A-Z of useful information…
Additional room charges Please be aware that some hotels may charge a small additional fee per room per day for some services, where available, e.g. daily phone charge or safety deposit box.
Alcohol Liquor Laws are strict in the USA. If you are under 21 or even LOOK under 21, you will not be able to buy alcohol. Carry some identity with you to prove your age! Remember that you cannot carry booze in your car unless it is safely locked up in the trunk (boot). DO NOT drink and drive: you know it makes sense!
American hotels Most rooms in American hotels have 2 DOUBLE BEDS and can therefore sleep 4 people. Ideal for a family with 2 children, but not so ideal for 4 adults who don’t know each other THAT well! Rooms can also come with 1 large or extra large DOUBLE BED. Perfect for a couple. ‘Rollaway’ beds can usually be supplied by the hotel up to a maximum of 2, but this rather depends on the room size. Some hotels charge locally for these. Some hotels do not permit rollaways in rooms due to fire code.
Baby food Visitors are not permitted to take fresh milk or jars of baby food into the US and US Customs will confiscate it! Powder formula is allowed.
Baggage allowance 1 piece up to 23kg per piece per person on transatlantic and Caribbean flights on board Virgin Atlantic. IMPORTANT – All individual pieces exceeding 23kg will be charged as excess baggage. 1 piece of hand baggage (5kg) is permitted for essential items only. If you are flying with other airlines or have internal flights booked, please check the baggage allowance as it may differ from Virgin Atlantic and you may have to pay to check in baggage on connecting flights. Excess charges will apply if you exceed the allowance permitted; please check with the applicable airline for more details. Some airlines and/ or transfer companies may charge for golf club carriage. Oversize items, such as surfboards, will be charged for by the airline and local transfer company. Infants receive NO baggage allowance.
Building work Sometimes redecoration work or building work can commence at or near a hotel. These circumstances are beyond our control and we do not always receive advance notification. We will notify you as soon as possible, if we consider that building work will have a significant effect on the enjoyment of your holiday. See our Booking Conditions for more details.
Car hire information Although your “included” car hire agreement includes Third Party Liability Protection of up to US$1 million and Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) protection with a combined single limit of$100,000, it is vital that you have adequate cover to protect yourself against financial risk in the event of total loss of the vehicle, damage or accidents, especially as some US drivers carry little or no insurance. If you pre-purchase one of our inclusive car packages these risks are covered, however if you decide not to pre-purchase one of these packages, the following extra charges may be payable on arrival.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) Daily cost from $25 excluding taxes and surcharges Collision Damage Waiver provides Comprehensive Cover for all damage to the car, no matter how caused, provided you have not violated the rental agreement. It is technically optional, but if you do not take it, you will be asked to provide evidence of credit worthiness, including a major credit card with a minimum credit limit of $1,500 and you will be liable for any and all damage or loss – including loss of use of the rental vehicle up to its full retail value – regardless of fault.
Taxes and Fees If you have not purchased a Fully Inclusive or Platinum Package then you will be required to pay all relevant airport fees, taxes and surcharges when you collect your car. These will vary according to duration and car type. If you have taken either the Fully Inclusive or Platinum Package then the only taxes and fees payable will be on items purchased directly with Alamo e.g. Sat Nav, fuel, one-way fees etc.
Deposit You must have a Credit Card in the Lead drivers name. Alamo will swipe this card for security but will not charge anything to it unless you have purchased items locally.
Fuel Unless you have purchased the Platinum package you will be required to pay for a tank of fuel on arrival. The car can then be returned empty. No refunds are given for unused fuel. Fuel cost is subject to taxes and fees.
Legislation, regulation or the cost of fuel may affect Alamo’s pricing or procedures. On all inclusive products, Alamo reserves the right, without notice to (i) charge customers at the time of rental or thereafter, for the amount of any additional or increased surcharges, fees, taxes or increased fuel costs incurred subsequent to entering into this Agreement or (ii) increase Client’s tax, surcharge or fuel inclusive rates by an amount equivalent to the additional or increased tax, surcharge or fuel cost subsequent to entering into this Agreement.
Child seats Virgin Holidays’ Platinum Prepaid Package also includes the cost for child seats, which is compulsory for children under the age of 5 years in the US. If paid locally, this would cost from an additional $9.99 per day plus taxes and surcharges.
Minimum Age and Underage driver charges You must be aged 21 or over to hire a car. If you are between 21-24 years of age you will also be required to pay an underage driver fee on arrival of $25 per day plus taxes and surcharges ($60 in New York) unless you have purchased the Virgin Holidays’ Platinum Prepaid Package where the underage driver fee is included.
