All Your Holiday Info

Before you go

A) Advice to Air Passengers
All flight times shown on your travel documents are given using the 24-hour clock system. The flight details and timings above are accurate at the time of publication based on information from the carriers involved. Please note however that the carrier, flight details and timings may change, sometimes at short notice. When you receive your tickets and travel information, please check them carefully for any minor changes. Please confirm your inbound flight times 24 hours in advance of your departure.

Pre-bookable Seats
You can reserve seats together on selected charter airline flights at the time of booking for charges from €20 per person. The airline will endeavour to provide these seats together, however in some circumstances, depending on the size of the group and/or the configuration of the aircraft, seats together may be allocated either side of the aisle or directly behind one another.

Hand Luggage
The allowance for hand luggage is generally 5kgs per person, and should fit into the overhead locker or under the seat in front of you. Some helpful tips for what to PACK in your hand luggage to help reduce security alerts, and ensure the safety of your possessions include; passports and travel documents, all camera equipment and film, necessary medication, small aerosols, mobile phone (should be switched off during flight), foreign money and travellers cheques.

You must NOT pack items such as scissors, tweezers, penknives, razors or blades etc or blunt instruments capable of causing injury including baseball/cricket bats, golf clubs or cues. New EU aviation security regulations came into effect on 6th November 2006 consequently there are restrictions on liquids which can be taken into the aircraft cabin on flights originating in the EU. For further details please log onto www.dublinairport.com or www.corkairport.com or www.shannonairport.com.

Hold luggage
The standard baggage allowance is between 15kg-20kg this will be shown on your tickets. If you exceed your luggage allowance you will be charged extra per kilo by the airline for the excess baggage or you may be required to leave some things behind. For health and safety reasons individual bags/suitcases will be subject to a weight restriction of 30kgs per bag/suitcase, the airline will refuse any piece in excess. The airline has the right to charge for the carriage of large, bulky, oversized items such as golf clubs, sailboards etc. The carriage of such items may be subject to space restrictions and charges.

There are a number of items that airlines/governments will not allow onboard the aircraft, these include; firearms, replica or toy guns, live ammunition, scissors or knives etc with more than a three inch blade, non-safety matches, lighters, fire lighters, ignition fuel, fireworks or toy gun caps, compressed gases, oxidisers and organic peroxides such as bleach, toxic or infectious substances e.g. rat poison or radioactive material. This list is not exhaustive and law enforcements authorities are entitled to confiscate any unlisted articles on an. on-the-spot, risk assessment if they are deemed to potentially endanger the security of the aircraft.

Money and Valuables should never be packed in your hold/check-in luggage. Please ensure your luggage is in good condition and can withstand any bad weather experienced, this can happen particularly outside the main summer months. In the event of a delay, remember to transfer everything you may need in your hand luggage.

Children under 2 years of age
Children under the age of 2, travelling as infants, do not have a luggage allowance. A fold down buggy may be taken with them, and you may keep this with you until you board the aircraft.

Groups on Flights
Groups requiring special arrangements relating to flights (extra baggage; carriage of golf clubs; equipment etc) must be aware that any special arrangements are subject to availability and will incur an extra charge. Please contact our office for further information.

Mishandled Luggage
It is not uncommon for baggage to be delayed or incorrectly dispatched. Accordingly, we strongly recommend that passengers carry all essential toiletries, medicines, baby food and requisites as hand luggage. Money and valuables should never be stored in checked-in luggage.

Any damaged or lost luggage should be reported immediately to the airline handling staff and your resort representative. It is essential that you complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and retain a copy as evidence for a claim.

Checking-in
It is essential that you check in for your flight at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart to allow sufficient time to pass through the enhanced security. We cannot accept responsibility for any extra expense incurred in the event of your failure to check-in two hours before your scheduled departure time or failure to obtain correct passports, visas or other necessary travel documents. Please note that all flights operate a no smoking policy.

Disruptive Passengers
To ensure that your flight is safe and enjoyable, an airline has the right to deny boarding to anyone they consider to be intoxicated or disruptive. Such passengers may be liable for their return transport arrangements at their own expense. It is a criminal offence to be intoxicated onboard an aircraft.

On the Aircraft
Recent and extensive publicity highlighting the small risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or clotting of the blood in the leg has been quite incorrectly labelled “economy class syndrome”. The term “immobility syndrome” would be a much more accurate description. The following advice has been obtained and you may find it useful: -
• Passengers who suffer from heart disease, lung disease, and cancer or who have a family history of DVT, are recommended to seek advice from their GP prior to flying. Other risk factors include malignancy, hormone treatment, recent surgery, recent trauma involving lower limbs and abnormalities of blood clotting factors.
• If swelling occurs in the leg following a flight, medical advice should be sought, particularly if symptoms occur while on holiday prior to the return flight.
• Purchase a pair of elastic compression stockings to wear for the duration of the flight. They promote the flow of blood through the legs.
• Ensure you wear loose, baggy clothing during the flight.
• If you can take aspirin, have one tablet on the morning of travel. This decreases the risk of a clot developing (please ensure that you consult your doctor first)
• Drink plenty of water during the flight to dilute the risk of a blood clot. Too much alcohol tends to cause dehydration, which can increase the risk of clotting.
• Doing a few simple exercises regularly from your seat during the flight, such as stretching your arms and legs and rotating your feet, helps to promote the flow of blood.

Pregnancy
For reasons of safety, airlines have specific regulations regarding pregnancy and these vary from airline to airline. Some airlines will not carry someone who will be 28 weeks or more pregnant on the date of return travel but most are less restrictive. Please advise us if you are pregnant so that we may check the regulations applying to the airline involved.

We also recommend that you consult your own doctor and that you take the precaution of bringing a doctor’s certificate on holiday with you confirming that you are not exceeding the pregnancy guidelines set by the airline. Your doctors letter should dated within the week of travel and state how many weeks pregnant you are and confirm that you are in good health.

Air travel is not recommended for infants less than 14 days old or for premature babies.

Flight Delays
Some flights may stop at an airport en route for operational reasons, for example refuelling and since factors affecting these requirements may change without notice we cannot always notify you in advance. Unfortunately flights frequently encounter delays for reasons outside our control.

B) Transport

Transfers
Arrival: When you land at your holiday destination airport you will be greeted by a Thomas Cook representative. Occasionally a mini bus transfer will be organised for your journey. Not all transfers are accompanied by a Thomas Cook representative, this enables them to provide a more dedicated service for you in your accommodation and at the airport. Your representative will provide any necessary information prior to your unaccompanied journey to resort.

Transfer Times: Transfer times cover the average period taken from leaving the airport to arrive at your resort. A further allowance should be made for time spent in resort, transferring between properties. The times shown are approximate since journey times can vary due to road works, traffic etc. Should customers wish to make their own transfer arrangements for any reason, the holiday price remains unchanged. Coach transfers between resorts in Egypt are in the form of escorted convoys and so only depart at certain times of the day and can be quite lengthy.

Departure Transfer: Your transfer departure times will be confirmed on the day before your return flight, these are usually displayed in the hotel or available from your representative or our resort office.

C) Holiday Types
At Thomas Cook we have a range of holidays available and variety of board basis which appeal to all manner of holidaymaker. Please view our selection of board basis below.

All Inclusive
To help you choose your ‘All Inclusive’ we have highlighted what activities and facilities are usually included with each accommodation. This is based on information we have received from the hotel management, often dictated by the properties current seasons All Inclusive package. Please allow for some facilities or activities to be altered or substituted when you travel though, as hotels do regularly review and update what they offer as All Inclusive.

What is included in your ‘All Inclusive’ Holiday
“All Inclusive” holidays offer every opportunity for relaxing, taking part in sports and games and generally enjoying yourself. However, as with everything in life there are some simple rules which will help you in achieving this aim.
• Identification - When you arrive at your hotel you are likely to be provided with some form of identification (it may be a card, necklace, bracelet etc), which will have to be shown when ordering drinks, meals and other included facilities. Ensure you take care of this as a penalty charge is likely to be imposed if lost.
• Behaviour - both Thomas Cook Holidays and each of the “All Inclusive” hotels reserve the right to withdraw the identification facility of any guest(s) whose behaviour, or whose child/children’s behaviour is such that it is, in the opinion of the management, detrimental to the enjoyment of the other guests.
• Alcohol - Having drinks freely available throughout the day can be a temptation to overindulge. Please therefore consider your fellow guests (and your own health!) while bearing in mind that hotel management’s have every right to refuse service to guests they believe to be intoxicated or under age (in accordance with local law).
• Bottled mineral water - in some All Inclusive hotels bottled mineral water does not form part of the ‘unlimited soft drinks service’.
• Locally sourced drinks / snacks - The included facilities and services are clearly stated in the ‘All Inclusive / Full Board Plus, Features/Option’ section. Drinks included are generally only locally produced brands; cocktails, international and premium brands and fruit juices are not available unless stated. Whilst we endeavour to provide locally produced bottled mineral water as part of the ‘unlimited soft drinks service’ at our All Inclusive properties, this service cannot be guaranteed. The type and variety of snacks served (between meal times) will vary between hotels and resorts, and may be of a more traditional / local variety.

