Francophiles

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HOLIDAY - please read before booking

Every Francophiles holiday combines a programme of interesting guided visits with ample time for leisure and personal sightseeing.  They are planned for the fit and active traveller.  Once in your holiday centre, the greater part of each day is spent out of the coach.  Choosing the holiday that suits you is essential to your ultimate enjoyment so we do ask you to consult us about any health problems before booking. 

Travellers who like to practise their French will have ample opportunity to do so.  Many guided visits are conducted in French and interpreted for you by Diana Martin. Informal background talks and commentaries throughout your holiday will enhance greatly your appreciation of all you see and do.

YOUR HOTELS
We take great care when choosing hotels for they are the setting for your holiday and should be anticipated with pleasure each evening.  Where possible we choose regional establishments whose owner is often 'en cuisine' and we prefer old-fashioned charm to sterile, modern anonymity.  We look above all for good food, cleanliness and a warm welcome.  On account of this, no two hotels are alike and often the size of rooms varies although full facilities are always included.  You may choose a double, twin-bedded or single room and all will have a bath OR shower and WC en suite.

The number of single rooms per holiday is strictly limited and the supplement charged is passed directly from hotel to client without addition.  All single rooms with supplement are rooms for two persons with full facilities - there are NO broom cupboards!

HOLIDAY FOOD
We realise the importance of eating well and carefully select all menus on every holiday, well in advance, to ensure interesting regional fare, often gastronomic in character.  Each day begins with a continental or buffet breakfast and, where a lunch is provided, it will comprise three or four set courses.  A set menu of three or four set courses is provided at dinner each evening.

We are willing to accommodate minor food allergies, e.g. seafood, but CANNOT provide alternative menus for those with severe dietary problems.  Please consult us before booking if you are in doubt on this matter.

LUGGAGE AND CLOTHES
Our holidays are informal and casual clothing with comfortable shoes is perfect for the daily excursions.  Bring something smarter for the evening.  Gentlemen will need a jacket and tie but not necessarily a suit.  Swimwear needs should be noted from individual tour details - please bring your own large towel.

PLEASE RESTRICT YOURSELF TO ONE MEDIUM-SIZED SUITCASE PER PERSON (70 X 46cms is ideal). Extra hand-luggage must be kept on the coach under your seat.

Our hotels do not offer porterage so please ensure that you can manage the luggage that you bring.  We provide luggage labels - please use them.

GRATUITIES
Your holiday price includes tips to hotel staff.  Gratuities to the coach driver are left to the discretion of the client.

JOINING AND LEAVING THE TOUR
All holidays start and finish at the Travel Inn, 200-202 Westerleigh Road, Emersons Green, Bristol.  You may also join at Waterloo rail station, London, (top of incline) or at Dover East Dock ferry terminal building.

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION IN BRISTOL
Many Francophiles clients choose to stay overnight in Bristol at the beginning/end of their holiday at the hotel where the tours begin.  The Travel Inn, 200-202 Westerleigh Road, Emersons Green, Bristol is just minutes away from the M4/M32 Hambrook motorway interchange and the Bristol Parkway main railway station.  The room rate with full facilities costs around £55 per night at the weekend and £65 per night during the week with double or single occupancy on a room - only basis and may be booked with your holiday.   The hotel is well appointed and adjacent to a Beefeater restaurant where continental or full breakfasts are available if time allows, otherwise we will be stopping later for breakfast. 

LONG-STAY CAR PARKING - BRISTOL/DOVER
The Travel Inn Emersons Green Bristol permits Francophiles clients, both resident and non-resident, to park their cars in its car park for the duration of their holiday, free of charge.  ALL PARKING IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.  The hotel is on the edge of the city, minutes away from the M4/M32 Hambrook interchange in a green belt area and 15 minutes by car from the city centre.  Clients wishing to leave their cars at the hotel should indicate this on the booking form and give their registration number which will be passed on to the hotel. 

The Relyon Garage, Poulton Close, Dover CT17 OHL, offers a preferential rate to Francophiles clients of £3.50 per day, including transfer to and from the ferry port by shuttle from their depot. Reservation form and map to depot from Relyon, telephone 01304 201227.

VAT is included in our holiday prices which were fixed and costed on 19-10-07 at the rate of 1.395 euros to the pound sterling.

YOUR COACH
Relax in comfort and let someone else do the driving!  Your coach is a high-line tourer with many luxury features that will contribute to your holiday enjoyment.

• Tinted double-glazed windows to eliminate condensation and solar glare
• Lap belts fitted to every seat
• Full air-conditioning
• Comfortable reclining seats
• Full air suspension for a smooth-as-silk ride
• Toilet/washroom
• Hot and cold drinks service
• Second exit door for the continental safety

We do not subject you to video films or loud music and we ask you to respect our rule of no smoking on the coach so that the daily travelling may be pleasurable for all.  During the journey to and from your holiday centre frequent stops are made and we do not ask you to spend more than about two hours at a stretch in the coach without having a break for sightseeing or refreshments.  During the excursion programmes only minimal coach travel is involved.

Your days in France are leisurely, joining the coach each morning around 9.00am and arriving at your hotel each evening at about 6.15 pm with plenty of time to prepare for dinner and to enjoy an apéritif.

YOUR DRIVER
Because of the leisurely nature of our tours, only one driver is required for each holiday.  Francophiles choose their drivers with great care, usually British, with considerable continental experience.  They are courteous and caring and their skilful driving will contribute greatly to your holiday enjoyment. 

