1. Your Contract
When making your booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the applicable Supplier/Principal of the Travel Arrangements, as specified on your confirmation invoice. Your booking with us is subject to these Booking Conditions and the specific terms and conditions of the relevant Supplier/Principal(s) you contract with and you. We advise you to read both carefully prior to booking. The Supplier/Principal’s terms and conditions may limit and/or exclude the Supplier/Principal's liability to you. Please see Section C for the Supplier/Principal’s Terms and Conditions.
Your booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Supplier/Principal will exist when we send you confirmation on their behalf.
As an agent we accept no responsibility for the acts or omissions of the Supplier/Principal or for the Travel Arrangements provided by the Supplier/Principal, unless we have sold those Travel Arrangements in such a way as to create a Multi-Contract Package (please see clause 44 for further information), in which case we will accept responsibility for those Travel Arrangements in accordance with Section B of these Booking Conditions.
1A. COVID-19
For information about Covid and how it relates to your booking please click on the link below
https://www.blueseaholidays.co.uk/covid-information
2. Booking
When you make a booking, you will have the opportunity to review/confirm all the details of the booking before making payment. Once you have reviewed and confirmed these details and made payment, we will proceed to make the booking with the Supplier/Principal.
Please check that all names, dates, timings, accommodation details are correct on receipt of all documents and advise us of any errors immediately. Any changes to these details will incur the charges stated below. Please ensure that the names given are the same as in the relevant passport. The booking information that you provide to us will be passed on only to the relevant Supplier/Principal of your Travel Arrangements or other persons necessary for the provision of your Travel Arrangements. The information may be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. This applies to any special category (sensitive) information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary and religious requirements and passport details. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. If you are travelling to the United States, the US Customs and Border Protection will receive this information for the purposes of preventing and combating terrorism and other transnational serious crimes. If you travel outside the European Economic Area, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. If we cannot pass this information to the relevant Supplier/Principals, whether in the EEA or not, we will be unable to provide your booking. Please click here for full details of our Privacy Policy (clause 41).
Group Bookings: If larger groups want to be sure of sufficient availability for any Travel Arrangements they should call our contact centre. If two parts of the same group book online on two separate bookings and availability expires between the two bookings we regret therefore that we are unable to cancel the first booking without applying cancellation charges
3. Payment
In order to book your chosen Travel Arrangements you will be required to pay a deposit or make full payment for your booking at the time of booking. Where you only pay a low or full deposit you must pay the full deposit or final balance by the balance due date notified to you. The low deposit payments will usually be by instalments that will be cleared from your bank account on the same date each month leading up to the final balance due date. Each instalment will incur an administration fee of four pounds (£4) per transaction. If full payment is not received by the balance due date, we will notify the supplier who may cancel your booking and charge the relevant cancellation fees set out in their Terms and Conditions and you will also be required to pay an administration charge to us of £40 per person.
If a balance extension is required and granted, a standard £15 charge will be applied to your booking. If your departure date is within 14 days of your booking date and you pay via debit/credit card the cardholder must be part of the travelling party. Where you have booked a package, you will be subject to our cancellation charges.
Except where otherwise advised or stated in the terms and conditions of the Supplier/Principal concerned, all monies you pay to us for Travel Arrangements will be held on behalf of the Supplier/Principal concerned, with the exception of bookings covered by an ATOL. Any money paid to us in respect of a booking covered by an ATOL is held by us on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust at all times, but subject to our obligation to pay it to the ATOL Holder for so long as the ATOL Holder does not fail financially. If the ATOL Holder does fail financially, any money held at that time by us or subsequently accepted from the consumer by us, is and continues to be held by us on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation to pay that money to the ATOL Holder.
4. Failure to make payment
Where you are paying by instalments or monthly under our flexible payment options, you have a legal obligation to pay us each payment on the payment due date specified at the time of booking and in your booking confirmation. Please note that you may incur an administrative charge of £15 each time you move your payment date. Should we be unable to collect a payment from you on the date on which it is due, we will contact you to enable you to make payment. Should we be unable to contact you or to collect payment within a reasonable timeframe, we reserve the right to cancel the booking made on your behalf and in such circumstances you shall be required to pay our cancellation fee together with any cancellation charges levied by the Supplier/Principals in accordance with their terms and conditions.
Rejected orders/bookings Because of standard banking procedures, once you have submitted an order that you are paying for by credit or debit card and your payment has been authorised, your bank or card issuer will "ring-fence" the full amount of your order. If your order is subsequently rejected by our system or cancelled for any other reason, your bank or card issuer will not transfer the funds for the order to us, and will instead release the relevant amount back into your available balance. However, this may take between 3 to 5 working days (or longer, depending on your bank or card issuer). You acknowledge and agree that we will not be responsible or liable to you in relation to this delay by your bank or card issuer in the release of funds back into your account.
5. Flights
When searching for and booking a flight, we will act as your booking agent on criteria specified by you. In relation to such bookings, you appoint us to source those flights on your behalf and you are our principal. We will arrange for you to enter into a contract directly with the airline concerned, and with us, on these terms. In the case of some airlines, we will use the payment information provided by you to book the flight seats you require on your behalf and you agree that we can use the payment details you provide to do so. Where this is the case, you will see two separate transactions on your card statement: one will be for the cost of your flights with the applicable airline and the remainder will be your payment to Blue Sea Holidays in respect of your booking. You will be subject to the airline's terms and conditions which you must refer to on the relevant airline's website. You are advised to read these carefully prior to requesting us to book your flight. By making a booking for which we are acting as your agent, you specifically agree to the terms of this clause. Except where the flight forms part of a Package, we accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into with the airline, or their acts or omissions, or for the flight service itself.