What is Not Included in ‘All Inclusive’
Any additional facilities or services available may incur a charge. Consequently, not all bars/restaurants are available free of charge.
• Coming home - most hotels remove access to All Inclusive facilities, including food and drink at the time of checkout, which is generally 12 noon on the day of departure.

Half Board & Full Board
Some of our hotels are offered on a half board basis that is a continental breakfast and evening meal (or lunch if requested available at some hotels). Many however have a very reasonable supplement for full board. Full board consists of breakfast, lunch and evening meal. We want to point out that these supplements are only available if pre-booked prior to departure, and at your holiday hotel the charge is likely to be about three times higher. Hotels do not give any refund or credit for missed meals. It is possible that you may miss a meal due to the time of arrival or departure from your hotel.

Depending on the time of arrival or departure you may miss a meal (half board, full board and all inclusive guests). This has been taken into account in the pricing of your holiday. In accordance with international practice, rooms must be vacated on the morning of the day of departure at some hotels day rooms are subject to availability/cost and should be arranged locally with the accommodation management.

Room Only: No meals are provided or self-catering facilities but there is a possibility of hiring kettles and fridges on arrival subject to availability.

Bed & Breakfast: Includes breakfast only. Breakfast will be of the “continental” type unless stated otherwise.

Self Catering: No meals are included when staying on room only and self catering board basis, although adequate living facilities (kitchenette with cooking equipment) are provided in self catering accommodation.

D) Holiday Offers & Options

Single Parent offers: At selected properties we have negotiated special offers for single parent families. To book, please ask your reservations agent to check the latest availability of rooms on our reservation system. If showing available, to ensure your total price is equivalent to the offers shown, please ask our reservations team to confirm the holiday price including discounts where applicable.

Pre School Offer
At selected properties we offer reduced prices in a limited number of rooms for families with pre-school children. All children on the booking must be under 5 years of age to qualify. (available offer will be displayed) The first child on every booking will pay the first child price applicable at the time of booking (or may even go free if a free child place is available). The second child will also pay the first child price. Any subsequent children will pay the second child price.

Flexi- Dine: In order to enable people opting for Half- Board to enjoy some of the local restaurants too, guests can choose to pay for just 3 or 4 nights’ half board on 7 night holidays and 7 or 8 days’ half board on 14 night holidays. This offer is only applicable in certain accommodations.

Honeymoons, Anniversaries & Birthdays: Many hotels offer honeymooners and guests celebrating anniversaries and birthdays special treats such as fruit, wine, flowers, candle-lit dinners, or free room upgrades. Where available, please note that the hotel may ask you to produce a marriage certificate in order to benefit from the honeymoon/anniversary offers. Offers of room upgrades, where applicable will be shown in the brochure and be determined by availability when you travel and your room will be allocated on arrival at accommodation. If your room is upgraded, please note that this will not necessarily be to the next highest category featured in our brochure as we do not sell all room types at all hotels.

Late Checkouts
Night flights can be inconvenient when it comes to vacating your room. To ease this, we are offering the chance to book a late checkout room for a small charge in certain properties. This will guarantee a room (not necessarily the one that you spent your holiday in) up until at least 18:00. The room will have a private bath or shower. There are only a limited number of rooms available.

Taxi Transfers
At some properties in certain destinations you can opt to pre-book a taxi to take you from the airport to your accommodation. This is priced for a return journey, per taxi (standard saloon size car) with a maximum of 4 people per taxi. Luggage space may be limited with 4 people on board which may result in an extra taxi being required when you get to resort – any charge for this will be passed on to you. In many overseas countries, please note that taxis may not have child or baby seats.

2 Weeks for the Price of 1
We are able to offer two weeks for the price of one at some properties on selected departure dates and rooms types. Where available the offer will be displayed in the grid on page 7. Remember any additional supplements are payable for the whole duration of your holiday. See individual price panels for details.

Free Grandparents
At selected properties we have negotiated special offers for Free Grandparents. Where available the offer will be displayed in the grid on page 7. To book, please ask your reservations agent to check the latest availability of rooms on our reservations system. If showing available to ensure your total price is equivalent to the offers shown, please ask our reservations team to confirm the holiday price including discounts where applicable.

Teen Savers
At selected properties we have negotiated special offers for Free Teenagers up to 18 years. (available offer will be displayed) To book, please ask your reservations agent to check the latest availability of rooms on our reservations system. If showing available to ensure your total price is equivalent to the offers shown, please ask our reservations team to confirm the holiday price including discounts where applicable.

Extended Holidays
For durations exceeding 14 nights, please contact our reservations department in relation to this offer or any of the above offers on 0818 202020 from Monday to Friday 09:00-17.30 and Saturday 10:00-17:00

E) Holiday Suggestions

Walking Tours in Madeira
Known as the ‘floating garden’ Madeira is a fantastic place to get outdoors and explore the terrain. The scenery is varied and filled with a range of foliage, rare blooms and vineyards, making Madeira a walker’s paradise. (See your resort representative about walking tours) Please note that walking tours may change subject to weather conditions & other circumstances beyond our control.

It is essential for you to bring along water (at least 1 litre per person) for personal consumption and a picnic will also be necessary. We recommend that walkers take comfortable but sturdy footwear/walking boots and suitable walking attire including a water proof jacket or fleece, as weather on higher grounds can be changeable. Sunscreen and a hat are recommended.

Scuba Diving
In Egypt and the Bodrum Area there are some great diving opportunities. Many hotels have their own in-house diving school where guests are able to arrange courses and dives locally. We recommend you only dive with recognised centres using qualified instructors. Our partner diving centres (Camel Dive in Sharm el Sheikh and Aegean Pro Dive Centre in Bodrum) have professional, fully qualified instructors and are certified by the internationally recognised diving body PADI.

Egypt Diving
•Transfers to the dive school from your hotel are included.
•Certification and logbook fees of approximately €37 are required for completion of any PADI course, payable locally.
•Educational materials are not included and must be purchased prior to commencing a PADI diving course.
•A medical certificate may be required but can be obtained locally at a charge.
•Courses require a minimum of 3 people to operate and are therefore subject to cancellation.
•Please note that Discover Scuba Diving is only an introductory course (minimum age 10 years) and no certificate is awarded.
•The Advanced Open Water course can only be booked by qualified divers seeking to progress further.
•In addition to the above, a range of daily dives are also available to book in resort.
•Equipment is not included in the daily dives, but is available to rent locally.
•Dives are only bookable by qualified divers, who must present an internationally recognised dive certificate and log book.

Bodrum Diving
In conjunction with the Aegean Pro Dive Centre, based in Bodrum we are pleased to offer the following pre-bookable diving courses:
•Discover Scuba for Beginners •A fully accompanied one-day, one-dive introduction to the underwater world. Non-divers are also welcome to join the dive boat (approximately €13 payable in resort) PADI Open Water Diver.
•A two day, five dive course available to holders of PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent), featuring deep, night and compass navigation dives, and leading to the PADI Advanced qualification.
•All prices in relation to Diving packages are subject to change. You will need to purchase a PADI training manual locally, at an approximate cost of €37 in Bodrum.

Diving, Health and other considerations
If you wish to dive you should bear the following in mind: Diving is a physical activity therefore a reasonable level of fitness is required to participate. Certain medical conditions may preclude you from diving e.g. Asthma and Diabetes. It is strongly advised that anyone intending a scuba dive whilst overseas should visit the doctor prior to travel (and if possible bring with them a certificate from the doctor stating that they are medically fit to dive). All participants will have to fill out a medical questionnaire in resort and if the instructors are in doubt as to a person’s fitness, they will request the client undergo a medical examination, at the client’s expense. You should not dive within at least 24 hours of departure.

The Advanced Open Water Course can only be booked by qualified divers seeking to progress further. A certification is awarded with both the Open Water and Advanced Open Water Courses. Dive packages can only be booked by qualified divers. All divers must present an internationally recognised dive certificate and log book. All pre-bookable diving courses and packages are non-transferable and non-refundable. Please adhere to local regulations and do not touch coral or other marine life when diving or snorkelling.

