Your Accommodation

General: Accommodation can, at times, have a lively atmosphere & facilities & entertainment may vary according to the mix & ages of guests in residence.

Official Ratings: Ratings systems are an attempt to give you a guide to the overall quality of properties. The official ratings are given by the authorities in the country & do tend to give a fair impression of relative standards within that country. However, different countries have different standards, so don't assume that a 3-star hotel in one country is equivalent to a 3-star hotel in another. Official classifications are: Greece - Hotels & Apartments graded A to E class; Spain - Hotels graded 1 to 5 star, Hostels graded 1 to 3 star, Apartments graded 1 to 5 key; Cyprus & Bulgaria - Hotels graded 1 to 5 star, Apartments are tourist class graded from A to D. All ratings that appear in this guide are the official ratings at the time of going to print.

Club Ratings: The Club ratings system used in this guide ranges from 1 to 4. The ratings have been set by our resort staff based on their opinion as to the property's suitability for Club 18-30 guests. A number of factors have been included in the rating of properties including; room standard & facilities, property standard & facilities, swimming pool/hotel bar, food (if served at the property), entertainment (at the property) & location to the nightlife & the beach. These ratings are subjective & not based on any official ratings or guidelines.

Accommodation & Room Types: When we mention room types in our guide, in most cases you can expect to receive a room similar to that described below. Please note however that whilst room categories in different hotels may have the same or similar names, the criteria for their classification is likely to differ, as these are the names the hotels use & they do not have standard definitions. Please note that we do not always sell all room types at all hotels. The following sections provide some additional information on accommodation & room types.

Hotels & Hotel Rooms: The term 'hotel' is used to describe various types of accommodation & does not necessarily distinguish between local classifications such as 'aparthotel', 'holiday village', 'holiday complex'.

Room Information:

• Double rooms - a 'Double' is a room with a double bed. A double bed may be two single beds with double bedding.
• Twin rooms - a 'Twin' is a room with two single beds.
• Single rooms - a 'Single' or 'Twin for sole use' is a room with one or two single beds.
• Rooms sleeping up to 4 people - some hotels have rooms that sleep up to 4 people. Room layout may consist of up to 4 separate beds or a combination of double, twin, camp beds, sofa beds or rollaway beds. Rooms for up to 4 persons may not be any larger than standard twin or double rooms so space is likely to limited & the room may be cramped. Where rooms do accept extra beds, some hotels may require an additional local charge to be paid which can vary by destination, please ask for details when you book. Though we will do our best to help, please note that we cannot guarantee the room configuration or type of beds that you will be provided with.

Studios & Apartments

It's not unusual in some countries (particularly those in the Mediterranean) to have beds with concrete bases. Please also be aware that although initially supplied, it is usual in some Greek studios & apartments for toilet rolls not to be re-supplied.

• Studios - A 'studio' is one room living-cum-sleeping accommodation, usually with sofa beds, basic kitchen facilities (two cooking rings & a fridge) & a shower room.
• Apartments - An apartment is self-contained with one or more bedrooms with twin/double beds, basic kitchen facilities (two cooking rings & fridge) & shower room. One-bedroom apartments usually have a separate living area, though in Greece multi-bedroom apartments may not have a separate living area. Apartment descriptions indicate the number of adults who can occupy an apartment (e.g. 2-4 persons). This will not always mean that at the time of your stay the apartment will contain the maximum number of beds, if there is less than the maximum number of people in your own party. Beds in the living area may be of the folding type or sofa beds.

Views from a Balcony/Terrace: If you would like a specific view, please be aware that rooms described as having a pool or sea view may not have a full pool or full sea view because of plants or buildings blocking the view.

Meal Service: Providing meals from a self-service buffet is popular in hotels. We include the most up-to-date information we have about meal service in our accommodation descriptions, but occasionally arrangements will change. Breakfast will be of the 'continental' type unless stated otherwise. In certain properties, extended or 'English' type breakfasts are available & may be at an extra charge. Many properties are not necessarily used to catering for special diets & therefore if you have particular or specific requirements, you may find that the choice is limited.

