Before you go

Booking confirmation/invoice and tickets

Once you have booked your holiday with us and we have received your completed booking form and deposit (balance due in full if less than 60 days prior to departure), we will send you an invoice confirming all the arrangements made on your behalf, the outstanding balance and the date by which it must be received by us. Please check these details carefully and contact us immediately if there are any discrepancies or inaccuracies. We will contact you again around 10 weeks before you travel with updated information regarding your holiday. At this time we will also include full details and prices of any optional excursions available on your chosen tour. Your tickets and travel documents are sent out approximately 2 weeks prior to departure, although some train tickets may be handed out by your Tour Manager at check-in.

Booking Form

If you have already made a booking with one of our Tour Advisors on the telephone and need a copy of our booking form, click here to download a printable version.

Please ensure that the title, initials or forenames and surnames given on the booking form match those on your passport. This is because we make your travel reservations using this information and any inaccuracies will cause problems at a later date.

No surcharges - guaranteed

Once you have booked and paid us the appropriate deposit for your holiday, we guarantee that you will not be surcharged. This means that even if a cost increase is imposed upon us by a supplier - for example due to an increase in fuel costs - and we need to increase the holiday price for all new bookings, we guarantee that a price rise will not affect you, if you have already booked your holiday. It really does pay to book early.

Foreign Office Advice

Global and political situations do change. Your safety is our first consideration and if the Foreign Office advises against travel to a certain country, we act on this advice. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office produces up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad.You are advised to check this information on their website www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo or contact the FCO Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829.

What to take with you

Luggage

Taking the right luggage on holiday can make the difference to your enjoyment. You will usually need to lift your own suitcase onto and off trains, and as many European trains do not have a specific luggage carriage, you will have to stow your case in the designated area within the carriage or in the rack above your seat. You may also need to carry it some distance between platforms/stations or to hotels. With this in mind, we recommend that you take one small suitcase and one piece of hand luggage per person. A good tip is to try lifting your luggage up and down the stairs at home to see how comfortable you are transporting your luggage while on holiday.

As a guide, we recommend one suitcase and one small piece of hand luggage per person, and suggest the popular 'vertical' suitcases with built-in wheels and a retractable handle measuring around 24"/60cm x 15"/40cm are best.

What to pack

Casual dress is acceptable on all holidays. On our cruising holidays, you may find that people tend to be just a little 'dressier' in the evening, especially at the farewell dinner. We will provide more detailed information before the tour on the climate at your destination, to help you decide exactly what clothes to bring.

Passports, travel documents and insurance

Passports and travel documentation

Please note that we do not accept any liability if any member of your party is refused entry to countries or transportation due to failure on your/their part to carry the necessary, correct and up-to-date personal documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly.

It is your responsibility to ensure that each person travelling in your party has a current valid passport plus any visas required for non-UK/EU citizens. British citizens require a full ten-year passport for all holidays, which is valid for at least six months after your return. If your passport expires earlier or is endorsed in any way, it may still be acceptable but you should contact your local passport office or the consulate/embassy of the country/countries being visited for detailed advice. Non-British citizens should also check passport and visa requirements with the relevant consulate(s).

Customers applying for a first British passport should allow at least six weeks to obtain one as they are now required to attend a personal interview with the Passport Office. Customers renewing their passport should allow a minimum of two weeks. However, in all cases, please apply as far ahead as possible so as to allow time for unexpected delays.

Cancellation and travel insurance

It is a condition of booking that you take out sufficient and appropriate travel insurance cover and we recommend this is done at the booking stage so that your deposit is recoverable in the event of a cancellation covered under the policy. It is your responsibility to ensure that all members of your party have appropriate travel insurance cover and that any insurance policy purchased is adequate for your/their particular needs and valid for the entire duration of the holiday. The duration of the holiday in the brochure includes the day of departure and day of return and is the period to be used for insurance purposes. Please remember to extend the duration of your insurance cover if you choose to extend your holiday.

To take advantage of our insurance please contact us for details. Please note that we do not check alternative insurance policies. If you take out your own cover please detail the Insurance Company, the policy number and the 24-hour emergency telephone number on the booking form. Read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday.

Health and Mobility

Disabilities and medical conditions

Although our tours are designed to be conducted at a leisurely pace, they can also be physically demanding and porterage is not available. Regrettably, many of our tours are therefore not suitable for the disabled traveller. Please advise us before any booking is made if anyone in your party has a medical condition or disability that may affect your/their holiday arrangements or if there are any health or fitness concerns which may affect your/their ability to cope with a tour. If we are to help you choose the right holiday for your health and fitness, we must be aware of all details. Please note that Tour Managers cannot provide individual assistance with boarding trains or coaches, or carry your luggage.

It is your responsibility to provide us with full and accurate details of the mobility, health and fitness (including any disability) of all members of your party so we can advise you of the suitability of tours. As standard practice, all customers who have declared any mobility difficulty to us will be asked to complete a mobility and health questionnaire with us over the telephone, to ensure this matter has been carefully considered and we are aware of any issues. If you are in any doubt as to whether the holiday you hope to book is suitable for you, please speak to our Tour Advisors at the time of making your booking. We want to ensure that all our customers have an enjoyable holiday and are here to answer your queries. Please remember to advise us of any changes to mobility or fitness levels between booking your holiday and travelling.