The airline may provide a booking confirmation directly to you by e-mail and in such cases we will be unable to access or alter your booking. As such, any amendments to your booking must be made by you, directly with them, except where we state to the contrary in these Terms and Conditions. We will issue a confirmation invoice that details our charges for the use of this booking service (if any).
Where applicable, monies paid to us for such flight services are held by us on your behalf until they are paid to the airline in question. Please note that payment by you to us does not constitute payment to the airline until we make that payment on your behalf, but if we collect monies from the airline on your behalf, their liability to pay that money to you is discharged.
Charter flights: When you book your charter flight through us, we act as agent for the charter flight provider who holds an ATOL. The contract will be between you and the charter flight provider based upon their terms and conditions; a copy of which will be available to you prior to booking and is available on request.
IATA flights: We are appointed by some airlines as their agent through our accreditation with the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”). Where you book these flights through our platform, we will be acting as an agent for the relevant airline.
Operating Carrier Information: In accordance with EU directive (EC) no. 2111/2005, Article 9, we are required to bring to 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/modes/air/safety/air-ban/index_en.htm. In accordance with EU Regulations we are required to advise you of the operating carrier(s) (or, if the operating 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 will inform you of the identity of the operating 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. Any change in the identity of the airline, flight timings and/or aircraft type will not entitle you to cancel or change to other flight arrangements without paying charges, except where specified.
Flight times can change for a number of different reasons. You should always look to reconfirm your flights 48 hours prior departure to ensure that no changes to your flight schedule has occurred.
6. Errors & Omissions
We take reasonable steps to ensure that any information, photographs, or any other details about Travel Arrangements featured on the website, described over the telephone or featured in any of our marketing publications is accurate. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all information and prices displayed on this site, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. In the event that an incorrect price has been entered in error, any booking made based on such incorrect price will not be valid. You will be advised of the mistake at the earliest opportunity and you will then have the option either to pay the correct price for the travel arrangements or to cancel and receive a full refund of any monies you may already have paid. We make no warranties or promises as to the availability or suitability of any Travel Arrangements advertised. We reserve the right to change or vary the price, flight, accommodation, or any other arrangements featured on our website, discussed with you over the telephone or printed in any of our publications at any time without notice. You agree that it is your responsibility to ensure that all the details of your chosen accommodation are confirmed with us at the time of booking.
We take all practical steps possible to ensure that the details displayed on the website are accurate and up-to-date, but we do rely upon the information given to us by the Service Provider(s) and are intended to present a general idea of the services and facilities being offered. Sometimes – and particularly at the beginning and end of the season – certain facilities may be withdrawn for reasons such as maintenance, bad weather or lack of demand from guests or low occupancy. Some advertised activities or facilities, for example water-sports, may not be available all year round. There may be local charges for some facilities, for example, TVs, safety deposit boxes, sun-loungers, parasols, spa access, tennis courts, pool tables and air-conditioning. Unless specifically confirmed in your room type or board basis, you must assume some, if not all facilities will be payable locally. If your Service Providers advise us about significant changes to descriptions or about the withdrawal of any significant facility, we will endeavour to pass this information to you.
Please also note that the online content provided by our Service Providers may not include the latest safety precautions in place to manage the risks of COVID-19. Please refer to paragraph 1A above for more information as to what you should expect in this regard.
Transfer times quoted by the Service Provider for travel between airport and resort are approximate and, depending on circumstances, the journey time to your own chosen destination may be longer. It is your responsibility to notify the transfer Service Provider of any delays in other travel arrangements, such as flights, and the transfer provider reserves the right to alter or cancel the service as per their terms and conditions in these circumstances.
If you have booked a shuttle transfer, please note that these run to a set timetable and set route that may not always be immediately at your accommodation. If you are not present to board your shuttle at the scheduled place/time (due to a flight delay, schedule change or passport checks for example), the shuttle will not be able to wait for you. Your Service Provider may arrange for you to be transported on the next available shuttle (at their sole discretion). Where this is not possible or the last shuttle has already departed, you must make your own transfer arrangements at your own cost. You will not be entitled to a refund if you miss your scheduled shuttle transfer for whatever reason.
7. Prices
We reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices. Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur. You must check the price of your chosen Travel Arrangements at the time of booking. Where you have booked a Multi-Contract Package, additional terms and conditions apply, please see clause 44 for further information.
8. Additional Charges
Please note that all additional charges are included in the total cost. Additional charges include airport taxes, fuel supplement, security fee and where applicable (when your flight is with a low-cost airline) a card booking fee.
9. Taxes
The local authorities in certain countries may impose additional taxes (tourist tax, etc), which have to be paid locally (e.g. at the hotel). You are exclusively responsible for paying such additional taxes.
10. Insurance
Many Supplier/Principals require you to take out travel insurance as a condition of booking with them and where you have booked a Multi-Contract Package, it is a condition of booking with us that you take out suitable travel insurance. Your travel insurance must cover you and your party against the cost of cancellation by you; the cost of assistance (including repatriation) in the event of accident or illness; loss of baggage and money; and other expenses, as well as ensuring you have cover for any activities you have booked, including additional cover for skiing/extreme sports/adventure travel and all other activities you have booked.
