Booking conditions

PLEASE NOTE all bookings are subject to the terms and conditions that follow AND to the terms and conditions set out below headed "How to Book & Additional information" and the section on "Insurance" (where you take insurance arranged by The Sicilian Experience).

PLEASE READ THESE SECTIONS AS CAREFULLY AS THE FOLLOWING:

If you book through an ABTA Travel Agent all monies you pay to them will be held by them on our behalf until they are paid to us or refunded to you.

Website descriptions

Throughout our website we have sought to give you the fullest and most accurate information on the features and facilities of each hotel, apartment, tour, location and service, to assist you in making the choice of holiday best suited to your personal needs. However, as all these details have to be prepared as much as a year in advance of when you may be travelling, there may be occasions when an advertised item is not, in the event, available on your journey or during your particular stay. For example, outdoor activities such as terrace bars, beach sports and barbecues can be subject to weather conditions and lack of demand, particularly in early or late season therefore may only be operational during high season (usually 1st July – 31st August). Similarly hotels may occasionally have to amend or curtain certain facilities such as entertainments, courtesy buses etc due to local factors such as licensings laws, religious holidays, government restrictions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Swimming pools have occasionally to be emptied for cleaning or repairs. In some hotels air-conditioning is often only operated at certain times of the day even in hot weather. Flight schedules and routes (including arrival and departure points) may have to be altered, for example because of change of scheduling. We will advise you if we become aware of a major change, but cannot accept liability for the loss of or alteration in an advertised amenity in such circumstances.

Hotel facilities

Certain hotel and apartment facilities such as private beaches, swimming pools, poolside bars and air conditioning are operational at the owner’s discretion and may not be available outside the high season (July & August).

Price Guarantee & Surcharges

All the prices shown in this brochure have taken into account air fares, fuel costs and taxes and the currency exchange rates as of 24 July 2007. However, in view of the unsettled situation we reserve the right to charge you any increase due to fluctuations in the cost on which the prices in this brochure were based. If there should be an increase in transportation costs e.g. scheduled air fares, fuel and other airline surcharges or currency exchange rates or government VAT then such increases will be made where they are necessary for reasons beyond our control. If we have to make such increases we shall give you written notice of the additional charge and of its main cost heads, and shall have available to provide on request a written explanation of the reasons for the additional charge by reference to each main head cost. Our guarantee to you is that if prices (excluding insurance and any amendments charges) increase by up to 2% we will absorb these increases. If prices increase beyond 2 % up to a maximum of 10% of the total holiday price (excluding insurance and any amendment charges) we reserve the right to levy a surcharge. We guarantee that no increase will be passed on to you less than 35 clear days before departure of your holiday providing the full balance has been paid to The Sicilian Experience, except that in the case of late bookings made during that period such an additional charge may be made up to and including the date on which the invoice is issued. If the prices increase beyond 10% of the holiday cost (excluding insurance and any amendments fees) you have the right to cancel and receive a full refund of all monies paid except for any amendments charges. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should you decide to cancel for this reason you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date of the final invoice. Whether you cancel or not you will also be entitled, on the terms set out in section "Alterations by us or third parties" to accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements from us and compensation as stated therein.

Cancellation by us

Holidays can only be provided at the advertised price if a satisfactory number of bookings are made. If there are insufficient numbers or we have to cancel your holiday for some other reason beyond our control (see the section "Our Liability- Limitations" we will notify you immediately, and endeavour to give you not less that eight weeks notice before departure. We will, when possible, offer alternative arrangements, or if these are not acceptable, we will refund any money you have already paid to us but we will be under no further liability. The Sicilian Experience will not materially modify or cancel the holiday within eight weeks of the date of departure unless compelled to do so because of circumstances beyond its reasonable control or if you default in payment of the balance due.

Our Liability – Limitations

The Sicilian Experience only accepts liability for any loss or damage sustained by you as a result of our negligence or breach on contract. We exercise care and control in our choice of hotels, apartments, airlines, tour operators, restaurants and other organisations involved in the planning and provision of your holiday but as we have no direct control over them we cannot accept liability for acts or omissions whether negligent or otherwise of any of these organisations or their employees. In particular we have no control over the management of the hotels and in the case of overbooking by a hotel, of which we are not aware before your departure, you will be offered alternative accommodation on arrival. Reasonable compensation for the inconvenience will be offered where the location and/or facilities of the alternative accommodation are reasonably regarded as inferior to that originally booked. Please note we will of course try to give such reasonable help as we can in the case of a dispute arising between one of our clients and a company, authority of personnel that are neither agents for employees of The Sicilian Experience. We do not have and cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage caused by force majeure events including (without limitation) fire, flood, civil disturbance, industrial action, terrorist activities, technical problems with transport, closure of airports or bad weather, and compensation cannot be paid in these circumstances if there are cancellations or rearrangements. Any refund will be subject to the deduction of reasonable expenses. You may be covered under our insurance scheme or your own policy. Please refer to the insurance section or to your policy. See also the Cancellation sections, Complaints and Arbitration section and Airline Conditions section below. Payment – Deposit A singed booking form listing each client’s name must be accompanied by a deposit of £100 per person plus the relevant insurance premium which will be automatically added unless you have signed that this is not required. Upon receipt of your booking form and deposit The Sicilian Experience will confirm the booking in writing to you or your travel agent and also send an invoice for the balance of payment.

