Essential Information

Holiday Price

The price of your holiday includes:

  1. Return flights between the UK and appropriate overseas airport.
  2. Luggage allowance of 20kg, usually higher when booking Upgrade Service seats, or as specified on your air ticket. Please check your ticket to see what applies.
  3. Transport between the overseas airport and your property and between properties on split-centre holidays.
  4. Accommodation, meals and any other services you pre-book in the UK, as detailed on our confirmation invoice.
  5. All accommodation service charges.
  6. The services of the Exclusive Escapes overseas team or local office/agent throughout your holiday.
  7. UK Government tax of £10 for Turkey & £5 Greece.

What's not included:

  1. Transport between your home and departure point.
  2. Holiday Insurance (which you must have, if not purchased through us).
  3. Drinks and coffee with meals and refreshments en-route, except those served on aircraft or specified as included.
  4. Optional excursions.
  5. Cost of entry visa if applicable.
  6. Any price increases as detailed in our 'Price Guarantee'.
  7. Cost of cots, food and service charges for infants.
  8. Local charges for the hire of safety deposit boxes, fans, sports or any other facilities described in this brochure unless specifically stated as included.

Important Notes

  • All prices are per person and are based on the advertised maximum room occupancy.
  • Refunds are not available for any services, accommodation or transport booked but not utilised.
  • We reserve the right to lower any prices in our brochure at any time before you book. If at the time of booking the price has changed we will advise you. We will always offer the best price available to you at the time of your booking.
  • On booking you commit yourself to the price as quoted and the payment conditions applicable to your booking and this price is then guaranteed.
  • All holidays booked early for 2008, prior to the validation date of the new brochure/website will only include facilities (such as Car Hire, Inclusive excursions, etc.) as specified in the 2007 brochure/website - not 2008.
  • All holidays booked early for 2009, prior to the validation date of the new brochure/website, will only include facilities (such as Car Hire, Inclusive excursions, etc.) as specified in the 2008 brochurewebsite - not 2009.

Late Booking Offers: Occasionally, if we have unsold capacity on our flights or in our properties, we may offer reduced priced holidays to certain destinations on specific dates. Where this is the case, the price rarely reflects the true value of the holiday and these holidays are sold in the same way that any other 'sale' item would be sold, rather than remain unsold. However, because our holidays are sold on a room by room basis it is usually the case that choice of rooms is very limited. In such instances no requests for refunds of any price differential will be considered where guests have paid a higher price.

We reserve the right not to provide facilities with late booking offers which would normally be provided with brochure price holidays.

Over occupancy reductions do not apply to reduced price holidays.

Infant Prices: Infants who are under 2 on the return date of holiday travel free but pay a £30 administration charge (see Infant Seating).

Child & additional Adult Prices: All our prices are presented based on our receiving two published, or offer, Adult rates for each room/unit. Many of our rooms, apartments and villas sleep more than two persons. For these, special reduced rates are published which are the same for children and adults alike. Please note these rates are not further reduced on offer holidays.

Brochure And Website Accuracy And Information

We go to great lengths to make sure that the information in the brochure and website are accurate and are, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of publication. Although we feel we have presented a fair and accurate description of regions and properties, please bear in mind that many facilities are not under our direct control and, therefore, we must reserve the right to make changes to the information provided, either at the point of booking, on the confirmation invoice/itinerary or when changes are known to us. Prior to the start of each season our overseas team carry out comprehensive checks to highlight any changes and we will advise you of any material changes that we believe may affect the enjoyment of your holiday before your departure. If any facility advertised in the brochure or website is essential to your holiday enjoyment please advise us at the time of booking and we will endeavour to advise you of any changes known to us at that time.

Seasonal Changes: We try to portray our holidays and the facilities available as being representative for the majority of the season. However, during early and late season some facilities may be closed due to fewer tourists or poor weather and, during high season, even regions and beaches which are normally fairly quiet may become rather crowded and noisy.

Weather & facilities: The climate in the Mediterranean is normally conducive to alfresco living, thus many of our properties do not have indoor breakfast areas or lounges, and many have roof top areas or bars. If concerned, please enquire at the time of booking to establish whether such facilities are available, especially if travelling in early or late season when changeable weather conditions may be experienced.

Religious Holidays: Public holidays and religious festivals may affect the availability of region and hotel facilities and you may well find a lot of activity with both beaches and restaurants becoming very busy. The Turkish and Greek Tourist Offices can provide details and dates of these events.

Flight Information

Flights and timings: We are not always in a position to confirm the airline, aircraft type and destination airport at the time of booking as this is subject to change and sometimes may differ from the details confirmed on your invoice. It is therefore important to check the details on your tickets and travel itinerary though, occasionally, flight times may change even after tickets have been dispatched - we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs. Any such changes will not entitle you to cancel or change to another holiday without paying our normal cancellation charges as described in our 'Booking Conditions'. Compensation as shown in the 'Booking Conditions' is only payable in instances where the scheduled change of departure or return is greater than twelve hours.

