Booking Conditions

 

All bookings are made and accepted in accordance with the terms set out in these conditions

(published October 2009)

1    Deposit and Balance of Payment We will hold provisional bookings made by email, pending receipt within seven days of Booking Form and £100 deposit per person (refundable only if received after the holiday is fully booked). On receipt of your cheque, your place/s will be reserved and accommodation booked and we will send a written confirmation by email. (If your signed booking form and deposit are not received within seven days, the provisional booking will automatically expire.) Late bookings may be possible, subject to availability of accommodation, but if you book within 14 weeks of departure, the full amount is payable when you book. Receipt of your deposit is accepted as a first instalment and it is at this stage that a contract exists between you and Country Walks. You will receive an invoice for the balance which is payable 14 weeks before departure; if the balance does not reach us in time, we will be obliged to consider the booking as cancelled by you and to apply cancellation charges as set out below. You should not book your flights until your holiday booking has been confirmed.

2    If you alter or cancel your booking  Should you cancel after your booking has been confirmed, you should inform us in writing by letter or email. Since we will have incurred costs by this stage on your behalf, your deposit will be forfeited. If you cancel within 14 weeks of departure, you will be liable for cancellation charges as follows which take effect from the date we received your letter or email. Cancellation before 14 weeks of holiday date: deposit only; between 14 weeks and 4 weeks: 50% of the full price; between 4 weeks and 1 week of the holiday date: 80% of the full price is payable by you; 1 week before the holiday date, or failing to attend: 100% is payable. Your insurance may cover the costs of cancellation. If you are obliged to cancel, you may, with reasonable notice, transfer your booking to a third party who satisfies all the conditions required by a person participating in this holiday, but you will be required to pay an additional administrative fee of £25 resulting from the transfer.  

3    If we alter or cancel your booking  We will make every effort to operate the holiday as advertised but we reserve the right to make minor changes to itineraries or other arrangements if circumstances dictate. We also reserve the right to cancel any individual booking if it is considered to be in the best interests of remaining clients and/or group leaders. In the case of our making cancellations, all money paid to us by you would be fully refunded.

4    Holiday cost is guaranteed regardless of fluctuations in the exchange rate of sterling.

5    Passport, health and insurance requirements  A full passport is required. Application forms are available from main Post Offices, normally a minimum of one month should be allowed for processing. Non-British citizens and British citizens not holding British passports should check the necessary requirements with the appropriate consulates. There are no recommended  or compulsory health formalities but obviously normal good health and fitness is essential to enjoy a walking holiday. If you suffer from any recurrent condition, we can only accept your booking if accompanied by a certificate from your doctor that it is considered entirely safe for you to undertake the holiday. Adequate travel insurance (including medical, personal accident and repatriation in the event of illness, baggage, money and liability cover as well as cover for loss of monies paid in the event of cancellation) is essential as a condition of booking and required under EC law.

6    Liability  Whilst every effort will be made to see that all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure your safety, we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to personal possessions, property or for death, injury or illness as a result of taking part in the holiday. Nor can we accept responsibility for loss or expense due to delays, changes in travel services, strikes, sickness, weather, riots, war, government action or any other cause outside our control. Your statutory rights are not affected.

7    Security  Country Walks complies with current Government Regulations regarding the protection of clients’ money.

8    Complaints  In the event that you should have a complaint about any aspect of your holiday, your complaint should be taken up immediately with the Group Leaders. Should it not be possible to resolve your complaint at the time, please write to us with full details within 14 days of the end of the holiday.

9    The Law  The contract made by accepting these booking conditions is subject to English law and jurisdiction.

Acceptance of the above conditions is implied when a booking is made