We have decided to award ‘v’ to our hotels. We range from 3 VIRGIN ‘v’s’ to 5.
Hotel/resort facilities/amenities and descriptions Whilst the descriptions and information contained within this brochure about the hotels and resorts were accurate at the time of going to print, there can be changes subsequent to the printing of the brochure. Facilities may become unavailable, for example the swimming pool may undergo maintenance work, restaurants may change from buffet to à la carte meals or hotel car parking charges may increase etc. Where possible, we will try our best to notify you of any changes that may affect your holiday. The information provided in our brochure relating to resort descriptions, local events or markets, resort attractions, restaurants etc, is offered in good faith and we therefore ask should this be important to you, that you check the details independently. If you are unsure about the suitability of a destination etc, we ask that you seek supplementary information which can be obtained from libraries, tourist offices, the Internet, etc.
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Important note about travel dates March is Spring Break time, when thousands of American college students descend on Florida for a little fun in the sun, with the emphasis strongly on ‘fun’. Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater and St Pete Beach are favourite destinations, but many resorts can get very busy at this time. The first week of June is unofficially designated Gay Week at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, with an extended programme of events taking place at theme parks and entertainment venues across Orlando. All the theme parks get very busy around the main US holiday seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please be aware that some special events, for example Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the MAGIC KINGDOM Park, are ticketed separately and require booking in advance.
Inoculations As health requirements change, we recommend that you consult your doctor well in advance of travel, for the latest advice.
Insurance (this really is important) You MUST, repeat MUST have proper travel insurance. Not all activities/excursions featured in our brochure are covered by a standard insurance policy. Please check your policy carefully to ensure that you are fully covered for all the activities/excursions in which you intend to participate. If your activity/excursion is not covered by your policy, it may be possible for you to pay an additional premium to extend your cover to include the activity/activities.
Passport and visas You MUST have a FULL and VALID passport to visit the USA or the Caribbean. Some destinations require you to have 6 months’ validity on your passport from the return date of travel. You should check with the Embassy for current visa requirements and charges as these are subject to change.
If your passport shows you are a BRITISH or IRISH citizen, you do not usually need a visa* and may be entitled to use the VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME (VWP). It is mandatory for anyone travelling to or transferring through the US under the VWP, to obtain approval to travel no later than 72 hours prior to travel by completing an online process ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) at
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ The cost of an ESTA is currently $14 per person (subject to change). Failure to obtain an ESTA could result in the passenger being denied boarding by the airline.
*Under certain circumstances (e.g. if you have a criminal record) you may require a visa and you could be refused entry into the USA.
If your passport shows you are a BRITISH SUBJECT, you WILL need a VISA. This particularly applies if you are Irish but have a British Subject passport. In both these cases, you must check with the US Embassy or nearest consulate. All other passport holders in
doubt should check with a US Embassy or consulate. All British passport holders will now only be permitted to enter the States if they hold a machine-readable passport. All passports issued within the UK since November 1991 are machine readable. This is not the case for all UK passports issued overseas, so please contact the British Passport Office if this applies to you or if you are not sure.
Passports issued on or after October 26 2006 must also include an integrated circuit chip capable of storing the biographic information from the data page, a digitised photograph and other biometric information. If your passport was issued on or after this date and does not have this information, you WILL require a visa.
All children, including newborn babies, must now have their own individual passport.
Please note: Some destinations require a letter of authority if children are not accompanied by both legal guardians. Please check with us for further information if this applies to you.
If you haven’t yet got a valid passport, we recommend that you should apply for one at least 8 weeks before your holiday departure date. The Passport Service has to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport, and everybody aged 16 or over applying for their first passport will need to have an interview as part of the application process. Please note: This new process will increase the time it takes for your application to be processed. In all cases, the Passport Office advises you not to book any travel arrangements until you have received your new passport.
For full details on passport requirements for your chosen holiday destination, please contact the “Identity and Passport Service” on 0300 222 0000 or
www.direct.gov.uk or the US Embassy on 0207 499 9000 or
www.usembassy.org.uk You should check the most up-to-date requirements before travelling. Further information is available from our website
virginholidays.co.uk
The name on each person’s ticket MUST match the name as stated in their passport. When making your booking, please ensure the information given to us is correct. Failure to do so may result in significant charges being incurred, as some airlines treat an amendment as a name change and will charge accordingly.