Health

The Department of Health's leaflet (T7.1) "Health advice for travellers" is available at Post Offices, by phoning 0800 555777 or online at www.dh.gov.uk, showing health requirements and advice for the countries you are visiting. We advise you to check with your doctor in good time prior to your departure as to which inoculations are necessary. For access to health care in many European countries, you should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Further information is available from the Department of Health on 020 7210 4850 or online at www.dh.gov.uk. Please note - the EHIC card is not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation

All our basic holiday prices are expressed in £ sterling and are per person based on 2 people sharing.

• Single supplements or prices are expressed per person for the duration of the tour.
• A hotel room for two people may contain a double or twin beds.
• A single room may be a 'true' single or may be a single occupancy of a double or twin room. Either way, the supplement shown is always payable.
• As some of our hotels are in older buildings, bedrooms may differ in size and shape and amenities offered.
• En suite facilities are always private WC with either bath or shower.
• Any special request for a particular room specification will be passed on to our partners but we cannot guarantee that it will always be possible to satisfy your request.
• Rooms/cabins are not usually available before 2-3pm on day of arrival and must be vacated by 10-11am on departure.
• Sleeper accommodation on the Cologne-Vienna CityNightLine service is in the form of seating which converts into berths at night. Our compartments are Standard Class two-berth with washbasin.

Meals

In all cases, breakfast is included at every hotel. Please check the "What your tour includes" section to see what other meals are included on each holiday. Where dinner is included at the hotel, it is usually a standard set menu without choice, featuring regional dishes, and drinks are not normally included. Please advise us at the time of booking if you have any special dietary requirements and we will do our best to assist, although of course not all suppliers can satisfy every requirement.

Tipping

All service charges and local taxes are included at hotels. Gratuities to local guides and your Tour Manager are at your discretion. However on our river cruises, it is customary to tip the crew at the end of the cruise - we recommend 8-12 Euros per person per day, provided you are satisfied with the service received.

Itineraries and travel arrangements

Tour itineraries

Our itineraries are planned many months in advance. We do our best to follow the detailed itineraries shown, but reserve the right to make changes if we need to react to schedule changes or local conditions. We do our best to keep these changes to a minimum. Excursions may also have to be amended due to local conditions or public holidays. We will always try to keep you informed of any changes made, and of the reasons.

Optional excursions

We have included only a brief description of our optional excursions in the brochure. Full details, including prices, will be sent to you around 10 weeks before you travel. Please note that all optional excursions are subject to a minimum number of participants in order to operate, and the day of operation may change.

Rail reservations

We request rail reservations many months in advance in Standard Class. Although we do our best to follow the routes noted in the itinerary there might be occasions when a different routing or departure time is necessary due to timetable variations or seat availability. Increasingly, trains are 100% non-smoking, and reservations are requested in non-smoking accommodation, although at busy times we may be allocated some smoking seats. We cannot make specific requests for smoking seats. Prices quoted in this brochure are based on special fares, negotiated with our rail partners for group travel. Should you wish to travel on any Eurostar or other rail service, other than that included as part of your group holiday, a rail variation charge of £20 per person per service will apply in addition to the difference in cost between our special group fare and the normal published fare applicable at time of request for the journey in question. Any change involving sleeper services will be quoted on an individual basis.

Eurostar departure times

Where possible we have included an idea of the departure time of the Eurostar service from St Pancras International within each itinerary. Please note, these times are provisional. We request Eurostar rail reservations many months in advance and on occasions it may be necessary to revise the departure time which has been stated in the brochure due to circumstances beyond our control, such as timetable variations or seat availability. Exact Eurostar departure times will be available approximately 10-12 weeks before your departure.

Ebbsfleet departure

For travellers wishing to avoid London, Treyn Holidays tours can be arranged to depart from Ebbsfleet International. In some instances, travellers electing to depart from Ebbsfleet International may have to travel on an earlier train from the main group who depart from St Pancras International.

Travel delays

In the event of any undue delay, the group will be looked after in accordance with the standard practice of the scheduled carrier or transport operator.

Maintenance and development work

Every holiday visits a number of destinations. There may well be maintenance, re-development, building, road works or track work en route or in the vicinity of any of the hotels. If we know about such work and any associated potential disruption which may affect the enjoyment of your holiday, we will always try to advise you as quickly as possible. Please note that as we are not the only guests staying in hotels or ships, we cannot be held responsible for the behaviour or noise of others.

Overseas standards

In some countries, you may experience laws and standards that might not be the same as you are used to in the UK. On some holidays we visit countries with less advanced infrastructures. Travellers with an open, yet cautious mind and a flexible approach should enjoy the experience.

