Terms and Conditions

Booking Procedures
We are happy to book your accommodation subject to availability, even if you have made your own flight arrangements. Please remember that we can also book your resort transfers and that other holiday enhancements are also available such as safaris, golf, diving, etc

Brochure and Website
Hotels can be booked through the website www.couturetravelcompany.com (www.couture.travel) or by telephone 01753 686 372 to take up all offers advertised subject to availability. In all cases a Couture Travel Company (CTC) booking form must be completed. Once you confirm the hotel booking and the deposit has been cleared we will set aside your chosen accommodation for you. By confirming, you are accepting the booking on the terms & conditions here listed and any other terms and conditions made available to you. You will be sent an e-mail or letter of confirmation clearly defining the details of the accommodation and other travel arrangements and services you have booked. If any detail on the document is incorrect, you need to inform us immediately on 01753 686 372, amendments will be confirmed in writing by CTC thereafter.

Deposit and payment
A minimum 20 percent deposit (payable by Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, cheque or bank transfer) is due to secure the booking. The booking will not be secured until cleared funds are received. The balance must be paid in full at least 60 days prior to arrival at the resort or other. We are only able to accept a maximum 20 percent of the booking value by credit card without charging a 3% credit card fee on additional sums. Service Vouchers Accommodation, transport and other service related vouchers/documents will be sent a minimum of 14 days prior to departure date, subject to full payment having being received and cleared. The vouchers and documents must be handed to the hotel/service provider upon request; failure to present it may result in your having to pay for your room and/or other services again.

All bookings made directly via the CTC website and its online reservation facility must be paid in full the time of booking (100%) unless otherwise stipulated. Standard cancellation fees may not apply, please consult with one of our Travel Designers.

Amendments
We will do our best to assist with any amendments to the booking, but cannot guarantee that changes can be made. You should call our customer care desk on 01753 686 372. We charge an 'amendment fee' of £30.00. This fee is in addition to any charges passed on to us by our hotels and other suppliers. For full cancellations, please see our terms below. Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements. .

Special Needs
You must check with CTC prior to booking if you have any specific needs such as child supervision, allergies, car parking etc. There may be a charge for such requirements through or directly by the hotel. Disabled guests should check as to the available facilities. Some destinations may lack even simple facilities such as ramps for wheelchairs, lifts, etc.

On site queries
Should you have any queries or complaints with reference to your accommodation or any other service booked through CTC as your contracted partner whilst on holiday, you should in the first instance attempt to resolve with the management. Failing a satisfactory outcome, you should contact our customer care desk on +44 (0)7738 915 357 (an emergency line is offered outside business hours). We will endeavor to do our utmost to assist.

Terms and Conditions
Service providers have their own terms and conditions and these may sometimes come into effect over and above the outlined terms and conditions set by The Couture Travel Company. When you make a booking you guarantee that you are over 18 years of age, have the authority to and accept on behalf of your party the terms of these booking conditions. You accept responsibility for paying for all the people on the booking and for keeping members of the party advised of the booking details at all times. Any variations to these conditions must be confirmed and acknowledged in writing prior to the commencement of travel.

Website and brochure accuracy
Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information contained on our website and/or in our brochure is accurate and up to date, The Couture Travel Company Limited cannot be held liable for any clerical errors, omissions or price changes, beyond our control. We reserve the right to change any of the prices, services or other, particulars contained in any of our advertising material at any time before we enter into a contract with you. Should there be any change, we will notify you before we enter into a contract.

Pricing
The price of accommodation and other services provided if applicable is constantly reviewed and will depend upon a number of factors such as the date when you make your booking, your departure date, the length of your stay etc. Please be aware that the price quoted can go up as well as down. We guarantee that once we have received cleared funds for your deposit, this will be the final price you pay for your requested accommodation other than a government increase in taxation. The price of your travel arrangement is subject to surcharges for increases in;
1) Transportation costs e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges.
2) Dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services (e.g. landing taxes and embarkations and disembarkation fees.
3) The exchange rates applying to the particular package, service, or other.
In the case of any small variations an amount to 2% of your price of your travel arrangements, which exclude insurance premiums and any amendment charges will be absorbed or retained. You will only have to pay the amount over and above the 2% of the holiday price. If there is an increase of more than 10% of the price of your travel arrangements, you may cancel your travel arrangements and receive a full refund of all moneys paid. You must exercise you right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your amended final invoice. No price increases will be made within 30 days of departure.

Price Guarantee
In the unlikely event that within 48 hours of confirming your booking you find the same accommodation offered at a lower rate through an alternative agent or operator, CTC will happily refund the difference, accommodation only. However the conditions of any offer must be the same as those confirmed (dates, hotel, room category etc.). This guarantee only applies to hotel reservations. It does not apply to activities, special events, transportation etc.

