Travel Information

We advise all of our clients to obtain current and relevant information in relation to the country that they are visiting. This information can be obtained accessing the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website on www.fcdo.gov.uk.

Passports

Before travelling please ensure that you have a full and valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your scheduled return date to the UK. It is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct valid travel documents for the country/ies you are visiting and obtain the necessary health vaccinations (please consult your doctor to obtain up to date information). Please note, we cannot be held liable for any delays or costs resulting from your failure to meet the necessary requirements to tour.

Suitability to tour

Questions to ask yourself before your travel may include: > Are you well enough to travel? > Should you be in any doubt as to your fitness to travel? > Have you received any treatment during the 6 months preceding the journey? > Do you suffer from any on going medical condition? (If so; then you seek medical advice on the suitability of the chosen destination and tour) taking into account the nature of the tour, climate, vaccinations required > Any potential problems with regard to the travel arrangements i.e. air pressures on the flight and length of journey. > Will you be covered both to travel and to play? (All insurance companies have conditions, exclusions and limitations that apply to individual sections and general exclusions that apply to the whole of their policies). We will be more than happy to provide you with a group travel and playing insurance.

Useful Travel Information

You may obtain literature on travel issues from The Department of Health, who produce a booklet, which will provide you with in depth information about travelling ‘Health Advice for Travellers’. This can be obtained by telephoning 0800 555777. If you are concerned about your health prior to travel, you can obtain up to date information from the Medical Advice Centre on 01276 685040.

Emergency Contact

Prior to your departure we will provide you with contact numbers for our overseas suppliers as well as our own staff in the UK, in the event of an emergency, you will be able to speak with a member of staff.

Playing Sport

As most of our clients are sporting group, we will request that you have obtained authorisation to tour from your sport’s governing body as well as having purchased adequate playing insurance to cover sporting injuries while on tour (playing insurance cost available on request). It is also very important that you take the appropriate equipment in relation to your destination.

Your Contract

Bookings must be made in writing by completing the booking form and accompanied by the appropriate payment. The contract between us will be created when we send written confirmation in the form of our tour confirmation and invoice. This agreement is governed by English Law and is the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales. All tours have been based upon a minimum number of passengers travelling together and in the event that this number is not reached, we reserve the right to cancel the tour, offering an alternative tour or full refund of monies paid. We will advise the passengers or their travel agent, no later than six weeks prior to departure, if the minimum number required for the tour has not been achieved. Tours will not be cancelled within six weeks of travel unless for reasons of “force majeure” or non-payment of the balance payment by yourself or any other member of your party.

Warranty

When making this booking, you warrant that you have the authority to enter into this contract on behalf of all other members of your party and that you are also responsible for ensuring due payment of all monies payable in respect of this booking in the event of default by any member of the party.

Payment

A deposit payment is required at the time of booking, unless the booking is made within 13 weeks of departure, when you will have to pay the full amount at the time you book. Where you have paid a deposit, then the balance payment is required at least 12 weeks prior to your departure. If the balance payment remains unpaid within 8 weeks of departure, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and invoice you with all the cancellation charges. Payment can be made in the form of cash, cheque, credit card or debit card. In relation to credit cards, a supplement of 2% is levied on all payments made. There will be no levy on payments made by debit cards. Clients booking these tours through a Travel Agent, should be aware that their money which they have paid to and is therefore held by that Travel Agent (known as “pipeline money”) this being under or in contemplation of a contract, is at all times held on behalf of Atlas International and is protected by our ATOL.

Prices

Prices are subject to surcharges or reductions due to currency fluctuations, increases in scheduled airfares or Government action. We will absorb any increases within 2%. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged. Where the surcharge is greater than 10% of the holiday price, you will be entitled to cancel with a full refund of all money paid. Cancellations must be in writing and made within 14 days from the issue date of the invoice.

Changes by You

If you wish to alter your booking in any way, you must do this in writing. If the amendment is possible there will be a minimum charge of £50 per person plus any additional cost that has been incurred. Any new arrangements made will be recosted and could affect all members of your party. Should you request a change within 8 weeks of the original departure date, this may be treated as a cancellation and charges may be levied a shown below.