Special meals: Requests for special meals will be passed on to the airline and must be made at least one week prior to departure. There may be a charge for some special meals.

Seating: Please refer to 'Flight Information' for full details on the pre-seating service we provide for our exclusive flights with bmi. Seating on all other aircraft is arranged by the airline and not Exclusive Escapes. Some airlines offer a pre-booking service for those passengers who wish to arrange to sit together or who would like seats with additional leg-room, for which there is usually a charge. Further information on how to request seats, together with airline contact details, will be sent either with your invoice or included in our pre-departure travel information and you should contact the airline directly.

Infant Seating: Unless an extra seat is purchased, the infant must be carried on an adult's lap and there is no baggage allowance for the infant. Only one infant per adult is permitted. Alternatively, a flight seat may be purchased at the standard child/additional adult price. This would allow your own car seat to be used on board (please check with the relevant airline for suitability). In addition, only one infant is allowed in each row of three seats (that is 2 infants with 2 adults would have to sit in two separate rows). Please contact our Administration Department for further details.

Smoking: All our charter flights are non-smoking, as are most scheduled flights.

Check-in: With many UK airports facing severe congestion, particularly on peak holiday dates, we strongly recommend that passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours before the scheduled time of departure to allow sufficient time to check-in and pass through passport control and security. Many airlines have a common check-in for several flights, which can result in lengthy queues. Check-in for each flight will close at least 45 minutes before departure, irrespective of whether all the passengers have checked in and, therefore, you should bear this in mind when planning your arrival time at the airport. Please note we cannot accept liability for any passenger who is denied boarding due to late check-in.

Baggage Allowance: All passengers (except infants) are entitled to a baggage allowance of 44lbs/20kg plus ONE PIECE of cabin baggage weighing no more than 5kg and not exceeding 45x22x32cm. Additional baggage and items which exceed these dimensions will be considered part of your baggage allowance and carried in the hold. If space on the aircraft permits, the airline may agree to carry any excess baggage but this will be charged in each direction at a rate of at least £5 per kilogram, payable at check-in in sterling or equivalent local currency. Diving equipment, bicycles, windsurfers, pushchairs and other specialised equipment may be accepted for carriage and would normally be included in your baggage allowance. However, as the airline restricts the number of items carried, transportation cannot be guaranteed unless pre-booked and agreed with the airline in advance. There may be a charge for some items.

Should you wish to take any such equipment it is essential to contact our Operations Department on 020 8605 3700 (10am - 4pm Mon-Sat) at least three weeks before departure. They will advise you of the booking procedures and airline contact numbers. Please note it may be necessary for us to make additional transportation arrangements between the airport and region for some equipment, for which there would be a charge.

Important note: if you require wheelchair carriage it is essential you advise us when booking your holiday, please see Special Needs.

Flight Delays: On occasions flights may be delayed due to circumstances outside Exclusive Escape's or the airline's control. Should your flight be delayed for more than three hours after the scheduled departure time, in conjunction with the airline, we will endeavour to provide light refreshments and after six hours a main meal. This will be by means of vouchers or at specified locations and will obviously be dependent upon the local facilities available. Any additional expenses incurred by passengers will not be refunded.

In the event of an extended overnight delay we will endeavour to provide hotel accommodation though this cannot be guaranteed, again being dependent upon local circumstances. Inevitably, the standard of accommodation provided will vary considerably and may be of a lower standard than your holiday property. Please note that we may not always be aware of delays on some scheduled or internal flights where welfare arrangements will be made by the airlines.

Airlines do not offer compensation for inconvenience, loss of holiday time or delayed arrival in the UK due to flight delays. Similarly, we are unable to make any compensatory payments or provide refunds for any unused holiday accommodation or facilities, missed connections in the UK or additional losses or expenses due to an extended delay.

Travel Documentation

Your tickets and travel documentation will be dispatched to you approximately 2 weeks before your departure. This will include a detailed itinerary, pre-departure information as well as vouchers for any additional services you have pre-booked such as UK hotels and parking, car hire, scuba diving, meal supplements and private transfers.

Please make sure you have all the necessary documentation and check your tickets very carefully immediately upon receipt to ensure you know the correct flight times and also that the spelling of the names on the tickets are the same as on the passports (see Passports and Visas). A separate ticket is issued for infants (that is children under 2 on the return date).

If you lose your tickets during your holiday new tickets will have to be purchased. Scheduled airlines normally charge the full ticket price which may be reclaimed from them after 3 months. There may also be a charge for the issue of charter tickets.