Children
Child rates are available on request, wherever possible children stay free or at 50% of the adult price when sharing the accommodation with a minimum of two adults. Children rates do not automatically include meals. In most case the definition of a child is a person under the age of 12.

Non receipt of payment
If deposits and payments are not received in accordance with our booking procedures, we will treat the booking as no longer required and cancel any accommodation and services requested. The cancellation clause of these terms will then be in force.

Cancellation
We are able to offer a refund for full or part cancellations of the booking, subject to the required deposits and payments having been received - the following refunds will apply:
Up to 56 days prior to departure: deposit returned in full.
55 to 42 days prior to departure: 50% forfeited.
41 to 15 days prior to departure: 75% forfeited.
01 to 14 days prior to departure: 100% forfeited.
Please note December departure/stay dates and /or departure/stay dates over any special Holiday/Event and/or similar and/or if stipulated by the supplier will incur a 100% cancellation charge if cancelled within 120 days of departure. We would strongly recommend that you take out full insurance, which in most cases will cover against loss of deposit or cancellation fees.
For any cancellation that is in full and/partly related to an Airline Ticket(s) the Airline and/or Flight Consolidator own terms and conditions will apply at all times. In most cases if not confirmed in writing otherwise 100% cancellation fee applies once a booking is confirmed.

Cancellation by The Couture Travel Compnay
Occasionally we may be forced to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. The vast majority of these changes will be minor and we will advise you as soon as possible. If we need to make a major change (such as a change in your hotel or resort, a delay in your departure by more than 24 hours), we will advise you as soon as possible, subject to time before your departure. You will have the choice of accepting the change of arrangements, accepting any offer of alternative arrangements, or canceling your complete holiday and receiving a full refund. The following compensation will be paid unless the change was for reasons beyond our control:- Up to 56 days prior to departure: Nil per person
55 to 42 days prior to departure: £20 per person.
41 to 15 days prior to departure: £35 per person.
01 to 14 days prior to departure: £50 per person.

Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you have insurance cover which is provided and covers you for all aspects of travel. CTC will not be liable to provide any financial assistance whatsoever to the clients for any loss or damage which would have been covered under any such insurance policy and/or otherwise and the client will indemnify CTC for any loss of whatever nature which the company may suffer or incur voluntarily as a result of the clients failure to have suitable insurance.

Data Protection
We will only provide your personal information (as well as any personal information you provide in relation to the persons who’s travel arrangements have been requested by you) to suppliers and ancillary services that may be located outside the UK and/or EU, to enable the operation of the services requested by you

Meals
Meals if included are based on standard meal plan and within locations stipulated by CTC and/or resort and generally do not include drinks – depending on meal plan booked. The hotel may charge a supplement for certain menus or if taken within particular areas of the property. Special diets (including vegetarian) can be catered for adequately within the constraints of the standard menus but cannot be guaranteed. “Gala meals” at most hotels/resorts are compulsory over Christmas, New Year, or other major local holidays, you will be advised of these at the time of booking. Bookings which include main meals generally commence with dinner on the day of arrival at the hotel and conclude with breakfast (on half board) or lunch (on full board) on the day of departure. No refunds on meals not taken can be given

Disputes
Disputes arising out of or in connection with this contract which can not be amicably settled maybe referred to the chartered institute of arbitrators. The scheme (details on request) provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on the customer in respect of costs. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5000.00, per person/£25000.00, per booking form, nor to claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or the consequences of such injury or illness. Any and all disputes, controversies and claims arising out of or relating to this agreement or with respect to the interpretation of this agreement or the right or obligation of the parties and their successors and permitted assignees, agree that the Courts of either England or Wales shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine and all disputes whether by operation of law or otherwise

Liability
We cannot be held responsible for circumstances beyond our control. These include but are not limited to:
Bad or unusual weather conditions.
Reduction or closure of services due to religious or national holidays.
Act or threat of war, civil disturbance or terrorist activity.
Industrial disputes, fire, or natural disasters.
Epidemics or health risks.
Flights or any other transport not departing at the time specified.

Passports and Visas
Please note that it is a EU Requirement for the Passport Numbers of each individual confirming travel abroad when booking via a Tour Operator as well as providing an emergency telephone contact name and number while traveling abroad for the duration of the travel booked. Details will be required to be completed on the Booking Form at the time the booking is made. It is your responsibility to make the necessary applications and comply with any regulations governing entry to your chosen country. This applies to passport & visa requirements and health requirements and formalities for the destinations featured and offered to you. Non British, EU citizens should check with their embassy or consulate to obtain details of the relevant requirements.