Prices

Prices mentioned within this brochure are per person and based on a minimum of two adults sharing a room. For children below 11 years of age that are being accompanied by parents the child rate will be applicable. There will also be a charge payable for infants below 23 months as it is a legal requirement that all persons on board are allocated an individual seat.

Hotels

Star Tours carefully selects all hotels ensuring that as a minimum, a 3* category is provided (ratings are normally subject to local and national board), unless otherwise stated. Facilities include en-suite bathroom and generally a TV and telephone. Some of the hotels also include facilities of bars, restaurants and 24-hour reception. A note to be remembered is, most hotels in Europe have small rooms unlike many other countries and also not all hotels will have air-conditioning as standard. You will find a list of hotels that we regularly use on page 53. Hotels are usually outside the city centre. Star Tours reserve the right to substitute hotels whilst passengers are on tour to a similar standard due to unseen circumstances. Please also note that in the majority of the hotels used by Star Tours, check in times are from late afternoon, e.g. 3pm, and checkout is at 11am.

Rooming configuration

Most of the hotels we use can only accommodate a maximum of 3 persons in each room however if you are a family of four, i.e. 2 adults and 2 children your first child will be given an extra bed but the second child will be required to share the room with no extra bed. (Please see below)
*For Example: if tour cost was – Adult £100 / Child £50

*4th bed is on request and is not guaranteed

Single People

Passengers travelling alone will be required to pay a single supplement; this is displayed in the brochure under ‘Single’. Upon your request, it may be possible to accommodate a single passenger in a shared room with another single passenger. This is only possible if there is another single passenger of the same gender who is also willing to share. Upon the other party agreeing we will then refund the appropriate passenger the difference, this can only be done before the tour commences.

Ferry Crossings

For 2010, the programme for our coach tours is based on the short channel crossing route, Dover-Calais. We also use Eurotunnel services from Folkestone for many of our departures. You may find on a particular tour that both means are used; Eurotunnel for your outbound travel and the ferry crossing for your inbound travel and vice versa. However, Star Tours’ reserves the right to direct tours to alternative ports if necessary.

Tour Managers

Escorted tours are accompanied by professional tour managers & local guides throughout the itinerary, on rare occasions the Tour Manager may not meet passengers at their dedicated pick up point but at a later stage, however the driver will be there to take care of any of the passengers’ needs. A number of itineraries include travel via flight or rail and on these itineraries it may be the case that passengers are not accompanied by their tour manager/local representative during these journeys. In this case the tour manager will meet passengers on arrival at their destination. On occasions it may be the case that the tour manager may change whilst on tour; this is usually due to operational reasons. Star Tour’s aims to provide tour managers with contact mobile numbers that their escorted passengers will be carrying whilst on tour (it is advisable that at least one passenger in a group carry a mobile). On coach tours the tour manager will provide passengers with their contact details for the duration of the tour on the first day. For flight tours, the passengers will receive these details via a tour confirmation within seven days of their departure.

Changing the itinerary & timings

Please note that during the tour, the tour manager reserves the right to modify the itinerary as they deem fit. These minor changes are normally made for the benefit of the passengers, and for the smooth running of the tour. These changes are usually due to un-expected delays that can often occur, however all aspects of the tour will be covered time permitting. Whilst travelling on organised group tours, adhering to timings given by the tour manager is very important. Unfortunately due to time constraints we can not delay the coach and any passengers found not respecting these times may be left behind. Star Tours will not take responsibility for passengers left behind due to not adhering to itineraries and times stated by the tour manager.

Coaches

All Executive coaches are fitted with arm rests, TV, VCR/ DVD & cassette player, and toilet facilities (W.C. facilities on coaches have limited capacities and therefore we advice passengers to use them only on an ‘emergency’ basis. We try and make sufficient stops to ensure comfort breaks for passengers). On rare occasions your coach may not have a W.C. facility onboard. All coaches are either air conditioned or air cooled. We have a strict “no smoking” policy on all our coaches. During transfers we may use an alternative vehicle without the above facilities (W.C. may not be there on smaller coaches).

Distances & Journeys

An important point to note whilst on a touring holiday is that some long journeys are unavoidable especially when travelling from city to city. It is usually the case that the first and last days are the longest. Star Tours’ recommend passengers wear comfortable clothing on these days, and bear in mind that a major part of these days will be spent on the coach. It is advisable passengers carry necessities which they may need for the day such as water, dry snacks, tissues etc. with them in their handbags.

