Legal Information
This site is managed and operated by GCS Travel Limited. GCS Travel Limited is registered in the Republic of Ireland with registered number 453816. Its registered address is 24-26 City Quay Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland. Bookings made online through our secure server are bonded by GCS Travel Limited under Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) 9794. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
To help you, below are GCS Travel Limited's general booking conditions. Please read them carefully .
It is the passenger’s responsibility to understand the following terms and conditions. By booking travel with GCS Travel Limited, herewith referred to as the “Tour Operator”, the passenger agrees to adhere to and accept all terms and conditions. Important Air and Land Package Information
All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Air Seats are limited and prices may be restricted to specific flights, class of service, travel dates, or length of stay. Holiday periods, flights and dates outside of specified travel period are available at additional costs. Accommodations include applicable taxes. Full payment is due at time of reservation. Optional Trip Cancellation Waiver will be offered during the booking process and if purchased, you will be allowed to cancel for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure and receive a full credit for travel 364 days from your original booking date, less the amount paid for cancellation waiver and fees. If you have not purchased our Trip Cancellation Waiver, all bookings are Non-Refundable. Offers apply to England originating passengers only. Flight restrictions/terms & conditions apply. Frequent flyer mileage/points may not apply. Tickets are non-refundable. Stopovers are not permitted. Offers cannot be combined with any other discounts/promotions. Child/infant discounts not available. Prices are based on the lowest available airfare at the time of printing (June 1, 2008) and may be subject to availability and change. Substantial restrictions apply for cancellation/changes. Additional terms and conditions will apply. All pricing is based on booking online. For bookings made through call center an additional £ 12.50 per person will apply.
Contract: Any booking made or order placed by you shall be deemed an offer by you to purchase the relevant items subject to these booking conditions. Note that GCS Travel Ltd is selling the tickets as agents for the airlines, which means the contract for the flight product will be between you and the airline. Please note that for each ticket there are additional terms which are specific to that fare. They may, for example, state that the ticket is non-cancelable or non - refundable, and have other information relating to itinerary and refunds. You must read the FLIGHT RULES for each ticket. You can find the relevant FLIGHT RULES on the website when you progress through the purchase path. You are responsible for complying with any airline's terms in relation to check-in times, reconfirmation of flights or other matters. In relation to flight tickets, you are required to use all flight coupons in order of sequence. If this requirement is not met the airline may void the ticket.. A contract arises between you and the airline when we send you a confirmation e-mail confirming that we have accepted your booking.
Fares : All fares are quoted exclusive of taxes, plus the tax amount and then a total. These are added together to form your final quotation. Fares are subject to change without prior notice and are only guaranteed when following confirmation of the contract.
Reservations: In the vast majority of cases GCS Travel Limited becomes aware of the availability of flights tickets for sale because it connects to large databases operated by third parties, which contain that availability. These databases are commonly called General Distribution Systems (GDS) or Central Reservation Systems (CRS), and it is through these GDS/CRS that Globepost purchases the relevant ticket. Be aware that certain airlines do not maintain "real time" seat availability in the GDS/CRS. Whilst every effort is made to reflect the true situation, instances may occur when airlines cancel sales. We will advise you within 48 hours if this is the case and will do all we can to reinstate your booking. Further, there are a tiny number of airlines which participate in the GDS/CRS, but do not participate in the UK Ticketing plan. In the unlikely event that you purchase tickets from an airline that does not participate in the UK Ticketing Plan, we will be unable to issue the relevant tickets, and will have to terminate the reservation. In either instance we will not be liable for any additional costs incurred in having to purchase new tickets at a higher fare. Payment for tickets will of course be refunded to you if the reservation is terminated by the airline or us.
Tickets: If it is not possible to get your flight tickets to you (eg because your travel date is imminent) we may insist that you have an "e-ticket" generated. This means that you will have to pick up your ticket at your point of departure. Do not worry; we will make sure you know exactly where to pick up your tickets.
Flight Reconfirmation: All onward and return flights must be reconfirmed with the relevant airlines at least 72 hours prior to the commencement of that leg of the journey. GCS Travel Limited accepts no responsibility for bookings cancelled due to non-compliance with rules set by that particular airline. We also take no responsibility for any flight rescheduling en route. In the event of a schedule change it is not always necessary to have your tickets revalidated, however in the event that this is necessary we will inform you in due course and issue new tickets for your to use on your onward journey
PAYMENT
Full payment by credit card is required upon Booking. We accept MasterCard & Visa. The credit card selected for payment will be charged for the total price of the reservation. Charges will appear on your credit cards statement as “GCS Travel Limited”
CANCELLATION WAIVER (PRE-DEPARTURE PROTECTION)
Trip Cancellation: Trip Cost (Full credit waiver)
The Trip Cancellation Waiver is designed to protect your investment on all featured self-drive and customized bookings. You may cancel your trip up to 3 business days prior to departure for any reason and you will receive a credit voucher with GCS Travel LTD. equaling the full amount of all payments made, less cancellation waiver cost, concierge fees, and shipping expenses. Coverage goes into effect on the day the premium is received(Date of booking). Trip Cancellation Waiver must be paid in full at the time of the booking. The cost of this protection is 5% of the total cost of your trip. Passengers who originally booked airfare must rebook air on original air carrier at least 3 business days prior to departure and complete travel at least 1 year from original booking date.
