WHAT OUR HOLIDAY PRICES INCLUDE

• Air and coach travel to and from the resorts as detailed.
  
• Free luggage allowance of 15 - 20 kg, plus 5 kg hand luggage per person (excluding infants).
  
• Accommodation and meals as described.
  
• All known current airport and security charges.
  
• Services of Balkan Holidays representative or agent at holiday centres.

NOT INCLUDED

• Transportation between your home and the UK airports, porterage to and from check-in desks at the airports and the holiday hotels.
  
• The cost of personal items such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls.
  
• Costs of visas where required (for non-British citizens - see further details on this page).
  
• Holiday insurance. See details of our excellent scheme on page 194.
  
• Use of the air-conditioning in certain hotels
  
• Use of sunbeds, umbrellas and other facilities in the hotel, around the swimming pools and on the beach unless otherwise specified
  
• Use of safety deposit boxes in hotels unless otherwise specified
  
• Use of local resort's transport unless otherwise specified
  
• Direct bookings are subject to a handling fee of 2% per transaction.
  
• Charges made for collection of tickets at your departure airport.
  
• Credit card handling fee.
  
• Supplements resulting from current unknown taxes and costs, if applicable at the time of your booking.
  
• Reimbursement to apartment owners and hoteliers for any damage to their property.

EXTRAS TO PAY
The following facilities will usually incur a local charge unless otherwise stated in the hotel descriptions: Baby-sitting, use of swimming pools, water slides, sunbeds and parasols, table tennis, pool tables, health centres, safety deposit boxes, entry to discos/night clubs, use of a gym/sauna, etc. In addition, there is usually a small charge to pay for all public toilets, even those located in hotels. Some hotels offer beach / pool towels against a refundable deposit.

ACCOMMODATION
Balkan Holidays Categories:
All hotels in the brochure have been given a Balkan Holidays rating. This is based on our company knowledge only, so please do not compare it with other countries such as Spain or Britain as our destinations are totally different. Our references allow you to pick the best hotel to suit your needs and budget.

Basic and no-frills, but good value for money. You will not have a TV or phone, rooms and bathrooms will be small. Perfect for the value-conscious holiday-maker who spends the day out and about. Only a few hotels have swimming pools.
Standard accommodation with in-house facilities. Rooms generally have both TV and phones. Please read through descriptions carefully, as some properties have better rooms with fewer facilities, and vice-versa. Most hotels will offer the use of a swimming pool.
Modern, large hotels with lots of facilities. Rooms and bathrooms are spacious and well equipped. If comfort and convenience are important, then go for this standard of accommodation!
As the category suggests, these hotels offer excellent service and luxurious accommodation with a superb range of facilities. Certain hotels fall between two categories; here, we have added a "PLUS" to aid your decision making.

APARTMENTS - all apartments featured have a kitchenette with hot plates and fridge. The extra beds are usually of a sofa type in the living room. The Welcome pack (available in most apartments in Bulgaria only) comprises of a bottle of mineral water, milk, bread and small portions of jam, butter, tea, coffee and suger. Baby cots are not available in most of the apartments. In some studio apartments the bed may be of sofa type.

CHECK-IN/ CHECK-OUT
Checking in and checking out times vary slightly from resort to resort, but generally are as follows: check in from 14:00 (on occasions it may be later); check out on the last day of your holiday is 10:00 in apartments and midday in hotels. In some cases you may have to wait to access your accommodation depending on your flight arrival time or have several hours before your homeward flight departs. Wherever possible a room will be made available for changing and storing luggage. Sometimes a hotel may let you keep your room (arrange in resort) at local charge. This is not normally possible with apartments.

BATHROOMS - a typical Bulgarian bathroom is small and consists of a toilet, a basin and a shower with no curtain or tray, and a central drain in the floor. This is normal! If you need a larger bathroom we suggest choosing a 3 or 4 star property and booking a room with a bath.

LIFTS - If a hotel offers lift facilities, be aware that it may be withdrawn from time to time for essential maintenance work. Please note that the withdrawal of such facilities is outside of our direct control. Many lifts offered may commence on a floor other than ground level and may be reached by stairs.

DRESS CODE - Please note that men are expected to wear long trousers in the hotel restaurants during the evening, this applies to all hotels in our brochure.

ALLOCATION ON ARRIVAL
"Allocation on arrival" means the accommodation will be provided in a resort/property anywhere within the particular holiday region stated, which may not necessarily be featured in our brochure.
The prices for this type of holiday are valid at the time of booking only and are subject to availability. Changing your accommodation in resort is subject to the current brochure price, availability and the relevant administration / cancellation charge.
Balkan Holidays cannot guarantee a particular resort, property or extra facilities such as a swimming pool, prior to departure from the UK. Where provided, the Balkan Holidays invoice must always be taken on the holiday.