ABTA, ATOL and AITO

Our ABTA membership

Treyn Holidays is a tour operator member of ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, and our ABTA number is V2170. ABTA's main aims are to maintain high standards of trading practice for the benefit of its members, the travel industry at large and the consumers they serve. Both ABTA and its members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan.

As an ABTA member, we are obliged to follow the organisation's Code of Conduct. This ensures that our customers receive a high standard of service, fair terms of trading, and clear and accurate information on issues such as passports and visas, health requirements, and details of any alterations to your holiday. In the event of things going wrong, the Code of Conduct ensures that we respond to any complaint within strict time limits.

For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and also the independent arbitration scheme available to customers if you have a complaint visit http://www.abta.com/ or call 020 3117 0500. Alternatively, ABTA may be contacted at the following address:

ABTA
30 Park Street
London
SE1 9EQ

Tel: 020 3117 0500
Fax: 020 3117 0581
Email: abta@abta.co.uk
Website: www.abta.com

ATOL protection

The air holiday packages in on this website are ATOL protected with the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 3278. Please see our booking conditions for more information.

ATOL, which is part of the CAA, is a financial protection scheme for UK tour operators and protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad in the unlikely event of our insolvency. All monies paid to us in advance for a booking will be refunded and, if necessary, arrangements will be made for your repatriation back to the UK.

ATOL Protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.

For more information about ATOL visit http://www.atol.org.uk/ and for information about the CAA, visit http://www.caa.co.uk/ or call 020 7453 6424.

Our AITO membership

Treyn Holidays is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, an organisation representing over 150 of Britain's best specialist tour operators. Members of AITO strive to create holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality, personal service and customer satisfaction. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating and all members are fully bonded for clients' protection, in compliance with UK and European regulations. Treyn Holidays - like all other AITO members - are also bound by the organisation's Quality Charter.

For further information about AITO visit http://www.aito.co.uk/ or call 020 8744 9280.

Links to external websites

Throughout the website we provide links to external websites owned by third parties, for example the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department of Health. Please note that such third parties are not ABTA members and that Treyn Holidays Ltd is not responsible for the content of their sites. For links to each page of this website, see our website sitemap.

Important information about Treyn Holidays

Head office and contact address

Treyn Holidays
Saviour House
9 St Saviourgate
York
YO1 8NL

Tel: 01904 734939
Email: info@treynholidays.co.uk

Registered in England No: 3208093
VAT Registration No: 870 3844 14

We feel that it is essential to have good quality travel insurance in place whenever you venture abroad. We have arranged this special policy exclusively for clients of Treyn Holidays, through a leading specialist broker, Voyager Insurance Services Ltd, and underwritten by Mapfre Assistencia S.A. trading under the name of Mapfre Assistance in the UK and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. This policy summary does not contain the full terms and conditions of the cover. Full terms and conditions can be found in the policy document that will be sent with your booking invoice, a copy of which is available in advance upon request.

Premiums per person - UK destinations

Premiums per person - European destinations

Premiums per person - Worldwide destinations

These premiums & cover are valid at the time of the brochure going to press but could be subject to change after the date of publication. Premiums inclusive of Insurance Premium Tax at the current rate.

Premium is based on age at date of departure. Maximum age at date of departure for Worldwide destinations is 79 - alternative cover for persons aged 80 and over may be arranged by telephoning 0845 0035244.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this insurance, you must:

• normally reside in the United Kingdom.
• comply with the Important Health Requirements section of Your policy.

Significant or unusual exclusions and limitations

There are some situations which you are not covered for. These generally involve anything you already know about or that is caused by deliberate or careless acts on your part. Full details of these are given in the policy document. Please also see the Important Notes set out below.

Significant features and benefits

Your policy includes the following benefits which are explained in detail in the policy document:

Duration of cover

This policy of insurance will run for the period shown on your Holiday Booking Invoice.

Your right to cancel

You have 14 days from the receipt of your documentation to cancel your policy if you feel it does not meet your requirements.

Customer service/Making a complaint

Our aim at all times is to provide a first-class standard of service. If you feel this objective has not been achieved and wish to register a complaint, please contact us. Details are shown in the policy.

Financial Services Registration
We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority Our Registration Number is 488024.

IMPORTANT NOTES

We would like to draw your attention to some important features of your insurance including:

1. Insurance document
You should read this document carefully. It gives full details of what is and is not covered and the conditions of the cover, Cover can vary from one policy to another so you should familiarise yourself with this particular insurance.

2. Conditions and exclusions
Specific conditions and exclusions apply to individual sections of your insurance, whilst general exclusions and conditions will apply to the whole of your insurance

3. Health
This insurance contains restrictions regarding pre-existing medical problems concerning the health of the people travelling and of other people upon whose health the trip depends. You are advised to read the document carefully.

4 Property
Claims These claims are paid based on the value of goods at the time you lose them and not on a 'new for old' replacement cost basis. Deductions will be made in respect of wear, tear and depreciation.

5. Limits
This insurance has limits on the amount the insurer will pay under each section. Some sections also include other specific limits, for example, for any one item or for valuables in total

6. Excesses
Under some sections of this insurance, claims will be subject to an excess. This means each person will be responsible for paying the first part of their own claim under each applicable section.