Further details on are available upon request by contacting our call center at Freephone 0808-101-2707 or by e-mailing info@gcstravel.com
CANCELLATION AND CHANGE POLICIES
INDEPENDENT TRAVEL CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY (excluding Escorted Motorcoach Tours and Golf):
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All featured self drive and independent package payments and customized booking payments are non-refundable and non-transferable whether bookings made through call center or website. We offer a cancellation waiver insurance plan that can cover cancellation for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure good for a credit for future travel with GCS Travel Ltd. All land itinerary changes are discretionary and incur a minimum fee of £ 25 per change plus any additional costs incurred. For certain special promotional packages, deviations are not allowed. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is £ 40 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a processing fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion.
ESCORTED MOTORCOACH CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All tours will incur a £ 25 fee per change to any land components plus any additional incurred costs. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is £ 40 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a shipping fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Changes made inside of 45 days are considered a cancellation. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion. If you are booked in a double or twin room and your roommate cancels, you will be responsible for the single supplement. Name changes and transfers of reservations are not permitted.
Cancellation penalties for Escorted Motorcoach Bookings:
45-22 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 35% of total price
7-1 day(s) prior to departure: 55% of total price
On departure day or later: 100% of total price
BOOKINGS WHICH INCLUDE GOLF CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All golf components of packages are non-refundable and non-transferable whether bookings made through call center or website. We offer a cancellation waiver insurance plan that can cover cancellation for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure. All land itinerary changes are discretionary and incur a minimum fee of £ 25 per change plus any additional costs incurred. For certain special promotional packages, deviations are not allowed. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is £ 40 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a processing fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion.
TRAVEL OPERATIONS A number of our escorted tours are operated jointly with Brendan Worldwide Vacations, Chatsworth, CA. You benefit considerably from this collaboration through considerably lower tour prices and greater choice of itineraries and departure dates. Independent travel holiday packages are operated by GCS Travel Ltd.
IF THE TOUR OPERATOR CANCELS THE ESCORTED TOUR
In the event the Tour Operator, for any reason, cancels your escorted tour we will rebook clients on the same tour with the next available departure date or a similar tour. If there is no acceptable substitute the Tour Operator will issue a refund to the client of the amount paid only; there is no additional liability. Please note the Tour Operator cannot be held responsible for any air and other travel arrangements not booked with the Tour Operator.
REFUNDS FOR UNUSED SERVICES
No refunds will be made for unused services or vouchers once travel arrangements have commenced.
MOTORCOACH & GROUP TOUR POLICIES Itinerary and all inclusions are listed within. Children 5 years of age or older are considered to pay the adult fare. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on motorcoach tours. An adult must accompany children aged 5 to 17. In order to ensure congenial membership, the Tour Operator reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a tour participant and to expel from the tour any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interests of the tour group. During local or national holidays, certain facilities such as museums and restaurants, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited or not available. Alternatives will be offered whenever possible. MOTORCOACH & GROUP TOUR BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
Baggage handling for one suitcase per person on tour, at hotels, is included in the tour price. Due to limited coach capacity, this single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 30” x 18” x 10” (72 x 46 x 25 cm) and weight not exceeding 50 lbs (23 kg). A charge of £ 2 per traveling day will be collected on tour if a second piece of baggage is carried, or if the suitcase exceeds the established weight and/or dimensions, however it cannot be guaranteed that more than one suitcase per person will be carried. No responsibility is accepted for loss of or damage to baggage or any of the passenger’s belongings. Trip protection with baggage insurance is recommended. AIRLINE BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
Please check with your airline for their specific restrictions as restrictions vary airline to airline. Any fees assessed due to excess baggage are the responsibility of the client. All baggage and possessions are at the owners risk throughout trip unless otherwise insured. Airline porterage is at the discretion of the client on all independent vacations.
TRAVELERS NEEDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Any disability or condition requiring special attention must be advised in writing to the Tour Operator at time of booking. Passengers with disabilities or special conditions are welcome on our escorted tours providing a companion capable of providing all assistance required accompanies them. The Tour Operator reserves the right to refuse anyone it is felt cannot cope with the requirements of travel and who may require services and facilities that the Tour Operator cannot guarantee will be available. You agree to not hold the Tour Operator responsible for any decision made by them or any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you or to provide any service to you.
