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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK
Joining the Tours Clients travel from all over the country and the world to join us and we are happy to discuss the best arrangements for you. We appreciate that whilst many clients want to have inclusive travel arrangements for ease and convenience, many others like to make their own travel arrangements and take advantage of any žight deals that might be on offer, others also like to avoid airports altogether, preferring to travel by train or car. The travel arrangements on each tour vary according to the style of tour and destination. We aim to be as žexible as we practically can to accommodate our clients. Where our included travel arrangements do not suit you, please call to discuss the alternatives. Where we do not include travel to the destination, we are happy to advise or make the bookings on your behalf. For Champagne Tours and Wine Tours By Coach Departure points and timings. (These vary a little on each tour): Peters˝eld: (Only advisable if you live locally or stay in Peters˝eld overnight - there is no parking available at our of˝ces). Departure 05.00 (This is often accompanied by the driver only, and there is no phone box or taxi rank nearby). Victoria Coach Station: Departure between 06.30 & 07.30 Folkestone at the Relyon car park (on all tours we arrange a pick up here) between 08.30 & 09.30. Ferry terminal (tours that travel by ferry only), meet between 09.00 & 10.00. Additional stops: We can also make additional stops, if arranged in advance at The Black Prince interchange, or at prearranged points immediately on the A3 / A2 / M2 or M20. Exact timings will be con˝rmed with your ˝nal itinerary no later than 8 days before departure. We are not able to deviate off the main route even on the return journey, so please ensure that the pick up point is also suitable for you as a drop off point. For Flight Tours On each brochure page we show you the žight times and numbers as supplied to us by the airlines in October 2007. Of course, these may change before your chosen tour departs and the ˝nal itinerary will con˝rm exact times.
žights or preferably ask us to do this for you so that you can be booked onto the correct žights. Connecting žights can be arranged if these are requested at time of booking. If you would like to upgrade to Premium Economy, Business or First Class on the žight, please call us for advice and a quote. Business and First Class fares, especially on long haul žights tend to increase the nearer to the departure date, so if you are looking at one of our New World tours and are likely to require the additional comfort that travelling in an upgraded class brings, you are strongly advised to book early. Joining on Location If you would like to make your own travel arrangements for any of the tours in the brochure, you can join us on location. Several of the French tours are convenient to access by train. If you prefer train travel call us to discuss this. Where a žight is included we can usually deduct the žight cost. On our coach tours it is also possible for you to travel out by plane or train and to come back with us by coach with your wine purchases. There is no deduction for not taking the coach in one or both directions. If your travel plans are different from the main tour please check with us at the time of booking what arrangements can be made for picking you up or dropping you off. There will be additional costs for transfers and car parking. In all cases it is essential that you inform us in good time in writing or by email of your joining and departure points so that we know where to ˝nd you. Hotels & Room types All our hotels are carefully chosen to suit the style of tour and for their convenience for the itinerary. On our good value coach based, walking and wine & city tours, hotels included are character small family run good 2* and 3*. For the coach based and city tours we choose hotels located in the centre of towns so that it is easy for you to explore on foot from the front door of the hotel. For the walks, we choose small hotels which are conveniently located along the route, which can mean that there is only something relatively simple available. If deluxe hotels are important to you these style of holidays are unlikely to suit you. On the Classic Journeys, hotels are 4* and occasionally 5*,
and on the Reserve Collection the hotels range from good 4*, to 5*, Relais & Châteaux or small private chateaux and wine estates. Please do call us if you would like to know more about any of the hotels as between us in the of˝ce we have inspected or stayed at all the hotels in the programme. Unless otherwise stated, standard rooms are included. If you would like a superior room or suite, we can often arrange this for a supplement if requested at time of booking. Age & Fitness 18 is the minimum age. There is no speci˝c upper limit; this is determined by ˝tness and mobility. If you are over 70 or you have any dif˝culty walking or there is any other factor that makes it dif˝cult for you to take part in any part of the tour unaided, or may affect your ability to enjoy your holiday, no matter what your age, you must discuss this with us prior to booking. Likewise you must inform us should the above become the case after you book. You will be required to stand for periods of time at wineries, there are often steps at the cellars and there can be quite a lot of walking to and from venues. The coaches are not adapted for wheelchairs. If you use a wheelchair, you must notify us before you book your holiday so that we can advise you if the tour is likely to be suitable for you or what arrangements we can make to accommodate you. The Menus and Special Diets Where meals are included, they are generally at a winery or at a favourite restaurant. The menus for included meals are planned with our hosts well in advance and feature regional specialities and complement the wines. We will be pleased to make arrangements to suit your dietary requirements and serious dislikes for included meals. Special diets and vegetarianism are not understood in many of the regions that we visit, although this is more of a problem in some countries than others. We do always ask for alternatives, but these may be limited and frankly may not be of the same standard as the meal for the rest of the party. If you are vegetarian, but you would, for instance, occasionally eat ˝sh or chicken, please do let us know, as this will ensure that you have some variety. Please let us know when you book so that we can inform
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You should check with us before booking any connecting
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