If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, neither the Supplier/Principal nor we will be liable to you for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.
11. Special Requests
Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of booking e.g. diet, room location, a particular facility at a hotel etc. You should then confirm your requests in writing. We will pass your request on to the Supplier/Principal, but we cannot guarantee that they will be fulfilled. The fact that a special request has been noted on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation or that it has been passed on to the Supplier/Principal is not confirmation that the request will be met.
12. Fitness to Travel and Medical Conditions
We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements you may have. If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your trip, please provide us with full details before we confirm your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen Travel Arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that you are fit to participate in your chosen tour.
Acting reasonably, if the Supplier/Principal is unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking on the Supplier/Principal’s behalf or, if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will inform the Supplier/Principal who may cancel it and impose applicable cancellation charges, when we become aware of these details.
13. Changes and Cancellations by You
You may cancel your booking at any time prior to departure upon payment of a termination fee as set out in this paragraph.
Requested Change
In flight extras requests after booking confirmation e.g. pre booking seats or adding hold baggage = Supplier/Principals Charge + £30 amendment fee per booking to Blue Sea Holidays
Change of hotel = Cancellation of original hotel + cost of new hotel + £80 amendment fee to Blue Sea Holidays
Change of date = Cancellation of original holiday + cost of new holiday + £80 amendment fee to Blue Sea Holidays
Change of title, initial, first name or surname after booking confirmation = Supplier/Principals charge + £30 amendment fee per person to Blue Sea Holidays
Add Passengers to booking = Supplier/Principals charge + £50 amendment fee per person to Blue Sea Holidays
Remove Passengers from booking = Supplier/Principals charge + £30 cancellation fee per person to BSH
Cancellation of booking inside 28 days = 100% loss
Cancellation of booking outside 28 days = loss of the full actual deposit plus £75 per person to BSH is non-refundable. There may also be additional cancellation charges from the principal/supplier.
Please note:
- Some Supplier/Principals do not allow changes and therefore full cancellation charges will apply;
- Blue Sea Holidays administration and amendment fees are non-refundable.
-If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim cancellation costs from your insurance company.
- Where you are paying for your Travel Arrangements in instalments or monthly under our flexible payment options, in the event you cancel (or we do in accordance with clause 5):
• You will still be liable to pay any non-refundable Supplier/Principal charges in connection with your Travel Arrangements (to the extent not already paid) in addition to our cancellation fee and any cancellation charges imposed by the relevant Supplier/Principal. Please note that most airlines have a policy that bookings are non-refundable, therefore if your booking is cancelled before the flight cost has been paid, it is likely you will still have to pay for your flights. Please see our Flexible Payment terms, for further details.
• If the amount you have paid for your Travel Arrangements at the point of cancellation does not cover the cancellation charges set out in this clause, you must immediately pay any difference between the amount you have paid and the cancellation charges applied. In accepting these Booking Conditions, you give us authority to automatically debit the last card added to the system in this respect. If this card fails and we hold other cards against your order, we will also attempt to debit the amounts owed from those cards. If you wish us to debit an alternative card then please contact our customer service department.
In the event that you do cancel your booking, and the deposit you have paid does not cover the cancellation charges set out in this paragraph (e.g. because you have chosen a low deposit option), you must pay any difference between the amount you have paid and the cancellation charge applied. In accepting these Terms & Conditions you give your authority for us to automatically charge the payment card used by you when securing the booking (or any other card used by you in connection with this booking) at that time.
Flight: 100% of the value of the flights is non-refundable from the point of booking (including baggage, insurance, etc.).
Accommodation: Cancellation charge will depend on whether you have booked a refundable or a non-refundable product. Cancellation charges will be specified to you at the time of booking and vary from one Service Provider to another. You should check your Booking Confirmation and any documentation for details of your specific cancellation terms.
Non-Refundable products may have been paid for in full at the time of booking and no refunds are given in the event of cancellation as per section 8 above.
Transfers: 100% of the value of the transfers is non-refundable from the point of booking.
All requests to cancel must be submitted in writing to admin@blueseaholidays.co.uk
If, upon cancellation, you would like to claim back the tax on your flight, please note that:
If your flight booking was made with a low cost or self-service airline (e.g. easyJet, Norwegian, TUI, etc.), you will need to contact the airline directly to request the refund. We will refund any such amounts received by us from the airline following its receipt.
If your flight booking was made with one of the scheduled airlines (e.g. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM etc.), or if we booked the flight for you through the IATA booking system, we can request a refund of the flight tax on your behalf. Please contact us to arrange this for you.
In relation to Package bookings only, in addition to the cancellation rights set out above, you shall have the right to cancel your booking before the start of the Package without paying any cancellation charge in the event of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (which is described in paragraph 14 below) (“ Unavoidable and Extraordinary Circumstances”) occurring at the place of destination or its immediate vicinity and we have confirmed to you that they will significantly affect the performance of the Package, or they significantly affect the carriage of passengers to the destination. If you cancel in these circumstances, we shall provide you with a full refund of any payments made in relation to your booking but you will not be entitled to compensation or any of the rights set out in paragraph 13 below.