PRICES
All holiday package prices listed herein are per person and are based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. Air-inclusive prices exclude airline taxes, which may vary between £ 60 and £ 120 per person and fuel supplements. Air inclusive packages are based on the airline’s lowest available class of service. Prices are subject to change. PLEASE NOTE: All rates are shown in Great Britain Pounds( £ ) and do not include future government taxes or surcharges, or additional future service charges. These rates are based on exchange rates, tariffs and tax rates in effect as of June 1, 2008 and may be subject to change without notice. Each individual tour price includes charges for research, itinerary preparation and planning, currency transfer and booking procedures. In each case, the quoted price represents a complete package price and an itemization of individual component prices will not be rendered under any circumstances. Rates may not apply to Christmas and Hogmonay season. Supplements may be required for these and any other holidays.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE PRICE Departure, customs, immigration and security taxes, pfc’s, taxes on gas, insurance and other related items, passport fees, visas where required, gratuities to your tour director, driver, and hotel staff, laundry, telephone calls, any other items of personal nature, meals not specified on itineraries, and items not on the table d’hotel menu, any future tax or currency exchange increases, and any other items not specifically mentioned. REFUNDS The Tour Operator reserves the right to determine eligibility for requested refunds. All claims for refunds must be submitted in writing within 30 days of end of travel date to info@gcstravel.com or faxed to 001 516 881 0101.
ACCOMMODATIONS All accommodations are arranged as stated herein. We reserve the right to substitute hotels, car models, golf and sightseeing listed herein for similar product categories as conditions may require. Hotel rooms do not always offer air conditioning. Please note that a “twin room” generally includes 2 twin beds placed side by side. Single rooms often only include one twin bed and are smaller than twin sized rooms. Please note that it is standard hotel policy that hotel check in is generally not possible before 2:00 p.m local time.
UK OPEN B&B VOUCHERS Acceptance of B&B vouchers by hotels is at the sole discretion of the proprietor, as is any supplement charged. No refunds will be issued for unused vouchers or of vouchers presented as payment to B&Bs of a lesser price category. It is the client’s responsibility to secure their own reservations with the individual B&Bs under the open voucher program. The Tour Operator can, in certain circumstances, pre-book a B&B on the clients’ behalf for an additional fee. Clients must consult the written instructions, terms and conditions listed in the B&B book provided after booking or by visiting the respective B&B associations website
CAR RENTAL INFORMATION A valid driver’s license is required to hire a car in Scotland. All car hire in Scotland include unlimited mileage, local taxes, and third party insurance. Pick up and drop-off fees may apply and cannot be collected in advance by the Tour operator. Rental prices reflect the cost of only one driver per car, although the price of the rental may be split between multiple travelers. Additional drivers may be added to the reservation at time of pick-up and will carry an additional fee determined by the rental company.
UK CAR RENTAL Driver Supplements are as follows and must be paid to car Rental Company at the time of the car pickup in UK: Minimum Age: 21 years through 22 years £14 per day plus tax 23 years through 24 years £7 per day plus tax Vehicle License fee - £1.07 per day plus tax Additional Driver fee - £2.50 per day plus tax Location Surcharge of 13% of rental plus tax UK CAR RENTAL FEE DISCLOSURE The Rental Company at the time pick-up assesses a non-refundable location surcharge equal to 13% of the base rental fare. A gasoline charge for a full tank of gas is assessed at the time of pick-up at standard gas rates. Any non-covered liability of the car is held on the client’s credit card during the course of the rental and released after the car is returned in its original condition.
DATA PROTECTION POLICY
Please find below our privacy policy which shall be deemed to be incorporated into these terms and conditions. GCS Travel Limited takes the privacy of its customers data very seriously. Please read the following policy to understand how we will treat your personal data after it has been collected by us through your use of one of our distribution channels. Those distribution channels will include our website, our WAP, PDA and digital TV services our Interactive Voice Recognition software and other channels as they evolve. If this policy changes then we will let you know via our homepage but we assure you that we only use your data as specified here and for our legitimate business reasons.
When do we collect data?
We can collect data on you from a variety of different sources these include:
1. When you purchase products or services from the site or via any of our other distribution channels;
2. When you become a subscriber;
3. When you speak to our customer services personnel;
4. Via explicit data capture measures, for example by entering competitions and completing surveys; and
5. Via implicit data capture measures such as studying which pages you read the most and the use of cookies.
In any of the above cases the data we collect could be personal data.
What do we do with your personal information?
