Travel Information
General travel advice
The majority of travel destinations are no different to being at home. Petty crime and theft are a part of life throughout the world and tourists can be viewed as an easy target. It makes sense to take simple precautions:- Avoid walking home alone at night
- If you need directions, ask the reception staff or concierge
- Use licensed taxis only
- Make sure your room is secure when you go out – lock all doors and windows
- Make use of safety deposit boxes if provided or deposit cash and valuables at the hotel reception
- Don’t carry expensive personal items with you when you go out and keep jewellery to a minimum
- Avoid carrying a lot of cash. Use credit cards where possible and if you have more than one, keep them in separate places.
- Keep travellers’ cheque numbers separate from the cheques themselves
- Take a photocopy of your passport on holiday with you and keep it separate from the original
If you wish to check current advice relating to any destination you intend to visit, you should visit the Foreign Office website at: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo or contact the FCO travel advice unit on 0870 606 0290.
Visa Information
Visas are required for entry into China, India and Vietnam and must be obtained prior to departure from the UK. Each has their own requirements and further information can be found on the Embassy websites. We can also provide you with details of a company who offer a visa processing service and application forms can be downloaded below. They will handle all the documentation for you – even checking that you have completed the forms correctly - thereby ensuring that your application is processed as quickly as possible. Citizens of other countries and anyone who is a British citizen (as opposed to British subject) should check with the relevant embassy before travel as requirements may differ.
India
High Commission of India www.hcilondon.org
To Download a Visa Form click here India Visa Form
China
Chinese Embassy www.chinese-embassy.org.uk
To Download a Visa Form click here China Visa Form
Vietnam
Vietnamese Embassy www.vietnamembassy.org.uk
To Download a Visa Form click here Vietnam Visa Form
Visa on arrival applies in a number of other locations too:
Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia (Bali, Lombok, Bintan), Egypt and Oman.
Whilst UK passport holders do not normally require visas for other destinations in our brochure, as entry permits are issued on arrival for holiday visits, if you intend to stay for a longer period, then a visa may be required.
VUSA ESTA Information - USA Destinations
The US Government is introducing ESTA on Aug 1st 2008 on a trial basis for travellers to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program. The system will then go on to be mandatory on Jan 12th 2009. The website address for ESTA is http://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
To download more information click here
Health
For up to date advice, you should contact your GP or call the traveller’s healthline on: 09068 224100 (premium rate) or visit the Department of Health website at: www.doh.gov.uk.
Vaccinations: At the current time, there are no destinations featured, where there are any compulsory requirements in relation to vaccinations. However, if you are travelling to Asia, the Indian Ocean, Dubai or South Africa, vaccinations against cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio are recommended. In many destinations, you may be advised to take a course of Malaria tablets. Please note that some game parks in South Africa are malarial.
If you have recently visited an area known to be infected with Yellow Fever, you may be required to produce a certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever before being granted entry to some countries.
For all destinations, you should also ensure that your tetanus protection is up to date.
It is sensible to travel with a sterile medical kit in case of any emergency.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: Concerns have been expressed recently regarding a possible link between air travel and Deep Vein Thrombosis. Whilst any such claims are unproven, some people may be more at risk than others. Information relating to “at risk” groups can be obtained from the Department of Health website and if you fit into any of these categories, we recommend you consult your doctor. Airlines do take these risks very seriously and offer general advice about your well-being including exercise suggestions, limiting alcohol and drinking plenty of water.
Hotel grading
Hotels in Canada, theCaribbean, Dubai and the Middle East, Far East, India, Indian Ocean and South Africa are graded budget, bronze, silver, gold, platinum or prestige collection. Hotels in the Channel Islands & Isle of Man are graded slightly differently, as detailed below. The grades can be found at the top of each hotel page.
Canada, the Caribbean, Dubai and the Middle East, Far East, India, Indian Ocean and South Africa
We have carefully selected a range of resorts and hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. As accommodation grading systems differ from country to country we have personally graded them to give you a guideline and ease your selection. These ratings are reviewed regularly and range from basic, good value to truly world class hotels offering the ultimate in luxury.
Budget: A basic hotel with limited services and facilities. Often small “motel” style hotels.
Bronze: Comfortable, ‘no frills’, unpretentious, excellent value and ideal for the more budget conscious client.
Silver: Usually a higher standard of modern hotel or an exceptionally well maintained older property. An above average hotel with some outstanding features.
Gold: A deluxe hotel offering exemplary standards of accommodations, service and a wide range of facilities. Usually graded 5 star locally.
Platinum: Amongst the world’s best hotels, often acclaimed, elegant, attractive and invariably in a prestigious location.
Prestige Collection: For those who require the ultimate in luxury, the pleasure of attentive service and amenities of spectacular quality.
Where a PLUS sign appears with the grading symbol it indicates the property is above average in its category and just short of the next highest category.
Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man
All properties in our brochure are regularly inspected to ensure that standards are maintained. The star ratings are awarded by independent grading authorities, who inspect properties annually. Where available, we publish the official ratings as a guideline, but this is not an exact science and you should remember that even within one category, there will be differences between properties. Descriptions and prices should also be taken into account when considering the type of accommodation you can expect.
In general, accommodation is divided in to three main categories: hotel (usually offering a wider range of facilities and services, which will be detailed within the brochure description), guest accommodation (typically smaller guest houses – often family run - possibly only offering bed and breakfast, where quality is more important than facilities and services) and self-catering. Grades are awarded within each category and even where the number of symbols is the same the actual standards will differ as the grading criteria vary according to the accommodation type, so it is important to be aware of the accommodation category. We offer accommodation of all types from the simplest at the lower end of the scale to the more comfortable with a more extensive range of services and facilities at the higher end. Please read the descriptions in our brochure (and ask our staff for more information if you need it) to enable you to choose the one which is right for you.
Jersey – In Jersey, there is no compulsory grading system. Most accommodation is graded either under the Jersey Quality Assured (JQA) system or by the AA. Hotel grades range from 1 star to 5 star and the grading criteria are similar regardless of the grading organisation. Guest accommodation is also graded using stars from 1 to 5. However, it should be noted that you should not expect the same standards and service from 3 star guest accommodation as in a 3 star hotel, as the grading criteria are completely different. Some properties are given red stars, which indicates a superior property within the category and grade. Because the grading system has recently been changed in Jersey, some properties may be shown as “awaiting grading” or with a provisional grading. This is simply because they are awaiting final inspections and should not be taken to indicate any shortcomings in that particular property. We will be happy to provide confirmed details as soon as they are available to us. Some properties have opted out of any grading scheme, although all accommodation must meet minimum health and safety and fire regulations. In this case, no grade is shown in the brochure.
Guernsey - Hotel grades use the Visit Britain scheme and range from one star to five star being the highest. Guest accommodation grades range from one diamond to five diamond being the highest. Self catering grades range from one star to five star being the highest. Some properties have also opted to be graded by the AA.
Herm, Alderney and Sark - Alderney, Sark and Herm do not use an accommodation grading system.
Isle of Man - Hotel and self catering grades range from one star to five star being the highest. Guest accommodation grades range from one diamond to five diamond being the highest.
The hotel star grading systems in use in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are comparable. For guest accommodation, the equivalent number of stars or diamonds within that category will usually indicate comparable standards.