Activities such as diving and water sports are undertaken at your own risk and you must ensure that these courses including diving and other similar activities you wish to take part in are covered by your own holiday insurance. Some activities/water sports may be considered to be hazardous pursuits by some insurance companies.

Golfing in Resort
Golfing: To find out more information on the golf courses in our featured destinations please contact our Sales Team on 0818 202020. Prices quoted are for guidance only and you must contact the course direct to book your tee-off times. Most clubs require a handicap certificate and we strongly recommend that you take yours with you. Golfers who do not take their certificate with them may be refused play by the golf course.

Carriage of Golf Clubs: If you or any of your party are bringing golf clubs on holidays please be advised that there will be a charge levied by the airline or coach company for their carriage. This charge may only be realised on the return leg of the journey.

Golf etiquette: Golfers are required to wear collared shirts & Long trousers or tailored shorts. Tee-shirts, jeans or swim shorts are not permitted on any golf course. Most courses only allow soft spikes and require handicap certificates (generally 36 for ladies and 28 for men).

F) Holiday Destinations

Weather patterns
Adverse weather patterns, such as hurricanes, may affect your chosen destinations at certain times of the year, for more information visit www.met.ie. Should adverse weather reach your chosen destination it may disrupt hotel facilities, electricity and water supplies. Rest assured that, while in resort, should the above threaten your destination, we will contact you as soon as possible and any necessary arrangements will be made on your behalf. Should your chosen destination be threatened prior to departure we will endeavour to contact you, where necessary.

In the event of a hurricane or other adverse weather system we may contact you to evacuate from your resort. Any such evacuation will be carried out with your safety in mind and in conjunction with the relevant authorities. Please note any evacuation from resort may disentitle you to any offers made in resort by Sandals or any other third party (including without limitation the Sandals Hurricane Policy referred to in third party offers above).

Local Customs & Laws
For our featured destinations that are outside the EU, we would ask that customers recognise that certain social and cultural differences do exist. Whilst many of these differences can enhance your holiday experience, we would ask that you exercise discretion should any instance that may offend arise.

Important Events/Dates
Whilst certain festivals and events may enhance your holiday experience, these may cause disruption to some local services and hotel facilities, e.g. alcohol and entertainment may not be available. During the Muslim festival of Ramadan, around 2 September - 2 October 2010, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and some restaurants may be closed during the day, but most tourist facilities in Tunisia and Egypt should be unaffected, although the working hours of some banks and shops may change. In many of the resorts we feature, public holidays and religious festivals may also affect the availability of resort and hotel facilities. The National Tourist Offices can provide details of such events.

Sightseeing in Egypt: All the archaeological sites will charge extra for the use of photographic equipment, your guide will advise you of charges locally. Please ensure you take sunglasses, a hat and plenty of bottled water when sightseeing and a torch is useful when visiting tombs. Cool cotton clothing and comfortable foot wear are advisable and high factor sun cream is essential. Visitors should dress modestly and especially when visiting traditional areas like mosques and souqs (markets); women’s clothes should cover their legs and upper arms. Public displays of affection are frowned upon.

Egyptian and Tunisian Diets
It is our aim to do all we can to ensure your holiday meets your expectations. However we feel we should point out that general standards of care, hygiene, safety, public services and efficiency may differ from those at home. In particular the incidence of stomach upsets in Tunisia and Egypt is higher than in Ireland and you should accordingly exercise greater care for your own protection and health in matters of hygiene and choice of food and drink.

Vegetarians travelling to Tunisia and Egypt should be prepared to make allowances for the fact that vegetarianism is somewhat alien to the local culture. Consequently, meal choices for strict vegetarians can, on occasion, be limited or repetitive. We cannot accept requests for vegetarian meals on flights if notified to us less than one week before departure.

• Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a continuous developing resort and is not suitable for disabled passengers, due to hotels having a lack of adapted facilities and the resorts location and terrain.

There is a dual pricing system, where tourists are charged more for the same things than Bulgarians & foreign residents.

Bulgarian Lev cannot be taken out of Bulgaria and cannot be bought outside the country. Some outlets may charge a fee for using credit cards. It should be noted however that credit cards are not widely accepted. Also, resort trips can not be paid by credit cards.

Exchange bureaus/banks will not exchange damaged or defaced notes.

Please note: Nodding of the head means no and shaking of the head means yes.

• Egypt
Visitors should dress modestly and especially when visiting traditional areas like mosques and souqs (markets); women's clothes should cover their legs and upper arms. Public displays of affection are frowned upon.

Egypt is a Muslim country and alcohol is not available in bars, but widely available in hotels/restaurants. During Ramadan (around 2 September - 2 October 2010, the start of Ramadan varies from year to year), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and some restaurants may be closed during the day, but most tourist attractions and hotels are not affected.

It is recommended that you drink bottled water.

There is a charge for the use of camera and video camera at some of the sites. Also flash photography is not permitted at some of the sites. Your Holiday Representative or local guide will inform you of any charges.

“Baksheesh” or tipping is a way of life in Egypt. People in the service industry rely heavily on tips. Keep plenty of small notes for tipping purposes, it is best to tip little but often. You are expected to tip waiters, porters, barmen, coach drivers, taxi drives - in general anyone who offers you any type of assistance or service.
10% is normal for restaurants and €5 per person per night is normal on cruise ships.

Please note hoteliers in Egypt will NOT accept payment in LE£ (Egyptian Pounds) to settle your account. Therefore you must settle your bill by credit card, in Euro, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

• Greece
Greek plumbing is not particularly reliable, so you may need to dispose of toilet paper in the bin provided. These are emptied on a regular basis (usually daily) in both self catering accommodation and hotels.

Many hotels heat their water by solar energy, so water may be cooler in the morning.

• Tunisia
The incidence of stomach upsets is much higher in Tunisia than in Ireland and you should exercise greater care for your own health in matters of hygiene and choice of food and drink. Bottled water is recommended.

Passengers travelling to Tunisia should note that the local currency, the Dinar, can only be purchased on arrival in the country. Airports, hotels and banks can change money. Please retain your exchange receipts. These must be shown on departure from Tunisia and you can only reconvert 30% of the sum originally changed back into Euro (up to a maximum of 100 dinars). Tunisian currency cannot be taken out of the country.

If you wish to take more than €850 cash (not traveller's cheques) into Tunisia, this must be declared on entry.

• Turkey
Turkish plumbing is not particularly reliable, so you may need to dispose of toilet paper in the bin provided. These are emptied on a regular basis (usually daily) in both self catering accommodation and hotels.

In Turkey you may experience an occasional power cut or water shortage due to the inability of local maintenance to keep up with developments in resort.

Some streets may not be paved and some buildings are incomplete. Between mid May & mid October building work is prohibited in Turkey.

Many hotels heat their water by solar energy, so water may be cooler in the morning.

G ) Persons with a disability
Many overseas hotels and apartment complexes are not properly equipped to cater for the needs of holidaymakers with disabilities. Furthermore, the natural terrain and layout of some resorts can sometimes make life difficult for wheelchair users. It is therefore important, if you have a disability, that the appropriate enquiries are made about the suitability of particular accommodation and resorts, and that you are fully satisfied you have made the correct choice before you book and confirm your holiday. (see clause 2 Booking Conditions) In order that we may assist you in ensuring that your holiday choice is suitable, we require you to complete a special needs form, available from our reservations department by phoning 0818 202020.

H) Expectant Mothers Policy

Air travel is not recommended for infants less than 14 days old or for premature babies.

I) Children’s Conditions and Services

Child Prices
Children paying a child price must share accommodation with at least two persons paying the full adult brochure price. Children do not count toward apartment occupancy levels and child price places will be charged any applicable flight supplements, accommodation supplements and all clients including children must have holiday insurance, see booking conditions.

FREE Child Places
Free child places are limited to the first child on each booking. The number of free places is limited on each flight so it is possible that a hotel may in fact never have any free children in it if all the flight places have been used for different hotels. All FREE children taking an optional board supplement offer MUST pay the board supplement in full. Children and infants with a free or reduced price place DO NOT COUNT towards apartment occupancy, as the shared price is based on full fare paying passengers. The deposit amount is payable by all adults and children even if they have a FREE PLACE. When all the free child places have been taken on a flight, the first child will pay the price shown on the relevant price panel. All offers are subject to availability.