Changes by Us

It is unlikely that we will have to make changes to your tour, but due to planning arrangements many months in advance, sometimes we may need to make changes, and as a result reserve the right to do so at any time. Changes are usually minor and in the event of these changes we will inform you or your travel agent. In the event of a major change (airport change, accommodation, time of departure etc) we will inform you or your travel agent as early as possible before departure. If a major change occurs, you have the following options: Accept the alternative offered, together with the compensation on offer (see scale below) Chose another tour at brochure price, together with any compensation that may apply (see scale below) Cancel your tour in which case we will refund to you all monies you have paid us. Period before scheduled departure within which a major change is notified to you or your travel agent. Compensation per person More than 56 days before departure NIL 56 – 43 days £10.00 42 – 29 days £20.00 28 – 15 days £30.00 14 – 08 days £40.00 07 – 00 days £50.00 Note! Compensation payments do not apply to changes necessitated by unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the companies control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even with all due care (which also includes those set out within “force majeure” as detailed below)

Force Majeure (unforseen circumstances)

Atlas cannot accept responsibility or shall not be liable in respect of loss or damage or changes caused by circumstances amounting to “force majeure”, events such as strikes, riots, political unrest, hostilities, war or threat of war, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, government action, natural disasters, fire, adverse weather conditions, technical problems to transport, aircraft grounding, closure of airports or ports or similar events beyond our control. In the event that any of the test matches are cancelled or transferred to another venue due to whatever reason, we regret that we are unable to accept any responsibility and shall not be liable by way of refund or compensation, even if this was you main reason for booking the tour arrangement.

Cancellation by You

Should any member of the party shown on the booking form wish to cancel their booking, we must be notified in writing and will be effective from the date of receipt of the notification, this notification must be signed by the person who signed the booking form. A cancellation charge calculated on the scale set out below, becomes payable by each passenger who has cancelled. We reserve the right to charge you for extra costs and / or expenses incurred as a result of changes or part cancellation made by each passenger to an original booking or amended booking. In the case, when some members of your party have to cancel, apart from cancellation charges being levied against the cancelled members. The remaining passengers in the party must pay any increased costs for the tour. Period before scheduled departure date from the date letter received by us Cancellation charge expressed as % of total cost Before 56 days Loss of Deposit 56 – 43 days 30% 42 – 29 days 50% 28 – 15 days 70% 14 – 08 days 90% 07 – 00 days 100%

Our Responsibility to You

We accept responsibility to ensure that all component parts of your tour are as confirmed and services offered are of a good standard. If any significant part is not provided, we will pay you appropriate compensation if this has affected the enjoyment of your tour. We have taken all reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure proper arrangements for the tours and that the suppliers of the various services provided to you as part of your tour are efficient, safe and reputable and comply with local and national laws and regulations of the country in which they provide those services. However, we do not have direct control over the provision of services to clients by suppliers and we cannot be held responsible or liable of death, injury or illness caused to clients, unless through negligence of our employees, agents, subcontractors and suppliers and their staff whilst acting within the scope of their employment providing they were at the time performing duties authorised by us. In the event that our agents, subcontractors and suppliers are able to exclude or limit liability by virtue of any international convention, we will claim the benefits of that exclusion or limitation. Also except where this was caused by your own acts or omissions of those of a third party not connected with the provision of your tour arrangements and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or an event which either ourselves or the supplier of the services(s) in question could not have been foreseen or avoided even with all due care. Where the service in question consists of carriage by air, we limit our obligations and liabilities in the manner provided by international conventions in respect of air carriage, as this is the responsibility of air carriers, their obligations and liabilities are at all times subject to their conditions of carriage and are governed by various International Conventions. In respect of claims arising as a result of death, bodily injury or illness caused to you and/or any other named persons on the booking form, claims under this section shall be subject to English Law in respect of any question of liability or quantum and all proceedings shall be within the exclusive domain of the courts of England and Wales.