When you buy anything via the site or give us any personal data as indicated above, we may need to collect information about you to process the transaction, fulfill your order and provide you with the services you expect then and in the future. This information may include, but is not limited to, details such as your name, your address, your phone number and your credit card details. Unless we have your express consent we will only disclose personal data to third parties if this is required for the purpose of completing your transaction with us. . We do not store Credit Cards information. This is of course subject to the provison that we may disclose your data to certain permitted third parties, such as members of our own group, our own professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality codes, and when we are legally obliged to disclose your data.By becoming a subscriber you consent to receive from us by e-mail our e-newsletter and details of other special offers which we may think may be of interest to you.GCS Travel Limited retains and uses your personal information to provide you with the best remote commerce (including electronic and mobile commerce) experience by providing you with a personalised service and to give you details of offers which we think will be of interest to you. We may also use the information to process any transactions you undertake with us and for internal administration and analysis. For quality assurance and training reasons we record most of the calls you make to us.We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes without your express consent. For any of the above purposes we may send your information internationally including to countries outside the EEA. Some of these jurisdictions offer differing levels of protection of personal information, not all of which may be as high as the UK.
Cookies
Cookies are small files which are sent to your browser and stored on your computer's hard disc. Whenever you visit gcstravel.com and unless you elect not to receive cookies, then your computer will store an identifying code in the cookie which may mean you do not need to type in your email address each time you return to the site. Other than this, we do not store your password or any other information in the cookie, or use it for any other purpose. You can at any time set your browser to notify you before you receive a cookie, giving you the opportunity to decide whether to accept it. You can also set your browser to turn off cookies.
Data
In the UK we operate and are registered in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Consent
By disclosing your personal information to us using this website or over the telephone, you consent to the collection, storage and processing of your personal information by GCS Travel Limited in the manner set out in this Privacy Policy. Some information and e-mails sent to GCS Travel Ltd. may be used as testimonials but no e-mail address or contact details will be displayed.
Opt-Out Policy
Newsletter subscribers have the option to opt-out of receiving further information from us.
Change/Modify Details To change your e-mail address details send an e-mail with your correct details to: info@gcstravel.com. If you need to Modify or Change your personal details after you have made a purchase on the site please contact us as soon as possible.
Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about the information we hold about you, you can also contact us.
GOLF BOOKINGS
Handicap certificates or cards may be required at most top courses. An introductory letter from a PGA professional may be used as a substitute in some cases, once handicap is noted. Standard handicap limits are 24 for men and 36 for women. All golf is arranged as stated herein. We reserve the right to substitute golf courses listed herein for golf courses in similar categories as conditions may require. Golf courses are categorized by the opinions of the Tour Operator staff.
PASSPORTS & VISAS
We are very happy to inform you of current documentation requirements if you so require. It is incumbent upon you to ensure that you meet the passport, visa, health requirements of the countries you wish to visit and those that you transit (even if it is for a plane change). Many countries require that your passport should be valid for a period of (a minimum) six months from the date of arrival into that country. We cannot accept any responsibility if you should be denied boarding or deported due to non-fulfilment of the above. Although we do not offier, we strongly urge you to carry appropriate travel insurance to cover you for post departure (ie Health, baggage, etc.)
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Special requests for land arrangements must be made directly with the airline, car rental, hotel or B&B supplier after your purchase is confirmed and are subject to availability. When making a purchase on the website, you expressly accept the possibility that the Supplier may not satisfy such special requests. No purchase or reservation may be canceled based on the failure of a Supplier to satisfy special requests.
WEB BOOKINGS
Website contains special pricing that is exclusively for Internet sale only. Bookings made through our call center may incur a fee of up to £ 12.50 per person. Should web site and its travel offerings (including confirmations) contain errors, including errors in pricing or package inclusions, the Tour Operator reserves the right to correct any such errors, without limitation. Confirmations issued are likewise subject to modification and/or correction at any time prior to actual travel. Under no circumstances shall The Tour Operator, its affiliates, employees, or vendors be held liable for any damage, including consequential or incidental damage, resulting from such errors or the correction thereof.
SAFETY
Please be aware that certain risks and dangers may arise beyond the Tour Operators control including, but not limited to: travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft or other means of transportation; the forces of nature, political unrest and accident or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities. The Tour Operator will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered. It is understood that the Tour Operator will use its best efforts to ensure that adequate measures are taken.
RESPONSIBILITY
Payment of the trip itinerary constitutes consent to all Legal policies and terms and conditions described here. Neither the Tour Operator nor any mentioned or unmentioned subagent shall be held responsible for any personal injury, property damage or other loss a passenger incurs on any tour arising from acts or omissions by any air carrier, public transport company, hotel, car rental company, subcontractor or other person or organization, whether or not such company is rendering any services supplied on the tour. All tickets and vouchers are issued and supplied subject to the foregoing and to any and all terms and conditions under which transportation and services are provided. The Tour Operator accepts no responsibility for losses or expenses due to delay or changes in schedules, flight cancellations or misconnections due to mechanical problems, sickness, quarantine, weather, acts of God, strikes, government actions, war, terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control. Passengers must bear all such losses or expenses. To guard against unforeseen circumstances, we recommend you purchase our optional cancellation waiver offered with each booking. The Tour Operator reserves the right to alter prices at any time prior to departure and without prior notice if circumstances so warrant. Any devaluation or revaluation of currencies may affect published prices.