7. Reasonable care
You need to take all reasonable care to protect yourself and your property, as you would if you were not insured. Any amounts the insurers will pay for property left unattended in a public place or unattended vehicle is very limited, as specified in the wording.

8. Dangerous sports & pastimes
You may not be insured if you are going to take part in dangerous sports or pastimes where there is a generally recognised risk of injury. Please check that this insurance covers you, or ask us.

9. Customer service
We always try to provide a high level of service. However, if you think we have not lived up to your expectations, please refer to the wording in the policy which outlines our complaints procedure.

10. Cancellation rights
This insurance contains a 14 day 'cooling off' period during which you can return it and get a full refund, providing you have not travelled and there are no claims. We reserve the right to deduct from the rebate of premium the reasonable costs incurred in processing the original sale and cancellation. Please note cancellation rights do not apply if your contract is a short term insurance of less than one month duration.

11. Fraudulent claims
It is a criminal offence to make a fraudulent claim.

Definition of pre-existing medical conditions:

Definition of pre-existing medical condition:
Any condition that has required referral to or consultation with a specialist or hospital for treatment, investigation or check up within the 12 months prior to:

1. the date that this insurance was arranged,or

2. the date that you subsequently made arrangements for a trip (if this is an annual multi-trip policy), or

3. the date that you extended the original period of your insurance, whichever is the latest.

Please note:
You are not covered for any related claims if you:

• have any medical condition as a result of which a medical practitioner has advised you not to travel or would have done so had you sought his or her advice.
• have been given a terminal prognosis.
• have any previously diagnosed psychiatric or psychological disorder.
• are on a waiting list for treatment or investigation.

Travelling to London

We appreciate that many of our customers travel from a variety of places in the UK to St Pancras International in London to join our tours. Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. At Treyn we can book special fares issued in conjunction with your tour. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes. The map below shows the cost of return rail travel to London, based on your county of departure. Prices to a non-London joining point (eg Glasgow, Kingussie, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Stratford-upon-Avon) and prices for First Class travel are also available - please ask us for a quotation.

Joining Eurostar at Ebbsfleet International

It's not just London that can boast direct links to the Continent. Travellers from the South of England can also connect to the Eurostar at the new International Terminal at Ebbsfleet which is conveniently situated close to the M25 and other major road links, and has lots of parking spaces. For travellers who wish to avoid London, Treyn's tours can be arranged to depart from Ebbsfleet at no extra cost.

Those people travelling from Ebbsfleet may have to travel on an earlier train from the group who depart from St Pancras International and meet them at Paris or Brussels.

Eurostar First Class Upgrade

When you settle into your reserved seat on board the high-speed Eurostar train, your holiday has already begun. Should you wish, we will be pleased to arrange for you to be upgraded to Standard Premier Class. Please call us for a quote.

London Hotels

As our tours generally commence at St Pancras International during the morning of the first day, it is often more convenient to make your way to London the previous day, so you are fresh and rested before joining your tour. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home. Alternatively, you may simply wish to enjoy London's many attractions, activities and entertainment options... the theatres, the museums, the parks and the shops are all waiting to be explored! Whatever your reasons, Why not take a little time before or after your Treyn tour to see what the UK's capital city has to offer? We can book a wide range of hotels in central London for the night before or after your holiday. Please ask for prices and details.

Extending your European holiday

For our tours that pass through Paris or Brussels before they return to London, you can extend your holiday and enjoy a night or two in one of these attractive cities.We can arrange accommodation in a centrally located hotel (prices on request).

The following Booking Conditions together with the Essential Information section found on this website form the basis of your contract with Great Rail Journeys Limited trading as Treyn Holidays. Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. References to "you" and "your" means all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date), or any of them as applicable. References to "holiday", "booking", "tour" or "arrangements" means the holiday arrangements which we agree to make, provide or perform (as applicable) as part of our contract with you, unless otherwise stated.

The party leader is responsible for making all payments due to us as referred to in clause 2. Once we (or one of our authorised travel agents) have received all appropriate payments, we will, subject to availability, confirm your holiday over the telephone (where you or your travel agent make the booking by telephone) or by e-mailing or otherwise sending a booking confirmation letter/invoice to the person who makes the booking ("party leader"). Where you book through one of our authorised travel agents, the booking confirmation letter/invoice and all other communications will be sent to your agent and you should also contact us through the agent. Alternatively, you can book online via our website in which case your holiday booking will be acknowledged by e-mail and a booking confirmation will follow. The acknowledgement of your booking is not a confirmation of it. All references in these booking conditions to the confirmation of your booking means the booking confirmation letter/invoice. A provisional booking can be made by phone but you must send the applicable payment within 7 days, or the provisional booking will automatically lapse.