HOTEL MEALS
The board arrangement for each hotel or holiday is clearly shown in the hotel description. Bed and breakfast denotes bed and continental breakfast usually from a buffet selection. Half board denotes breakfast and evening meal; full board denotes breakfast, lunch and evening meal. In some hotels all meals are served buffet style, and when this is known in advance it is detailed in the brochure. Please note however that our suppliers reserve the right to change the meal basis from buffet style to table service or vice versa. The choice of meals for vegetarians or those requiring other special diets is very limited, usually restricted to salads and omelettes. Special meals on the aircraft may not be provided by all carriers. If a special diet is essential for you, we may have to decline your booking. Please also remember that meals for infants are paid for locally.

HEALTH MATTERS
Your Safety – We have taken all reasonable care to make sure all aspects of your holiday runs smoothly and your safety and welfare whilst your are on holiday is no exception. We endeavour to make sure your accommodation and other services are provided by reputable suppliers. These suppliers should follow the local and national laws and regulations of the country where they are provided.
However, please be aware that overseas standards regarding safety and hygiene are generally lower than those you expect in the UK. The elderly, pregnant women and those travelling with infants should take extra care. Its worth remembering, that mild stomach upsets are often caused by a change of environment, and not necessarily by local hygiene or food preparation standards. With this said, we are working continually to maintain and improve these standards in all our destinations.
Hot climates can attract different types of insects to those in the UK, do not be surprised to find some insects in and around your accommodation. This should not cause a problem but we would advise you to reduce the risk of insect bites by using repellents and covering up at night.

A “Summer Holiday Guide” will be provided along with your travel documents, please take a few moments to read this essential information

Vaccinations – Vaccination requirements can change without notice, so, wherever you are travelling to, we recommend you check the most up to date information available to you. This information can be obtained through your local GP. Please be aware, some inoculations or precautions, although not always compulsory, may be advisable.
The Department of Health “Traveller’s Guide to Health” which is available by telephoning 0800 555777 also provides very useful information.
Please seek advice from your local GP regarding the following recommendations.

• Bulgaria: Vaccinations for Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended.
  
• Croatia: Vaccinations for Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended depending on area visited.
  
• Montenegro: Vaccinations for Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended depending on area visited.
  
• Turkey: Vaccinations for Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended depending on area visited. Malaria tablets may also be recommended.
  
• Slovenia: Vaccinations for Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended depending on area visited. Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forest areas.
  
• Romania: Vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Polio are recommended depending on area visited.

Accommodation Safety
On arrival at your accommodation, please take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of the property. Take particular notice of the fire safety instructions and emergency procedures. These should be posted at reception or in your room. If these are not present, please ask at reception.

Swimming Pool & Beach Safety
In most destinations, it is not a requirement to have a dedicated lifeguard in your holiday accommodation. It is therefore important that you and your party take the time to familiarise yourselves with the pool and pool area. We ask that you are extra vigilant when travelling with children and that they are accompanied by an adult at all times whilst swimming.
Flag warning systems may be in operation on some beaches. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with local regulations and swimming conditions.

Children’s Safety
Balconies, lifts and swimming pools are just some of the areas accidents can occur when children are not properly supervised. We take every reasonable care to make sure standards are as high as possible; however, before using any facilities provided for children, I.e. cots, we ask that you satisfy yourself that they are in good condition and up to the safety standards you would expect.

Personal Safety
Although crime rates are low, as with any destination, tourists need to be extra vigilant when venturing into resort. This is most important in areas where large crowds of people may gather, such as, markets and bazaars. Remember to keep valuables out of sight, or better still, most hotels will offer a safety deposit box for your peace of mind.

Excursion Safety
We take all reasonable care and work closely with respected suppliers to make sure the excursion we offer are safe and enjoyable. Should you choose to organise your own excursions or activities you should satisfy yourself that your insurance, that of the supplier, legal cover and safety standards are adequate before taking part.

FCO Advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office offer the most up to date travel information available. If you have any concerns about the area which your are travelling to, latest notifications can be checked by calling 0845 850 2829 or on http://www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS
It is a customers responsibility to be in possession of a full ten year valid passport and necessary visas. Balkan Holidays or the airlines, may refuse travel if you do not have the correct documents.
Your passport and travel documents must be intact and you may not be able to travel if they are damaged.
Information in this section is valid for British citizens only. Non British citizens should consult the Embassy of your destination country to check whether a visa is required. For travel to most countries a 10 year British passport with at least six months validity from the day of return is required for all British citizens, some countries apply different rules: Clients holding BRITISH SUBJECT PASSPORTs should also contact the Embassy of their destination country for visa information.
If you need to apply for a new or replacement passport, be sure to leave plenty of time for the passport office to process you application: there can be delays a busy travel times.
The name on the passport must match the name on the ticket. If the passport and ticket does not match, you may not be able to travel and your insurance policy may be invalid. It is not necessary to obtain visas before departure on these pre-booked inclusive holidays, but you should take your holiday confirmation invoice with you in case the reason for your visit is requested at the airport on arrival. Visas may be required for persons booked through our independent Travel Department; please ask our agent at the time of booking.