To help you, below are GCS Travel Limited's general booking conditions. Please read them carefully .
It is the passenger’s responsibility to understand the following terms and conditions. By booking travel with GCS Travel Limited, herewith referred to as the “Tour Operator”, the passenger agrees to adhere to and accept all terms and conditions. Important Air and Land Package Information
All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Air Seats are limited and prices may be restricted to specific flights, class of service, travel dates, or length of stay. Holiday periods, flights and dates outside of specified travel period are available at additional costs. Accommodations include applicable taxes. Full payment is due at time of reservation. Optional Trip Cancellation Waiver will be offered during the booking process and if purchased, you will be allowed to cancel for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure and receive a full credit for travel 364 days from your original booking date, less the amount paid for cancellation waiver and fees. If you have not purchased our Trip Cancellation Waiver, all bookings are Non-Refundable. Offers apply to England originating passengers only. Flight restrictions/terms & conditions apply. Frequent flyer mileage/points may not apply. Tickets are non-refundable. Stopovers are not permitted. Offers cannot be combined with any other discounts/promotions. Child/infant discounts not available. Prices are based on the lowest available airfare at the time of printing (June 1, 2008) and may be subject to availability and change. Substantial restrictions apply for cancellation/changes. Additional terms and conditions will apply. All pricing is based on booking online. For bookings made through call center an additional £ 12.50 per person will apply.
Contract: Any booking made or order placed by you shall be deemed an offer by you to purchase the relevant items subject to these booking conditions. Note that GCS Travel Ltd is selling the tickets as agents for the airlines, which means the contract for the flight product will be between you and the airline. Please note that for each ticket there are additional terms which are specific to that fare. They may, for example, state that the ticket is non-cancelable or non - refundable, and have other information relating to itinerary and refunds. You must read the FLIGHT RULES for each ticket. You can find the relevant FLIGHT RULES on the website when you progress through the purchase path. You are responsible for complying with any airline's terms in relation to check-in times, reconfirmation of flights or other matters. In relation to flight tickets, you are required to use all flight coupons in order of sequence. If this requirement is not met the airline may void the ticket.. A contract arises between you and the airline when we send you a confirmation e-mail confirming that we have accepted your booking.
Fares : All fares are quoted exclusive of taxes, plus the tax amount and then a total. These are added together to form your final quotation. Fares are subject to change without prior notice and are only guaranteed when following confirmation of the contract.
Reservations: In the vast majority of cases GCS Travel Limited becomes aware of the availability of flights tickets for sale because it connects to large databases operated by third parties, which contain that availability. These databases are commonly called General Distribution Systems (GDS) or Central Reservation Systems (CRS), and it is through these GDS/CRS that Globepost purchases the relevant ticket. Be aware that certain airlines do not maintain "real time" seat availability in the GDS/CRS. Whilst every effort is made to reflect the true situation, instances may occur when airlines cancel sales. We will advise you within 48 hours if this is the case and will do all we can to reinstate your booking. Further, there are a tiny number of airlines which participate in the GDS/CRS, but do not participate in the UK Ticketing plan. In the unlikely event that you purchase tickets from an airline that does not participate in the UK Ticketing Plan, we will be unable to issue the relevant tickets, and will have to terminate the reservation. In either instance we will not be liable for any additional costs incurred in having to purchase new tickets at a higher fare. Payment for tickets will of course be refunded to you if the reservation is terminated by the airline or us.
Tickets: If it is not possible to get your flight tickets to you (eg because your travel date is imminent) we may insist that you have an "e-ticket" generated. This means that you will have to pick up your ticket at your point of departure. Do not worry; we will make sure you know exactly where to pick up your tickets.
Flight Reconfirmation: All onward and return flights must be reconfirmed with the relevant airlines at least 72 hours prior to the commencement of that leg of the journey. GCS Travel Limited accepts no responsibility for bookings cancelled due to non-compliance with rules set by that particular airline. We also take no responsibility for any flight rescheduling en route. In the event of a schedule change it is not always necessary to have your tickets revalidated, however in the event that this is necessary we will inform you in due course and issue new tickets for your to use on your onward journey
PAYMENT
Full payment by credit card is required upon Booking. We accept MasterCard & Visa. The credit card selected for payment will be charged for the total price of the reservation. Charges will appear on your credit cards statement as “GCS Travel Limited”
CANCELLATION WAIVER (PRE-DEPARTURE PROTECTION)
Trip Cancellation: Trip Cost (Full credit waiver)
The Trip Cancellation Waiver is designed to protect your investment on all featured self-drive and customized bookings. You may cancel your trip up to 3 business days prior to departure for any reason and you will receive a credit voucher with GCS Travel LTD. equaling the full amount of all payments made, less cancellation waiver cost, concierge fees, and shipping expenses. Coverage goes into effect on the day the premium is received(Date of booking). Trip Cancellation Waiver must be paid in full at the time of the booking. The cost of this protection is 5% of the total cost of your trip. Passengers who originally booked airfare must rebook air on original air carrier at least 3 business days prior to departure and complete travel at least 1 year from original booking date.