You are required to send us the appropriate deposit per person (as detailed on the relevant tour page) or full payment if booking within 60 days of departure (70 days for cruise holidays) and all applicable insurance premiums (if our insurance is required) at the time of booking. In addition to the deposit applicable to the holiday, a further deposit is required of a minimum of 20% of the additional cost for any booking variations including flight and hotel upgrades. Please note, deposits are not refundable except where expressly stated in these booking conditions. The balance of the cost of your holiday must be paid no less than 60 days before departure (70 days for cruise and private train holidays). If you are paying by credit card, a charge of 2% will apply (no charge will be applied for payments made by cheque or debit cards). If a cheque payment is declined by your bank for any reason, a charge of £30 will be made. If you return your payment counterfoil before the date that payment is due, this authorises us to take payment early. If we or your Travel Agent do not receive all payments in full and on time, we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. In this case, we will be entitled to keep all deposits paid or due at that date. If we do not cancel straight away because you have promised to make payment, you must pay the cancellation charges shown in clause 8 depending on the date we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled. Except for flight inclusive bookings, all monies you pay to one of our authorised travel agents for your holiday with us will be held by the agent on your behalf until a contract between us comes into existence. After that point, your agent will hold the monies on our behalf until they are paid to us. For flight inclusive bookings, all monies paid to such agents for your holiday with us will be held on our behalf until they are paid to us. We may occasionally run low deposit promotions allowing customers to secure their holiday for less than the regular amount. Please note that in the event of a booking cancellation the balance between the promotional and regular deposits must still be paid. Qualifying bookings made during our low deposit promotion between 22 December 2011 and 31 January 2012 will require the balance between the promotional deposit and full deposit to be paid by 31 March 2012.

A binding contract between us comes into existence when we issue a confirmation invoice to the party leader or your travel agent. English law (and no other) will apply to your contract and to any dispute, claim or other matter of any description which arises between us ("claim") except as set out below. We both also agree that any claim (and whether or not involving any personal injury) must be dealt with under the ABTA or AITO Arbitration Schemes (if the Scheme is available for the claim in question - see clause 13) or by the Courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of Court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings must either be brought in the Courts of your home country or those of England and Wales. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract and any claim governed by the law of Scotland/Northern Ireland as applicable (but if you do not so choose, English law will apply).

Please note changes and errors occasionally occur. We reserve the right to increase/decrease and correct errors in advertised prices at any time before your holiday is confirmed. Before you make a booking, we will give you the basic price for your chosen holiday. You should check all details before you make your booking. Upgrades or additional facilities which you have requested are on a request basis with our suppliers and prices for these will only be confirmed once the prices have been confirmed by our suppliers. For all holidays, once you have accepted the basic price and a booking has been made, that price is fully guaranteed and will not be subject to any surcharges.

When we (or one of our authorised travel agents) receive all appropriate payments we will, subject to availability, reserve your chosen holiday and confirm your booking by sending our confirmation letter/invoice to you or your travel agent. It is very important that you check your confirmation letter/invoice when you receive it in order to ensure it is correct. Contact us immediately if any information which appears on the confirmation letter/invoice or any other document appears to be incorrect or incomplete as it may not be possible to make changes later. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracy in any document within 14 days of our sending it out (5 days for tickets). We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits but you must meet any costs involved in doing so. The only exception to this requirement to meet costs is where the mistake in question was made by us and there is good reason why you did not tell us about it within these time limits.

We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to terminate without prior notice the holiday arrangements of any customer whose behaviour is such that it causes or is likely to cause, in our reasonable opinion, or in the opinion of any Tour Manager or any other person in authority, distress, damage, danger or annoyance to any third party, or damage to property. In these circumstances all our obligations to you under this contract or otherwise shall cease, full cancellation charges apply and we shall not be liable for any refund, compensation or costs incurred by you whatsoever. Our tours can be physically demanding. We are also entitled to terminate your holiday where, in the reasonable opinion of any person in authority (including office staff or your Tour Manager when you join your holiday), your physical condition means you are unable or likely to be unable to cope with the tour or to experience significant difficulties in doing so. It is your responsibility to disclose an accurate account of your mobility and all other relevant information relating to your health and fitness at the time of booking. You must advise us of any change to your level of mobility or health and fitness between booking your holiday and joining your tour. See also clause 15.

Please notify us in writing if circumstances arise whereby you wish to transfer to another available holiday in this brochure, depart on a different date or make other alterations to your confirmed holiday. Any alterations requested 60 days or more (70 days or more for cruise holidays) prior to departure will be subject to a minimum alteration fee of £40 per person together with costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers. Any alteration to your booking requested less than 60 days (70 days for cruise holidays) prior to departure will be regarded as a cancellation and cancellation charges as set out in clause 8 will be payable. Name changes can be made up to 21 days prior to departure for an alteration fee of £40 per person together with any costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers.

Should you wish to cancel your holiday, notice can be given verbally but must be followed up in writing by the party leader. Where the cancellation charge is shown as a percentage, this is calculated on the basis of the total cost payable by the person(s) cancelling, excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges. Insurance premiums arranged through us are not normally refundable. Amendment charges are not refundable. The amount of the cancellation fee depends upon the date when the written notice of cancellation is received by us.