Know what? If you turn up for your flight with an invalid passport or no visa when you need one, we will be very sympathetic but...
YOU CANNOT BOARD THE FLIGHT.
Private villas/apartments We will book your accommodation for you with the number of bedrooms requested. However, accommodation can vary in the amount of equipment and bedding provided, and this will be allocated in accordance with the number of people shown on your invoice. If additional people join you while utilising the accommodation booked, we accept no responsibility or liability for any shortfall in equipment or facilities.
Safety We take the safety and security of our clients extremely seriously. Sadly, crimes against both people and their property are a fact of life all over the world. When in a foreign country, it is very important to be extra vigilant and avoid drawing attention to yourself. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit may have issued information about your holiday destination(s). We recommend that you seek advice from the Foreign Office regarding your holiday destination(s) prior to making your reservation – this is easily available and can be checked on BBC2 Ceefax page 470 onwards or on the Internet under the address:
www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo by telephone on 0845 850 2829 or by email to
consular.fco@gtnet.gov.uk Alternatively, you can contact the ABTA Information Department on 0901 201 5050 (calls are charged at 50p/minute). Your Travel Agent can also assist or you can contact us direct for advice.
Online:
virginholidays.co.uk
Travellers have the same responsibility for their own safety and that of their possessions as they do at home. Virgin Holidays operates to many parts of the world, some of which do not conform to British health and safety standards. We request that all hotels/operators comply with the local regulations, but we cannot guarantee that these meet British standards and therefore urge you to undertake reasonable precaution whilst on holiday.
Secure flight passenger data The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires all airlines operating flights to/from the US to provide a passenger’s name as it appears on their passport, along with date of birth, gender, and redress number (if applicable). This mandatory Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) is required no later than 4 days prior to departure. In order to fulfil this new requirement, Virgin Holidays will require this information at the time of booking.
Failure to provide your full name, date of birth, and gender may result in denial of transport or denial of authority to enter the boarding area.
Special Benefits at Universal Orlando® Resort A special invitation will be provided by your Virgin Holidays’ rep on arrival at Orlando International airport. This special invitation is valid for Virgin Holidays customers only, buying both their holiday and theme park tickets from Virgin Holidays, and is valid for 2 days after they arrive and can only be used once. *Free parking applies for invited guests arriving between 6.30am and 7.15am. Guests should follow signs to Universal Orlando Parking where they will be directed to the Virgin Holidays free parking zone. Guests arriving after 7.15am will be unable to enjoy these special benefits and regular parking charges will apply. Meet your rep at the gates to Universal’s Islands of Adventure® for early entrance into the park at 7.15am. Independent entry using your invitation will not be permitted after this time. **Park gates open to the general public at 9.00am. Timings correct at time of print. We reserve the right to make changes to these benefits.
Swimming pools Wherever we have stated that swimming pools are heated, kindly note that pool heating is as required by weather conditions – we don’t want you to overheat!
Tipping Tipping is essential to most American restaurants and hotels and is a more important part of US culture than in Europe. It is usual to leave a 15% tip at most bars and restaurants and with taxis, while airport porters expect $1 per bag and hotel chambermaids $1 per person per day. Some restaurants do add an automatic service charge for groups of 6 or more, so check your bill carefully before tipping.
Travelling with medication Please contact the relevant Embassy or High Commission for up-to-date drug transportation rules.
Unaccompanied age restrictions For those wishing to travel unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, the minimum age is 18 years. However, some hotels and resorts do not allow under 21s in a room by themselves – please check at time of booking for details.
Unused services Please note: That we do NOT refund unused services. Any voluntary changes made by you while on holiday will incur additional charges.
Weather Some of our featured destinations are occasionally affected by adverse weather conditions, e.g. hurricanes. Due to their unpredictability, they are a force majeure event and we shall not be liable for any changes to your holiday arrangements, either before departure, or during the holiday, which in our judgement are necessary to protect your interest and/or safety.
Tel: 0844 557 4000
Useful information…
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