Infant Places
Infants under 2 years of age on the day of RETURN pay €30 on all flights and must travel on an adult’s lap. Please note that in the interests of Health & Safety, each infant travelling must be accompanied by one adult, e.g. 2 infants travelling must be accompanied by 2 adults. Extra services required such as cots etc must be paid to the apartment/hotel locally and are subject to availability.

Extra Children
An extra child can be accommodated in certain properties (usually sleeping on a camp bed) and will be charged at the child panel price unless other wise indicated. Please speak to our reservations department on 0818 202020 for details. The child’s age on the date of departure must not exceed the age limit described in the property description. The full adult deposit must be paid for all children except infants. Child ages you provide must be applicable to the relevant date of departure. If a child is subsequently older on the date of departure than originally specified at the time of booking, this may mean they no longer qualify for a child price and you will have to pay the full adult fare, plus any administration fees before the party can travel. Please check carefully with use before booking.

Cots: No linen for a cot is provided so remember to take some with you. Cots may not be an Irish design or standard and are often of the ‘travel cot’ variety. Any charges for infant’s cot hire and food should be paid direct to the hotel.

KidsWORLD
KidsWORLD Access to KidsWORLD clubs (except crèches) and club: KidsWORLD are included in the holiday price and are available in those properties where we feature such clubs and are operated and staffed by Thomas Cook Holidays. Places are subject to availability and operate on a strict staff to child ratio of 2:16. The clubs operate on a first come first served basis and if your accommodation does have a kids club you will need to take your child along to the session at the advertised time. Additional charges for certain kids activities apply. The KidsWORLD programmes are operated by Thomas Cook, who employ representatives carefully selected for their personalities, relevant experience and qualification.

KidsWORLD clubs for ages 3-4, 5-7 and 8-11 years are open for a minimum of two hours a day, six days a week. Evening sessions are also available two evenings a week.

Club:KidsWORLD is for ages 3-11 years. Each clubroom is open for up to six hours a day, six days a week. In addition to this, Evening Club will operate for up to three hours once a week. Evening club is subject to availability and additional charges apply for some activities which are payable in resort.

KidsWORLD crèches are not included in the holiday price, they are operated on a strict 2:6 staff to child ratio, run by qualified childcare staff. The crèche is open up to six hours a day, six days a week and each session lasts for two hours. Session can be booked in resort at a cost of €5 per hour. Please note at busy periods sessions may be limited. Please note all KidsWORLD, club:KidsWORLD crèches are provided by a third party company independent of Panorama Holidays.

Facilities and activities for all clubs are dependant on demand if numbers fall below the required level we reserve the right to withdraw facilities and/or activities. When clubs do not operate all season, details of operational dates are noted against each accommodation. Club sessions may be cancelled at short notice owing to temporary staff shortages or other operational reasons.

Hotel-run kids clubs Standards and facilities at kids club's featured may vary to those featured in KidsWORLD. We are unable to accept responsibility for or give any guarantee for the standard of the facilities and qualifications of personnel at hotel run clubs. Kids club(s) may not meet standards of similar facilities in Ireland and guests are strongly advised to remember that local standards and requirements in respect of such clubs may differ overseas, and so you must ensure that you are completely satisfied with the facilities and staff providing this service before you enrol your child or children into the club or the clubs' care.

SunStar Hotels & Apartments: Please note that the full SunStar 2010 entertainment programme will not commence until the first arrival on/or after 1st May 2010. Some activities may incur an additional charge.

SunStar Soccer School* Soccer coaches will be at all SunStar hotels (with the exception of the Club Julian Hotel and Apartments in Turkey) this summer between 12th July-5th Sept. Each child receives 3 x 90 minute sessions during the week with sessions taking place in either the morning or the afternoon.

Guests pay €32 (subject to change) for 6 hours of coaching. The following age groups apply 5-8 yrs, 9-12 yrs and over 12’s. Each child will receive the SunStar Soccer Skills certificate and T-shirt. Bookings can be made on arrival in resort.

SunStar Soccer School is provided by a third party company, independent of Panorama Holidays.

SuperStar Stage Academy* A 3 day performing arts class for children between 6 and 16 years, available from 12th Jul-15th Sept. All operation is dependant on demand and minimum numbers. Children receive 2 hours coaching per day over 3 days followed by a graduation show.
Programme includes:
•Choreographed dances
•Basic vocal, microphone and presentation skills
•Performance skills and show rehearsals

Cost of the 6 hour course is €32 per child and includes a Superstar Stage School T-shirt and certificate. Places can be booked in resort.

SuperStar Stage Academy is provided by a third party company independent of Panorama Holidays.

Splash Kids* Fully qualified UK swimming instructors from the National Federation of Swim Schools operating in selected properties (subject to demand) between 12th-15th Sept. Each child receives 5 x 30 minute sessions during their holiday. The cost of the course is €32 per child (subject to change) and includes a Splash Kids certificate. Bookings can be made on arrival in resort. Splash Kids is provided by a third party company, independent of Panorama Holidays. Full details of the programme will be available in resort - please ask your representative for details.

*Places are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Splash Tots - Fully qualified UK swimming instructors from the National Federation of Swim Schools operating in the following hotels: Sirenis Seaview Country Club, between the 1st May and 31st October. Each parent with one infant receives 5 X 30 minute water confidence sessions during their holiday. Guests pay €32 if booked on arrival in resort (places are subject to availability) Full details on the programme will be available in resort – please ask your representative for details. Please Note: SunStar Soccer School, Superstar Stage
Academy and Splash Kids & Splash Tots are provided by third party suppliers independent of Panorama Holidays.

Aquamania - Hotels featured as Aquamania have a great range of slides and / or water features offering aqua fun for all the family. With a wider range of slides and water features it is vital that the safety recommendations, above, are followed carefully in these hotels.

Please note: Aquamania is provided by a third party company independent of Panorama Holidays.

J) Passports & Visas & Vaccinations

Passport & Visas
It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is valid for the full duration of your holiday. In addition you should note that some overseas countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period after the date of entry to that country. If your passport is in its final year of validity, you are advised to check the requirements of the destination before you make your final travel plans. If you need to obtain a new passport, you should do so in good time. It can take up to 12 weeks to obtain a passport by post but this may vary depending upon the time of year.

Please note that a passport is still required for travel between Ireland and all countries featured in this brochure. Holders of passports issued in Ireland or other E.U. countries do not require a visa for entry to The Canaries. Holders of non EU passports should check the entry requirements if travelling to any of the countries featured in this brochure. All children including infants require a passport. Holders of family passports should note that the passport is only valid if the main holder is travelling with other family members. Children aged 16 years and over require their own passport.

Egypt
All Irish passport holders entering Egypt must obtain a visa from the Egyptian Embassy (single entry visa, valid for 3 months costs €25, subject to change) or on arrival in Egypt. It is usually cheaper to obtain an Egyptian visa on arrival. Please note that for arrivals at Sharm el Sheikh there are two types of visa (1) Sinai Visa (2) Normal Visa. The Sinai Visa is free of charge however travel around the Sinai Peninsula is restricted. Therefore, to enable you to take full advantage of the excursion programme; the cruise and stay; twin centre and multi centre holidays, we would recommend that you pay for the Normal Visa, approximately €15 (subject to change). This fee is payable in Euro, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Tunisia
All Irish passport holders entering Tunsia must obtain a visa, these visa are acquired by filling out cards on board the aircraft and later at your accommodation. There is no charge (subject to change) however all documentation must be retained from your return journey.

Vaccinations
Many countries around the globe have different standards of Public Health, some require compulsory vaccinations and essential anti-malaria precautions, whilst others only have recommended inoculations before travel with others requiring nothing at all. At this time, no certificate of vaccination is required for destinations featured, however the Tropical Medical Advice Bureau currently recommends typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A for Tunisia and Egypt. Please check with your GP or travel clinic prior to travel for any health advice about your destination. Alternatively check for further information at www.oasis.gov.ie or www.hse.ie.

New European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are an Irish resident you are entitled to free or reduced cost, state provided healthcare when visiting a European Union (EU) country, non (EU) countries include Iceland, Leichtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. However, to be covered you will need a new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which you can apply for free of charge. For further information visit www.ehic.ie or contact your local health office. The EHIC should be obtained in addition to your travel insurance, not instead of it.

Travel Advice
The Irish Foreign Office issues frequently updated advice for those travelling outside Ireland. The advice includes general warnings and specific information for the benefit of travellers. You can access the latest information from the Foreign Office at www.oasis.gov.ie.