Overseas Airports & Transfers

Many airports (particularly smaller regional ones) do not have the same facilities as our own here in the UK and, unfortunately, retrieving baggage can sometimes be a lengthy affair. After you have passed through customs you will be met by a member of the Exclusive Escapes team and directed towards your onward transfer or to your hire car if this has been booked from the airport.

Due to the location of some regions or properties it may not be possible for the vehicle to reach your accommodation, which may necessitate walking the remaining distance and possibly carrying some items of luggage. Guests on split-centre holidays will have transfers provided. However, it may be necessary to vacate the room before the transfer time.

Property Information

Holiday Duration: We always refer to holiday duration in terms of 'number of nights' at a holiday property. On the last day of your holiday every effort will be made to allow you to occupy your room until as close to departure as is practical. However, for logistical reasons, you may be asked to vacate your room a little earlier. In this case a room for storing luggage and changing facilities is usually available. With respect to (ad hoc) night flights access to your room will be available upon arrival thus constituting your first night.

Utilities: In general, don't be surprised if from time to time in all properties electricity and water supplies fluctuate or are unavailable due to local problems. Water is heated by solar power and therefore, especially in early or late season may be limited by sunlight - not all properties have backup generators. Air-conditioning can fluctuate together with the power. Energy saving devices are fitted in many rooms.

Bathrooms: All our rooms have private facilities with WCs and showers. Shower rooms tend to be small with hand-held showers and possibly without a shower curtain, so the bathroom floor can often end up somewhat damp. Due to the standard bore of the sewerage pipes, to ensure blockages don't occur, waste paper must be placed in a covered bin which will be emptied daily.

Cleaning: Light cleaning is conducted daily with bed linen and towels being changed 2 - 3 times weekly.

Withdrawal of Facilities: Sometimes facilities have to be temporarily withdrawn at short notice during the season, such as pools (for cleaning), restaurants, emergency repairs need to be carried out etc., and obviously these things are beyond our control.

Swimming Pools: Not all swimming pools have shallow ends and vary considerably in terms of shape and size. Please refer to the relevant property details for specific information. Occasionally, during early and late season due to inclement weather, pools may not be available for use or may not be heated to the usual temperature (or may not have heating). Wherever this is known we will always try to advise you beforehand but sometimes we may not always be aware of this before your departure.

Location: Although many of our properties are 'off the beaten track,' some may be situated in or around village centres which may have a lively bar or lokanta nearby and some will be situated by roadsides. Those properties in rural locations will inevitably experience some animal noise and occasionally noise from grass cutting or other machinery. Many properties are situated on non-surfaced roads/tracks, built into steep hillsides and approached by steep or uneven paths.

Property Types

We offer a wide range of properties to suit all tastes and requirements. Be sure to discuss your particular requirements at the time of booking. Our ever friendly reservations staff will be happy to advise.

Hotels: Most of our hotels are privately owned and managed by the owners themselves. They generally have more facilities and are of a higher standard than a pansyon. However, the standard of hotels offered varies considerably and this is reflected in the price and the placement within our categories for ‘Boutique Hotels’ and ‘Deluxe Boutique Hotels’.

Villas: The type of villas vary tremendously throughout our regions. Cooking facilities can sometimes not be what you would expect to find in your own kitchen at home and are sometimes fairly basic. Please refer to the specific villa information.

Self-Catering: Kitchen includes a full or half-oven.

Room-only: Rudimentary cooking facilities - sufficient for a light snack.

Room/bed Types

Single rooms: As we pay our properties on a 'per room basis' a single supplement is usually applied when one person occupies. There are some exceptions which are noted online.

Family or triple rooms: Please note that some hotels have rooms that they describe as 'family rooms' or twins that will take an extra bed, the extra bed or beds could be folding canvas or convertible sofa type and the rooms may well end up cramped.

Twin beds: May have solid fixed bases or fixed furnishings between them.

Cots: We have a limited number of "Mothercare" (or similar standard) travel cots in our coastal regions. It is possible to pre-book one of these in the UK for the duration of your stay at a cost of £10. It will be necessary in any event to travel with your own cot linen and other items specific to the needs of your infant.

Other Property Information

Under occupancy supplements: These will be payable as detailed in the price panels of our brochure and website, however the number of beds provided may be reduced to suit the size of your party.

Safes and safety deposit boxes: Most hotels now offer this form of security please check the brochure and website description for confirmation. It is advisable to use these facilities, for which there is usually a charge payable locally.

Breakfast: If breakfast is included in your holiday this will usually comprise of bread, cheese, cucumber, olives, honey or jams, black tea and filter coffee. Nescafe, Turkish/Greek coffee, fruit juices and eggs are often considered extra and added to you bill.

