HOLIDAY INFORMATION

All villas in this brochure are operated by The Villa Collection Ltd. We are an ATOL bonded company for air inclusive holidays - ATOL number 6577. Holidays which do not include flights booked through ourselves are covered by Financial Failure Insurance arranged arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through IGI Insurance Company Limited.

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

How to Book

You can make a booking through our reservations department on 01753 853737, alternatively you can email us at info@thevilla-collection.co.uk

Deposit: To confirm your reservation we require a deposit of 25% of your total holiday cost (flights/accom/Carhire/transfers/accidental damage premium) plus insurance premiums

Balance: Your balance of payment will be due 10 weeks prior to departure. If booking within 10 weeks of departure the full holiday cost must be paid at the time of booking.

Confirmation invoice: Once we have agreed the full details including the cost of your holiday and received your deposit/full payment, a confirmation invoice will be sent. This will confirm all details of your holiday and should be carefully checked as it forms the basis of your contract with us.

Documentation: All travel documentation supplied by ourselves will be sent to you approximately 14 days prior to your arrival in resort.

Passports and visas

All of our desinations require a valid UK passport. It is the party leaders responsibility to ensure that all members of the party are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. We regret we cannot accept liability if you or any members of your party are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure in your part to carry correct documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results to fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly

All British citizens over the age of 16 require a full 10 year passport including infants and children under 16 years of age will need their own passport. (nb a child included on an adults passport issued before the 5 th October 1998 can only travel on this passport whilst they are under 16) If you or any members of your party is not a British Citizen or holds a non British passport, you must check passports/visa requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country(ies) to or through you are intending to travel. For further information on passports and visas, contact the Passport office on 0870 521 0410 or at their website address: www.passport.gov.uk

If you or any member of your party haven't yet got a passport, our recommendation is that you should apply for one at least 6 weeks before your holiday.

Health regulations

At the time of going to press, no compulsory vaccinations or medication was necessary for any of our featured destinations. It is advisable that you contact your local doctor or the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on 0207 7008 0232 for more current advice or check on line at www.fco.gov.uk/travel

Special requests

If you have any special request, you must advise us in writing at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met unless we have specifically confirmed this. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing from us that your request will be complied with (where it is possible for us to give this) if your request is important to you. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability.

If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. If we feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we reserve the right to decline/cancel the booking.

We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as “standard” bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests.

Driving Licence

Should you be intending to drive abroad you must remember to take your driving licence with you and we recommend you carry it with you at all times ( a legal requirement in many countries). Regulations may vary regarding driving age, and should be checked with the car hire company you intend to use. If you hold a UK photocard licence, please note that the paper counterpart should be taken with you, as it may be required by your car hire company.

Damage Premium

We apply a non refundable premium of £3 per person to cover minor damages to the property and its contents of up to £100 of accidental damage per person. If you do not wish to pay this non-refundable premium, a refundable deposit of £300 per villa will have to be paid prior to departure. This deposit will be refunded within four weeks of your return from holiday providing that no damage has occurred. Damage caused by wilful, careless or negligent behaviour is not covered by this deposit.

Holiday Insurance

For your own safety and protection, travel insurance is necessary when travelling on holiday. You can book insurance through us, or comparable insurance with another insurance company, but please note that it is your responsibility to have adequate insurance coverage. In addition, it can be useful to obtain an European Health Insurance certificate Card which entitles you to reduced cost emergency treatment in EU countries. Full details can be obtained from your local post office or www.dh.giv.uk/travellers

Overseas representation

Our service overseas is aimed to match todays' more independently minded villa customer and as such we do not have representatives. Prior to your departure we will provide you with contact numbers for, the villa owners/agent, the maintenance company for the villa and a 24hour UK contact number should you need any assistance during your stay.

UK Airport/Hotel Services

For your convenience we have negotiated very special discounts on car parking, overnight hotel accommodation and executive lounges at a range of UK airports, through our friends at

You can book these services via the unique weblink of   www.bookfhr.com/villacoll or by telephone on 08707 456347 (quoting Villa Collection before making your booking) 

VILLA INFORMATION

Check in/out times

Villas have a check-in time of 3.00pm, on your day of arrival, and a check-out time of 10.00am, on your day of departure, which enables us to prepare our villas for arrival of guests :

Italy – check in time is 4.00pm on day of arrival, and check-out time is 10.00am on day of departure

Welcome Packs

We provide a complimentary welcome hamper of groceries and refreshments on arrival at your villa for brochure price bookings. Packs include provisions for first night/breakfast. Grocery packs are not free of charge when bookings are late deals, however can be prebooked of £30.00 per hamper.

Italy – welcome hampers are not provided in our Italian villas, however the owners of the property will invariably leave some items of local produce for you to sample.

Equipment

Our villas are fully furnished and a reasonable supply of cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery appropriate to the maximum occupancy of the villa can be expected. An iron and ironing board are available in all our private villas. Where a washing machine is advertised for use by arrangement with the maid, a small charge may be levied.

Entertainment Equipment

Wherever possible we have tried to provide a good selection of entertainment facilities. Please check the villa information page for details of the equipment available in your villa. Playstation games, dvd's and cd's are not provided. Where there is a Playstation unit in your property, DVD's can be played through these systems.