K) Currency

Tunisia
Passengers travelling to Tunisia should note that the local currency, the Dinar, can only be purchased on arrival in the country. Airports, hotels and banks can change money. Please retain your exchange receipts, these must be shown on departure from Tunisia and note that you can only reconvert 30% of the sum originally changed back into euros (up to a maximum of 100 dinars). Tunisian currency cannot be taken out of the country. If you wish to take more than g850 cash (not traveller’s cheques) into Tunisia Dinar, this must be declared on entry.

Egypt
“Baksheesh” or tipping is a way of life in Egypt. People in the service industry rely heavily on tips. It is customary, expected and appreciated to tip throughout the country, 10% is normal for restaurants and €5 per person per night is normal on cruise ships. Please note hoteliers in Egypt will NOT accept payment in LE£ (Egyptian Pounds) to settle your account. Therefore you must settle your bill by credit card, in Euro, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Cash and Valuables
Tourists in any part of the world are natural targets for thieves and consequently we strongly advise against bringing large amounts of cash, jewellery and expensive equipment on holiday.

It is advisable to take enough foreign currency to cover any small purchases on arrival, especially if you are arriving outside of banking hours. Traveller’s cheques are still the most effective method of safely taking money on holiday, they can easily be exchanged for currency in resort and can be replaced quickly if lost or stolen. Remember to keep your serial numbers separate from your traveller’s cheques.

ATM machines are now widely available in most resorts and travellers cheques are still the safest way to transport currency. Where your accommodation offers safety deposit boxes for hire, we recommend that you avail of these.

M) Prices & Supplements

Thomas Cook Price Promise
We won’t be beaten on price – guaranteed. We guarantee to match the lowest available price on identical and bookable holidays from any other non Thomas Cook Group Tour Operator, available at your ITOF travel agent (with the exception of special offer brochures). The booking must be for a minimum of two full-fare paying passengers. Holiday price comparisons will be between the total cost for the entire travelling party including flight and accommodation supplements, but excluding insurance premiums.

In order for accurate comparisons to be made, the holidays must be identical in all respects i.e. the same departure date and airport and the same accommodation (including room type and board basis). Flight timings must be directly comparable as follows: flight departing 04:00 - 12:59hr = slot 1; 13:00 - 18:59hr = slot 2; 19:00 - 03:59hr = slot 3. Holidays including Scheduled Flights, special offers, late availability prices, travel agents’ offers and group booking discounts are excluded from this guarantee which relates to the full ‘brochure’ price of each holiday.

In cases where free children’s holidays are to be included in price comparisons, we would ask you to note the following: If your booking with us includes a free child place but the alternative holiday you have located does not, the appropriate child price applicable on that alternative holiday will be taken into account in the calculation. A flight must be either a day or night flight as appropriate, and for all holiday comparisons we will require proof of availability at the claimed price at the time of booking. All claims need to be made within 14 days of the date your booking is confirmed.

Accommodation Supplements
Our contract with hoteliers and apartment owners is based on a price per room and that is based on the maximum number of Full Fare Paying Passengers (FFPP) sharing. Where an apartment or hotel room is not fully occupied by FFPP, for example three people may wish to share accommodation usually sold for four people and priced accordingly, a portion of the room cost is recovered through under occupancy supplements. We offer first and second child discounts substantially below room rate and as such they are not FFPP and do not count towards occupancy. As such an under-occupancy supplement has to be applied to the actual FFPP. In these situations the full cost of the holiday will be less than if all were priced as FFPP.

Your Package Includes
•Return flight from Irish airport

•A minimum luggage allowance of 15kgs per person (excluding infants). Excess baggage charges apply if you exceed the allowance shown on your tickets.

•Aviation Price Supplements, airport taxes and security charges

•Accommodation in apartments/hotels as described in the property description

•Accommodation and meals (if applicable) as confirmed on your holiday invoice.

•Transfers from the airport to your accommodation and return.

•Services of THOMAS COOK resident representative throughout your holiday.

•Government Levy of €10 - valid for all travel from 30th March 2009.

Not Included in your Holiday
• Panorama Holidays Travel Insurance
•Meals unless specifically included in the property description or/and confirmed on your holiday invoice.
•Any flight supplements, hotel supplements e.g. sea views, meal supplements, unless confirmed on your holiday invoice.
•Some hotel/apartment facilities featured in this brochure are payable locally (e.g. health clubs, indoor fitness facilities, tennis, table games, cots etc.).
•Some properties charge for the use of sun loungers and parasols.
•Extra security and aviation charges.
•Excess baggage charges - airlines may charge for excess baggage including golf clubs, wind-surfs, sailboards, bicycles etc.
•T.O.D. charge - if a holiday is booked within 2 weeks of departure, a ticket on departure (T.O.D.) will be issued at the airport. This service will incur a charge of €15 per person. (this amount is subject to review and change).
•Some properties charge a breakages deposit which is refundable less the cost of any damage or loss.
•All known fuel costs at the time of printing are correct, we reserve the right to increase the brochure price, due to fluctuations in fuel costs.

Surcharges
It is possible that at the time of booking, the price of the holiday may have increased or decreased from that shown on the confirmation invoice. After the booking form has been signed by the consumer, price revisions may be made only to allow for variations in transport costs including fuel; duties, taxes or fees chargeable for such services as landing and embarkation at port and airports; tourist taxes; security charges and insurance premiums. No price increase will be applied within 20 days of the specified date of departure.

Fuel Charges
The aviation industry has faced significant increases to its operating costs as a result of increases in the price of oil on world markets. The amount of this additional cost can vary according to the economic or political situation at any time. Our airlines will be passing this increase onto us and regrettably we have no alternative other than to pass these increases onto our customers. As the amounts may vary, we will do so by a supplement charged at the time of booking. In the event that there is any significant change to the amount charged, we may have to add further surcharges to the cost of your holiday in accordance with our booking conditions.

Security and Aviation Charges
Since September 11th 2001, extra security/insurance charges have been imposed upon airlines and tour operators. The charges advised to us at the time that this brochure went to print are included in the cost of your holiday, however these charges are influenced by world events and, as such, may be subject to change from time to time. Direct Holidays reserves the right to add to the cost of your holiday any extra security/insurance charges which may arise at any time prior to booking. Please therefore check carefully the total costing, including these extra charges, with us before you book.

Local Charges
At some accommodation certain amenities may carry a local charge. Unless we have stated that a service or facility is ‘free’ in our accommodation descriptions or included services/facilities in an all inclusive package, you may be asked to pay a charge. Here are a few examples of what you might expect to pay for locally, but always check first as there may be others.
• Daily car parking charge at some hotels/apartments.
• Entertainment and activities away from your accommodation.
• Highchairs, cots, hotel run Children’s Clubs and meals for infants.
• Meals and beverages from certain restaurants and bars at your accommodation.
• Certain premium drink-brands or a la carte meal options and the use of certain eateries and bars at All-Inclusive hotels.
• Safety deposit facilities, room service, mini-bar, TV/ satellite TV, telephone calls, air conditioning and sea views.
• Facilities and equipment such as sun loungers, whirlpools, indoor pools, sauna, table tennis, billiards and darts and other sporting equipment

N ) After You Book Your Holiday
In order to ensure that your holiday gets off to a smooth start and that you get exactly what you expected, we would ask you to carefully check the following within a few days of booking:

Passports & Visas
All members of your party must have a valid passport and any necessary visas (see section entitled Passports and Visas). The name on the passport must match the name/initial on the ticket, otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.

Your Invoice
If it is a Panorama Holidays policy we will issue you with an invoice. When you book on line you will receive a postal invoice to confirm your booking details. It is important that you carefully check your invoice to ensure that all details are correct and that they correspond exactly with the details of your booking.

Your invoice will detail the type of accommodation, as confirmed at the time of booking. Please remember every hotel, apartment and villa featured will differ in size and facilities available, therefore this information is only a guide.

Hotels: Extra beds are usually camp style or fold down beds. Most hotels offer a reduction on the third/fourth adult sharing. Where hotels have larger rooms available, this will be mentioned in the accommodation description.

Studios: Generally consisting of an open plan living/sleeping area with kitchenette, private bathroom and either proper beds or sofa/camp beds – on occasion a combination of both.

Apartments: Generally consist of an open plan living/sleeping area, kitchenette, private bathroom, 2 proper beds in each bedroom and in some instances double beds. Additional beds will normally be sofa/camp beds.

Villas: Generally consist of an open plan lounge, kitchen, private bathroom, proper beds in each bedroom & private terrace. Where stated they feature private swimming pools and gardens.