PASSPORTS FOR CHILDREN
All children up to 16, including new-born babies, need their own passport to travel to Bulgaria. All Children aged 16 and over must also hold their own individual passports. For further information please contact the UK passport office on 08705 210 410.

The Foreign & Commonwealth office produces up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. For further information please call 0870 606 0290 or visit www.fco.gov.uk /knowbeforeyougo. Alternatively you can contact ABTA's Travel Information line on 0901 201 5050 (calls are charged at 50 pence per minute).

COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE
Insurance is so essential that we won't sell a holiday without it. If you choose another insurance policy, please ensure that the cover is at least equivalent to that offered by us.

Insurance claims
Please note that all claims should be directed to the holiday insurers and not to Balkan Holidays.

DISABLED HOLIDAYMAKERS
We are not a specialist disabled company but we will do our utmost to honour any special requirements you may have. Before making a booking we will need to know if you have any medical/physical mobility needs which might affect how and if we can deliver all your chosen holiday services. These needs may affect your flight, transfers or the suitability of your chosen accommodation or other aspects of your holiday. We would therefore ask that you submit any special needs/requirements to us in writing before making any reservation. A checklist for the disabled and less mobile passengers can be obtained by contacting us directly and will need to be completed and signed by you before your booking can proceed. Please note that completion of this form will not guarantee your needs will be met. It will however enable us to check the suitability of your chosen holiday with our resort staff based on the information supplied by you. We cannot be held liable if you fail to tell us about special requirements that may affect the quality of your holiday. Further, we would mention that some hotels allow access for partially disabled guests, although the bathroom doors are generally narrower than a standard wheelchair and there may be a number of steps between the hotels and the beach. In addition, motorised wheelchairs and scooters may be subject to a surcharge. This is at the discretion of the airline.
If you fail to pre-book your wheelchair assistance,we reserve the right to refuse travel.

CONSTRUCTION WORK
Construction works and noise are almost unavoidable in certain developing resorts. Unfortunately such developments are not under our control. It is possible that there may be building work in the vicinity of your holiday accommodation, or in the resort area. As is the custom, work may start early in the day. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to foresee the nature and extent of such work, so please bear with us over these problems, as after all they are being done for the ultimate benefit of holidaymakers. We will contact you if, in our opinion, work is likely to disturb your stay.
In some resorts, the provision of roads, power and water supplies etc. does not always keep pace with the demands of rapid tourist development, so you may experience power cuts or problems with, for example, plumbing or drainage. In addition, during prolonged periods of hot weather the resort authorities sometimes find it necessary to conserve water supplies by implementing a "regime" with intermittent interruptions to supply. However, they always do their best to give advance notice of such interruptions and minimise inconvenience to holidaymakers.

EARLY AND LATE SEASON HOLIDAYS
Our prices show especially good holiday value early and late in the season. However, as you'd expect, not all hotels, resort facilities (particularly beach facilities), restaurants, night clubs and children's activities may be available at these times. Local suppliers reserve the right, subject to weather and visitors in resort, to either withdraw or reduce the services provided. This could be due to cleaning, renovation or as a result of local conditions and Balkan Holidays cannot be held responsible. Please also note that alternative hotels (of the same category to those booked or higher) may be provided without notice when the resorts are not full or on occasion at other times.

FLIGHT ROUTING
Flight routing is confirmed at the time of check-in. Please note all timings are subject to change. We reserve the right to change flight supplements from time to time. Supplements can go up or down.

LUGGAGE
On all flights advertised in this brochure the allowance is 20 kg per person (15 kg on internal flights), with 5 kg of hand luggage per person (infants not included).
We can not guarantee we will be able to transfer wind-surfs, bicycles, surfboards or other oversized and unconventional luggage to your accommodation. Please make your own arrangements for this or call our reservations department at least 2 weeks before departure to check if the airline will accept the equipment. You should also have insurance for these items and pay the excess luggage charged by the airline. Airlines have strict rules on carrying certain items on the aircraft.
All hand baggage will be x-rayed at the airports, so if you have any odd shaped items, scissors, penknives or toy guns for example, or any sharp objects such as dart or metal nail files, expect to have your bag examined and those items confiscated. Films and camera equipment are safe in hand luggage, but not in the bag you check into the hold.