Travelsphere terms and conditions

Travelsphere - Terms and conditions

Your reservation is made with Travelsphere, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Limited.

Booking conditions - Travelsphere

All bookings are subject to our Booking Conditions and an email link will be sent to you with your Confirmation Invoice and are available in advance by visiting our website travelsphere.co.uk or by calling us. The package holiday contract is subject to English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. Please note that information contained in this Essential Information section of the brochure or in any other comparable sections and any other relevant information on the website form part of your package holiday contract with us. A binding contract comes into place when you first confirm the holiday and pay either a deposit (or the full balance for late bookings) and we issue the Confirmation Invoice. If you have not received a Confirmation Invoice within 7 days of booking your holiday please contact us immediately. Please note a £2.50 ATOL surcharge has been included in all holidays by air.

When you book through our website, any electronic acknowledgment of your booking is not confirmation of it. If there are services that you request from us in addition to one of our packages (such as an extension to your holiday, a connecting flight or additional services) these will be put on request by our Sales Team and are subject to availability and confirmation of the price. Our team will advise you of this and take the appropriate deposit and send you a holding letter together with an ATOL certificate. Once the additional service is confirmed we will advise you and send a revised ATOL certificate to you if appropriate.

Please note that the holiday price in this brochure/on the website may be subject to
change. This will be advised at the time of booking.

Peace of mind and protection

When you book a package holiday with us, your money is completely safe. If your holiday
includes a flight departing from (or returning to) a UK airport, your holiday will be operated
by G Touring Limited (company number 04956006) Compass House, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7QD. These package holidays are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 11266). G Touring Limited is also a member of ABTA the Association of British Travel Agents Limited (ABTA number Y6412). For any package holiday which does not include a flight, your holiday will be protected by financial failure insurance. In the unlikely event of our insolvency you would be refunded any money that you have already paid us. 

PLEASE NOTE

If you paid an additional charge at the point of booking to secure specific services included
in your package holiday arrangements such as to cover the cost of a flight with a No
Frills airline (or to secure a special airfare or upgrade) or any other service included in your
package holiday arrangements, this cost is not refundable in the event of cancellation as
100% cancellation fee will apply as soon as the booking is made and the ticket is issued.

Please ask for full details on cancellation charges at the time of booking but the scale of charges shown will be calculated on a % of the cost of all other arrangements and the non-refundable charges will be added to that cancellation charge to give the total charge.
Where any cancellation reduces the number of full paying party members below the number which the price and/or any concessions agreed for your booking were based, we will recalculate these items and re-invoice you accordingly.

Please check your insurance policy to see if you are covered to claim back any cancellation
charges paid to us.

REPATRIATION

All tour operators are required by law to state arrangements for the repatriation of customers in the event of insolvency. All holidays including flights are ATOL protected and in the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad. If your package holiday does not include flights our financial failure insurance will protect your
holiday. Please go to www.travelsphere.co.uk/financial-protection-insurance

FOREIGN OFFICE ADVICE

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office produce up to date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. Sadly we have to be mindful of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks and you should be aware of up to date travel information and safety advice for your chosen destination before making a booking.

Please review the Foreign Office website for detailed information www.gov.uk/foreign-traveladvice. We follow advice given by the Foreign Office.

INSUFFICIENT BOOKINGS

Occasionally, we do not receive sufficient bookings to run an individual tour date. In the
unfortunate event that we are forced to cancel a tour for this reason, we will do so before the date that your balance payment is due.

Wherever possible, we will always try our very best to offer you a suitable alternative holiday. 

OUR PRICE PROMISE

We guarantee that absolutely no surcharge will be added to the basic price of your package
holiday once your booking has been confirmed irrespective of any subsequent fluctuation
in currency exchange rates or, increases in international air fares or increases in other
costs associated with the holidays. In return for this guarantee and its risk to us we shall
not be able to make any refunds in the event of favourable exchange rate variations or other decreases in costs which may result in a reduction in the selling price. This price guarantee does not apply to any optional services including, but not limited to, insurance. The US Visa Waiver programme allows British Citizens to travel to the US without having to obtain a visa.There are restrictions to this programme. Please visit www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta for further information.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