Passport / Visa and Health Requirements

A full and valid passport is essential and must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your scheduled return date to the UK. It is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct valid travel documents for the country/ies to visit and obtain the necessary health vaccinations. Please note, we cannot be held liable for any delays or costs resulting from your failure to meet the necessary requirements. Are you well enough to travel? Should you be in any doubt as to your fitness to travel and if you have received any treatment during the 6 months preceding the journey, or you suffer from any on going medical condition, then you seek medical advice on the suitability of the chosen destination and tour, taking into account the nature of the tour, climatic conditions, vaccinations required and any potential problems with regard to the travel arrangements i.e. air pressures on the flight and length of journey. Will you be covered? All insurance companies have conditions, exclusions and limitations that apply to individual sections and general exclusions that apply to the whole of their policies. A ‘Health Advice for Travellers’ booklet issued by the Department of Health, which can be obtained by telephoning 0800 555777. As health restrictions may change, we suggest that travellers obtain up to date information by calling the Medical Advice Centre on 0127 6685040 or the Tropical Diseases Healthline on 0839 337722. Please also check with your own G.P.

Late Arrival and Behaviour

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are at the correct departure points in good time before departure. We cannot accept any responsibility if you miss the aircraft or coach as a result of your checking in later or your connecting transport being delayed. At all times during your tour, you are expected to have consideration for your fellow passengers and other third parties. If in the opinion of our staff, agent, airline personnel, hotel management or other persons in authority you are, or appear to be behaving in such a way as to cause danger distress, annoyance or damage to property, either ourselves or the suppliers concerned may terminate your tour arrangements. In this situation we will have no further liability to you and will not be responsible for meeting any expenses you incur as a result, or making any refund or paying any compensation. In addition you will be responsible for any expenses you incur as a result of your behaviour.

Extras

All accounts for services and goods provided by the hotel(s), which are not included within the package cost, must be paid by clients before departure from the hotel(s).

Flight Delays

We cannot accept responsibility for any delays in departure or for any costs incurred by you as a result of any delays (drinks, refreshments, meals or accommodation). The scheduled carrier will administer assistance according to the merits of each case. You will appreciate however, that in the case of delays affecting a number of flights, it may be impossible to provide the level of meals required due to congestion at the airport. (If you have taken recommended insurance cover, you may be able to claim compensation for delays in excess of 12 hours). We will endeavour to keep you informed of the cause and extent of delays but ultimately this information is provided by the airlines on whom we depend for information.

Flight Timings

Airlines have confirmed their flight timings and are correct at the time of publication. However they are still subject to alteration without prior warning. Please note we shall advise you of any major changes, when notified by the airlines. Your final flight details will be shown on your tickets and travelling instructions, which will be sent to you about 10 days prior to departure.

Flights

Operational decisions may be taken by the air carriers and airports resulting in delays, diversions or rescheduling. We have no control over such decisions and are therefore unable to accept responsibility for whatever results in such decisions.

Insurance

In your own interest we strongly recommend that clients take out adequate insurance cover before travelling. Please ensure that you then read your policy details promptly and carefully. We can offer an insurance policy, however, you are entirely free to make your own arrangements. If you decide to decline our insurance cover we will require a signed insurance indemnity form which will be sent to you at the time of confirmation.

Complaints

If you have a problem during your tour, please bring it to the attention of our local staff representative / agent so that they have the opportunity to rectify the situation. If as a result your complaint cannot be completely resolved to your satisfaction locally, you must inform our representative / agent in writing and follow this up within 28 days of your return home by writing to our office in Bridgend. If you fail to follow this procedure, we cannot accept responsibility for any claim, as we have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify the problem. If any complaint cannot be settled amicably you may refer any dispute relating to this contract to an arbitrator appointed by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators under a special scheme devised by arrangement with the Association of British Travel Agents. The scheme provides a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration of documents alone with restricted liability of the client in respect of costs. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £1500 per person or £7500 per booking form, nor to claims, which are solely, or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness of the consequences of such injury. The rules of the scheme provide that the application for arbitration must be made within 9 months of the date of return from the holiday, but in special circumstances it may still be offered outside this period.