Additional Driver charges Virgin Holidays’ Platinum Prepaid Package also includes the cost of additional drivers. If paid locally, this would cost an additional $15 per day plus tax.
Satellite navigation system If you book one of these systems, you will need to leave a credit card imprint when you collect your vehicle. Any loss or damage to the equipment will incur a penalty to the full value of the unit currently at $250. You must purchase one of our optional car packages if you wish to purchase prepaid Sat Nav.
Check-in/check-out information The standard international practice is to let rooms from 12noon-12noon. However, times do vary. Check-in times are usually between 2.00pm and 3.00pm, check-out times between 11.00am and 12noon on the day of departure. Therefore, if your flight arrives early in the morning, you may not be able to check in to your hotel until between 2.00pm- 3.00pm. Similarly, if your return flight is at night, you will normally be required to vacate your room at 12noon prior to leaving for the airport. Day rooms are subject to availability/cost and should be arranged locally with the accommodation management.
Credit cards It is standard practice worldwide for a hotel to ask for a credit card imprint to cover incidentals like room service, telephone calls or other hotel services being charged to your room. Most hotels will obtain authorisation on the required amount, which can range from $50-$350 per room per night, subject to the range of chargeable activities offered. If you do not have a card and wish to use the charging facility, a cash deposit will be required.
Cruises Cruise Line gratuities and service charges are not included in the advertised prices. They are an additional on board charge, and will vary by cruise line.
Disney dining plans Advance dining reservations are strongly suggested. All dinner shows require advance dining reservations – show tickets can be acquired through lobby concierge. Dining reservations can be made by calling 08702 424900 from the UK, up to 180 days in advance. The Dining Plans must be booked a minimum of 21 days before departure and are NOT available to guests staying in more than 1 WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort hotel during the duration of their holiday. Bookings MUST include a minimum 5-night stay and maximum 21-night stay at a WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort hotel AND Disney park tickets, for all people on the booking, both booked through Virgin Holidays. The Disney Dining Plan must be booked for everyone on the booking, for the full duration of their stay. The Disney Dining Plans are only available at selected restaurants; full details can be provided on request. Children 3-9 years must order from the children’s menu, where available. Children aged 2 years and under are not eligible for the Dining Plans and must pay locally for any food/drink consumed.
The Dining Plans will not be valid if the above conditions are not complied with. In these circumstances, we reserve the right to alter your booking accordingly.
Excursions Please note: That height, weight and health restrictions may apply for some excursions.
Flights The flights we use for our holidays are based on specially negotiated airfares, which enable us to offer our holidays at such beneficial prices. However, to take advantage of these airfares, the flights used may not necessarily take the most direct route. Some flights will require a change of aircraft en route. On direct flights, there is no need to change aircraft during the journey. However, stops may be made en route for refuelling or to let passengers on and/or off. All flight times and routings quoted are subject to change without notice. Flights referred to in this brochure are planned to be operated by the airlines referred to, but Virgin Holidays reserves the right to change airlines or aircraft type at any time. Such changes will not be regarded as a material change of the components of the holiday. Any changes in flight details will be notified to you or your travel agent. Please note: If outbound flight is unused, return flight will be cancelled. Inflight entertainment does not form part of your holiday. Virgin Atlantic aims to rectify any technical faults during the aircraft turnaround, however, neither Virgin Holidays nor Virgin Atlantic will be held responsible for any lack of availability due to technical faults or difficulties or aircraft changes.
Flight tickets and holiday documentation After we have received payment of the balance, approximately 14 days before departure, your flight tickets and holiday documentation will be sent to you or your travel agent.
Hotel gradings The dictat from Brussels demands that we give CATEGORIES for our hotels. In the USA, there are NO standard grading systems. Indeed, some of the grading awards require the hotels to pay subscriptions! One factor to take into account is the way that Americans actually describe their hotels. They call them ‘Inns’, ‘Lodges’, ‘Resorts’, ‘Motels’ and even ‘Hotels’. ‘Motels’ can include some of the nicest possible properties. Please note that facilities and standards can vary between hotels of the same rating throughout the world. For example, city hotels can have higher overall standards than a beach resort. If you compare the single-supplement charges shown in the hotel’s price panel, you can get a general idea of how hotels, of the same rating in the same resort or country, compare.
Find a store:
virginholidays.co.uk/stores or your preferred Travel Agent
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Useful information…
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