Booking Information
Please do not hesitate to call to talk about any tour that you are interested in and to check that 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 which can also be found on our brochure download centre. Click to read our booking conditions.
Please see our Download Centre for a PDF of our booking form, with more practical details and information as well.
Step 1. How to Book
You may book by any of the following methods:
a) RESERVE PLACES ONLINE. Go to your chosen tour on our website, scrolling down to the dates and prices box and clicking on ‘Book’, please leave a telephone number and fill any bold fields that you do not have information for with “x”. We will then call you back to take your payment. (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 (credit cards incur a 1.5% charge). 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 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 download 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 see will be in the office as we do all travel a lot! 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, VISA & AMERICAN EXPRESS credit cards; VISA and CONNECT 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 on all tours except cruises where it is due no later than 12 weeks before departure. The date will show on your confirmation invoice. When you book a holiday within 10 weeks(or 12 weeks for cruises) 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 the balance is due on a non-business day (e.g. weekend or bank holiday), it will be taken on the previous working day.
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, as once we have deducted the payment from your credit card we cannot refund the bank charges. 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 (or 12 weeks for cruises) 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
On receipt of your balance we will send you (via email or post) your confirmation with practical tour information and the website link for a packing checklist and regional wine information for your destination. 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 will 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 £10 charge, and if you would like them mailing to a non UK address there is a £30 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.
Travel Insurance Information
At Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours we believe that your safety and holiday enjoyment are very important. Therefore travel insurance is a must whenever you travel abroad, from the moment that you make your booking, to ensure that you are covered in the event of your cancellation for insurable reasons.
All premiums shown below are inclusive of insurance premium tax and are quoted for persons up to 66 years of age at date of payment of insurance premium. All premiums are doubled for persons aged 66 to 69 years of age and maximum trip duration for AMT policies if aged 66 to 69 – 31 days (AMT means Annual Multi-Trip).
When you fill in the booking form – please tick the required cover and indicate if this does not include all of those mentioned on the booking form. You must include the full relevant premium with your deposit. This insurance cannot be added at a later date. Please inform us on the booking form for the tour after you have clicked on the ‘Book’ button (when booking online) or, if printing the available PDF, the hard copy of booking form has all of the insurance information on it as well.
| Duration | Area 2 Europe | Area 3 Worldwide excl. North America | Area 4 Worldwide inc. North America |
| Up to 4 days | £19 | £48 | £70 |
| Up to 9 days | £23 | £56 | £84 |
| Up to 17 days | £29 | £63 | £92 |
| Up to 24 days | £40 | £70 | £103 |
| Worldwide AMT | Up to 70 days maximum duration any one trip (maximum age 65 years), 31 days for ages 66 – 69 |
| Individual | £99 |
| Individual & Spouse/Partner | £169 |
| Winter Sports (optional) | £30 (for up to 30 days) |
The 24-Hour worldwide emergency Medical Service is provided by Specialty Assistance, experts in providing friendly and professional emergency help in remote locations around the world. Please note that if you choose not to take insurance us, then we require confirmation that you have an alternative policy which provides adequate cover for the full value of your invoice and the total duration of your trip.
Summary of Cover (Sums Insured are per insured person)
| A Medical Expenses £5,000,000 | B Personal Accident £25,000 | C Cancellation or Curtailment | D Delayed Departure or Arrival | E Personal Effects £2,000 | F Legal Expenses | G Winter Sports |
| In Patient Benefit £10 per day up to £200 Criminal injuries £100 per day up to £5,000 Personal Liability £2,000,000 |
Permanent Loss of Sight £25,000 Loss of Limb(s) £25,000 Permanent Total Disablement £25,000 Death £10,000 |
£3,000 | Either compensation up to £100 OR cancellation after 12 hours up to £1,000 Hi-jack of Aircraft £100 per day up to £3,000 Interruption of Transport £300 |
(Valuables limited to £350)(Single Article limit £250) (Disc Collections £200) Temporary Loss of Baggage £100 Money £500 Tickets £1,000 Passport and Visas £250 |
£15,000 | Optional |
PLEASE NOTE: This is only a summary of cover, full details of the cover provided are shown on your policy document which will be sent to you at time of booking, please read it carefully to ensure you understand the cover provided as this insurance is being offered on a Non Advised basis from a single insurer. In addition the policy includes certain terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses. In particular cover is excluded for any pre-existing medical condition from which you or any person upon whom travel depends are suffering. If in doubt please contact the insurer’s medical helpline in confidence on 0844 892 0954, as additional cover may be purchased directly from the insurer’s medical screening help line for certain pre-existing medical condition. Please contact the medical screening helpline for guidance and advice. Should you wish a specimen, a copy will be made available prior to purchase upon request. The policy document contains a 14 day Cooling Off Period and details of how to claim and who to contact in the event of a medical emergency.
Campbell Irvine Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. This can be checked on the FSA’s register by visiting the FSA’s website at www.fsa.gov.uk or by contacting them on 0845 606 1234. Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd.
Please Note: Non-UK clients, please consult your local insurance broker.
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. Non-flight tours bonded with ABTOT.