Further details on are available upon request by contacting our call center at Freephone 0808-101-2707 or by e-mailing info@gcstravel.com
CANCELLATION AND CHANGE POLICIES
INDEPENDENT TRAVEL CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY (excluding Escorted Motorcoach Tours and Golf):
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All featured self drive and independent package payments and customized booking payments are non-refundable and non-transferable whether bookings made through call center or website. We offer a cancellation waiver insurance plan that can cover cancellation for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure good for a credit for future travel with GCS Travel Ltd. All land itinerary changes are discretionary and incur a minimum fee of £ 25 per change plus any additional costs incurred. For certain special promotional packages, deviations are not allowed. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is £ 40 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a processing fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion.
ESCORTED MOTORCOACH CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All tours will incur a £ 25 fee per change to any land components plus any additional incurred costs. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is £ 40 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a shipping fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Changes made inside of 45 days are considered a cancellation. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion. If you are booked in a double or twin room and your roommate cancels, you will be responsible for the single supplement. Name changes and transfers of reservations are not permitted.
Cancellation penalties for Escorted Motorcoach Bookings:
45-22 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 35% of total price
7-1 day(s) prior to departure: 55% of total price
On departure day or later: 100% of total price
BOOKINGS WHICH INCLUDE GOLF CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All golf components of packages are non-refundable and non-transferable whether bookings made through call center or website. We offer a cancellation waiver insurance plan that can cover cancellation for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure. All land itinerary changes are discretionary and incur a minimum fee of £ 25 per change plus any additional costs incurred. For certain special promotional packages, deviations are not allowed. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is £ 40 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a processing fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion.
TRAVEL OPERATIONS A number of our escorted tours are operated jointly with Brendan Worldwide Vacations, Chatsworth, CA. You benefit considerably from this collaboration through considerably lower tour prices and greater choice of itineraries and departure dates. Independent travel holiday packages are operated by GCS Travel Ltd.
IF THE TOUR OPERATOR CANCELS THE ESCORTED TOUR
In the event the Tour Operator, for any reason, cancels your escorted tour we will rebook clients on the same tour with the next available departure date or a similar tour. If there is no acceptable substitute the Tour Operator will issue a refund to the client of the amount paid only; there is no additional liability. Please note the Tour Operator cannot be held responsible for any air and other travel arrangements not booked with the Tour Operator.
REFUNDS FOR UNUSED SERVICES
No refunds will be made for unused services or vouchers once travel arrangements have commenced.
MOTORCOACH & GROUP TOUR POLICIES Itinerary and all inclusions are listed within. Children 5 years of age or older are considered to pay the adult fare. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on motorcoach tours. An adult must accompany children aged 5 to 17. In order to ensure congenial membership, the Tour Operator reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a tour participant and to expel from the tour any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interests of the tour group. During local or national holidays, certain facilities such as museums and restaurants, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited or not available. Alternatives will be offered whenever possible. MOTORCOACH & GROUP TOUR BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
Baggage handling for one suitcase per person on tour, at hotels, is included in the tour price. Due to limited coach capacity, this single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 30” x 18” x 10” (72 x 46 x 25 cm) and weight not exceeding 50 lbs (23 kg). A charge of £ 2 per traveling day will be collected on tour if a second piece of baggage is carried, or if the suitcase exceeds the established weight and/or dimensions, however it cannot be guaranteed that more than one suitcase per person will be carried. No responsibility is accepted for loss of or damage to baggage or any of the passenger’s belongings. Trip protection with baggage insurance is recommended. AIRLINE BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
Please check with your airline for their specific restrictions as restrictions vary airline to airline. Any fees assessed due to excess baggage are the responsibility of the client. All baggage and possessions are at the owners risk throughout trip unless otherwise insured. Airline porterage is at the discretion of the client on all independent vacations.
TRAVELERS NEEDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Any disability or condition requiring special attention must be advised in writing to the Tour Operator at time of booking. Passengers with disabilities or special conditions are welcome on our escorted tours providing a companion capable of providing all assistance required accompanies them. The Tour Operator reserves the right to refuse anyone it is felt cannot cope with the requirements of travel and who may require services and facilities that the Tour Operator cannot guarantee will be available. You agree to not hold the Tour Operator responsible for any decision made by them or any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you or to provide any service to you.