If for any reason, you do not receive a Panorama Holidays invoice, please request it from us. The sooner that we are informed of any discrepancies, the better chance we have of rectifying them. Please also ensure that you bring your Panorama Holidays INVOICE ON HOLIDAY as this is the only proof you have of what has been reserved for you.

Insurance
All Panorama Holidays customers must have travel insurance in line with Panorama Holidays booking terms and conditions. You can purchase Direct Holiday travel insurance or an alternative policy equal or greater than our own. It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with the requirements of your chosen travel insurance policy. Please ask your insurance supplier for a copy of the policy, if one is not provided to you within a few days of booking.

It is normal with most travel insurance that PRE-EXISTING ILLNESSES must be disclosed to the insurance company at the time that the insurance is taken out. Furthermore, if, after making a booking, something occurs which may have a bearing on your ability to travel or which may require you to curtail or alter your holiday in any way, there will usually be an obligation on you to notify the insurance company of the increased risk as soon as you become aware of it.

Amendments & Cancellations
When you book on line you will receive a postal invoice to confirm your booking details. It is important that you carefully check your invoice to ensure that all details are correct and that they correspond exactly with the details of your booking. If you note a discrepancy on your invoice, please contact our office immediately, when one of our staff will edit your details. You may be requested to confirm changes by e-mail at amend@thomascookholidays.ie.

The amount of cancellation charges payable varies and is dependant on the period of notice given. The full scale of cancellation charges payable is set out in clause 3 Booking Conditions. Cancellation charges apply to the full booking cost i.e. the basic holiday package cost plus any supplementary costs e.g. twin centre supplements etc. Please note that all cancellations should expressed in writing by one of the individuals travelling and can be accept e-mail at amend@thomascookholidays.ie.

Whilst you’re there

A) Your resort representative
At Thomas Cook we aim to provide an efficient, friendly and frequent service by thoroughly trained representatives. To this end, we demand the highest standards of presentation and dedication from all our staff. Our representation services are provided by Thomas Cook Holidays, who will be happy to assist you during your stay. From the moment you arrive to the time you depart, they will do their best to ensure you enjoy your holiday to the full. They will give you the benefit of their knowledge about your accommodation and the resort, and the country, its local customs and advise you on how best you can spend your time in resort.

Our representatives attend all of our properties regularly during your stay and their visiting times will be posted on the notice board near to reception. Even if you feel you do not require the service of our representatives, you can relax knowing they are available if you need them. If you have any other questions or problems during your stay your representative will be happy to assist you. If something should go wrong PLEASE speak to our representative in your resort. They are trained to sort things out on the spot.

B) Your Accommodation

Accommodation Ratings
Each property description has an official local star rating and a Thomas Cook rating. The local star ratings are awarded by the local authorities and may not be similar to the rating system we are familiar to at home because local ratings vary from country to country and they are often influenced by local considerations such as tax liability. To help you choose, we have awarded our own ratings based on our personal knowledge of each property at the time of going to press. These are on a scale of one to five ‘Q’, indicating a range from modest but good value, to first class with excellent facilities.

2 ‘Q’ = Comfortable, basic accommodation representing good value for money.
3 ‘Q’ = Good standard, comfortable accommodation with mid-range facilities.
4 ‘Q’ = High standard of accommodation and facilities
5 ‘Q’ = Excellent standard of accommodation, usually with a first class range of facilities and a choice of restaurants
PLUS = Accommodation that is above average in this category.
Please note that in addition to the actual quality of the accommodation, our Q ratings are also influenced by customer satisfaction levels in previous years and by the standard of service and general atmosphere.

Special Requests
As a complimentary service to our customers, we forward any special request (e.g. low floor, pool view) which you make to the management of your selected accommodation. The granting of such requests is at the sole discretion of the property management and you will be advised on arrival if it has been possible to facilitate your request. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for special requests which cannot be accommodated as per our booking conditions. Special requests can only be processed if made at the time of booking and cannot be processed in the case of bookings made within six weeks of departure.

Resort and Hotel Facilities
Hotel and apartments can and do withdraw facilities at certain times as a result of bad weather or the need for maintenance, refurbishments or improvements. Some amenities in both hotels and resorts may not be available in low season.

Entertaining and Sports facilities
Entertainment and sports facilities differ from hotel to hotel, so please read the descriptions carefully. Not all hotels provide entertainment, and the quality at those that do will vary. A charge may be made locally for entertainment and the use of some hotel facilities where these are not included in an all inclusive package. You may be required to pay a deposit for some sports or leisure facilities which will be refunded upon the return of the undamaged equipment. Some hotels may have additional conditions before refunding the deposit (e.g. not to exceed the time limit of usage). If applicable, guests will be informed on arrival.

Outdoor sports and facilities are subject to weather conditions (e.g. water sports, outdoor bars etc). All sports and leisure activities are naturally subject to availability. Fitness rooms in hotels vary widely and it is unusual to find all the equipment you would find in a gym at home. Supervision is not always arranged. The hotel may have a system restricting the number of times and hours of use of certain facilities to ensure all customers can enjoy them. Whenever we are aware of this it is clearly stated.

For safety reasons guests could be denied the use of sporting equipment if the hotel’s sporting instructor feels they are not competent. In most cases relevant instruction is available but may incur a cost. Age and height restrictions may be applied by the hotel for certain activities and facilities. These are applied locally for the wellbeing of all customers and full details will be supplied when you arrive at your accommodation. For safety reasons some sports are not available to younger children or children without adult supervision. You should ensure water sports and other similar sporting activities you wish to take part in are covered by your own holiday insurance. Some activities/water sports may be considered to be hazardous pursuits by some insurance companies.

Your Accommodation
Photography: The interior photographs of our accommodation depicted in this brochure are intended to give an overall impression of the standards provided. The shape, layout and the style of furniture and décor of accommodation can vary even within the same block.

Twin Rooms: Most rooms on our allocation have twin beds, but if you especially require a matrimonial bed please state this when making your booking. Some twin rooms may have a sleeping platform arrangement with two separate mattresses.

Multiple Beds: Some hotels are also able to provide three-bedded rooms, in some cases even four-bedded rooms, but you may find floor and drawer space cramped and extra beds will often be of a folding type.

Single rooms: These are limited in number and in many cases may be inferior in standard and position to other rooms in the hotel. The extra charge paid for a single room is for the convenience of having a room to yourself.

Hotel layouts: Moorish or traditional style hotels have low rise wings set in their gardens and subsequently reception areas and hotel restaurants are often separate from accommodation blocks.

Appearance: Please remember that the properties featured in this brochure enjoy very high levels of occupancy, close to 100 per cent in most cases, during the very long holiday season and that when you check-in to your apartment/hotel room, it is likely that it will only have been vacated by the previous guests a few hours earlier.

While all rooms/apartments etc. should be thoroughly cleaned and serviced prior to your arrival, it is not always possible to eliminate all signs of wear and tear by guests such as stained paintwork etc. arising during the season. Please bear in mind also that it is not possible for Panorama Holidays or indeed hotel managers to check all rooms/apartments in the short interval between departures and arrivals and unfortunately room servicing may not always conform to our standards and requirements. If you do find any deficiencies, please report these immediately to reception and your representative and steps will be taken to rectify matters as quickly as possible.

Artist impressions: We have had to use computer generated images or artist’s impressions of properties in some instances. These images are to give you an idea of how the accommodation should look.

Breakages Deposit: Some properties may charge a refundable deposit against breakages/damage, this is payable on check-in to the accommodation in local currency.

Checking in & Vacating Rooms: Because of the time needed to fully service apartments after the departure of the previous occupants, it may not always be possible to check in to your apartment immediately on arrival at your selected property, particularly if you arrive on a morning flight. Alternatively, if you check in immediately after a night flight this counts as one night’s accommodation. In certain properties, check-in is in the late afternoon but you can avail of all the facilities at the property while you wait.

Bathrooms: Where hotel and apartment facilities include ‘bath with shower’, the shower will be an over bath shower, and bathrooms will have a bath or a shower.

Balconies: No distinction is made between a terrace, balcony or patio

Accommodation Contents: Remember that on the continent toasters, teapots, kettles, irons or washing machines are rarely provided and electricity and water supplies are often less efficient than at home.

Satellite TV: Please note that the satellite TV featured in many of the hotels receive a limited reception and not always the channels you are used to at home.

Linen: Bed linen is not always as large as in Ireland and towels can be small.

Air Conditioning: The standard of air conditioning will vary from hotel to hotel. Most hotels will offer air conditioning or air cooling, which in many cases is centrally operated at the discretion of the management of the accommodation or in some areas to meet local government restrictions. In some cases to operate there is an additional charge payable locally.