Flora and Fauna: In rural areas, particularly in hot climates, insects and other pests such as rodents are fairly common and not necessarily an indication of poor standards. Scorpions do exist in Turkey. However, to our knowledge, none of any deadly variety. Whilst preventative action is always taken by property owners, these pests can never be eradicated completely. Mosquitoes can be a problem and whilst most of our properties have nets or machines they can still be a nuisance outside in the evening and we recommend you take appropriate deterrents.

Building work: It is common for the structures of buildings to be erected during the winter months and the building to be left uncompleted for a period of time. In general building work should be completed by the beginning of May, however, while there are controls on building certain hours of the day, building work is occasionally allowed to continue throughout the summer season. We should point out that we cannot be held responsible for any building or road workings carried out at any time. We always endeavour, where possible, to advise you should we become aware of any anticipated works, although these can occur at any time without prior notice.

Special Requests

Special requests may be made prior to travel and whilst we will endeavour to meet them, this unfortunately cannot be guaranteed. In no circumstance will requests be accepted by us to form part of our contractual obligations and we will not have any liability if they are not met, unless this has been agreed by us in writing.

The Elderly, Disabled or Those With Special Needs

Whilst we are happy to give advice and our opinions about the suitability of particular areas and properties for disabled/elderly/pregnant guests, families or those with any other special needs, we would point out that many of the properties in our programme - and the regions we feature - lack even the simplest facilities such as ramps for wheelchairs and lifts, are not childproof and are built into hillsides with steep or uneven approaches. Therefore, it is important if you or any member of your party has any medical problems or disability which may affect your holiday, that you tell us before you confirm your booking so we can check with our suppliers if the holiday is suitable. A comprehensive form is available specifically for this purpose, which we will send upon request.

If our suppliers are unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we must reserve the right to decline/cancel the booking.

Passports And Visas

All British citizens over the age of 16 require a full 10 year passport with at least 3 months validity. All children under the age of 16, including newborn infants, now require their own passport unless they are already included on a parent's passport. Children included on a parent's passport cannot travel without the adult and any children under 16 travelling without their parents require their own passport.

The name on your passport must match that on your ticket, including any name changes by marriage. Passports take approximately 4 weeks to obtain by post, though this can be longer at peak times.

There is a £10 Sterling visa charge on arrival at any point of entry to Turkey for British passport holders - this applies to infants as well. Scottish and Irish currency is not accepted for visas. Non-EU passport holders are responsible for checking their own visa requirements.
Please enquire with the Turkish Consulate: Visa enquiries on 0891 347348 and general enquiries on 020 7589 0949 or www.turkconsulate-london.com
Greek Consulate - up to date information on visa requirements for non British nationals 020 7221 6464 or http://www.greekembassy.org.uk/

Health

Although there are currently no vaccination requirements for entry to Turkey or Greece, if you have any concerns we recommend you consult your doctor prior to departure, as health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary considerably. In addition, the Department of Health issue a free leaflet, Travellers Guide to Health, which is available from your ABTA Travel Agent, local doctor or by calling FREEPHONE 0800 555 777.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Advice Unit

This Unit is responsible for advising all travellers from the UK of any important information regarding overseas travel and may have issued information about your holiday destination. You are advised to check this information on BBC2 (Ceefax page 470 onwards) or under the address www.fco.gov.uk on the Internet.

Currency and Taking Money Overseas

You can usually purchase Turkish Lira in the U.K., and always Euros, but we recommend you carry the bulk of your money as travellers cheques for security and peace of mind. The more popular credit cards are gradually becoming recognised outside of hotels but cannot be relied upon, however many towns now have automatic cash dispensers so it is a good idea to know your PIN number.

Many establishments now offer exchange facilities. However, please ensure you confirm the rate of exchange and any commission charged before handing over your cash. Please ensure that all bank notes are taken in the most recent denominations and passengers from Scotland should use English bank notes. Our agents accept Visa and MasterCard as payment for local excursions, but they do make a charge. Eating out is still relatively inexpensive. An average meal costs £16 per person at 2007 prices.

Insurance

Unfortunately the best laid plans can go awry and accidents can happen both here and abroad, which makes it imperative that all guests have adequate travel insurance cover. If you do not purchase our insurance we insist that you take insurance with equivalent cover and we must be advised in writing of the policy name and number. If we are not, then we cannot be held responsible for any delays in contacting your insurers on your behalf in the event of any emergency.

Should you accept alternative cover please ensure that it covers all aspects of necessary insurance including medical expenses and emergency repatriation. Please read your policy details carefully. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is adequate for your particular needs. We do not check alternative insurance policies.

The Exclusive Escapes Overseas Team

Our assumption is that guests wish to feel free and independent when on holiday. Therefore our overseas team are there to provide a discreet back up role rather than that of the more traditional Holiday Representative, clipboard at the ready. However, in the case of emergency they are contactable 24 hours a day on a number provided with your travel documents.