The scale of cancellation charges is as follows:

Non-cruise holidays

Cruise holidays

Depending on the reason for cancellation, you may be able to reclaim these cancellation charges (less any applicable excess) under the terms of your insurance policy. Claims must be made directly to the insurance company concerned. Where any cancellation reduces the number of full paying party members below the number on which the price, or any concessions agreed for your booking were based, we will recalculate these items and re-invoice you accordingly. Any such additional costs are not cancellation charges.

We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance and occasionally, we have to correct errors and/or make changes to the information contained in our brochures, our website and other details, both before and after bookings have been confirmed, and also cancel confirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations, we must reserve the right to do so.

Minor Changes by Us: A minor change is any change which, taking account of the information you have given us at the time of booking or which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we could not reasonably expect to have a significant effect on your confirmed holiday.

Significant Changes by Us: Occasionally, we have to make a "significant change" before departure such as a change of accommodation to that of a lower official classification or standard for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of accommodation area for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of outward departure time or overall length of time you are away of twelve or more hours, a change of UK departure point to one which is significantly more inconvenient for you or a significant change of itinerary missing out one or more major destination substantially or altogether.

Cancellations by Us: All our escorted holidays are organised on the basis of a minimum number of clients (usually 15). In the unlikely event the holiday has to be cancelled because of insufficient numbers, you will be informed at least 60 days (70 days for cruise holidays) prior to departure. If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:

a) accepting the changed arrangements; or

b) purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. We will offer you at least one alternative holiday of equivalent or higher standard for which you will not be asked to pay any more than the price of the original holiday. If this holiday is in fact cheaper than the original one, we will refund the price difference. If you do not wish to accept the holiday we specifically offer you, you may choose any of our other, then available, holidays. You must pay the applicable price of any such holiday. This will mean your paying more if it is more expensive or receiving a refund if it is cheaper; or

c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us.

Please note, the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one.

If we have to make a significant change or cancel we will, where appropriate, pay you reasonable compensation depending on the circumstances and when the significant change or cancellation is notified to you.

Compensation will not, however, be payable and no liability, beyond offering the above mentioned choices, can be accepted where;

a) we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care; or

b) we have to cancel because the minimum number of client bookings required to run your holiday has not been reached and we have notified you at least 60 days (70 days for cruise holidays) before departure; or

c) we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time).

In any of the circumstances referred to above we will not therefore be liable for the cost of any service (such as, but not limited to, flights, hotels and connecting rail travel) which is purchased in connection with any holiday but which is not booked through us, or for any related expenses such as cancellation charges or amendment fees, which cannot be used or has to be cancelled or amended as a result of our having to cancel or make a significant change to any holiday.

Except as set out above, we will, where appropriate, pay you any reasonable proven costs and expenses you incur as a result of a cancellation or significant change.

Very rarely, we may be obliged as a result of "force majeure" (see clause 10) to change or terminate your holiday after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away. This is extremely unlikely but if this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result.

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our obligations under our contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage or loss (as more fully described in clause 11(2) below) as a result of "force majeure". In these booking conditions, "force majeure" means any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include (whether actual or threatened) war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control.

(1) We promise to make sure that the holiday arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide as applicable as part of our contract with you are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers).

(2) We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (including loss of possessions and loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:

a) the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or

b) the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or

c) "force majeure" as defined in clause 10 above.

(3) Please note, we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised in our brochure or on our website and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract and any optional excursion or activities you purchase from your Tour Manager during your holiday. Please also see clause 16 "Excursions, Activities and Brochure/Website Information". In addition, regardless of any wording used by us on our website, in any of our brochures or elsewhere, we only promise to use reasonable skill and care as set out above and we do not have any greater or different liability to you.

(4) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with the local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided.

(5) Where we are found liable for loss and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £1,000 per person affected unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under this clause or clause 11(5) below. For all other claims which do not involve death or personal injury, if we are found liable to you on any basis the maximum amount we will have to pay you is twice the price (excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under clause 11(5) below. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your holiday.

(6) Where any claim or part of a claim (including those involving death or personal injury) concerns or is based on any travel arrangements (including the process of getting on and/off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea rail or road carrier to which any international convention or EU regulation applies, the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you will be limited as set out below. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is the most the carrier concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended or un-amended and the Montreal Convention for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No 889/2002 for national and international travel by air, the Athens Convention for international travel by sea and COTIF, the Convention on International Travel by Rail). Please note: where a carrier would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable International Convention or Regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the carrier for the complaint or claim in question. Copies of the applicable international conventions and regulations are available from us on request.

(7) Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (a) which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you or (b) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by ourselves or our employees or, where we are responsible for them, our suppliers. Additionally we cannot accept liability for any business losses including, without limitation, self employed loss of earnings.

In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your holiday whilst away, you must immediately inform your Tour Manager and the supplier of the service(s) in question. Any verbal notification must be put in writing and given to your Tour Manager and the supplier as soon as possible. Until we know about a problem or complaint, we cannot begin to resolve it. Most problems can be dealt with quickly. If you remain dissatisfied, however, you must write to us within 28 days of your return to the UK giving your booking reference and full details of your complaint. Only the party leader should write to us. If you fail to follow this simple complaints procedure, your right to claim the compensation you may otherwise have been entitled to may be affected or even lost as a result.

