on this website have been compiled from information received from the Meteorological Office or relevant tourist authorities. They are to be used purely as a guide only, bearing in mind the changing weather patterns throughout the world. Obviously, we cannot accept any responsibility for the weather conditions at the time of your visit.
HOLIDAY SEASONS
The destinations we feature on this website are available all year round. Some do have quieter off peak periods when you can take advantage of uncrowded beaches and more personal attention from hotel staff. At this time, it may be necessary for hotels to scale down the size of some of their facilities, such as restaurants, to match demand. Similarly, during peak periods, hotels experience full occupancy, which may result in a livelier atmosphere and slower service in busier facilities.
Hotels
The choice of hotel is crucial to your holiday. The hotels we feature have been selected for their location, their character or their value and may not, therefore, be the best in other respects. If you have any doubts at all, please discuss your choice with us. The final selection is, however, entirely up to you.
CHECK IN / CHECK OUT TIMES
All hotels operate the standard international practice with regards to check in and check out times. Check in is usually between 1500-1600 hours and check out is usually between 1000-1200 hours (please ensure you clarify the exact check out time with the hotel on arrival). This means you may have to wait some time, if you arrive early, for your room to be made up, and vacate your room perhaps hours before your departure. It may be possible to retain your room until departure on payment of an extra charge, depending on whether the room is required for arriving guests.
Accommodation
Even though we feature some of the best hotels the accommodation may still be considered modest by European standards. Our use of the words superior or deluxe to describe rooms must be read in the context of the hotel description. Single rooms or twins for sole use may vary in standard and position. We are willing to request the hotel to place an extra bed in a twin room and a reduction may be offered. It must be understood, however, that floor and drawer space may be cramped. Beds for children may not be full single size and can often be 'rollaway' style. When we describe a room as having sea view this means you will have some view of the sea. The room may not face the sea and the view may be at an angle. Views may also be obscured by garden foliage. Please note that although we may describe the hotel as on the seafront or overlooking the sea it does not always follow that rooms have sea view. It should be noted that you might find lizards, ants, cockroaches or other insects in your room. This is a fact of life in some hot countries and should not be seen as a sign of dirtiness.
Hotel Facilities
Outdoor activities, beach services, water sports, land sports (including free golf at hotels’ own golf courses or other golf courses) and entertainment facilities are shown in good faith as being available, but their provision may be limited, or they may not be available from time to time due to weather, maintenance or other reasons. In this case, no alternative arrangements or refunds or discounts are provided. Please note that where a hotel offers free water or other sports these may be limited and a deposit for equipment and a charge for instruction may be requested. Please also note that not all facilities and activities mentioned are available free and any charges that apply would be payable locally. We very strongly advise you to check with the hotel on arrival as to exactly what is provided free. If air-conditioning is provided, at times this may be subject to energy saving regulations. Please also note that supplies of electricity and water can be erratic. Lifts in some hotels may not have internal doors. Children should be supervised at all times by their parents when using this type of lift. Many resort hotels have open-sided restaurants which attract local bird life, particularly at breakfast time.
Meals & All Inclusive PLANS
In general, you cannot expect European standards in some developing destinations. In some areas much of the food has to be imported and meals will vary depending on the style of hotel. Please remember that food is very much a matter of personal taste and preference. Where we offer half or full board arrangements the meals could be on a table d’hôte (fixed menu) basis or buffet-style and drinks are not included. A supplement is usually required for a la carte meals and in some cases the hotel will not allow any credit for the table d’hôte meal not taken. We advise you to check with the hotel before dining. Please note that no refund can be given for meals not taken. All Inclusive plans do not necessarily include ‘everything’. Meals are usually restricted to certain restaurants (a credit may be offered to dine in other restaurants), drinks are usually locally produced and not all activities and land and water sports are included. We very strongly advise you to check with the hotel on arrival as to exactly what is included and also between what times they are included. Also, as the restaurants get very busy, hotels require that the restaurants are pre-booked, and please note that hotels do have a strict dress code, usually for dinner, in their restaurants. For example, smart casual clothes must be worn, and sport dress, shorts, sandals, etc, are not permitted.
Service
Some destinations have a rather relaxed attitude to service. It can be frustratingly slow, but patience and a friendly approach on your part are likely to achieve the best results.
Resort Development & Hotel Renovations
In any resort or destination, building works must be expected and often start without prior warning. Hotels also have to be regularly maintained and refurbished and swimming pools cleaned, but the management will try to ensure minimum inconvenience to guests.