Air-conditioning/air cooling may only be available in high season (generally July and August) and/or at certain times of the day and night. Air conditioning will sometimes only be in the lounge, public areas or bedrooms. In older hotels the effectiveness of the air conditioning may not be up to modern four and five star Northern European hotel standards.

Smoking: Due to the increased move towards smoking bans in public areas, it is not uncommon to find smoking restrictions in operation at some hotels, bars, restaurants and airports. Some accommodations may operate a smoking ban in guestrooms, whether or not a local or national ban is in operation. In other accommodations, only a limited number of smoking rooms may be available.

Dress code: Some accommodation may have a dress code in their restaurant and bar areas. This usually means no swimwear or casual shorts and men generally must wear long trousers.

Local Charges: In all the properties that we feature we have indicated by an asterisk (*) facilities or features that incur a local charge. We have only flagged facilities which guests may expect to be free but which are not. We have not flagged facilities for which you obviously have to pay such as restaurants, bars, telephones, shops etc. Please note that during the early and late part of the season some general resort facilities can be in limited supply due to low demand.

Indoor Swimming Pools: Some of our hotels have indoor swimming pools, principally for the winter months. In the height of the summer they can be uncomfortably hot and are, sometimes closed for maintenance. When the weather is such that swimming outside is not suitable, the indoor pool is generally open.

Sea views: Please note, where accommodation is described as having a sea view, this means that a view of the sea will be available when standing on the balcony or terrace. If your room does not have a balcony or terrace, a view of the sea will be available from the room. Not all accommodation will face the sea directly and, on occasions, trees may partially obscure the view, particularly from rooms on lower floors.

In Resort
Beaches: As most beaches are public property, neither Panorama Holidays nor hotelier cannot accept responsibility for their condition. Please bear in mind that bad weather may cause excessive seaweed and flotsam and is not a sign of pollution. Jellyfish may be prominent on beaches at certain times of the year or as a result of weather conditions.

Timeshare: We would draw your attention to the fact that timeshare has become increasingly prevalent in many holiday resorts and holiday complexes. Tactics can include winning scratch cards, telephone or street questionnaires. The long-term benefits of such schemes are debatable and may not suit everyone. Should you decide to sign any documentation, please ensure that there is a cooling-off period sufficient to enable you to obtain independent professional advice. We also strongly recommend that you do not commit to anything or part with any monies before obtaining such advice.

Local Laws: Guests are advised that there may be local laws in the country they are intending to visit that restrict alcohol sale and consumption to individuals of a minimum age, which may in some cases be higher than 17 years. In addition, there may be local laws specifying a minimum age for access into clubs/bars/pubs. On some excursions, which includes provision of alcoholic beverages, a soft drink option will be available for non-drinkers and those under the local legal minimum age for alcohol consumption.

Driving: Laws, licensing requirements and age limits vary throughout the world. We recommend you check with your travel agent, or the relevant embassy or consulate

Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes can be a particular nuisance to holidaymakers, especially after rainfall. Insect repellent is strongly recommended.

C) Health and Safety
The following is for your guidance. We also advise all our customers to exercise their own personal judgement towards the unfamiliar environment when travelling abroad.

Health & Safety
We strive to raise standards in all our overseas resorts. We seek advice from health and safety organisations and accredited safety consultants. All resorts have to complete regular quality checks which have been produced in consultation with professional organisations. Safety and hygiene standards may vary from those you are used to at home. While your accommodation is obliged to meet local safety requirements, these may not match Irish standards which are among the highest in the world. Through working together with accommodation owners, we continuously aim to improve standards in all properties we feature.

Water sports & Sporting Activities in Resorts
We refer to a number of water sports and other sporting activities we feature. These are neither owned nor operated by us and we cannot guarantee that they are maintained or operated with the customer's safety in mind. We would ask that you take all reasonable precautions to protect yourself and your party whilst on holiday and would recommend that you only use companies who demonstrate good safety practices.

You should ensure water sports and other similar sporting activities you wish to take part in are covered by your own holiday insurance. Some activities/ water sports may be considered to be hazardous pursuits by some insurance companies.

Swimming pools and water features
Please make use of the pool shower facilities before swimming - this helps to prevent any potential infections and helps to keep the pool clean. Do not use the pool after dark or when the pool is closed, even if the pool has underwater lights. Some of our hotels and apartments have water features, such as slides or flumes, which may appear in our photography, it is possible such features may have been replaced or removed since the photography was taken.

Water features & slides
Whilst such facilities can be enjoyed by many holidaymakers, safe use of these facilities is essential. Therefore, we would bring your attention to the following important safety information; Hotel’s policies on lifeguards and supervision of water slides may vary and qualified lifeguards may not be present at all hotels or at all times. You should familiarise yourself with the pool, layout, depths and presence of any lifeguards before you or anyone travelling with you uses the facilities. If you are unsure about any aspect of the facilities, please seek advice from our Representatives before using.

Children must always be supervised by a responsible adult. Age and height restrictions apply. Ensure landing areas are vacated quickly. Some slides and water features will not be suitable for weak swimmers or if you are pregnant or have certain medical conditions, so please check carefully before using the facilities. All notices and pool rules for safe use of the slides and water features must be observed at all times. Opening times of slides are dependant on weather conditions and facilities may not be operational throughout the season. Never use the slides or water features when closed or if you have been drinking alcohol.

Swimming Pool and Water Safety
Swimming pools and indeed any water reserves present an inherent danger for children and poor swimmers in particular, but sometimes for even the most experienced swimmers. We ask that you remain extra vigilant in relation to members of your party, but also in relation to other holidaymakers, in and around the swimming pools in your holiday accommodation and in the sea. Please pay particular attention to the following:
•Most holiday complexes do not have dedicated life-guards and, even if they do, it is essential that you exercise extreme caution and particularly that you keep children under constant supervision in the pool and surrounding area.
•It is important that you familiarise yourself with the pool depths and layout at the earliest possible opportunity after arriving at your accommodation, paying particular attention to any sharp drops in gradient or hidden obstructions which are a feature of some pools.
•Tiles around some pools can become slippery when wet so take care not to run in this area.
•Ear infections are commonplace, particularly amongst children, on holiday. Doctors advise that the main cause of ear infections is prolonged exposure of the ears to water and that children are particularly prone to developing ear infections when the ear is submerged in water within 48 hours of flying.
•If there is a "No Diving" sign displayed, or if the water is less than 1.5 metres deep, please do not dive or jump into the pool.
•If swimming in the sea, do not swim out of your depth and be aware of currents.
•Do not swim in the sea when a red flag is being flown.
•Avoid swimming after drinking alcohol or eating.

Children’s Safety
Holidays are an exciting time for children and can make them oblivious to danger.

Please ensure that children do not:
•Play in and around the lifts
•Play unsupervised on balconies and around the pool area
•Play near to roads. Remember that traffic travels in the opposite direction in most countries
•Cots and highchairs provided by hotels do not often conform to Irish safety standards therefore we recommend that caution be exercised at all times during their use.

Cash & Valuables
Tourists in any part of the world are natural targets for thieves and consequently we strongly advise against bringing large amounts of cash, jewellery and expensive equipment on holiday.

ATM machines are now widely available in most resorts and travellers cheque's are still the safest way to transport currency. Where your accommodation offers safety deposit boxes for hire, we recommend that you avail of these.

Sun Safety
Please be aware of the dangers of prolonged exposure to the sun. Some of the following tips will help to ensure that you stay safe in the sun:
•Avoid being in the sun when it is at it's strongest - between 11am and 3pm.
•Regularly apply a high factor sun cream (at least SPF 15+) and if dipping in and out of the pool or sea, ensure that your cream is fully water resistant and that you reapply it when you come out of the water. Alternatively, choose one of the creams that you can apply first thing in the morning (at least 1.5 hours before exposure to the sun) and that lasts for the entire day. These are particularly handy for children and people who are very active.
•Wear a wide-brimmed sun hat and be extra vigilant in relation to children's heads and necks being well covered. Where possible stay in the shade rather than in direct sunlight.
•Keep hydrated in hot climates by drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages.
•Ensure that your eyes are protected by wearing sunglasses (wraparound if possible) with high UV protection (European standard EN1836 or British standard BS 27 24 19 87).
•Keep young babies out of the sun as much as possible. Stomach upsets can occur when hot daytime sun is combined with alcohol and new foods. To avoid such problems drink bottled water and avoid iced drinks. Also take care with raw foods such as vegetables, fruit and raw fish.