Television: Where Satellite TV is advertised, this will be local stations and may or may not feature English speaking channels, and does not include access to subscription channels such as Sky sports, movies etc.

Towels/Linen/Hairdryers

We provide towels and linen for the duration of your holiday, including a supply of towels for use by the swimming pool or the beach. Hairdryers will also be provided.

ITALY : No beach towels or hairdryers are provided in the villas with the exception of La Limonia

Additional facilities for Children and Infants

Additional facilities for young children and infants, such as cots and high chairs should be requested at the time of booking. There may be a charge for these facilities and this will be advised by our reservations staff. Car/booster seats for children can be requested at time of booking however this is payable locally. For further information ask your reservations advisor.

Safety Deposit Boxes

All villas have safety deposit boxes ( except Italy )

Villa Maid Service

Your accommodation will be fully cleaned prior to your arrival. A minimum of one light cleaning service is provided thereafter for each week of your stay, this is limited to beds being made and floors swept. Maids are not responsible for personal laundry or washing up

Rubbish – in many destinations you need to remove your rubbish from the property to nearby communal bins which are located on the sides of roads – we recommend you do this on a daily basis.

Villa Maintenance

Villa, pools and gardens are maintained throughout the holiday season, and at times you may be interrupted for a short period of time by staff employed for this purpose.

Villa Location

Access to some of our villas may be along an unmade track or country lane and we suggest you may wish to bring a torch.

RESORT INFORMATION

Currency

All of our destinations use the Euro. Some countries limit the amount of currency bought in or taken out, and your bank can advise you of the latest regulations. You can take travellers cheques, which are recommended for travelling abroad, and most countries now accept major credit cards, and debit cards. If you are taking sterling, please note that Scottish banknotes can cause some confusion, and English notes are generally easier to use abroad.

Electricity

We recommend that you take an appropriate travel adaptor(s) as the electric current in Europe is 220v. These can easily be obtained in the travel goods section of UK shops. For Italy please ensure you have the Southern Europe adaptor.

Building Work

Sometimes building work can take place during the holiday season. If any work is taking place around our villas, we will try and let you know, but please note that we have no control over any resort building work.

Noise & Activity

Whilst accommodation in residential or rural areas is likely to be quieter than that in resort centres, please anticipate some surrounding noise, whether it be passing vehicles, residents of neighbouring residents or the countryside of animals and birds. Many properties situated in rural areas will be subject to noise from machinery necessary for harvests etc.

Water & energy

In certain areas, particularly those of a rural and mountainous nature, electricity and water supplies may occasionally be erratic. Solar power is a common source of energy which, although providing adequate hot water in the afternoon, an result in tepid water at other times during the day and when the weather is overcast.

Animals and Wildlife

Many of our properties featured are located in rural areas and are not modern buildings. It is therefore possible that you may see or hear indigenous wildlife, such as frogs, bugs and even the occasional snake or spider. Some of the owners also have cats and dogs which reside nearby the property.

Public Holidays and local events

During national holidays, many facilities such as shops, banks and museums are likely to be closed. Local celebrations/festivals may also affect opening hours in an area, and may also change temporarily the tranquil nature of quieter resorts.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Booking Conditions

Full details of our holiday booking conditions can be found on this website We recommend that you read this, as it contains important information forming the basis of your holiday contract with us.

Brochure Accuracy and Info rmation

We go to great lengths to make sure the information in this brochure is accurate and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of publication. Please bear in mind that facilities are not under our direct control and 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 the changes are known to us. You will be informed about any changes to any of the relevant details within this brochure when you book as part of our commitment to customer service.

Data Protection

Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be also passed on to security or credit checking companies.

Please note that when you book a holiday with us, we may need to pass your details on to other third parties and suppliers, so that we can arrange your holiday for you. If you do not want this information to be used for other marketing purposes, please write to us at our registered address.

Travel advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Travel Unit may have issued information about your holiday destination. This information can be checked on BBC2 (Ceefax page 470 onwards) or check online at www.fco.gov.uk

Your behaviour

In the event that you or any member of your party behaves in a way that causes distress, annoyance or injury to others, damage to property or does not respect or conform with local laws and customs, we reserve the right to terminate your holiday arrangements forthwith. In such an event, we will have no further liability or financial responsibility for you and you will have to meet any costs for expenses incurred as a result of your behaviour. Similarly, we would respectfully point out that our staff are not obliged to accept verbal or physical abuse or intimidation. As their employer we are legally required to protect them from these situations and we therefore reserve the right to withdraw representative services in the event that such abuse occurs.

Complaints

In the unlikely event that something goes wrong with your holiday please advise our agents in resort at the earliest opportunity rather than waiting to your return home, therefore we are in most cases able to correct the situation.

Financial protection:

Air inclusive holidays are covered by ATOL – licence 6577

Financial Failure Insurance: - Accommodation only bookings

In accordance with “The Package Travel Package Tours Regulations 1992” all passengers booking with The Villa Collection Ltd are fully insured for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of The Villa Collection Ltd.

A certificate detailing this cover will be given to the lead name as evidence of cover. Please ensure you have been given the appropriate certificate(s) at the time of booking.

This insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through IGI Insurance Company Limited.

Contact us

If you require any information or assistance, please contact our Reservations Department on 01753 853737 or email us at info@thevilla-collection.co.uk