Flights
All flights are subject to government approval and may be amended or withdrawn at any time, without Tropical Holidays Direct incurring liability. The arrangements shown on this website are based on scheduled flights (it should be noted that not all airlines provide complimentary meals and drinks). All flights are based in economy class. Upgrades are available at a supplement. Where Business and First Class complimentary chauffeur-drive transfers to and from the UK airport may be offered, please note that mileage restrictions apply in both directions. It may sometimes be necessary to make stops en route for refuelling or to pick up joining passengers. Owing to security regulations it is not always possible to leave the plane during these stops. Flight durations shown in this brochure are an indication of the time spent in the air and do not include stops en route or time spent between connecting flights. It should be noted that all passengers travel under the conditions of carriage of the airline concerned as printed on their ticket. It is your responsibility to ensure that you reconfirm any onward or return flights. In accordance with EU directive (EC) no. 2111/2005, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a ‘Community List’ which contains details of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban within the EU Community. The Community list is available for inspection at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm.
NB: Owing to changes in pressure it is dangerous to fly less than 48 hours after scuba diving. Excessive drinking before boarding your flight could result in you being refused permission to board the aircraft. Most airlines will refuse permission for women to fly who will be 28 or more weeks pregnant on the date of return travel. Failure to comply with airline regulations may result in cancellation and denial of boarding, and we cannot be held liable for any such occurrence.
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Luggage allowances will be shown on your air tickets. There is no allowance for infants under 2 years apart from a carrycot and/or collapsible pushchair. Excess luggage is carried at the airline’s discretion and may incur charges payable directly to the airline. Luggage allowances on light aircraft and seaplane transfers are usually limited and vary (please check with us at time of booking). It is entirely your responsibility to ensure you have the correct luggage allowance. Please contact your airline for the up-to-date luggage allowance details.
AIRCRAFT Seat Allocation & IN-FLIGHT MEALS
As seats on many international flights are allocated on check in, you are strongly advised to arrive early to secure the seats of your choice. Where the flight originates at another point your choice may be limited. Some airlines are willing to reserve seats in advance at a cost. We can pass on your request for particular types of meals, e.g. vegetarian, etc. We cannot, however, guarantee that the airline will be able to meet your requirements.
SMOKING
Virtually all airlines have adopted a non-smoking policy and many hotels have also adopted a non-smoking policy in hotel rooms, and in the public areas of the hotel. If this information is important to you please check with us at the time of booking.
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)
Travel involving prolonged immobility can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Recent surgery, previous occurrence of DVT and a family history of DVT are among the factors that may increase your susceptibility to the condition. If you are concerned about travelling then you are strongly advised to contact your GP before you depart.
Flight Delays
Delays, unfortunately, may occur through various reasons. Where long flight delays result in lost holiday time, no refunds are given by hotels/suppliers for unused accommodation/services. Similarly, airlines do not usually offer compensation for flight delays. Consequently, Tropical Holidays Direct is not liable for any costs incurred or loss of enjoyment as a result of any such delay. Recompense for such delays may be claimed through certain types of holiday insurance (please check your holiday insurance covers such losses).
Overseas Airport Taxes
Foreign departure/airport taxes vary and may be payable locally either in foreign currency (e.g. US$ etc.) or in local currency. Please ensure you have enough local and foreign funds to meet these payments. If you are travelling to more than one country on your holiday, you may be required to pay a departure tax at each point.
Alcohol
Restrictions on the consumption of alcohol may be imposed with little or no notice at all by the relevant authorities.
Public & Religious Holidays
Services may be curtailed or limited during certain religious events and public holidays. Please note that such holidays and religious events may be called at very little or no notice at all.
OTHER HOTEL GUESTS / Functions / EVENTS
At times, various events including functions, conferences, influx of groups, weddings and filming may take place at hotels. We have no control over the acceptance of bookings at the hotels other than our own. We are therefore unable to accept any responsibility for any inconvenience caused by such events, groups or their activities.
Visas & Passports
The visa information contained here is for British and Irish passport holders only. Holders of other passports (including Commonwealth passports) and of British or Irish passports issued abroad should check with the appropriate consulate or embassy as to the requirements for a visa. Please ensure you have a valid 10-year passport and that it is valid for at least 6 months after your return date. Please ensure you check all up to date visa and entry requirements with all relevant authorities in advance of making your booking. It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that your passport and visa documentation is in order. Failure to do so may lead to denial of exit from this country or of entry overseas. Any costs which consequently arise will be payable by you. It will also be deemed that you have cancelled your holiday and no refunds will be made.
OUR STAFF & ON-GOING TRAINING
Our staff are renowned for their professionalism, service and friendliness, and in order to continually improve on our services, we are committed to regular training, which also includes recording of phone calls.
Holiday Selection
Problems can arise beyond our control. In this event please immediately take the matter up with our local agents and/or the hotel. Most problems can be resolved in resort without spoiling your holiday. Complaining on your return will be too late. We know from experience that most holiday complaints arise as a result of choosing the wrong holiday, so please choose carefully and seek our advice. Overall, patience and understanding are invaluable.
CONTRACT & JURISDICTION
Your contract is with Tropical Holidays Direct. This contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the UK in all respects and the Courts of the UK shall have sole jurisdiction.
Tropical Holidays Direct is a trading division of Airworld Tours Limited registered in England No. 3550364.
Tropical Holidays Direct, 130 Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 0BB