Please note that all the properties featured in this brochure operate to, and comply with their applicable local and/or national health and safety legislation. The setting, monitoring and enforcement of local regulations is a matter for the authorities of the country and the foreign supplier of services concerned.

Food & drink
Changes in temperature, diet and water can sometimes lead to stomach upsets.
· Always ensure food is thoroughly cooked or properly chilled and avoid unwashed fruit/salads.
· Highly spiced and exotic food can tempt you to over indulge. Introduce yourself gradually to local specialties.
· Tap water may not always be suitable for drinking. Bottled water is recommended and this should be from a reputable source with a seal or cap intact. Where appropriate avoid ice in drinks.
· In hot temperatures it is important to drink lots of water and soft drinks to prevent dehydration.
· Remember alcohol will only dehydrate you further and over indulgence may cause stomach upsets

D) Holiday All You Need to Know

Building Work in Resort
Development of hotels and resort areas is continuing in all countries, all the time.
It is therefore not uncommon to find construction work going on in holiday resorts, particularly in those resorts where tourist development is still in its infancy, and such works may from time to time cause disturbance and inconvenience to holidaymakers. For your convenience, we will contact you if, in our opinion, work is likely to disturb your stay, nevertheless, it is not always possible to foresee the nature and extent of building work as it may begin without prior notice at any time of the year, and all we can do when it occurs is to seek the assistance of your hotel management to minimise inconvenience if possible.

In the case of public or private development and construction, this understandingly is totally outside our control, and we would ask that you bear in mind that development of town centres and improving their facilities are being done for the ultimate benefit of holidaymakers.

Fellow Holidaymakers
While we have no wish to spoil the enjoyment of your holiday, we would ask you to show consideration for your fellow guests particularly in relation to causing excessive noise late at night and in the early morning hours. Hotel and apartment managers are fully within their rights to evict guests who are misbehaving or causing persistent nuisance to other guests.

Holiday Problems and Complaints
If you have reason to complain about your selected accommodation or any other aspect of your holiday arrangements, please contact our local representative and the property reception immediately so that your problem can be addressed. Please note we cannot accept responsibility for complaints which are not made known to our representatives at the time they occur or come to light. (See clause 12 Booking Conditions).

Please bear in mind however that some problems may arise from time to time over which we have limited control due to erratic public services or essential maintenance work in your accommodation such as lifts not working due to low voltage, poor water pressure etc. Please note also that unpleasant smells occur from time to time due to high temperatures and sewage systems generally not being up to the standards we enjoy in Ireland.

Insects such as ants, mosquitoes and cockroaches are an unfortunate but common occurrence in hot climates and their presence does not mean that your accommodation is dirty or unhygienic. However if you report their existence to reception or your representative, steps will be taken to eliminate them. Stray cats and dogs are also a common sight in many resorts and cats in particular are often encountered within holiday complexes. We accept that some holidaymakers may find these animals distasteful but we regret that they are a feature of life over which we have no control.

Some of the properties which we feature in this brochure receive guests from other countries and you may find that menus and entertainment programmes are set to appeal to the majority tastes. Please remember that the pace of life in many of the resorts that we feature is generally slower than what we are used to in Ireland and that services in the resorts may consequently be slower than expected.

All properties have house rules, which are designed to meet the tastes and wishes of the majority of guests and bar opening hours etc. usually vary accordingly. If you feel that you are being unreasonably disturbed by the activities of other guests, please report this to your representative or reception but bear in mind that it is not always possible to dictate behaviour to other guests. Eviction is sometimes the only solution for persistent nuisance and is only considered as a last resort. A quiet word or earnest appeal from fellow guests is often the most effective solution to this problem (see also clause 14 Booking Conditions).

Items left behind
Please check your apartment, coach and aircraft seat very carefully before leaving in case you have left any items behind. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all your personal belongings and by taking a few minutes to do a final check, you can ensure that you have everything and that no one returns home disappointed at having left something behind. Direct Holidays cannot accept responsibility for the recovery of items of clothing, valuables etc and will not be in a position to arrange for, or cover the cost of their return to Ireland.

E) Responsible Tourism

Responsible Tourism Policy Ten Tips For Responsible Travelling Climate Care
Panorama Holidays, is proud that our business, as part of the global tourist industry, can be an economic driver to the destinations we visit, providing commercial benefit and financial impetus as well as a positive cultural exchange. We recognise the importance of tourism for economies and communities, whilst also being aware of the potential impact on the environments, communities and cultures of the places in which we operate. As a result, we try to ensure that business operations are conducted in a responsible way, maximising financial benefit and yet minimising any impact.

Looking after the Environment
We realise that protecting the environment is very important for the long-term success of our operations and that we must protect the resources our business depends upon. As such, we will strive to improve our environmental performance and to minimise any negative impact resulting from our operations.

Looking after People
We believe 'quality of life' is a basic right of our customers, our employees and the communities in the destinations we visit and that people are the ultimate drivers of our business and of our need to develop responsible tourism. We will promote fair working conditions throughout our business and, where possible, will work together with local communities to ensure they benefit as much as possible from the visits of our customers.

Looking after Heritage
We respect the natural and cultural heritage of all countries and understand that this is an important part of the tourist industry. We will encourage our customers to respect the tradition and integrity of local cultures and aim to promote the purchase of local produce, where practical.

Looking after our Products
We want our products to be of the highest quality and will therefore encourage good practice within all our operations and comply with all relevant legislation surrounding the business. We will strive towards integrating responsible practices into business decision making and we will not tolerate any illegal or exploitative forms of tourism.

Raising Awareness
We recognise that raising awareness and understanding of responsible tourism amongst our employees, customers and suppliers is key in order to gain their commitment. We will endeavour to highlight the benefits of addressing these issues and will encourage all stakeholders to care for our environment and to minimise negative impacts.

Working Together
We are committed to working with customers, employees, suppliers, local communities, industry and government to try to deliver responsible tourism. We aim to build a tourism industry which brings pleasure to those who travel with it, a future to the places and the people who provide it as well as a profit to all those who are involved in supplying it.

Ten Tips For Responsible Travelling
Get the most from your holiday whilst making a positive difference! Follow these tips:

1. Show respect for natural and local heritage.
2. Respect local traditions - this may mean observing dress codes and appropriate behaviour in certain locations.
3. It's good manners to always ask before you take someone's photograph.
4. When haggling, remember you should aim for a good deal, but what may be a small sum to you might be a significant sum to the dealer.
5. Resist giving money to begging children - you can help them more by donating to a local charity or school.
6. If you buy local products and services, your money helps the local economy.
7. Avoid buying products that exploit animals and nature. Eg. ivory or sponges, or any other scarce resource.
8. Support local environmental activities and dispose of waste responsibly.
9. Reduce usage of natural resources. Eg. shower instead of bathe, turn off lights when you're out.
10. Offset the environmental impact of your flight by, for example, donating money for the planting of newly forested areas.

3) Booking Conditions

See Full Thomas Cook terms and conditions

B) Your Booking

Booking with Thomas Cook Holidays
To confirm your booking with Thomas Cook you need to pay a deposit of €50 plus insurance premium provided you take Thomas Cook insurance. The number of party refers to all passengers who are full fare paying passengers. Two children who are paying child listed price equal one full fare paying passenger. If booking within eight weeks of travel you must pay the full cost of the holiday at the time of booking.

Please note that only persons 18 years or over may make a reservation and be the first named passenger on the booking, for more information contact our reservations team. The first named person on the booking on behalf of the other passengers will read and accept Thomas Cook terms and conditions of booking. (See Booking Conditions) Once your booking has been accepted, we will issue a “Full and Final Invoice”. When you receive this invoice, check this carefully and advise us immediately if any of the details appear to be incorrect, as it may not be possible to change them at a later date. Please note that all changes must be made by the lead passenger.

Your Contract with Thomas Cook
Your booking with us constitutes a legally binding contract the terms of which are fully set out on in our Booking Conditions on the last page of the brochure, under ‘Travel Info’ on our website, which you accepted at the time of booking. Please ensure that you read the booking conditions carefully before finalising your booking. We reserve the right to change prices and offers or other details at any time, including withdrawal at short notice.

Minimum Numbers
A minimum number of persons is required in order for any holiday in this brochure to take place. We shall assess whether the minimum numbers have been reached for your holiday and will inform you immediately in the event that they are not reached. Should this be the case, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday at any time up to four weeks prior to your scheduled departure date and to immediately refund to you all monies which you have paid to us (see clause 8 (c) Booking Conditions).

All Your Holiday Info

All Your Holiday Info

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