Currency

Star Tours’ advices passengers to exchange any spending money for their holiday before they actually travel. Whilst on tour it is very inconvenient and often not possible for the tour manager to arrange for a passenger to be specially taken to exchange money and not all places of interest passengers will be visiting will have ATM machines or accept credit/debit cards. We also advice our passengers to keep some change (coins in currency of the destination) on them whilst on tour as they may need them to use the toilets as using toilets in many parts of Europe is not free. We recommend that as a minimum, passengers should carry £20/30 pounds per person per day converted into the relevant currency of the destination(s) they are travelling to. Passengers should also carry some GBP for any Duty/Tax Free shopping they may wish to do on the ferry (if your outbound/ inbound journey includes ferry crossing).

Children & Young infants

Children and young infants are welcome to travel on our tours. Children under the age of two years will be charged an infant fare and on a flight tour, a nominal supplement applies. Car seats are not provided on coaches. Some coaches will have cold or hot water available to heat up milk bottles (cold water not suitable for drinking). However this cannot be guaranteed and it is therefore the passengers’ responsibility to make sure of necessary arrangements for any children in their group. Milk and baby food cannot be provided by the hotel or restaurants and passengers are advised to carry ready to drink milk whilst on tour. Please also note that not all hotels provide a kettle so if hot water is required for warming milk etc in the hotel then it is advisable to carry a bottle warmer / kettle. Pushchairs can be kept in the baggage lockers of the coach, although size restrictions may apply.

Baggage

Star Tours operate a luggage handling service under which the driver will load and unload one piece of luggage per person from the coach (weighing up to a maximum of 20kg). It will be the passengers’ responsibility to carry their luggage to and from the coach as well as their hotel room. In addition, they are also entitled to carry one piece of hand luggage, which can fit under their seat or in the overhead compartment. Star Tours advice that each passenger carries one small to medium sized trolley bag per person rather than one big bag between several passengers as this will be more comfortable. Also it is advisable for one passenger to carry a small handbag/backpack in between their group in which they can carry essentials like water, tissues, cameras etc.

Weather

Weather in much of Western Europe tends to be pretty much the same as England and is very unpredictable. Regardless of the time of the year, it is advisable to carry an umbrella. Temperatures vary from place to place and it is a good idea to check online for average temperatures for the destination(s) being visited depending on the time of the year. On a multi destination tour it is likely passengers will travel through various weather fronts; whilst in Switzerland during excursions to mountain tops passengers may experience temperatures between 0 °c and 2 °c whilst at the same time experience temperatures of over 25 °c whilst they are in Italy. Passengers can be well prepared by ensuring they are carrying appropriate clothing, footwear and accessories. Passengers should also be aware that during the winter months most of the sightseeing will be in the dark as, in Europe, the day becomes dark very early during winter. Passengers should consult with Star Tours at the time of booking if they are unsure.

Clothing & Accessories

Passengers should aim to carry clothing best suited to their particular requirements. During summer months it is advisable to wear light garments and perhaps keep a light jacket or sweater handy. It is advisable to carry a light waterproof jacketor umbrella. Passengers should also carry suitable footwear as per the itinerary of the tour e.g. comfortable trainers for a tour which includes several walking tours or a visit to Disneyland ® or suitable footwear/boots for tours which include excursions to mountain tops such as Mt. Titlis or Mt. Jungfrau. For tours including excursions to mountain tops it is advisable that passengers carry appropriate clothing (warm waterproof jacket). Passengers should also carry travel adapters so they can charge their electronic items in their hotel room (as the sockets in Europe and elsewhere vary from those in the UK). Passengers may also want to carry a small travel iron, hair dryer, kettle etc as not all hotel rooms will have these in the rooms. Passengers should consult with Star Tours at the time of booking if they are unsure.

Lost Property & Thefts

It is the passengers’ responsibility to keep their property and valuables safe at all times. If an item has been left at the hotel then the passenger can call the hotel and provide them with their home address along with their credit/debit card details so the hotel can arrange for the items to be returned to their home address. In case of theft, passengers should advise their tour manager immediately and report the theft to the nearest police personnel, so they can be provided with a police report or crime reference number. Passengers are advised not to carry unnecessary valuables and to be vigilant at all times as tourist spots are well known targets for pick pockets. It is strongly recommended by Star Tours that all passengers have valid travel insurance, including EU citizens.

