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Travel in The Far East
At Cox & Kings we believe that a good holiday is not luck but judgment. We have compiled the following advice to outline the nature of travel in the Far East and to help you prepare for your holiday. Even with the most meticulous planning, however, minor problems can occur and, whilst our local representatives are always on hand to rectify such occurrences, we do request that you have a patient and broadminded approach to travelling in the Far East.
FLIGHTS
EARLY STARTS
A number of flights within China and the Far East
Full details of all FCO advice can be obtained on the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk/travel. Alternatively, you can contact the FCO at the Travel Advice Unit, Consular Division, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE (Tel: 0870 606 0290 or Fax: 020 7238 4545).
www.coxandkings.co.uk
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INFORMATION: TRAVEL IN THE FAR EAST
International Flights: On most of our tours the following carriers will be used: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Air China, Thai International, Malaysia Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Singapore Airlines. The name of the airline and the city of the departure and arrival airports are clearly listed in the grid relating to the tour, together with the stop-off airport, should this apply. We do not print actual flight timings in our brochure, however you will find full details relating to your international flights printed on your confirmation invoice. All flight times as stated on your confirmation invoice refer to local times. Some flight routings involve a change of plane en route to your destination, so please take note of the flight details on your confirmation invoice, as these will show you the amount of scheduled transit time in the stopoff city. Please note that all flight timings are subject to change by the airline. It is important to note the difference between a `direct' flight and a `non-stop' flight. Non-stop flights do not have any scheduled touchdowns en route, whilst direct flights mean that there is no change of aircraft but that stops are possible, and indeed probable, as per the airlines' timetables. Unfortunately, airlines change their schedules regularly, and although we will advise you of any stops or plane changes at the time of booking, we cannot be held responsible for any changes after this date. Baggage allowances vary according to the destination, flight and class booked, although in the majority of cases, the allowance for Economy is 20kgs, Business is 30kgs and First is 40kgs. Internal Flights: Almost all the internal flights in this brochure use jet airliners, with some internal airliners in South East Asia using turbo prop aircraft. Occasionally, when travelling on internal flights with local carriers or on light aircraft, it may be necessary for operators to change schedules at short notice. If this should happen, everything possible will be done to minimise the inconvenience. Such a change may cause a delay to your onward travel arrangements, and require an extra night's accommodation at your board point; or alternative travel by another airline or another method of transportation may be required. Although these arrangements are at the discretion of the airline, Cox & Kings will endeavour to help in any way it can and ensure that arrangements go as smoothly as possible. (See below for more details). Flight Delays & Insurance: Unfortunately, due to the increase in air traffic, government restrictions and changing weather conditions, flight delays have become more commonplace. These delays can cause problems with onward connections and / or hotel and holiday arrangements and, whilst the airline will sometimes make alternative arrangements to get you to your next destination at no extra cost, additional costs may well be involved for accommodation in the event of an overnight cancellation and also after your arrival at your next destination. These may be in the form of additional accommodation costs, transfers and onward travel. It is important that your travel insurance covers you against the costs incurred as a result of cancellation or delay to your
flight. Unfortunately, since most services are paid for in advance, any services missed due to delays are nonrefundable. The insurance policy offered by Cox & Kings is designed to mitigate the costs and effects of such delays in certain circumstances and we strongly advise that you are insured against such eventualities. Flight Amendments: Most of the tours shown in this brochure use special airfares. These have certain conditions, which normally restrict any change of date, route or airline. Any such change made after a ticket has been issued will normally necessitate the purchase of a new ticket at the passenger's expense. Special Requests: Cox & Kings will endeavour to request any specific meals or services, on the condition that we are told at the time of booking. Specific seat requests with most major airlines can now only be requested if travelling in Business or First Class. We are able to request general seating preferences for Economy Class passengers, such as smoking or nonsmoking. Most international and domestic flights are now totally non-smoking. With