Total Payment Protection (TOPP) Policy Cover
In compliance with the UK Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance Company plc to protect customers’ prepayments paid in respect of

• non-flight inclusive packages commencing and returning to the UK
• the ground-handling aspects of packages where the customer is responsible for arranging travel to the destination offered in this brochure (subject to the terms of the insurance policy), for:
• a refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled
• making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled or
/
• repatriation of customers to the UK in the unlikely event of our financial failure.

BOOKING PROCEDURE
To book your holiday please contact us by telephone or email and we will send you the appropriate booking form.   Please remember that holiday insurance is an essential requirement.  A minimum number of 25 paying passengers is required for a holiday to proceed and coach seats are allocated in order of receipt of bookings.

PASSPORTS are essential for a Francophiles holiday.  Please apply for one or check the validity of your existing passport well before the holiday departure date. Francophiles cannot be held responsible for delay, inconvenience, expenses or enforced non-participation in any tour incurred by a passenger whose travel documents are not in order.

BOOKING CONDITIONS
1. DEPOSIT
Bookings will not be accepted unless made in writing accompanied by a cheque for the required deposit stated on the tour details (or in the case of bookings made within eight weeks prior to departure, by a cheque for the full holiday price).

2. ACCEPTANCE OF BOOKING
No booking is made and no contract exists until Francophiles post to you written confirmation of booking.

3. PAYMENT OF BALANCE
The balance of the Full Holiday Price must be paid at least eight weeks prior to the date of departure. This is most important since your failure to pay by that date entitles Francophiles to treat your booking as cancelled by you at any time up to the date of departure with the consequence that you could be rendered liable to pay up to 60% of the Final Holiday Price.

4. CANCELLATION BY THE CUSTOMER
Cancellation must be notified in writing signed by the person who originally booked the holiday. In the event of cancellation the following conditions will be strictly applied:

   a) If notification of cancellation is received by Francophiles eight weeks or more before the departure date the deposit will be forfeited.

   b) If notification of cancellation is received by Francophiles less than eight weeks prior to departure the following charges will be made:

Date notification of cancellation received

55 - 28 days (inclusive) prior to departure date ........... 45% of Final Holiday Price

27 - 15 days (inclusive) prior to departure date ........... 60% of Final Holiday Price

Up to 14 days(inclusive) prior to departure date ........... 80% of Final Holiday Price

No notification of cancellations will be accepted on or after the departure date. If you are covered by our Holiday Insurance you may be able to recover these cancellation charges.

5. CANCELLATION OR ALTERATION OF TOUR BY FRANCOPHILES
If for any reason Francophiles find it necessary to cancel any particular holiday or departure date Francophiles undertake to offer an alternative holiday or make a full refund. Francophiles will not be liable for any loss, damage, delay or inconvenience sustained by any person through any alteration or cancellation of any tour. Every reasonable effort will be made to comply with the booked holiday arrangements but Francophiles reserve the right to alter the holiday arrangements at any time for any cause which Francophiles shall consider to be reasonable.

6. PRICE ADJUSTMENT
Holiday prices are based on Exchange Rates and costs (e.g. of transport, hotel, meals etc.) prevailing at the time of printing. If there are subsequent changes in Exchange Rates and/or costs Francophiles reserve the right to adjust the holiday price but should such price be increased by more than 10% you may cancel the booking within 10 days of notification of the price whereupon Francophiles will refund any payments made in respect of the holiday (except insurance premium paid).

7. INSURANCE
Francophiles reserve the right to require you to take out insurance in such terms as shall be acceptable to them prior to accepting your booking. Francophiles further reserve the right to set-off in reduction or extinguishment of any claim made against them any sums recovered under any policy approved by them in accordance with the foregoing all such sums as would have been recoverable had the correct premium been paid, the terms observed and all necessary steps taken to claim the same under the terms of the policy. In the event of Francophiles arranging insurance for you any premium paid shall not be recoverable.

8. CANCELLATION BY THE CUSTOMER
The following expressions shall have the following meanings:
 a) “Full Holiday Price” - The holiday price last notified to you prior to your payment in accordance with Condition 3 above.
 b) “Final Holiday Price” – The total price of the holiday as finally notified to you taking into account all such price adjustments as are set out in Condition 6 above.

ON TOUR

1. JOINING TIMES
You should arrive at your joining point on the date of departure at least 15 mins. prior to the scheduled departure time. Francophiles will not be responsible for any loss or additional expenses suffered by a passenger who arrives at the joining point later than the scheduled time of departure or who fails to arrive at the time advised at any point or rendezvous en route.

2. LUGGAGE
In view of the limited space available on the coaches, luggage must not exceed one medium sized suitcase per person. Hand luggage may be retained inside the coach.

3. LIABILITY
Francophiles cannot accept liability for any loss, damage, delay, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person through failure of any road vehicle, ship, aircraft, train or other means of conveyance to perform its journey or to depart or arrive at the time advertised or at all, or through any detention, delay, early running or want of punctuality. No liability is accepted for the actions or omissions of those involved in your holiday arrangements over whom Francophiles have no direct control and who are not employed by Francophiles as their servants or agents. All arrangements made for holiday accommodation and for the use of road vehicles, ships, aircraft, trains or other means of conveyance.

4. SERVICES
The holiday includes a return journey to and from points stated in the tour details, and the services of the Francophiles agent. You are responsible for transport to the point of departure on the departure date and the cost of all meals and refreshment en route (except as otherwise specified in the tour details).