Disputes arising out of, or in connection with your contract which cannot be amicably settled may be referred to arbitration if you so wish under an arbitration scheme arranged by ABTA and administered independently. The scheme provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on you in respect of costs. Full details can be obtained from the ABTA website (www.abta.com). This scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5,000 per person. There is also a limit of £25,000 per booking. Neither does it apply to claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or its consequences. The scheme can however deal with compensation claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1,000 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. Your request for arbitration must be received by ABTA within 12 months of the date of return from the holiday. Outside this time limit arbitration under the scheme may still be available if we agree, although the ABTA Code does not require such agreement. Alternatively, AITO's Independent Dispute Settlement (details on request from the Association of Independent Tour Operators, 133a St Margaret's Road, Twickenham, TW1 1RG) may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and amicable solution.

Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier's liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions (see clause 11(5)). Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from ourselves or the supplier concerned.

If you have any special request, you must advise us in writing at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met unless we have specifically confirmed this. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing from us that your request will be complied with (where it is possible for us to give this) if your request is important to you. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability. We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as "standard" bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests. If you have any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday or any health or fitness concerns which may affect your ability to cope with the tour, please give us full details before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. You must also advise us as soon as possible of any change in any disability or medical condition or your health or fitness or if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. Please also see clause 6.

The information contained in our brochure and on our website is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of the brochure going to print/at the time of publication on our website. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the brochure, website and prices at the time of printing/publication, regrettably errors do occasionally occur and changes may be made. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us or your travel agent at the time of booking. We provide you with information (in our brochure, on our website and/or when you are on holiday) about activities and excursions which are available in the area you are visiting or to purchase from us in the UK or from your Tour Manager during your holiday. Except for excursions and activities which are purchased from us or your Tour Manager, we have no involvement in any such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised, controlled, recommended, inspected or endorsed in any way by us. They are run by local operators or other third parties who are entirely independent of us and full responsibility for providing and operating the excursion or activity rests with the local operator/provider. The local operator's terms and conditions will apply. They do not form any part of your contract with us even where we suggest particular operators/other third parties and/or assist you in booking such activities or excursions in any way. We cannot accept any liability on any basis in relation to such activities or excursions and the acceptance of liability contained in clause 11(1) of our booking conditions will not apply to them. We cannot guarantee accuracy at all times of information given in relation to such activities or excursions or about the area(s) you are visiting generally (except where this concerns the services which will form part of your contract) or that any particular excursion or activity which we have not contracted to provide will take place as these services are not under our control. Optional excursions and activities which are booked with us or your Tour Manager do not form part of your holiday contract with us unless purchased at the same time as the rest of your holiday. You will have a separate contract with us for any such optional excursion or activity. Under this contract, we accept responsibility for selecting reputable local operators to arrange and provide your excursion or activity in accordance with applicable local laws but will not be liable for the excursion or activity itself or for the acts or omissions of the local operator or any of its employees, agents, suppliers or subcontractors or any other person(s) connected with the excursion or activity (other than our own employees). In the event that we are found liable for the excursion or activity on any basis, we are entitled to rely on all limitations and exclusions of liability contained or referred to in these booking conditions.

In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005 Article 9, we are required to bring your attention the existence of a "Community List" which contains details of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban within the EU Community. The Community List is available for inspection at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm. We are also required to advise you of the carrier(s) or, if the carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of booking, we shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible. We are not always in a position at the time of booking to confirm flight timings which will be used in connection with your flight. Where flight timings are given at the time of booking or detailed on your confirmation these are for guidance only and are subject to alteration and confirmation. The latest timings will be shown on your tickets which will be dispatched to you approximately two weeks before departure. You must accordingly check your tickets very carefully immediately on receipt to ensure you have the correct flight times. It is possible that flight times may be changed even after tickets have been dispatched. We will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs. Any change in the identity of the carrier(s), flight timings, and/or aircraft type (if given) will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions. Regardless of any information given in good faith, operational changes may be made by an airline at any point and we cannot be responsible for these. If the carrier(s) with whom you have a confirmed reservation becomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result of which we/the carrier(s) are unable to offer you a suitable alternative the provisions of clause 9 (Changes and Cancellations by Us) will apply. Prices quoted in this brochure and on our website are based on special airfares offered to us by the airlines for group travel. These represent a reduction on the normal IATA fares which entitle passengers to privileges and flexibility that our clients do not normally require as part of the holiday. Should you wish to book our holiday using a flight other than that shown in the brochure/on our website, a flight variation charge from £40 per person will apply in addition to the difference in cost between our special fare and the normal IATA fare for the flight(s) required. Tickets at our special fare are valid only on the airline and dates shown and do not automatically entitle passengers to switch to another carrier in case of a flight cancellation, delay or technical problem with the aircraft or the reservation. Please note that most airlines now operate 100% nonsmoking services.