PRICES
All holiday package prices listed herein are per person and are based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. Air-inclusive prices exclude airline taxes, which may vary between £ 60 and £ 120 per person and fuel supplements. Air inclusive packages are based on the airline’s lowest available class of service. Prices are subject to change. PLEASE NOTE: All rates are shown in Great Britain Pounds( £ ) and do not include future government taxes or surcharges, or additional future service charges. These rates are based on exchange rates, tariffs and tax rates in effect as of June 1, 2008 and may be subject to change without notice. Each individual tour price includes charges for research, itinerary preparation and planning, currency transfer and booking procedures. In each case, the quoted price represents a complete package price and an itemization of individual component prices will not be rendered under any circumstances. Rates may not apply to Christmas and Hogmonay season. Supplements may be required for these and any other holidays.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE PRICE Departure, customs, immigration and security taxes, pfc’s, taxes on gas, insurance and other related items, passport fees, visas where required, gratuities to your tour director, driver, and hotel staff, laundry, telephone calls, any other items of personal nature, meals not specified on itineraries, and items not on the table d’hotel menu, any future tax or currency exchange increases, and any other items not specifically mentioned. REFUNDS The Tour Operator reserves the right to determine eligibility for requested refunds. All claims for refunds must be submitted in writing within 30 days of end of travel date to info@gcstravel.com or faxed to 001 516 881 0101.
ACCOMMODATIONS All accommodations are arranged as stated herein. We reserve the right to substitute hotels, car models, golf and sightseeing listed herein for similar product categories as conditions may require. Hotel rooms do not always offer air conditioning. Please note that a “twin room” generally includes 2 twin beds placed side by side. Single rooms often only include one twin bed and are smaller than twin sized rooms. Please note that it is standard hotel policy that hotel check in is generally not possible before 2:00 p.m local time.
UK OPEN B&B VOUCHERS Acceptance of B&B vouchers by hotels is at the sole discretion of the proprietor, as is any supplement charged. No refunds will be issued for unused vouchers or of vouchers presented as payment to B&Bs of a lesser price category. It is the client’s responsibility to secure their own reservations with the individual B&Bs under the open voucher program. The Tour Operator can, in certain circumstances, pre-book a B&B on the clients’ behalf for an additional fee. Clients must consult the written instructions, terms and conditions listed in the B&B book provided after booking or by visiting the respective B&B associations website
CAR RENTAL INFORMATION A valid driver’s license is required to hire a car in Scotland. All car hire in Scotland include unlimited mileage, local taxes, and third party insurance. Pick up and drop-off fees may apply and cannot be collected in advance by the Tour operator. Rental prices reflect the cost of only one driver per car, although the price of the rental may be split between multiple travelers. Additional drivers may be added to the reservation at time of pick-up and will carry an additional fee determined by the rental company.
UK CAR RENTAL Driver Supplements are as follows and must be paid to car Rental Company at the time of the car pickup in UK: Minimum Age: 21 years through 22 years £14 per day plus tax 23 years through 24 years £7 per day plus tax Vehicle License fee - £1.07 per day plus tax Additional Driver fee - £2.50 per day plus tax Location Surcharge of 13% of rental plus tax UK CAR RENTAL FEE DISCLOSURE The Rental Company at the time pick-up assesses a non-refundable location surcharge equal to 13% of the base rental fare. A gasoline charge for a full tank of gas is assessed at the time of pick-up at standard gas rates. Any non-covered liability of the car is held on the client’s credit card during the course of the rental and released after the car is returned in its original condition.
DATA PROTECTION POLICY
Please find below our privacy policy which shall be deemed to be incorporated into these terms and conditions. GCS Travel Limited takes the privacy of its customers data very seriously. Please read the following policy to understand how we will treat your personal data after it has been collected by us through your use of one of our distribution channels. Those distribution channels will include our website, our WAP, PDA and digital TV services our Interactive Voice Recognition software and other channels as they evolve. If this policy changes then we will let you know via our homepage but we assure you that we only use your data as specified here and for our legitimate business reasons.
When do we collect data?
We can collect data on you from a variety of different sources these include:
1. When you purchase products or services from the site or via any of our other distribution channels;
2. When you become a subscriber;
3. When you speak to our customer services personnel;
4. Via explicit data capture measures, for example by entering competitions and completing surveys; and
5. Via implicit data capture measures such as studying which pages you read the most and the use of cookies.
In any of the above cases the data we collect could be personal data.
What do we do with your personal information?
When you buy anything via the site or give us any personal data as indicated above, we may need to collect information about you to process the transaction, fulfill your order and provide you with the services you expect then and in the future. This information may include, but is not limited to, details such as your name, your address, your phone number and your credit card details. Unless we have your express consent we will only disclose personal data to third parties if this is required for the purpose of completing your transaction with us. . We do not store Credit Cards information. This is of course subject to the provison that we may disclose your data to certain permitted third parties, such as members of our own group, our own professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality codes, and when we are legally obliged to disclose your data.By becoming a subscriber you consent to receive from us by e-mail our e-newsletter and details of other special offers which we may think may be of interest to you.GCS Travel Limited retains and uses your personal information to provide you with the best remote commerce (including electronic and mobile commerce) experience by providing you with a personalised service and to give you details of offers which we think will be of interest to you. We may also use the information to process any transactions you undertake with us and for internal administration and analysis. For quality assurance and training reasons we record most of the calls you make to us.We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes without your express consent. For any of the above purposes we may send your information internationally including to countries outside the EEA. Some of these jurisdictions offer differing levels of protection of personal information, not all of which may be as high as the UK.