Final Payment

The balance quoted on the final invoice must be paid at least eight weeks before departure date. If the balance is not paid eight weeks before and if no written cancellation has been received by us we reserve the right to cancel the booking and you may find that you are liable for cancellation charges (see below). If your book less that ten weeks before the date of departure full payment is required immediately upon confirmation from The Sicilian Experience. Travel documents will normally be despatched to reach you two weeks before departure.

Cancellation by you

If, once a reservation has been made, you are obliged to cancel it, either wholly or in part, a written instruction must be received by The Sicilian Experience, signed either by you or, in the case of a reservation made through a travel agent, by the agent. To compensate The Sicilian Experience for the time and cost of reservation processing, and for the possibility of its not being able to resell the vacated places, cancellation charges will be levied as follows:

On schedule airlines tickets one issued cancellation charge is 100%

Note: Cancellation charges may be covered by holidays insurance and you should make your claim directly
to your insurance company. NB insurance premium are always forfeit.

Alterations by us or third parties

As holiday arrangements are necessarily planned a long time in advance, alterations may sometimes be necessary. These will always be advised at the earliest possible date and we undertake to keep the inconvenience to a minimum. In rare instances of having to make a significant alteration to your holiday arrangements we shall always explain the reason to you. A significant alteration is one made prior to your departure involving a change of outbound airport or time of departure by more than 12 hours, or a change of accommodation to a lower standard. In such circumstances you may either accept the alteration or we will offer you:

A credit of £10 towards the cost of any other holiday you may desire from our Brochure (subject to availability)

A full refund of all money paid to us (less reasonable expenses when the alteration is due to force majeure)

Alterations by you

Should you, after a reservation has been made and confirmed, amend the booking The Sicilian Experience will, if possible, accept the alteration, but an amendment charge of £20 per booking will be levied for administration costs. This applies to transfer to a different holiday, hotel or departure date. Alterations made within six weeks of departure will normally be subject to cancellation charges (see above)

Complaints and Arbitration

The Sicilian Experience emphasises that, in your interest and ours, you should address any compliant in the first instance to the local representative or agent who may well be able to remedy matters on the spot. If this is not possible, or if you remain dissatisfied, a letter of complaint should be sent to The Sicilian Experience’s offices within 30 days after the end of the holiday concerned. The Sicilian Experience is confident that in the few instances of clients complaining, an amicable settlement can be reached. If, however, such a settlement cannot be reached, the dispute may be referred to arbitration under a special scheme devised for the travel industry by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators by arrangement with the Association of British Travel Agents. The scheme provides for a single and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on the client in respect of costs. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5,000 per person or £25,000 per booking form or to claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or the consequences of such injury or illness. Details or the scheme will be ensure that you meet all check-in deadlines. No responsibility will be taken by The Sicilian Experience if you are late and miss your flight.

Airline conditions

Airline tickets are issued subject to the airline’s Condition of Carriage. These conditions, some of which limit and exclude liability are, of course, subject to international agreements between governments. You can ask to view an airline’s Conditions of Carriage. Airline tickets are strictly non transferable and any costs or consequences arising from on-compliance with this condition are entirely the responsibility of the client.

Representation

No travel agent or employee of The Sicilian Experience is authorised to vary or waive these terms unless written confirmation is obtained from a Director of the Company.

Your Contract

Your contract with us is subject to English Section 5 and jurisdiction.

How to book and additional information

The Sicilian Experience’s reservations department is open from 9.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday and from 10.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday. When a provisional telephone reservation is made The Sicilian Experience will quote a reference number for the booking. To enable you to confirm details with family and friends an provisional reservation will be held until close of business the following day and then automatically cancelled, unless it has been made firm.

What the price includes

Airport taxes and passenger charges in England and country of destination if flights are included in the holiday (see our price list for full details of what is included).

Transfer to and from the resort airport and your hotel or apartment if transfers are included in the holiday (see our price list for full details of what is included)

Accommodation with room facilities as confirmed for the duration of the holiday booked.

The services of a Sicilian experience representative or agent if included in the holiday (see our price list for full details of what is included).

What the price excludes

Transport to and from you UK departure airport.

Any supplements indicated on the price panels for extras you wish to reserve.

Meals en route between the overseas airport and your hotel and return.

Surcharges if applicable. See "Price Guarantee & Increases".

Holiday Insurance

Car Parking costs

Any charges made by hotels & apartments for cots.

Baggage allowance

Most flights have a maximum of 20kg (44lb) luggage allowance. Details of the maximum allowance on your flight will be shown on your travel documents. Only small piece of hand luggage is allowed in the cabin.

Travel documents

You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary travel documents e.g passports, visas, vaccination certificates etc are valid and effective (see also Car Hire section).

Travel times

It is essential for you to check your own travel arrangements to the airport and in particular ensure that you meet all check-in deadlines. No responsibility will be taken by The Sicilian Experience if you are late and miss your flight.

Foreign & Commonwealth

In conjunction with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) we wish to ensure your safety whilst on holiday overseas. Therefore before travelling we recommend you visit the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo or ABTA information line Tel. 0901 201 5050 (calls are charged at 50p per minute).

Data Protection

Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required details on our data protection policy are available upon request. by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give t us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, we will be unable to provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons). Full details on our data protection policy are available upon request.

Special Requests

We are always willing to pass on to an hotelier or an airline a request for a particular type of room, adjoining rooms, special diets, etc, but is must be clearly understood that the ability to meet such requests rests with the hotelier, apartments owner or airline because we do not have exclusive rights. Any additional charges for such arrangements must be paid directly to the supplier and any failure to supply such arrangements is not our responsibility provided we have passed on the request. Please see the "Our Liability Limitations" section of the booking conditions.