How Many Nights Are Spent In Your Accommodation? Your accommodation is usually reserved for you from 12:00 noon on the day of your departure from the UK; however, at some larger hotels delays may occur with check-in whilst your room is prepared for you. For night flights departing between 00:00 & 04:00 hours, the day of departure is deemed to be the previous day. In some cases, depending on your flight times, you may arrive in the early hours or during the course of the morning. Your accommodation should be immediately available to you, & in this case this is classed as the first night of your holiday. Rooms are normally vacated at the internationally recognised time of 12 noon on the last day of the holiday. However, there are some areas where a 10am vacating time is operated. On occasions there may be several hours to wait before the departure of your flight home. In such cases a courtesy room may be made available for changing & storing luggage. Sometimes hotels will let you keep your room for a longer period but usually for a small charge. This is not always possible with apartments.

Air Conditioning: Some properties have individual air conditioners located in either the bedroom or the living area, allowing you to adjust the atmosphere to your liking. In some descriptions we have indicated that there is centrally controlled air conditioning. This means it is operated at the discretion of the management, both in bedrooms & public areas. In such cases air conditioning may be limited to particular times of the day & the hottest months of the year. There is normally a charge for air conditioning in rooms.

Other Guests: We do not have exclusive use of all properties featured in this guide. It is possible, therefore, that there may be guests from other countries & of mixed age groups at your accommodation.

Accommodation Maintenance: Certain accommodation featured in this guide is operational all year round. From time to time it will be necessary for certain facilities to be withdrawn for general maintenance purposes. Water & electricity supplies may be interrupted whilst this essential maintenance is undertaken.

Cleaning: The standard & frequency of cleaning & linen change can vary from resort to resort & property to property depending on general standards in resort & the rating of your accommodation. For instance, cleaning & changing of linen in Greece & mainland Spain will be of an acceptable standard, but it may not be as often as other resorts.

Exclusive Properties: At the time of this guide going to print (September 2008) all properties featuring the exclusive logo are correct, however during the course of the year this is subject to change. Please note, exclusivity refers to exclusivity within the UK market only.

Safety & Hygiene: Your health & safety is of paramount concern to us, especially if children are involved. In addition to monitoring the hygiene & safety standards in all the hotel & apartments that we use, it is appropriate that we bring to your attention the need for you to be careful & to take necessary precautions whilst overseas & we need your help & cooperation with this. We would ask you to pay close attention to the following information, together with any other information we, our agents or suppliers, provide to you before you go, during your flight & when you arrive in your destination & at your hotel. It is most important that you familiarise yourself with this information & any other information you are given or on display, because not only do we want you to have a great holiday but we want you to have a safe holiday.

Swimming Pools & Water Features: Some of our hotels & apartments welcome local people & other holidaymakers not residing at the property to use the swimming pool & facilities within the accommodation. This can lead to pool areas becoming busy at times, for example sunbathing space & available sun loungers may become limited. Please make use of the pool shower facilities before swimming - this helps to prevent any potential infections & helps to keep the pool clean. Every pool is different & most hotels/apartments do not employ life guards, so you are strongly recommended to familiarise yourself with the pool layout, identifying the deep & shallow ends before using. Do not use the pool after dark or when the pool is closed, even if the pool has underwater lights. You should never swim when you have been drinking alcohol. Whilst some of our hotels & apartments have water features, such as slides or flumes, which may appear in our photography, generally we do not recommend these are used. It is possible such features may have been replaced or removed since the photography was taken.

Overseas Safety Standards: Although the accommodation featured does operate to its own country's standards, regrettably the safety standards & regulations overseas may not be of the same level that we enjoy in the UK. For instance, the design & height of balconies may differ. The setting & enforcement of local regulations is a matter for the Authorities of the country & the foreign supplier of the services concerned. We are working with hoteliers to improve standards wherever possible. You should familiarise yourself with fire procedures, including emergency exits in your accommodation, the swimming pool(s) area & any unfamiliar cooking appliances. If in doubt, ask your representative or an appropriate member of staff.

Out & About: Due to rough terrain & uneven surfaces, we recommend that you are extra careful & vigilant when visiting temples & other sites of interest & when crossing roads. Crimes against people & property are a fact of life throughout the world & you have the same responsibility for your own safety as you do at home. In some places the local police may not be very cooperative or interested when you report a theft or need insurance confirmation so always take care of your property. It is recommended not to approach cats & dogs & other animals as these may carry the rabies disease which can be passed on through bites & scratches. Please exercise caution before entering the sea as the seabed is not even & changes in depth. The sea is capable of springing surprises & we have not inspected the beach or seabed for its safety.