Before you Travel

Health & Safety Precautions & Travel Advice: Health facilities, hygiene & disease risks vary worldwide. You should take health advice about your specific needs as early as possible. Sources of information include the following websites; www.fco.gov.uk, www.hpa.org.uk & www.nathnac.org.uk. Also, you are advised to contact your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic. Please note, that you are strongly advised against scuba diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. If you are visiting a European Union (EU) country you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) & take it with you when you travel. The EHIC can be obtained free of charge by completing an application form available from main Post Offices & from www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. Please note, the EHIC is in addition to Travel Insurance, not instead of it. The Foreign & Commonwealth Travel Advice Unit may have issued information about your holiday destination. You are advised to check for the latest information on the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can contact the ABTA Information Department on 0845 850 2829.

Passports & Visas: The following information applies to British Citizens holding a UK passport issued in the UK. Non-British Citizen passport holders or British Citizens holding a UK Passport issued abroad should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy for clarification. Please note, both passport & visa regulations can change & you should check with your travel agent or the relevant embassy well in advance of travel. It can often take some time to obtain a visa, so you are advised to apply in plenty of time.

Your Responsibility: It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they have valid, acceptable passports & any required visa or any other documentation for the travel they are to undertake. Passengers without the correct documentation may be refused carriage by the airline or entry into any country. Where entry is refused, fines or other financial penalty will be imposed on or by the airline & the passenger(s) concerned will be required to immediately return to their country of departure. Any passenger who travels without the required passport/visa/other documentation is solely responsible for & must immediately pay all fines, surcharges, other financial penalty, costs (including the cost of their immediate return flight) & any other sums of any description which are incurred or imposed by the airline or incurred by ourselves. This will be the case regardless of whether the lack of correct documentation is spotted at the departure airport. We can accept no liability in this situation & no compensation, expenses, refund or other sum will be paid.

Validity: A valid passport is essential when you travel abroad. Although your passport has been issued for 10 years (5 years for children) you should note that some overseas countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period after the date of entry to that country (typically 6 months). If your passport is in its final year of validity, you are advised to check the requirements of the destination before you make your final travel plans. Visitors to Egypt require a visa, which can be obtained either prior to departure or on arrival. The visa can be paid for in Sterling or US$ & costs approximately £10 per person. For further information on entry requirements, please check with the Egyptian consulate-general in London on 09065 508933 (24hr helpline). Visitors to Turkey require an entry visa, which can be purchased on arrival. The visa costs £10 (payable in Sterling notes only) & is valid for 90 days from the date of arrival into Turkey. Visitors to Cyprus should note that a 10-year passport is required which is valid for 3 months after the date of return to the UK. Visitors to Bulgaria should note that you may enter Bulgaria as a tourist without a visa for up to thirty days only in any 6 month period. You may not be allowed to re-enter Bulgaria after the initial thirty days have expired if you have not spent the requisite period outside the country.

Apply Early: If you need to apply for a passport or renew an expired passport, you should do so well in advance of travel & at least four weeks before. (If you are 16 or over & have never had a passport in your own name, you should apply for one at least six weeks before your holiday. The UK passport service has to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport & will ask you to attend an interview in order to protect your identity). Visit the website of the Identity & Passport service at www.ips.gov.uk or call on 0870 521 0410.

Names: At the time of booking please ensure you supply your first name & surname, (as they appear on your passport) as both of these must be stated on your flight ticket. This will reduce confusion & delays at check-in. It is anticipated that customers could face more queries & delays as more countries introduce Advance Passenger Information systems. You may not be able to travel & insurance may be invalid if the name on your passport & travel documents don't match. If, after booking a holiday but before travelling, any member of your party changes their name, e.g. as a result of getting married, we must be notified immediately so that we can make the necessary changes to your holiday documentation.

Disabled Travellers: The majority of overseas accommodation, overseas transport (including transfers) & other holiday services provided overseas are not equipped to cater for the needs of many disabled holidaymakers. Furthermore the natural terrain & the layout of some resorts can sometimes make life difficult for wheelchair users. It is therefore important, if you have any disability, that the appropriate enquiries are made about the suitability of particular accommodation, resorts, transport & services, & that you are fully satisfied you have made the correct choice before you book & confirm your holiday. Please note: if special arrangements need to be made for you an extra charge may have to be levied. We cannot be held responsible if you fail to tell us about special needs/requirements that will affect your holiday experience & this means we will not compensate you. If you require help/assistance on your flight or at your departure airport, please inform us at the earliest opportunity. We will pass on your requirements to the relevant airport/airline. For customers who require support or advice prior to booking, ask your travel agent to contact us, or if you have booked direct please contact our Special Needs Team on 0800 107 3409.

Currency & Money: We recommend the purchase of traveller's cheques or the Cashpassport for the bulk of your holiday money, with a small amount of local currency for initial sundry items. Major credit cards are also widely accepted in all the destinations in this guide. In some cases local currencies may have to be purchased after arrival or there may be restrictions on the amount you are permitted to buy in advance. We suggest you contact your travel agent for details. In Bulgaria, traveller's cheques can only be cashed at banks, therefore it is advisable to take a small amount of £ Sterling or Euros to cash at hotels.