Booking Information
Please do not hesitate to call to talk about any tour that you are interested in and to check there are places available. Between us in the office, we set up every detail of our programme and can answer all your questions. There is further practical information in the brochure and on the hard copy of the booking form. Click to read our booking conditions.
Step 1 - How to Book
You may book by any of the following methods:
a) BOOK ON LINE. Go to your chosen tour on our website, scrolling down to the dates and prices box and clicking on ‘Book’. You can pay on line, this is via a secure web payment system. (Note: We do not recommend sending card details by email. We will confirm your booking by email.
b) BOOK BY TELEPHONE. Call us (0044 (0)1730 263111) to confirm your places and provide us with your debit or credit card details for your deposit. We can fill in the booking form for you over the phone, and then send it to you for you to sign and return.
Alternatively you may download the booking form to send to us by fax (0044 (0)1730 711295), email this to us email (sales@winetours.co.uk) or post it to us (see address at bottom of the page). (Please do not put credit card details on the form if you are emailing a copy to us.
c) BOOK BY FAX or POST. We can send or fax you a copy (or down it as above). Please complete it with your credit or debit card details for your deposit and send it to us by fax. Or post it to us with your cheque, credit or debit card details .
d) FIRST MAKE A PROVISIONAL BOOKING. If you need a few days to discuss the tour with your travelling companion(s) or you prefer to pay by cheque, please call us to check availability and if we have sufficient space we will hold your place(s) for you for up to 5 days to give you time to forward your booking confirmation to us.
e) COME & SEE US. We are very pleased to welcome you at Arblaster and Clarke. Please call first to make sure that the person you need to will be in the office. For directions and a map see The Office.
Please do make sure that you have completed all sections of the booking form including any special requests, and full details of dietary requirements in order that we can be sure to deliver these to you on tour wherever possible. Dietary requirements should be given to us at the time of booking. Dietary Requirements (except for new medical conditions) not advised to us at least 28 days before departure will incur an amendment fee of £50 to cover the extra administration and phone calls to restaurants changing menus etc which are involved.
We accept payment by ACCESS / MSTERCARD, VISA & AMERICAN EXPRESS credit cards, and CONNECT, DELTA and SWITCH debit cards. There is a 1.5% charge to cover the cost of Credit Cards but no charge for Debit Cards. You may provide your card details via our secure website, by phone or by fax.
Step 2 - Booking Confirmation
We acknowledge your booking and confirm special arrangements with a confirmation invoice, and mail or email your hotel and parking details for your joining point.
Step 3 - Paying the balance
Your final balance is due no later than 10 weeks before departure. The date will show on your confirmation invoice.
(When you book a holiday within 10 weeks of departure full payment is due on booking).
The date is shown on your invoice but please note no reminder letter is sent. If you are likely to be away at this time, please make arrangements for payment to reach us before you leave. Late payment may mean that we cancel your holiday and the cancellation terms as in clause 5 of the booking conditions will apply.
If you have paid your deposit by debit or credit card we will automatically deduct the final balance due with the 1.5% charge if applicable from this card on the due date.
If you would prefer to make this payment by any other method it is essential that we receive the alternative payment in good time before the due date. With recent security checks the banks are often refusing clients’ payments, so please do ensure that you advise your bank when this payment is due to avoid delay or misunderstanding.
If payment is not received in our offices 10 weeks before the date of travel, we may offer these places to clients on our wait-list and your deposits would be forfeit.
Step 4 - Pre-trip documents
We will send you (via email or post) a receipt after we have received the final balance usually 10 weeks before departure. All pre-trip information can be found on Useful Travel Information:/useful-travel-info at any time.
Step 5 - Tickets & final timings
8 - 10 days before departure you receive, by e-mail, the final joining instructions, outline daily tour plan, restaurant list and any necessary travel documents and e-ticket details if you are flying with us. Where you do not have an e-mail address this will all be sent by standard post within the U.K.
If you would like your travel documents mailing by special delivery there is a £5 charge, and if you would like them mailing to a non UK address there is a £25 charge. If you are likely to be away from your main address when these details are due to arrive, we may be able to email or mail you the final joining instruction information only sooner than this date and supply you on tour with any additional information as necessary. If this is the case please contact us to discuss what arrangements can be made.
Travel Insurance
All clients must have travel insurance with medical emergency assistance, personal accident and liability cover and it is the client’s responsibility to supply A&C in writing of the policy name, number and emergency phone number numbers.
Special Requests & Celebrations
Wine Tours make great birthday, anniversary or other gifts!
We often help celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. If you’d like us to add a cake, champagne or flowers, we can arrange this for a small charge. If the holiday is a surprise, mark your booking form clearly with the different address or instructions, so that we can help you keep the secret.
Also if there is something that is important to you for your enjoyment of your holiday, please do ensure that you address this in writing to us at the time of booking. Our aim is to give clients great holidays and if you tell us what you want, we can do our best to supply it, or to let you know if it may be possible or not!
The AITO Quality Charter
AITO is an association of companies independent from the large vertically integrated firms specialising in particular areas or types of holiday and sharing a common dedication to high standards of quality and personal service. AITO defines "quality" as
"providing a level of satisfaction which, based upon the holiday information provided by the tour operator, aims to meet or exceed a customer's reasonable expectations, regardless of the type of holiday or the price paid"
This is how we aim to achieve it:
ACCURATE BROCHURES - AITO members ensure that their brochures clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE - AITO members are committed to high standards of personal service maintained by the thorough training of employees.
FINANCIAL SECURITY - AITO takes care that all members comply with the current Government Regulations regarding the protection of clients' money.
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT - AITO members listen to their customers and welcome suggestions for improving standards. All customers receive a post-holiday questionnaire.
EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP - AITO has strict membership criteria which must be satisfied before new companies are allowed to join. All members must adhere to a rigorous Code of Business Practice which governs their operational conduct.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES - AlTO is committed to raising the level of environmental awareness within the travel industry.
If you have a dispute with Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours, which you are unable to resolve, you may refer the matter to a court of law or call upon the low cost AITO Independent Dispute Settlement Service. (UK Only).
THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUR OPERATORS
THE QUALITY ALTERNATIVE. For further information call AITO on 0208 7449280. www.aito.co.uk
ARBLASTER & CLARKE WINE TOURS Ltd
Cedar Court, 5 College Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, England GU31 4AE
Telephone: 0044 (0) 1730 263111 Fax: 01730 711295
Company registered in England no 2966601. VAT no GB 459 6545 01. ATOL no 2543. AITOT no 1005.