Please visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (“FCDO”) website to review the latest travel advice about your holiday destination: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. Please note that when determining whether or not the cancellation rights described in the paragraph above have arisen, we consider the FCDO’s advice. However, this is not the only factor we take into account in determining whether these cancellation rights have arisen. Ultimately, the existence of these cancellation rights will depend on the particular circumstances which exist in your holiday destination. It may be that the relevant circumstances do not significantly affect the Service Providers’ ability to perform the Travel Services which form part of your Package. It may also be the case that we or our Service Providers may be able to make arrangements which address the issues identified by the FCDO. In such circumstances, you will not have the right to cancel your Package in accordance with the paragraph above.
IMPORTANT NOTICE ON FCDO ADVICE AGAINST ALL OR ALL BUT ESSENTIAL TRAVEL AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
At present, the FCDO is currently advising UK travellers against all but essential travel to a number of destinations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (the “FCDO Advice”). The FCDO Advice is updated on a regular basis and often at very short notice. It is therefore possible that by the time you depart for your holiday, the FCDO will advise against non-essential travel to your destination. You may also be required to quarantine or self-isolate upon your return to the UK.
Please note that if, at the time of your departure, the FCDO Advice applies to your holiday destination but your Service Providers are still able to provide the Travel Services in the Package (i.e. the Service Providers have not cancelled the relevant Travel Services), and the performance of your Package is not significantly affected, your usual cancellation rights in the event of Unavoidable and Extraordinary Circumstances (as described above) will not apply. Our usual cancellation charges will apply in these circumstances (as described above).
However, we may disapply these cancellation charges if, at the time you made your booking, the FCDO Advice did not apply to your holiday destination but it was then changed or updated so that by your departure date the FCDO Advice did apply. In such cases, we may provide you with a refund for the hotel and transfer services which form part of your Package. We will only be able to issue you with a refund for the flight element of your Package if this is in line with your airline’s cancellation policy. If the airline’s cancellation policy includes a full or partial cash refund, we will issue this to you as soon as we receive it from the airline. However, if the airline’s refund policy states that your flight is non-refundable, we will not be able to issue you with a refund for your flight.
In relation to cancellations made as a result of global travel disruption arising from the COVID-19 outbreak, we may offer you alternatives to a cash refund, such as a refund credit note or voucher, which will allow you to travel at another date. If we offer such options, they shall be offered in addition to your rights set out above. We will let you know if you have these additional options when we inform you about your cancellation arrangements.
14. Changes and Cancellations by the Supplier/Principal
We and the Service Providers reserve the right to make changes to your Travel Services at any time. Most changes are minor changes and we and the Service Providers will endeavour to pass on to you information regarding any minor changes before you depart. Other than providing such notification, we shall have no further liability to you in relation to minor changes.
A minor change made prior to your departure could, for example, include (but is not limited to) the alteration of your outward or return flight by less than 12 hours, changes to carriers such as airlines, changes to aircraft or vehicle type, change of your accommodation to another of the same or better standard with the same main features and in the same resort destination, or changes to services available at your accommodation (including those envisaged in paragraph 1A in relation to COVID-19).
Occasionally, we may have to notify you of a significant change that we or the Service Providers are constrained to make to the main characteristics of the booking.
Significant changes made prior to your departure could include (but are not limited to) a change of accommodation to a different tourist area for the whole or a significant part of your time on holiday, a change of accommodation to that of a lower standard/star rating for the whole or a significant part of the time you are on holiday, a change of your outward flight departure time (or the commencement of your other Travel Services) by more than 12 hours, or a change of UK departure airport, except between:
- London airports: Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, London City and Southend
- South Coast airports: Southampton, Bournemouth and Exeter
- South Western airports: Cardiff and Bristol
- Midlands airports: Birmingham, East Midlands and Doncaster Sheffield
- Northern airports: Liverpool, Manchester, Doncaster Sheffield and Leeds Bradford
- North Eastern airports: Newcastle and Teesside
- Scottish airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Aberdeen.
We will inform you as soon as reasonably practicable if we or the Service Provider needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Travel Service, or to cancel them entirely. As most changes will be made by the Service Providers, we will not be liable to you for such changes or to pay any refunds, compensation or other claims. Your rights will be set out in your contract with the Service Provider. However, we will also liaise between you and the Service Provider in relation to any alternative arrangements offered by the Service Provider and/or refunds or compensation offered.
In relation to Package bookings only, in the unlikely event that we or your Service Providers have to make a significant change to your Package, we will tell you as soon as reasonably possible. You will then have the option to:
accept the proposed change. If this results in a Package of lower quality or cost, you may be entitled to a price reduction in accordance with paragraph 13 below;
reject the proposed change, terminate your Package and take an alternative one if we decide to offer this. If you decide to take an alternative Package, we will inform you of its impact on the price of your booking. If the alternative Package is of a lower quality or cost, you may be entitled to a price reduction in accordance with paragraph 13 below, or
reject the proposed change and terminate your Package with a full refund.
We will give you a reasonable period of time to make your decision, which will depend upon the circumstances giving rise to the change but will usually be 7 days from notification of the proposed change. If we do not hear from you within this timeframe, we will send a reminder to you, following which we shall be entitled to take such action as explained to you in our earlier notification. This may include us terminating the Package and providing you with a refund.
On rare occasions, we or the Service Providers may have to cancel your Package and we reserve the right to do so. If we or the Service Providers have to do so, we will notify you as soon as possible. We will also offer you an alternative Package if we are able to do so, and inform you of its impact on the price of your booking. If the alternative Package is of a lower quality or cost, you may be entitled to a price reduction in accordance with paragraph 13 below. If we cannot offer you an alternative, or even if you just prefer, we will provide you with a full refund of any payments made for the Package.