Wheelchairs

Unfortunately the coaches Star Tours’ uses do not cater for wheelchair users. However it is possible to bring along a folding type wheelchair which maybe kept in the baggage lockers of the coach. The driver will load and unload the wheelchair from the coach for the passenger however they will need to be physically fit enough to be able to board and un-board the coach on their own. It is also essential that a capable person is accompanying such a passenger on the tour to push their wheelchair. Star Tour’s will also request hotels for suitably equipped rooms; however this is only on a request basis and cannot be guaranteed.

Seating Allocation

Seats are allocated on a first come first serve basis in terms of booking the tour. The first passenger or group to book on any departure will be allocated seats starting from the front of the coach and the passenger or group who are next to book will be allocated seats behind them and so on. Seats are allocated only few days prior to the tour departure and seat numbers will be given to you on day one of your tour and therefore it is not possible to provide them at the time of booking. Passengers with children in their group will not be seated in the front of the coach even if they have booked very early due to safety and security reasons. A passenger may wish to request a particular seat at the time of their booking and Star Tour’s will try their best to fulfil a request however Star Tours cannot in any circumstances guarantee a particular seat. All seats are subject to availability and Star Tours’ do not take any responsibility of allocating seats on a request basis.

Foods

Passengers will have an option to choose from a range of different diets, including vegetarian, Jain or non-vegetarian (where ever possible Halal) meals. Passengers should advice Star Tour’s of their preferred diet at the time of their booking so that this information can be provided to the caterers. Star Tours’ reserve the right to change the meal arrangement if circumstances beyond our control make it necessary. The meals are pre-set and a choice of menu is not available.

Restaurant : On some of our tours meals are provided at restaurants, which are prepared by local Indian chefs; a set menu in a buffet style will be provided along with tap water only.

Kitchen caravan : On most of our longer tours, Star Tours’ operate a kitchen caravan with our own chefs (Maharaja’s), from India. Lunches are vegetarian only and are provided outdoors at a service station/ rest area where limited or no seating is available. Lunch is served in a picnic style buffet arrangement. On some days, Star Tour’s may provide packed lunches to suit the itinerary of a particular tour. Dinners are usually provided within the hotel in a separate dinning facility. If for any reason Star Tour’s are unable to provide the kitchen caravan and meals are missed; Star Tours will either take passengers to an alternative restaurant or provide them with a sum of 7 Euros for lunch and 10 Euros per dinner.

Optional Excursions

We design our itineraries so that all the necessary excursions and places of interest are included to give the passenger the best possible holiday at an affordable price. However, often, the tour manager and driver will offer passengers optional excursions that are designed to enhance their holiday experience and are not included in the tour cost. These excursions are priced separately and operated solely by the driver and tour leader. However Star Tours’ have set the individual prices to ensure passengers are not made to pay extortionate rates. Passengers are entitled to refuse any optional.

Pick-up and Drop off points & Times

The following pick-up points are guaranteed depending upon the tour: Wembley, East London Barking and Maidstone. Timings are indicated in the back of the brochure and on our website. All other pick up points are subject to minimum numbers and some may incur a supplement charge as specified on page no 54. Passengers should plan to arrive at their pick up point no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time as coaches cannot wait for anyone arriving late. Passengers arriving late will need to make necessary arrangements to meet the coach at the next suitable location or at the hotel where the group will be spending the night on the Continent.

Return journeys from the continent are scheduled to arrive at Dover between 19.00hrs and 20.00hrs approximately. We will then proceed to the original pick-up points in London (arrival time between 21.00hrs and 23.00hrs) Dover pick up will be provided only if the ferry departs from the port of Dover and therefore Dover pick up is not guaranteed at all times. We are able to confirm the channel crossing 14 days prior to departure (Star Tours will not be responsible for any costs associated with passengers changing their pick up).

If passengers have arranged for an external pick up then the transportation from their chosen pick up to the point where they will board the coach may be arranged by a private car, minibus or an alternative coach. If passengers have booked a return pick up/drop off service then on rare occasions there may be up to an hour’s wait for a connecting transfer (if wait is more then one hour then meals will be provided by Star Tours). As we offer various pick-up points, it may be necessary on occasions due to logistical reasons that on the first and last day of a tour, passengers may be moved onto another vehicle for their transfers only.