British Citizen passport holders need a visa to visit the countries we’ve listed below. In most cases, we’re able to arrange this for you and we’ll add the cost of the visa, plus a small handling fee, to your Confirmation invoice. If you hold any other type of passport, it’s your responsibility to check passport and visa requirements with the embassy of the country you’re visiting. We may still be able to arrange a visa for you but additional charges may apply. We’re unable to accept any responsibility if you can’t travel because you’re not granted a visa.
If you require a visa, this will be clear on the holiday page. We will email your application
forms and information 10 weeks prior to your holiday. The application process can take up
to 28 days depending on the country. Please note that prices and information regarding
visa requirements are correct at the time of publishing but subject to change. Visa fees shown below are subject to change
Australia £40
Burma £80
Cambodia £68
Canada £20
China £195
Cuba £50
India £95
Iran £280
Laos US$40
Nepal £65
New Zealand £29
Russia £108.40
Sri Lanka £65
Tanzania £85
Tibet Free (with Chinese visa)
USA £39
Vietnam Visa free until 30 June 2017

Important note – If you enter Vietnam twice within 30 days you will require a single entry
visa. 

Zambia US$50
Electronic visas (we will require a photocopy of your passport)
Australia
Canada
India
New Zealand (ESTA if flight goes visa USA)
Sri Lanka
USA
Visa fixed into passport (we will require your passport)
Burma
Cambodia
China
Iran
Nepal
Russia
Tanzania
Vietnam (visa free until 30 June 2017)
Visa issued on arrival (we will require a photocopy of your passport)
Laos
Tibet (Group visa held by Tour Manager)
Zambia
Visa card (we will require a photocopy of your passport)
Cuba

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Virtually all countries have public holidays, religious or otherwise. The festivities may
temporarily disrupt your package holiday and some religious holidays such as Ramadan, which affects many Muslim countries may result in a reduction of facilities, services and entertainment. We suggest that you take this into consideration when selecting your departure date. The dates known to us at the time of going to press include:
Australia Day 26th January 2018
Independence Day (USA) 4th July 2017 / 2018
Canada Day 1st July 2017 / 2018
Thanksgiving (Canada) 9th October 2017 /
8th October 2018
Diwali (India) 19th October 2017 /
7th November 2018
Thanksgiving (USA) 23rd November 2017 /
22nd November 2018
Chinese New Year 16 Feb 2018
TET (Vietnam) 17th-20th February 2018
Nyepi Day of Silence (Indonesia)
9th March 2018
Hindu Holi Dye throwing feast
(India & Nepal) 2nd March 2018
Passover (Israel) 1st-6th April 2018
Memorial Day (USA) 29th May 2017 /
28th May 2018
Ramadan 27th May-25th June 2017 /
16th May-19th June 2018
Rosh Hashana 21st-22nd September 2017 /
9th-10th September 2018
Chinese National Holiday
1st-7th October 2017 / 2018
Yom Kippur 29th-30th October 2017 /
18th-19th September 2018
Succot 4th-11th October 2017 / 23rd-30th
September 2018
Dragon Boat Festival (China) 30th May 2017 /
18th June 2018
Labor Day/May Day (China) 1st May 2018
Republic Day (India) 26th January 2018
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday (India)
2nd October 2017 / 2018
The appropriate Tourist Offices are happy to supply more detailed information.

WEATHER

World weather is becoming more erratic and unpredictable and we cannot be held
responsible for disruption to your package holiday or any other holiday arrangement due
to bad or unusual weather conditions.
The following Essential Information is for customers travelling to ALL destinations

BAGGAGE HANDLING AND ALLOWANCE

The baggage allowance for most of our brochures is 44lb (20kg) per person, plus hand luggage, although this varies with each airline. Details can be found with your holiday documents, but as individual airlines are constantly changing their requirements we suggest that you check the airlines’ website for details on any restrictions and dimensions of hand and hold baggage. You are responsible for the carriage and care of your luggage
throughout your holiday except for such times as it may be in the hands of the airline; here in such circumstances the airline specific terms and conditions relating to the carriage of
luggage apply, or when portage at a hotel on arrival and departure is included. Please ensure that your luggage is loaded on to all transport and be careful to take the correct luggage with you when you leave any mode of transport.

HOTEL PORTERAGE

Porterage for one bag per person is included on most of our package holidays as stated on the holiday page.