18. Denied Boarding Regulations

If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline, depending on the circumstances, the airline may be required to pay you compensation, refund the cost of your flight and/or provide you with accommodation and/or refreshments under EC Regulation No 261/2004 - the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004. Where applicable, you must pursue the airline for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations as your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline's obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If, for any reason, we make any payment to you or a third party which the airline is responsible for in accordance with the Denied Boarding Regulations, you must, when requested, assign to us the rights you have or had to claim the payment in question from the airline. If your airline does not comply with these rules you should complain to the Air Transport Users' Council on 020 7240 6061 www.auc.org.uk. Please note, your rights under clause 9 ("Changes and Cancellations by Us") and clause 11 ("Our Liability to You") of these booking conditions are not affected by the above Denied Boarding Regulations except that we are entitled to argue that the amount you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline is sufficient to meet any compensation obligation we may have to you as your tour operator as a result of any such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding.

19. Rail Reservations

We request rail reservations many months in advance but occasionally there are insufficient First Class seats available. In these situations we will book Standard Class seats and refund the difference to you. Although we do our best to follow the routes noted on the itinerary there might be occasions when a different routing and/or departure time is necessary due to timetable variations or seat availability. Increasingly, trains are 100% nonsmoking, and reservations are requested in non-smoking accommodation, although at busy times we may be allocated some smoking seats. We cannot make specific requests for smoking seats. Prices quoted in this brochure and on our website are based on special fares, negotiated with our rail partners for group travel. Should you wish to travel on any Eurostar or other rail service, other than that included as part of your group holiday, a rail variation charge of £20 per person per service plus any additional cost will apply. Any change involving sleeper services will be quoted on an individual basis in addition to the difference between our special group fare and the normal published fare applicable at the time of request for the journey in question. Any change involving sleeper services will be quoted on an individual basis.

20. Your Financial Protection

The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require us to provide security for the monies that you pay for the package holidays booked from this brochure or our website and for your repatriation in the event of our insolvency. We provide this security by way of an ATOL (number 3278) administered by the Civil Aviation Authority for packages which include a flight and a bond held by ABTA (Number V2170) for packages that do not include a flight (www.abta.com). When you buy an ATOL protected air package or flight* from us, you will receive a confirmation invoice from us (or via our authorised agent through which you booked) confirming your arrangements and your protection under our ATOL. In the unlikely event of our insolvency the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking.

*The air inclusive holidays and flights we arrange are ATOL protected providing either the person who pays for the booking is present in the UK when the booking is made or the first leg of any flight or flights we arrange for you commences in the UK. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.

If your holiday does not include flights, ABTA will financially protect your holiday in the same way. Please go to www.abta.com for a copy of the guide to ABTA's scheme of financial protection.

21. Data Protection

Great Rail Journeys Limited are a data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal information you give us. This information will be passed on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. It may also be provided, either by us or by the suppliers of your travel arrangements, to public authorities such as banks and credit card companies, customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies or insurance providers. The above applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements but we will obviously only pass these on where necessary to do so to provide the service you have requested. If we cannot pass on this information as set out above, we may be unable to provide your booking or other services you have requested (for example, travel insurance). In making your booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons who may be outside the EU/European Economic Area. If you travel outside the EU/ European Economic Area, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in the UK. We would like to use your details for marketing purposes (e.g. sending you our brochures) and to pass them on to other companies within our group who may also contact you for marketing purposes. If you do not wish to receive any further information from us or other companies in our group please let us know this at the time you give us your details or, if you do not do so then, at any time subsequently. You are generally entitled to ask us (by letter or e-mail) what details of yours are being held or processed, for what purpose and to whom they may be or have been disclosed. We will charge a fee to respond to such a request. We promise to respond to your request within 40 days of receiving your written request and fee. In certain limited circumstances we may be entitled to refuse your request. To improve our service, calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

Great Rail Journeys Ltd, encompassing Treyn Holidays, is a data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal information you give us. This information will be passed on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. It may also be provided, either by us or by the suppliers of your travel arrangements, to public authorities such as banks and credit card companies, customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies or insurance providers. The above applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements but we will obviously only pass these on where necessary to do so to provide the service you have requested. If we cannot pass on this information as set out above, we may be unable to provide your booking or other services you have requested (for example, travel insurance). In making your booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons. If you travel outside the European Economic Area, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in the UK.

We would like to use your details for marketing purposes (e.g. sending you our brochures). We would also like to pass your details on to other companies within our group who may also contact you for marketing purposes. If you do not wish to receive any further information from us or other companies in our group please let us know this at the time you give us your details or, if you do not do so then, at any time subsequently.You are generally entitled to ask us (by letter or e-mail) what details of yours are being held or processed, for what purpose and to whom they may be or have been disclosed.We will charge a fee to respond to such a request.We promise to respond to your request within 40 days of receiving your written request and fee. In certain limited circumstances we may be entitled to refuse your request. To improve our service, calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

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