Family Adventures Brochure 2012/2013 - Exodus Family Adventures Brochure 2012/2013 (page 88)

Reality Check Essential Information 86 6) Group activities Exodus offers adventurous holidays that involve different types of activities; as such you should ensure that you read all accompanying literature carefully for details of the level of the activity and the necessary experience (if any) required on your family holiday. Whilst we ensure the activity is run to the local legal standard and risk assessments are regularly carried out, some activities do carry an element of risk and it is your responsibility to ensure that the trip/activities are suitable for you and your family and that you are all fit enough to join in. Most of the holidays in this brochure are based on a group with a leader to accompany them. As such all activities included in the price are based on being part of the group. If by choice or necessity your family, or part of it, leave the group, we will generally not be able to supply alternative services, leaders and activities, and you should not expect this. Taking your family abroad anywhere abroad can expose them to risks not normally faced at home. We do believe, however, that if you prepare properly and go with the right attitude there are some exciting, challenging and adventurous holidays featured in this brochure. We do ask that you read and consider this section carefully before booking your holiday. 1) Health requirements The Trip Notes list any statutory vaccination requirements for the countries we visit on individual trips if you are travelling from the UK. If you are travelling from elsewhere you should check with your doctor, the nearest embassy or tourist office for current regulations. We strongly recommend that you check with your family doctor or specialist travel clinic as soon as you book for up-to-date advice, particularly for younger children. It is a good idea for the family to have a dental check-up before you go, as, in many of the countries to which we travel, facilities are expensive and may not be of the same standard as you are used to. If you are travelling in Europe you should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your Post Office. This gives some free medical care in certain European countries. 7) Know Before You Go Exodus has joined the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Know Before You Go campaign. Know Before you Go aims to make sure that travellers are properly prepared before setting out on travels overseas and have independent advice. The emphasis is on: � Seeking the FCO advice about countries to be visited before departure � Having adequate travel insurance � Following local laws and regulations � Avoiding taking risks with money and possessions whilst abroad. The best way to get the FCO's latest advice on a particular country is to visit their website www.fco.gov.uk/travel. Or, call Exodus and we will be pleased to provide the latest FCO advice. 2) Travelling as a family On all trips the staff are there to help ensure the holiday runs as smoothly as possible and, in the unlikely event that it does not, to sort out the best possible alternatives. What they cannot do is act as child minders or babysitters. They will treat your children as "small adults", but it is your responsibility to look after your young ones. During free time or if you decide to opt out of a part of the itinerary, you are responsible for your family and any arrangements that may need to be made. Under no circumstances should this responsibility fall on our staff or any fellow travellers outside your immediate family. 3) Adventurous travel On some of our holidays the areas are remote, the lifestyle is very different and events much less predictable than on a conventional holiday. Health, safety and operational standards - particularly of hotels, transport and airlines - are often not up to Western levels. However good our organisation is, we are at the mercy of the unexpected, and this type of trip can never be entirely cut-and-dried. If you are not prepared for this you should not travel with us. Because these are not ordinary package holidays, the outline itineraries given in this brochure are statements of intent rather than promises. Local weather, politics, airlines, transport or a host of other uncontrollable factors can mean a change in itinerary or means of transport. It is unlikely that the itinerary would be substantially altered, but if changes are necessary the leader will decide the best alternative, after consultation with the group. Where a delay or change does occur, we will do everything we can to minimise its effects, but we cannot be held responsible for the results of delays or changes outside our control. Finally, crime and other security risks exist in practically all countries, whether it is the USA or India. Travelling in a group is a safeguard, but not a guarantee. Though we will take all reasonable care of you, we cannot do this adequately if you do not at all times take sensible precautions yourself. Other Information 1) Group Size, Minimum and Maximum Numbers For each trip we indicate a normal group size in the Trip Details section. Most of our holidays are group holidays and require a certain number of participants to operate. In the unlikely event that a holiday does not reach minimum numbers we may be forced to cancel. Therefore we strongly recommend that you do not make any non-refundable or non-changeable travel arrangements until the trip has been confirmed. If a holiday has not reached minimum numbers a final decision will be made between eight and six weeks before departure, although on occasion we may keep a holiday open until four weeks beforehand in an effort to get enough bookings to operate the holiday. If the group size drops below the minimum stated, we reserve the right either to cancel or to run the trip with minor modifications. We also reserve the right to confirm trips on numbers lower than the minimum indicated in this brochure. Occasionally, where operationally possible, we may exceed the maximum number stated in the brochure. 4) Accommodation Our aim, wherever possible, is to use accommodation that is in keeping with the area that we visit, local in character, and generally locally-owned. In many countries Health and Safety regulations are not up to the standards in the EU, Australasia or North America and because of this care needs to be taken to familiarise yourselves with the general layout of the accommodation and you may need to supervise your children more closely than you would have to in an `international' standard establishment. Particular care should be taken where the accommodation includes a swimming pool, as signs and other safety features may not be present. Plumbing and hot water can also be erratic, other facilities may not be of resort standard, and service, although friendly, may not be polished and professional. If you choose to travel on this type of holiday you must accept that this is all part of the experience. 2) Age requirements The minimum age for each trip and activity is indicated in the trip information. These ages apply to the date of departure, not the date of booking. Regrettably we cannot accept unaccompanied children under the age of 18. All trips in this brochure are family holidays, and therefore for each family booking there must be at least 1 child under the age of 18. 5) Transport In many countries that we visit, transport facilities, regulations and health and safety precautions are not up to the standard of the EU, Australasia or North America. Where this is the case we attempt to ensure that all the transport used complies with local regulations and standards, but we cannot guarantee the same standard as in the EU. If you choose to travel to these destinations, you must be prepared to accept the standard of transport that is available in the area. Talk to a families expert on 0845 863 9636