Important Information Relating to Your Booking
Data Protection Statement
In order to process your booking, and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements, we (and your travel agent where relevant) need to use the information you provide (such as name, address, any special needs / dietary requirements etc). Please note that where information is also held by your travel agent, this is subject to your travel agent’s own data protection policy.
We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, hotels, transport companies etc. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs / immigration if required by them, or as required by law.
Additionally, where your holiday is outside the European Economic area (EEA) controls on data protection in your destination may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will not however, pass any information onto any person not responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as any disabilities, or dietary / religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information onto the relevant supplier, whether in the EEA or not, we cannot provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons).
We will not use your information for any other purpose than carrying out your booking.
More detailed information is supplied on www.dataprotection.gov.uk
General Travellers Information
There are no visa requirements for travellers with E.U. passports travelling through / to the countries mentioned in this brochure. For holders of non-E.U. passports we suggest making contact with your own embassy or consulate to check on requirements, taking into account the need to travel through both France and Switzerland, as well as the final destination being Italy. The website www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice provides common sense advice on the subject of visas, passports and general health and safety information.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides background information to countries being visited. Their website is www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
In the event of travel delay, we will seek to mitigate the situation to the greatest extent possible, given the nature of the circumstances. In particular, if your departure is delayed more then three hours, we will provide light refreshments. If your departure is delayed more than six hours, we will provide a main meal.
Collective Passports and Visas.
It may be easier for your group to travel on a collective passport. The collective passport application form is available from the Passport Office. The initial telephone number is 0870 521 0410, and the website is www.passport.gov.uk . There is a specific information page on collective passports. Basic requirements are that there must be a minimum of five people and a maximum of fifty on each document (if your group is greater than fifty, you need a second collective passport). All members of the group should be British nationals, they should be under 18 years old, and they should be travelling simultaneously and as a group. It is also worth remembering to nominate not only a group leader, but also a deputy leader. If the leader is unable to travel, the deputy leader will still be able to take the group abroad. The deputy leader’s name can only be added to the document by the Passport Office.
All children on the collective passport need identity cards, and these are only available to British nationals. You should return the application form (which is available to download from the website) to the Passport Office at least four weeks before you are due to depart. The fee for the collective passport is currently £ 39.00.
These are the main considerations. There are numerous other points to bear in mind when applying for a collective passport, and these are comprehensively and clearly explained on the main website.
Office Opening Hours
The standard opening times for this office are 08.30 to 17.30, Monday to Friday.
Helmets
As of the 1st January 2005, the wearing of helmets became compulsory for all students under the age of 14 years in Italian resorts. There have been various reactions to this from group organisers, but generally, acceptance with the students has been very easy, with a lot of students actually preferring to wear them.
We can only think that helmet usage will become compulsory in all ski resorts in Europe and the USA within a short space of time, and we applaud the Italians for being in the vanguard of the initiative. We fully support the initiative, and we have purchased our own stock of helmets for hire during the week by students on the trip. This is one of the few components of the trip that we quote as an extra charge – it can hardly be inclusive if not all students are obliged to wear them. We can also arrange for students to buy their own if they prefer, and prices are quoted on the “Clothing and Accessory Hire and Purchase” page of this website.
Special Diets
We happily cater for all sorts of diets required by our groups. Vegetarian, Vegan, Kosher, Moslem – to coin a phrase - they are meat (and vegetables) and drink to us ! However, we do need to know well in advance that they are required. Please also bear in mind that the majority of our trips go to Italy. Pasta is a staple part of the Italian diet – and it is frequently served up in numerous forms and guises and different times of the week. It is very easy to adapt to the various diets, but it is still pasta.
Hotel Room Lists
We have specific room lists for all the hotels that we use. We will supply you with a copy of that of your hotel well in advance of your departure, so that you can allocate members of your group to specific rooms. Please stick to the rooms allocated to your group. However, if there is a problem, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will find a solution to it !
We are often complimented on the speed and smoothness of our arrival procedures, and getting people into their hotel bedrooms is a major part of this.
Ski Group Information Sheets
The two sheets supplied on this website form the majority of the information that we need in order to prepare for your arrival in resort. The earlier you supply it to us, the better prepared we will be. In any case, it should be supplied to us at least four weeks prior to arrival, and in the case of any particular requests or requirements, then at the same time as you pay the balances of your holiday. If you have a problem obtaining information from a small number of people, then please send us the majority of the information at the requested lead times. We can handle late information for one or two people per group – but handling late information for the whole group is more of a challenge. This also reduces our chances for supplying your group with the best possible service.
Payment of Deposits and Balances
Bookings should be confirmed with deposits paid of £75.00 per paying person travelling by coach, or £150.00 per paying person travelling by plane. The only other payment we subsequently request from you is that of balances at eight weeks before departure, and this will be by invoice sent to you. You should request payment into your holding bank account – if you use one - at ten weeks before departure, in order to allow payments to clear. As with the information sheets, if you have a problem with one or two individuals in your group, please send the majority of the money at the correct time lead, and inform us of the discrepancy.
Technically, not paying balances at the correct time is a breach of contract, and we retain the right to cancel the trip and make the cancellation charges as per our booking conditions.
We would be loath to do this, we have never yet done it, and we would prefer not to start.
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