YOUR TOUR MANAGER

On the majority of our package holidays you will
be escorted by a knowledgeable Tour Manager.
Please be aware of the following:
• On some of our package holidays your Tour
Manager will meet you at your UK airport, on
others they will meet you at your overseas
airport or in your resort.
• If you choose to fly to your destination from a
regional airport your Tour Manager may not
be travelling with you.
• Your Tour Manager may not accompany you
on your homeward transfer to the airport
but they will advise you of the arrangements
made.
COACH SEAT ALLOCATION
On all our package holidays that include travel
by coach we operate a rotational seating policy.
All customers are expected to abide by this
policy and adhere to the instructions given by
the Tour Manager to ensure that all customers
on the tour are given the opportunity to move
seats.
EXCURSIONS
We want to give you the opportunity to see
as much as possible of the countries you
are visiting, so there will nearly always be
a selection of optional excursions. Where
a pre-bookable package is available, as
indicated on the holiday page, this is offered
at a discounted price. Alternatively you can
book & pay your Tour Manager or Local
Guide in resort. Any optional excursions will
of course operate subject to demand, traffic
and weather conditions. Changes to the
advertised excursions programmes are rare,
but the excursion providers reserve the right
to change excursions and we reserve the right
to amend the advertised prices at any time.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
The prices in our brochures and on the website
are based on twin occupancy, however, we
cannot guarantee the room type. Our reference
to ‘Hotel’ covers all accommodation and does
not necessarily distinguish between local
classifications such as ‘Motel’ or ‘Inn’. It may
occasionally be necessary to accommodate you
in a different, but equal category of hotel to
that featured in the brochure / on the website.
If this is known before departure, we will, of
course, advise you. The confirmed hotel will be
advised in your final travel information.
Single Rooms: A limited number of rooms are
available for most holidays. Do note, however,
that often these single rooms do not match up
with twin bedded rooms in terms of size and
facilities. For single room supplements please
refer to the price tables in your brochure / on
the website.
Triple Rooms: When booking a triple room,
please note that the extra bed may be a campstyle
bed or rollaway bed. If your room has an
extra bed , the available floor space may be
limited. In USA and Canada many rooms have
two double beds (sleeping 4). If the hotels on
your tour are able to accommodate a 3rd or
4th person sharing, the first two customers will
pay the full rate based on sharing a twin room.
We will then, if applicable, apply a discount per
person per night for the 3rd or 4th person.
Please ask your Holiday Advisor for details at
the time of booking as in some countries there
are additional charges for a 3rd or 4th person
sharing.
Smoking Rooms: If a smoking room is
specifically requested we will try to book one
for you, but cannot guarantee that one will
be available. Many hotels are non-smoking
therefore smoking rooms may be unavailable.
Air conditioning in European hotels is
operational according to individual hotel policy.
HOLIDAY INSURANCE
It is a condition of booking that you are
adequately insured when traveling abroad. We
recommend excellent, comprehensive insurance
policies. Please call Holiday Extras on 0800
042 0201 quoting GTRAB or speak to one of our
Holiday Advisors for details.
We will require you to give us details of your
travel insurance company and the policy
number. You must ensure that your policy offers
cover which is at least as comprehensive as
the policy that we recommend, and which as
a minimum, covers cancellation for the total
value of the holiday, delay, curtailment, medical
charges and repatriation costs for not less than
£5 million. Your travel insurance should cover
you for any pre-existing medical conditions. You
shall be responsible for indemnifying us in full
in respect of any costs that we incur as a result
of your failure to have adequate, appropriate
and comprehensive travel insurance. We
reserve the right to decline any booking where
adequate insurance has not been arranged.
DELAY PROTECTION
If European airline flights or flights operating
from a European airport are cancelled or
delayed, airlines normally have an obligation
under the Denied Boarding Regulations to look
after you. We’ll do our best to ensure that they
meet their obligations.
Dependent upon the length and nature of the
delay, these obligations include providing you
with meals and hotel accommodation, assuming
always that those services are available.
If the airline will not provide you with these
services, most holiday insurers will cover you
if you are required to pay for them yourself. It
is essential when choosing a holiday insurance
policy that it provides you with cover in this
important area.
Where the airline that you’re travelling with
won’t provide meals or accommodation in the
event of delays, we will do our best (subject to
availability) to obtain these services on your
behalf at the lowest possible price. It will be
your responsibility to pay for these services at
the point that you receive them, and to obtain
receipts to enable you to make a subsequent
claim against your insurers.
Under no circumstances will we be liable to
meet any of these costs should such an event
arise.
In the event of your return flight being delayed,
we will return you to your final contracted
destination. This responsibility is limited to
flying you with the same airline in the original
class of travel. We won’t be responsible for
meeting the cost of any other arrangements or
welfare costs.
NO SMOKING
Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is
not allowed at any time on board our coaches,
including transfers within the UK. We ask that