Cookies
Cookies are small files which are sent to your browser and stored on your computer's hard disc. Whenever you visit gcstravel.com and unless you elect not to receive cookies, then your computer will store an identifying code in the cookie which may mean you do not need to type in your email address each time you return to the site. Other than this, we do not store your password or any other information in the cookie, or use it for any other purpose. You can at any time set your browser to notify you before you receive a cookie, giving you the opportunity to decide whether to accept it. You can also set your browser to turn off cookies.
Data
In the UK we operate and are registered in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Consent
By disclosing your personal information to us using this website or over the telephone, you consent to the collection, storage and processing of your personal information by GCS Travel Limited in the manner set out in this Privacy Policy. Some information and e-mails sent to GCS Travel Ltd. may be used as testimonials but no e-mail address or contact details will be displayed.
Opt-Out Policy
Newsletter subscribers have the option to opt-out of receiving further information from us.
Change/Modify Details To change your e-mail address details send an e-mail with your correct details to: info@gcstravel.com. If you need to Modify or Change your personal details after you have made a purchase on the site please contact us as soon as possible.
Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about the information we hold about you, you can also contact us.
GOLF BOOKINGS
Handicap certificates or cards may be required at most top courses. An introductory letter from a PGA professional may be used as a substitute in some cases, once handicap is noted. Standard handicap limits are 24 for men and 36 for women. All golf is arranged as stated herein. We reserve the right to substitute golf courses listed herein for golf courses in similar categories as conditions may require. Golf courses are categorized by the opinions of the Tour Operator staff.
PASSPORTS & VISAS
We are very happy to inform you of current documentation requirements if you so require. It is incumbent upon you to ensure that you meet the passport, visa, health requirements of the countries you wish to visit and those that you transit (even if it is for a plane change). Many countries require that your passport should be valid for a period of (a minimum) six months from the date of arrival into that country. We cannot accept any responsibility if you should be denied boarding or deported due to non-fulfilment of the above. Although we do not offier, we strongly urge you to carry appropriate travel insurance to cover you for post departure (ie Health, baggage, etc.)
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Special requests for land arrangements must be made directly with the airline, car rental, hotel or B&B supplier after your purchase is confirmed and are subject to availability. When making a purchase on the website, you expressly accept the possibility that the Supplier may not satisfy such special requests. No purchase or reservation may be canceled based on the failure of a Supplier to satisfy special requests.
WEB BOOKINGS
Website contains special pricing that is exclusively for Internet sale only. Bookings made through our call center may incur a fee of up to £ 12.50 per person. Should web site and its travel offerings (including confirmations) contain errors, including errors in pricing or package inclusions, the Tour Operator reserves the right to correct any such errors, without limitation. Confirmations issued are likewise subject to modification and/or correction at any time prior to actual travel. Under no circumstances shall The Tour Operator, its affiliates, employees, or vendors be held liable for any damage, including consequential or incidental damage, resulting from such errors or the correction thereof.
SAFETY
Please be aware that certain risks and dangers may arise beyond the Tour Operators control including, but not limited to: travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft or other means of transportation; the forces of nature, political unrest and accident or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities. The Tour Operator will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered. It is understood that the Tour Operator will use its best efforts to ensure that adequate measures are taken.
RESPONSIBILITY
Payment of the trip itinerary constitutes consent to all Legal policies and terms and conditions described here. Neither the Tour Operator nor any mentioned or unmentioned subagent shall be held responsible for any personal injury, property damage or other loss a passenger incurs on any tour arising from acts or omissions by any air carrier, public transport company, hotel, car rental company, subcontractor or other person or organization, whether or not such company is rendering any services supplied on the tour. All tickets and vouchers are issued and supplied subject to the foregoing and to any and all terms and conditions under which transportation and services are provided. The Tour Operator accepts no responsibility for losses or expenses due to delay or changes in schedules, flight cancellations or misconnections due to mechanical problems, sickness, quarantine, weather, acts of God, strikes, government actions, war, terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control. Passengers must bear all such losses or expenses. To guard against unforeseen circumstances, we recommend you purchase our optional cancellation waiver offered with each booking. The Tour Operator reserves the right to alter prices at any time prior to departure and without prior notice if circumstances so warrant. Any devaluation or revaluation of currencies may affect published prices.