all special requests, please remember that they are all `requests' and as such are at the discretion of the airline and cannot be guaranteed. Airport Departure Taxes: International UK departure tax is included in the cost of your holiday (unless otherwise stated), when you buy your ticket from Cox & Kings. The cost of our tours does not always include other airport departure taxes or overland departure taxes, it is therefore necessary for you to pay these locally and in local currency. Please ensure that you retain enough local currency to cover these taxes. Departure taxes vary in each country and the rates will be advised to you before your departure from the U.K. These taxes are always subject to change, and if they do so when you are travelling, your tour leader or our ground handler will advise you on site. The following list should act as a guideline only:
China Hong Kong Vietnam Cambodia Laos Thailand Malaysia Japan Mongolia South Korea Taiwan No departure tax No departure tax Internal VND 2000-2500 International VND 3000 International US$15 International US$10 Internal THB 200 International THB500 International MYR 51 No departure tax International US$13 No departure tax No departure tax ROAD TRAVEL
arrive / depart early in the morning, and while we will endeavour to schedule your tour with a flight which arrives / departs at a reasonable time, sometimes there is little or no alternative and early check-in / check-out times may be required.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation standards vary dramatically throughout the Far East; however, in most of the major cities the hotels are of a good standard. Standards will vary much more in some of the smaller cities and rural areas. For our tours in the Far East, we have chosen hotels primarily for their location and the facilities available. We will endeavour to supply any extra information that you may require on these hotels. The hotels listed in the tour itineraries may occasionally be unavailable for the required dates. In this event, we will advise you of the alternative hotels, which will, where possible, be of the same or of a higher standard than those featured in the itineraries. There are many new hotels being built in the Far East and we may upgrade those featured in the brochure if better options in the same category become available. In Mongolia we use traditional tents, `Gers.' Check-in & Check-out Times: For all group and individual tours, hotel check-in/out time is normally 12 noon, but this does vary between hotels. Early check-ins and late check-outs cannot be pre-booked without extra payment. Single Accommodation: Often, the location and standard of single rooms may not be as good as that of doubles. If you are in doubt, we suggest you request a double room at an additional supplement. If you are unhappy with your room whilst on holiday please ensure that you query this with a Cox & Kings representative at the time. In the absence of a Cox & Kings representative, we advise you discuss the matter with the hotel manager.
WALKING
Many of the sites in the Far East necessitate a reasonable amount of walking, either to the site or around it. Whilst the walking is normally easy going, a full-day's sightseeing can be quite tiring and sometimes strenuous. In addition, at the Great Wall in China, there are many steep sections and uneven surfaces. Travel to Mongolia involves a fair amount of walking and it can be of a strenuous nature. A reasonable amount of fitness is required.
CRUISES
The majority of the roads to and from major tourist destinations are sealed and in reasonable condition. Although many of the city roads are now 4 to 6 lane highways and have had a large amount of investment in recent years, many of the narrower ones and smaller highways are bumpy and pot-holed. Driving rules and regulations are very complicated and it is currently not possible to hire cars to travel out of the major cities within China, and not recommended within the cities. In Vietnam and Cambodia, many of the roads are in poor condition but most of the main highways are sealed. For longer journeys we will nearly always advise you to fly. Types of vehicles vary according to the country visited and the numbers on a tour. Generally, the following can be used as a guideline for the size of transportation provided: 1-3 passengers, saloon car; 4-6 passengers, mini van; 6-19 passengers, small bus; 20-28 passengers, medium bus.
Cruise boats may vary their itineraries with little or no notice if water levels become unusually low, or to avoid areas of dense traffic. Such changes are generally very rare, but you should check the final itinerary at reception when you embark. Cruise itineraries include full board, but all drinks will be charged as extras.
FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) produces a wide range of material about overseas countries that may be visited by British citizens, to ensure that travellers are properly informed about any overseas destination, particularly in relation to political unrest, crime and health issues. Where the FCO considers that British citizens would face unjustifiable risks to health, it actually advises either against travelling to the country in question or against non-essential travel to that country.
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