smokers will understand the reasons for the
restriction on smoking. Of course, you can
enjoy a leisurely smoke during the regular
refreshment stops or within the designated
areas on board Ocean or River cruise vessels.
Smoking is not allowed on any flights and only
in designated areas at the airport.
ABOUT OUR FLIGHTS
Flight inclusive tours: The guide prices for the
flight inclusive tours set out in this brochure
/ on the website are based on planned group
flights from London. The actual selling price
may vary from that published due to numerous
factors including but not limited to, additional
taxes or fuel surcharges being introduced, the
airline only allowing us to hold limited number
of seats at a pre agreed group rate, or because
alternative flights are being used.
Limited availability seats: Where indicated
on specific tour price panels, holiday prices are
based on limited availability special air fares.
Whilst these fares are correct at the time of
going to press, they may have sold out by the
time you make a booking. In this case, further
seats will usually be available at a supplement.
Such supplements, if any, will be confirmed at
the time of booking.
By booking early, you maximise your chances of
getting on our group flights which ensures you
are getting the benefit of our group costs and
also reduces the chance of you ever having to
pay any flight related supplements or additional
costs.
Seat Allocation - Airlines are increasingly
reluctant to offer tour operators full allocations
of seats for our tours. Consequently when we
are limited to the number of group seats we
have we may have to source alternatives for
some customers. Occasionally this comes at a
higher price.
FUEL SURCHARGES/
ENVIRONMENTAL TAX
Airlines generally pass on any fuel price
increases to their customers as and when they
occur. This is either done directly or via tour
operators. Due to the volume and size of these
increases we occasionally have no choice but
to pass on all or part of these directly to our
customers. You will be informed of any fuel
related surcharges or new and additional taxes,
airport or security charges in place or other
sums payable in addition to the advertised
brochure price at the time of booking.
FLIGHT ROUTINGS
We use a number of indirect flights which may
require you to change planes en-route. This may
be because we cannot obtain a block allocation
of seats on a direct flight or it may be the only
option. If you are interested in booking a direct
flight at a supplement (where available) please
ask one of our Holiday Advisors.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
We will always do our best to help and will pass
on your request to the service provider (such
as an airline or hotel) but we cannot guarantee
that we or they will always be able to meet
your needs. Special requests do not form part
of your holiday arrangements and cannot be
guaranteed by us and these special requests
are not covered by our Booking Conditions
so from a legal point of view are not part of
your holiday contract with us. Please see our
Booking Conditions for more details.
FLIGHT MEALS AND MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT REQUESTS
Although meals are provided on most long haul
flights you should be aware that there is a trend
toward them not being included on shorter
flights within Europe. We therefore cannot
guarantee that meals will be provided on all
flights. Please note we also cannot guarantee
that the airline will be able to fulfil your request
for a special dietary meal and any such requests
are not a condition of booking. If you require a
special dietary meal due to an allergy such as a
nut allergy we will need you to fill in a medical
questionnaire to send to the service provider.
The airline will not be able to guarantee that
their aircraft meals are 100% nut free and will
require you to carry any special medication
(such as a EpiPen) in your hand luggage.
If you need to carry a CPAP machine or oxygen
cylinders please let us know at the time of
booking so we can ensure this request is sent
through to the relevant airline. It can take up to
6 weeks for airlines to confirm whether medical
requests can be accommodated.
FLIGHT SEAT REQUESTS, AIRLINES,
TRAINS AND COACHES
We strongly recommend (particularly if you are
flying economy class) that you check in early if
you have particular seat requests. Travelsphere
has no control over the allocation of seats by
the airline, train company or coach company.
152 TO BOOK CALL 01858 415 225 VISIT travelsphere.co.uk OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT Please have passport details ready when booking 153
premiums, visa charges, excursion charges and
amendment fees. For bookings made within the
balance due date and prior to confirming your
package holiday we reserve the right to notify
you of any increases to your package holiday
price as a result of any additional costs we may
be charged.
Prices shown in our brochures and on the
website are believed correct at the time of
publication. We reserve the right to change
prices from time to time. Accordingly, it is
possible that when you book your holiday the
actual price may have gone up or down. If the
price of your holiday has changed, the correct
price will be confirmed at the time of booking.
We reserve the right to correct errors at any
time.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the
accuracy of the brochure/website and prices
at the time of printing regrettably errors do
occur. You must therefore ensure you check the
details of your chosen holiday with us at the
time of booking.
Verbal and website price quotations will be
regarded as provisional until confirmed in
writing on your Confirmation Invoice. In the
unlikely event of an administrative error
resulting in incorrect prices being displayed
on the website, we reserve the right to correct
the price. In such cases we will offer you the
opportunity to either pay the correct price or
we will make a full refund of any money you
may have paid.