In relation to cancellations made as a result of global travel disruption arising from the COVID-19 outbreak: we may offer you alternatives to a cash refund, such as a refund credit note or voucher, which will allow you to travel at another date. If we offer such options, they shall be offered in addition to your rights set out above. We will let you know if you have these additional options when we notify you about the cancellation of your Package
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Supplier/Principal needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Travel Arrangements or to cancel them. We will also liaise between you and the Supplier/Principal in relation to any alternative travel arrangements offered by the Supplier/Principal, but we will have no further liability to you.
Where you have booked a Multi-Contract Package, additional terms and conditions apply to your booking, please see clause 48 for further details.
15. Our Service Charges
In certain circumstances we apply a service charge for the agency service we provide, in addition to any charge levied by the Supplier/Principal, as follows:
Monthly payment on instalments for low deposit bookings
£4.00
Collection of surcharges/additional taxes
Supplier/Principal’s charge
Posting of Documents
£10.00
16. Complaints
Where we are acting as agent (almost always), the contract for your arrangements is between you and the supplier and any queries or concerns should be addressed to them, but sent via our offices. We will then pass on your complaint and liaise with the relevant supplier on your behalf. We do so on a goodwill basis in our capacity as agent of the supplier.
If you have a problem whilst using any of your travel arrangements, you must inform the relevant supplier, details will be on your voucher, and the hotelier (if applicable) immediately. If they cannot assist you, please call our admin team on 0207 186 7777 or email helpinresort@blueseaholidays.co.uk.
If you have any expenditure due to the failure of a supplier (airline, hotel or transfer) not delivering what was booked then its imperative you get and keep receipts as evidence. Without receipts suppliers will not refund amounts spent
Since it is the supplier who is responsible for your booking they will have sole discretion in deciding how to deal with you problem. If you fail to discuss any complaints with either your supplier or us whilst you are away your supplier will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify your complaint whilst you were away and this is likely to affect adversely any rights you may have to compensation from your supplier.
If your complaint is not resolved locally, you should write immediately to us upon your return. We will do our best to help you in your discussions with the supplier. In this case you should write to our Customer Services Department at Blue Sea Holidays, PO Box 135, Honiton, EX14 0FD quoting your booking reference and all other relevant information.
Please note that we do not currently have our own representatives and nor have we authorised anyone else to be our representatives in resort. Therefore, it is imperative that if you cannot speak to the Service Provider or their representative at the time, you contact the In-Resort Assistance team above.
In all cases it is imperative that we receive full details of any claim from you within our cut off date of 90 days of your return home, and you must follow up by telephone to ensure that we have received it if you do not receive any form of acknowledgement from us within that timeframe.
ABTA We are a member of ABTA and our membership number is P619X. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you an arbitration scheme for the resolution of disputes arising out of, or in connection with, any contract you have with us. The arbitration scheme is administered independently by CEDR Solve. It is a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on you for costs. The upper limit on claims is £5,000 per person and £25,000 per booking form. The scheme doesn’t apply to claims which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences. It can however deal with claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1,500 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. Your request for arbitration must be received by ABTA within eighteen months of the date of return from holiday.
Important: claims/complaints about injuries or illness
In the unfortunate event that you suffer an injury or an illness while you are on holiday, and you believe this is the fault of one of the Supplier/Principals, it is very important that you notify the Supplier/Principal while you are on holiday.
Accommodation providers will not accept claims for illness or injury unless the issue is reported to the hotelier at the time whilst in the hotel. You will often be asked to sign a document agreeing to a specific claims process when you arrive at a hotel. This is as a result of an increasing number of fraudulent claims being received.
Since 2013, there has been more than a 500% increase in the number of compensation claims for holiday sickness with tens of thousands of claims in the past year. Evidence suggests many of these claims may be exaggerated or fraudulent. If we believe any claim to be fraudulent then action may be taken in the hope of protecting those with genuine claims.
17. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Supplier/Principal and its booking conditions apply. As agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Travel Arrangements. Our responsibilities are limited to making the booking in accordance with your instructions. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Travel Arrangements that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of the commission we earn on your booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the booking is affected).
We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
Please Note: Where you have booked a Multi-Contract Package we will accept responsibility for that Multi-Contract Package as a package organiser and additional terms and condition apply. Please see clause 26 for further information.
18. Force Majeure
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by “Force Majeure”. For the purposes of these Booking Conditions, Force Majeure means any event beyond our or our supplier’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), civil strife, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, labour strikes, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned’ s control.
Brexit Implications: Please note that certain Travel Arrangements may be affected as a result of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. This could include an unavailability of certain flight routes, access to certain ports and airports and changes to the visa requirements of British citizens travelling to, within or through the EU. Please rest assured that this is something we will continue to monitor and will advise our customers as soon as possible if we become aware of any confirmed bookings that will be affected. However, since this is something which is completely unprecedented and outside our control, we would treat any such changes as Force Majeure, and whilst we will endeavour to provide suitable alternative arrangements or refunds where possible, we will not be liable to pay you any compensation.
19. Visa, Passport and Health Requirements
It is your responsibility to check and fulfil the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We can only provide general information about this. You must check requirements for your own specific circumstances with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates and your own doctor as applicable. Requirements do change, and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.