Passengers can expect to receive a call from the person(s) in charge of picking them up to confirm details a day prior to their departure. Star Tour’s reserves the right to change the timings of any external pick up one day prior to departure.

You can change your pick up point up to 10 days prior to departure free of charge. Within 10 days it may not be possible to make changes to your pick up point; if possible then there will be a £10 admin charge per person.

Seating, Dietary or Room Allocation and Other Requests

In many cases, Star Tours works with intermediary agents (Airlines, Hotels, Transport Companies, Other Suppliers etc…) to arrange a holiday. If passengers have special requirements with regards to the service provided by the intermediaries such as a seating request or a special meal request etc., then they should advice Star Tours at the time of booking and we will endeavour to ensure the intermediary is advised of the request. It is important to note that Star Tours cannot guarantee the request and that the passenger should confirm their request with the concerned intermediary themselves before their departure.

Customs & Immigrations delays / enquires

Star Tours will not be held responsible if passengers are stopped or held by any government departments, e.g. Police, Customs, Immigrations or any other authorities of the destination country. The tour will continue and no financial or any other kind of responsibility will be accepted by Star Tours.

Financial Bonding

ATOL
The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require us to provide security for the monies that you pay for the package holidays booked from this brochure and for your repatriation in the event of our insolvency. The air holiday packages/flights in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 5639. Please see our booking conditions for more information. ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services in this brochure. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.

ABTA
Star Tours Ltd is a member of ABTA with membership number W8770. ABTA members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan e.g. refund for a booking or repatriation costs in case of our insolvency. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s code of conduct. We can also offer you an arbitration scheme for the resolution of disputes arising out of, or in connection with this contract. Further information on the code and arbitration can be found at www.abta.com.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a vital aspect to booking a holiday, giving you protection against unforeseen circumstances that could otherwise spoil your holiday. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that properly covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged competitive travel insurance from Travel & General Insurance Company plc to specifically meet your needs on your holiday. The schedule of the cover below sets out a summary of the cover provided by our tailored insurance. The cover is underwritten by Travel & General Insurance Company plc, except for Section K (Legal expenses), which is underwritten by DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited. Star Tours Limited is an Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc. All three companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, full details can be found at www.fsa.gov.uk

Important declaration

An insurance policy can only provide cover in respect of an event/occurrence which is sudden, unforeseen and beyond your reasonable control. Therefore any facts known to you, which could possibly result in you having to make a claim, must be disclosed otherwise you may not be covered. In addition, anyone named an insured under this policy must be able to make the following declaration (The legal guardian must make the declaration for anyone under the age of 18 years old):

1. I have not received treatment, including regular medication, within the last 12 months for any condition, nor at any time for any heart related or cancerous condition;

2. I have not been seen by a specialist nor been admitted to a hospital overnight in the last 12 months (other than for regular check ups);

3. I have not been diagnosed by a registered general practitioner as having a terminal condition;

4. I am not waiting for, nor have the knowledge of, the need for an operation, hospital consultation nor any other treatment (including regular medication) nor investigations including the results of a routine test;

5. I do not have any other pre-existing and on-going medical condition(s) that could reasonably be anticipated to give rise to a complication needing medical intervention prior to or during a journey (if in doubt check with your general practitioner);

6. I am not aware of anybody for whom I would be covered for cancellation and curtailment, such as immediate family or travelling companions, suffering from any pre-existing medical condition(s) that may cause me to cancel or cut short my journey;

7. I do not know of any circumstances that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a claim under this policy.

If you cannot make this declaration when you take out the insurance, you must contact Healthcheck on 0845 408 0585
A policy document that fully defines the cover, conditions and exclusions will be sent to you with your booking confirmation. When you receive your policy, please take the time to read it carefully to ensure you understand what is and what is not covered, and that all activities that you may wish to participate in are included. If it does not meet your requirements, please return the policy, proof of premium and any other relevant documents to us within 14 days of receipt and we will refund the premium in full, provided you have not travelled or made a claim.
Failure to comply with the terms & conditions of the policy may result in cover being restricted.