Most countries now require passports to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. If your passport is in its final year, you should check with the Embassy of the country you are visiting. For further information contact the Passport Office on 0870 521 0410 or visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/passports.Special conditions apply for travel to the USA, and all passengers must have individual machine-readable passports. Please check https://uk.usembassy.gov. For European holidays you should obtain a completed and issued form EHIC prior to departure.
Up to date travel advice can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visit https://www.gov.uk/travelaware.
Non-British passport holders, including other EU nationals, should obtain up to date advice on passport and visa requirements from the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of your destination or country(ies) through which you are travelling.
We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.
20. Law and Jurisdiction
These Booking Conditions are governed by English law and we both agree that the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, claim or other matter which may arise between us (unless you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, in which case you can bring proceedings in your local court under Scottish or Northern Irish law, as applicable).
21. Accommodation Ratings and Standards
All ratings are as provided by the relevant Supplier/Principal and may not be the official rating. These are intended to give a guide to the services and facilities you should expect from your accommodation. Standards and ratings may vary between countries, as well as between suppliers. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of any ratings given.
22. Documentation & Information
All descriptions and content on our website or otherwise issued by us is done so on behalf of the Supplier/Principal in question are intended to present a general idea of the services provided by the Supplier/Principal. Not all details of the relevant services can be included on our website. All services shown are subject to availability. If you require any further details, in respect of any Travel Arrangements or any other services please contact us.
23. Foreign Office Advice
You are responsible for making yourself aware of Foreign Office advice regarding the safety of the countries and areas in which you will be travelling and to make your decisions accordingly. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Force Majeure (see clause 19).
24. Your Behaviour
You are expected to conduct yourself in an orderly and acceptable manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others. If in the Supplier/Principal’s opinion or in the opinion of any other person in authority, your behaviour or that of any member of your party is causing or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to any other customers or any third party, or damage to property, or to cause a delay or diversion to transportation, the Supplier/Principal reserves the right to terminate your booking immediately with no further liability to you. You and/or your party may also be required to pay for loss and/or damage caused by your actions and you and each member of your party will be jointly and individually liable for any damage or losses caused. Full payment for any such damage or losses must be paid directly to the Supplier/Principal prior to departure. If you fail to make payment, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us because of your actions together with all costs we incur in pursuing any claim against you. We cannot be held responsible for the actions or behaviour of other guests or individuals who have no connection with your booking arrangements or with us.
In addition we do not accept any abuse of Blue Sea Holidays staff either verbal or written. In the event of that happening we reserve the right to cancel your booking with no refund made and will report the matter to the police to take action.
25. Your Obligations
Please ensure that ALL documentation is thoroughly read and understood. It is your responsibility to inform us of any discrepancies. Please note some suppliers may charge for amendments and unfortunately in these circumstances, the client will be responsible for any additional charges. Please ensure that you arrive in good time for your departure, we cannot be held responsible for your failure to do so.
26. Transfers
There are no transfers included in your holiday cost unless otherwise stated. On arrival at your destination you will normally find taxis just outside the terminal building. To avoid getting overcharged it is advisable to agree a cost before you take the journey. If you would like to add Transfers to your reservation please contact us on 0207 186 7777
27. Inflight Meals
Please note inflight meals are not included in the price stated unless otherwise advised at the time of booking.
28. Board Basis
Please click on the link below to see all definitions of board basis used on this website
https://www.blueseaholidays.co.uk/your-accommodation-and-resort
29. Travellers under 18
The person making the booking accepts responsibility for paying for all the people on the booking. They are also responsible for keeping everyone in the party informed of the booking details. You must be at least 18 years old to make a booking with us. The first named person travelling on the booking must be at least 18, if all people travelling in your party are under 18 you need to provide a letter of consent from your parent or guardian, please either email this letter to admin@blueseaholidays.co.uk or send to: Customer Service, Blue Sea Holidays, PO Box 135, Honiton, EX14 0FD. Not all airlines will allow unaccompanied minors to travel, please double check with our reservations staff before booking your flights.
30. Car Hire
Please note that if you are hiring a car then you will need to supply a credit card as security when you collect the car. No money will be taken from the card without your consent (all details will be covered when you sign your agreements before taking the car). In most destinations, you need to be over 21 to hire/drive a car. It is always best to double check the age limit before booking. If you are hiring a car in America further local taxes will be charged if you are under the age of 25, for extra charges please contact one of our travel consultants.
31. Car Parking
If you have arranged to park a car at a pre-booked car park, please ensure that you know which car park that you are to use. Please bear in mind that some airport car parks may involve a coach transfer. Please allow time for this.
32. Ticket on Departure
If you are collecting documentation from the airport, this will normally ONLY be your flight tickets. Please ensure that you have any other vouchers or insurance documents either emailed, posted or faxed to you before you depart.
33. Flights
All departure and arrival timings are given using the 24-hour system. Your flight tickets will state the most up to date flight time information, so please read them very carefully and ensure that you allow sufficient time to arrive at the airport, normally 2 hours before departure. Tour operators make it a responsibility of the traveller to re-confirm their homeward flight at least 48 hours before departure.
In accordance with EU Regulation 2111/2005 we are required to advise you of the actual carrier operating your flight/connecting flight/transfer, or if the actual carrier is not known at the time of booking, the likely carrier that will operate your flights. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier we will tell you the actual carrier when we become aware of it. There is an EC Community List of carriers which are subject to an operating ban throughout Europe and we will not use one of these airlines. In the event that an airline is or becomes listed, you may be entitled to reimbursement or re-routing if your flight is cancelled because it is subject to an operating ban. Please refer to the CAA’s website www.caa.co.uk.
It is imperative that you confirm your inbound flight details with the local office specified on your itinerary (not the Airport Authorities). Failure to do so may mean that you may miss your flight because the departure time has changed, or the airline may not allow you to board. We are not liable for any losses if you do not reconfirm your inbound flight.
For passengers who will be 28 weeks pregnant at the time of the intended return flight, airlines require a medical certificate confirming the passenger is medically fit to fly. Airlines will not carry any passenger who will be 32 weeks or more pregnant by the end of the intended return flight. Please contact your doctor or the Department of Health for advice.
Please note that in accordance with Air Navigation Orders in order to qualify for infant status, a child must be under 2 years of age on the date of its return flight.
Flights timings on your confirmation invoice are for guidance only and subject to change. You must check your flight details and times on receiving your tickets and notify us immediately of any errors. The times quoted on your documentation are local times and you must check in at least 3 hours before the latest flight departure time advised by us, regardless of any anticipated delay.
Luggage and other flight extras
All airlines have a standard hand luggage allowance which is included in our online prices. Allowances differ significantly from airline to airline. The allowance you are entitled to will be shown in the booking conditions of your airline which are displayed at the bottom of your documentation. Where you require additional luggage allowance this can be added to the booking prior to checkout and paid for.
Certain airlines consider hold luggage to be an optional extra. When you are booking with an airline that does make a charge for luggage it is not included or displayed in our head line prices and the option to add this extra facility will be offered to you at the time of booking. The luggage allowance will be dictated by the airline in question and can again vary. Should you choose not to take any hold luggage on your trip then you will receive the standard hand luggage allowance as detailed in the airlines booking conditions. This will normally be between 5 and 10kgs. Bags must be no larger than the dimensions allowed by the airline in question for carry-on luggage. For further information please refer to the airline booking conditions.
Our online prices do not include in-flight meals.
Please note where flight extras (such as bags and meals) are added at or after the time of booking they cannot be removed, cancelled or refunded.
Flights General
Please note, generally airlines have a policy that bookings are non-refundable.
We will purchase the flight seats on your behalf directly from the airline.
Dangerous Goods
There are regulations which set out what items you are allowed to take onboard an aircraft and the items you are allowed to carry in your checked-in baggage. These will be set out on your airline’s website, for instance: Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and Wizz Air. The requirements are also typically set out in your airline’s conditions of carriage, which will be made available to you to review before you book. You can also read guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority on these rules on its website. You must comply with these rules.
Multiple airlines and 2 x one-way flights
Where we book a multiple airline, triangular flight (different UK airports for outbound and inbound e.g. fly out of Manchester and fly in to Liverpool) and or 2 x one-way flights on your behalf we will be making two separate flight bookings with two separate flight suppliers or at times the same flight supplier. In certain cases in order to ensure our prices are as competitive as possible for all customers, we will book a return flight (same airline, same route) as 2 one-way flights - one booking will be for the outbound leg of your flights and another for the inbound leg of your flights. When making a multiple airline or triangular flight booking the different UK airports will be displayed throughout the booking process and a multiple airline logo will be shown.
You will see two flight vouchers displayed on your paperwork, two flight references and at times two separate flight suppliers booking conditions. This does not affect your travel arrangements in any way and you simply use the correct voucher to check-in for each leg of your journey.
Scheduled flights
Our website/App offers scheduled flights from all the major airlines. Please note that in certain cases these flights may be indirect and fly via other airports. The flight display will show the take- off time from the departure airport and the landing time into the destination airport correctly. Where an in-direct flight is offered full details of any flight stopovers will be made clear to you at the time of booking. Please note many scheduled flights are non-amendable and non-refundable once booked.
Ryanair Seating Reservations
Ryanair have introduced a policy of mandatory seat reservations for parties travelling with one or more children under the age of 12 on the date of travel. This means that for every four children (or less) on a booking, one adult MUST have a reserved seat at a cost of £4. The children will then also be allocated a reserved seat at no additional cost.
Blue Sea Holidays will implement this policy by booking a single seat reservation on the flight for ONE adult in a party and up to four children. Parties with more than four children will have an additional adult seat reservation made for a further £4.
Seats are not pre-bookable and you are more likely to get seats that meet your requirements if you check in early. If your outbound journey is not utilised, the inbound flight reservation is automatically cancelled. We are not responsible for any losses if you arrive late for the specified check-in time for the flight, or lose your flight tickets.
34. Flight Delays
If you or any member of your party misses your flight or other transport arrangement, it is cancelled, or you are subject to a delay of over 3 hours for any reason, you must contact us, and the airline or other transport supplier concerned immediately. Under EU Law, you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from the airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details of these rights will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. If the airline does not comply with these rules you should complain to the Civil Aviation Authority at www.caa.co.uk/passengers. Reimbursement in such cases is the responsibility of the airline and will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday price from us. If, for any reason, you do not claim against the airline and make a claim for compensation from us, you must, at the time of payment of any compensation to you, make a complete assignment to us of the rights you have against the airline in relation to the claim that gives rise to that compensation payment. A delay or cancellation to 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 cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in clause 19 of these Booking Conditions (which includes the behaviour of any passenger(s) on any flight who, for example, fails to check in or board on time).
35. Hotels
Please click on the link below to see all definitions of hotel rooms/types used on this website
https://www.blueseaholidays.co.uk/your-accommodation-and-resort
When booking your accommodation, we will always act as the Supplier/Principal’s agent or sub-agent.
For the avoidance of doubt, we will never act as your agent, and will never act as agent for both you and the relevant Supplier/Principal in respect of the same Travel Arrangement.
Hotel booking procedure
Unless otherwise requested at the time of booking, standard internationally accepted practice dictates that your accommodation will be booked from the day that you depart the UK for the required duration. The dates of your accommodation booking will be included on your accommodation voucher (please check this carefully). After registration, on arrival at your accommodation, you will be allocated a room although rooms are NOT usually available till 3pm (can vary depending on hotel). When travelling on flights departing the UK after midnight, your room will be reserved from the previous day. You must normally check-out of your room by 12 noon on the day before a night flight home or on the departure date for an evening flight. Most hotels provide a late checkout facility. This will almost always incur a charge payable on the spot (it is impossible for us to prepay this charge) and should be requested at the start of your stay so as to avoid disappointment.
PLEASE NOTE: • Rooms booked for 3 or 4 people - some properties may have rooms that can sleep 3 or 4 people. Room layouts may vary but typically will consist of 3 or 4 separate beds or a combination of double, twin, camp, sofa or rollaway beds. In some properties, these rooms may not be any larger than twin or double rooms, so space may be limited.
Non-Refundable Rooms
If you book a non- refundable room you will not be able to cancel nor amend your booking and no refund will be available. Deposit payment options are not available on bookings which include non- refundable rooms. Full payment is required at the time of the booking.
36. Call Recording
To ensure that we carry out your instructions accurately, to help improve our service and in the interest of security, we may monitor and/or record: your telephone calls and customer transactions and activities on our website. All recordings are and shall remain our sole property. Please see our Privacy Policy (clause 41)
37. Building Work
From time to time, maintenance, renovation or refurbishment and its associated noise are unavoidable at a hotel/accommodation. If we are notified of such works, we will inform you before you make your booking or within a reasonable time of us being notified.
Please note that municipal works (for example road works) and other third-party building work in the vicinity of your accommodation is not the responsibility of the accommodation or Service Provider.
38. Passengers with Reduced Mobility
The majority of the Travel Services offered are suitable for all persons, however it is your responsibility to advise us, prior to booking, of any conditions/disabilities that may affect your holiday. Where possible, we will inquire with the Service Provider about the suitability of the Travel Service for you, however we can give no guarantees. It is recommended that you make your own independent enquiries to ensure the Travel Service of your choice is suitable for your particular requirements before making your booking. Elderly/Disabled Clients
39. Conditions of Suppliers
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 Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier's liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from us or the supplier concerned.
40. Chargebacks and claims against Service Providers
Unless such rights have arisen under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, you agree not to issue any chargebacks or otherwise dispute transactions with your payment card issuer against us (“Chargeback”). Rather, your rights to refunds and other claims shall be governed solely by these Terms and Conditions. You also agree that if you initiate a Chargeback (including under section 75) or make a demand for payment from a Service Provider (which may be satisfied by the payment of cash, issue of vouchers or as otherwise agreed between you and the Service Provider), we shall be entitled to take such steps as we consider reasonable to ensure that you are not paid twice for the same claim. This may include suspending any obligations we may have to pay you under these Terms and Conditions (or otherwise) until the Chargeback or claim against the Service Provider has been finally determined and the time limit for any challenge or appeal has expired.
41. Brexit
For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, “Force Majeure” means any event beyond our or the Service Provider’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Certain Travel Services may be affected as a result of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union and the end of the transition period relating to Brexit. This could include an unavailability of certain flight routes, issues with access to certain ports and airports and changes to the visa requirements of British citizens travelling to, within or through European Union Member States. While we will monitor the situation and advise our customers as soon as possible if we become aware of any bookings that will be affected by such measures, as all such measures are outside of our control, we would treat any such changes as Force Majeure, and whilst we will endeavour to provide suitable alternative arrangements or refunds where possible, we will not be liable to pay you any compensation.
42. Data Protection & Privacy
We are a data controller in relation to your booking. In order to process your booking and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements, we need to use the information you provide such as name, address, any special needs/dietary requirements etc. We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information whilst in our control. We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, transport companies etc in order to arrange your booking. Where we are acting as a package organiser, you may have booked through a travel agent and they may also have their own data protection policy in place. The information may also be provided to security or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs/immigration if required by them, or as required by law to detect and prevent fraud.
By making a booking with us you agree to the use and disclosure of the information you provide for the following purposes: to enable us to process and fulfil your bookings (when it may be transferred abroad and /or to the Service Provider), if you purchase insurance we may process your information and pass it to insurers, for market research and analysis, to avoid fraud and to enable us or our representatives to contact you by letter, telephone or e-mail. You may unsubscribe from further contact at any time by clicking on the relevant link in any emails we send you.For more information on how we use your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.
Additionally, where your holiday is outside the European Economic Area (EEA), controls on data protection in your destination may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will not however, pass any information onto any person not responsible for part of your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we cannot provide your booking.
Please note that where information is also held by a travel agent, this is subject to your agent's own data protection policy. You are entitled to a copy of your information held by us. If you would like to see this, please contact us.
43. ABTA
We are a Member of ABTA, membership numbers 17088 and P619X. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.
