TRAVELLER'S INFORMATION

The prices displayed are up-to-date at the time of publication. In order to protect you as far as possible, we extend to all our clients our guarantee whereby the price we quote for your chosen arrangements at the time of booking is the price that we guarantee. Currency exchange rates are unpredictable but to counter this we buy forward our main currencies (US dollars and Euros), thus giving you a further degree of price stability.

The prices we advertise are based on specially negotiated airfares to be taken from an agreed allotment of seats or booked in a specific airline booking class. At the time of booking, if there is a lack of availability in the allotment or specified class on any particular flight, we will endeavour to secure seats for you in an alternative economy class and you will be told the applicable flight supplement before you book.

The airline business has changed immeasurably over the past few years and there is now a distinct advantage for clients who are able to book their arrangements early with us. On some programmes we are able to hold a limited number of seats at an agreed favourable rate but once these have gone then additional space may cost more to secure. Late bookings may therefore cost more, rather than less. 

All airline seat prices and availability are scrupulously checked before the brochure is printed and are therefore correct at that time. However, please be aware that seat prices can change without notice at any time after going to press. If applicable, you will be advised at the time of booking.

For the more independently-minded, or for those seeking a more personal experience, we can now arrange a selection of our tours as a ‘Private Journey’. Taking full advantage of our group buying power for accommodation, a relatively modest supplement offers the opportunity to follow the published itinerary, visiting all the programmed sights, but with your own private car and driver/guide. Independent optional tours can to be booked locally. These arrangements are based on two persons travelling but should also be of interest to those wishing to travel as a family or as a ‘closed’ group of friends. Your ‘Private Journey’ facilitates quicker check-in at hotels and easier access for sightseeing while also having the major benefit of being a guaranteed departure. There will of course be times when you will be joining other travellers when the itinerary involves internal flights, short train or cruising sections or if you wish to attend one of our Special Events. For the most part however, you and your chosen companion(s) will be enjoying a closer personal guiding service.

If you prefer the company of your choice, we can normally offer a private departure on an existing tour or a tailored arrangement to suit your need. We offer a discount of 3% for groups of 8 or more passengers, rising to 5% for groups of 15 or more travelling together on one of our scheduled tours.

We can offer a private tour and a customised itinerary for groups of 10 or more. Our experience and expertise enable us to arrange bespoke itineraries of special interest as well as facilitating independent journeys for study groups, societies, incentive groups and closed groups of friends.

Groups Contact: 020 7633 6799 or groups@vjv.co.uk

We are happy to give you advice and assist you where possible in choosing a tour that will suit your requirements. However, we must at the time of booking be provided with full details in writing regarding your disability and any special requirements as a result of this. Because of the nature of the journeys, involving significant distances, embarkation and disembarkation, or on occasion visiting less sophisticated destinations that may lack even the simplest of facilities such as ramps for wheelchairs, lifts, etc. a number of our tours would not be suitable for those with disabilities.

For a trouble-free start to your journey, we offer a number of additional services, including reservations at UK airport hotels and airport parking with APH (call 01342 859 599 or visit www.partners.aph.com/julesverne). 

A feature of travel in airlines’ ‘Business Class’ cabins is more leg room and a wider seat that reclines considerably as well as, in many cases, separate check-in desks, a ‘fast track’ route through the airport and access to private lounges. British Airways also offer a World Traveller Plus service providing a small separate cabin with 4-6 rows (8 abreast seating) and more leg room with a 38” seat pitch.

We are aware that London’s airports do not suit everyone so, where practical, we have included options to fly from regional airports, sometimes with the ‘no frills’ airlines. Connecting flights via London are available on the majority of our tours at a small supplement. In Europe, Egypt and India (Kolkata and Chennai), we offer the option to travel direct from selected local airports. To Tanzania we offer KLM flights from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow via Amsterdam. Ryanair and easyJet offer excellent value but early booking is recommended as fares invariably increase closer to the date of travel. They have also implemented luggage charges and restrictions, so where this applies, one piece has been included. In-flight meals are not generally included on these flights and this is also the case on some scheduled short-haul flights.

We recognise that in some cases it may be preferable for you to book your own flights around a tour, arriving and departing independently. For your convenience, we are now offering this option on many of our arrangements with appropriate price reductions shown on the brochure and web page. When travel is booked independently, arrival and departure transfers will not be included and you will join the group at the first hotel and leave at the last. However, if transfers are required then, where the extra cost is quoted, these can be arranged.  Important: please refer to our Terms & Conditions, section entitled ‘Cancellation of Tours by Us’ relating to the operation of the tours.

Where optional excursions are shown (with costs in Sterling) pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. Due to changing exchange rates, fuel and economic factors, the price of locally purchased optional excursions may vary. Depending on the season and local circumstances, additional sightseeing may be arranged locally. Optional excursions are subject to minimum numbers.

Hotel ratings vary worldwide and although we always include the official local star rating, standards in some countries may not reflect those in the UK. 

The reason for supplements for single rooms is that our contract with the hoteliers is commonly based on a price per room while our holidays are sold per person including flights and other elements. Therefore, the per person price for a lone traveller normally includes the entire room cost. We do not make additional or excessive profits from these sales. The prices charged merely reflect the real cost to us. In some hotels there are rooms that are designed for single occupancy only. In this instance there will normally be a supplement but usually less than when a single person occupies a double room. These single rooms are often smaller and sometimes less well-appointed. We do not know which room you will be allocated as your hotel will usually decide this shortly before you arrive. We have been able to negotiate a number of departures (with limited availability) where no single supplement is payable and these can be found here.

Where an overland journey is three hours or more, we have indicated the duration in the itinerary taking into account any comfort stops (journeys split by sightseeing or lunch are treated as two journeys).

In most cases, we will arrange for sightseeing to be undertaken by expert local guides and escorts who we consider to be the best source of information on the sites visited. On occasion, a Tour Manager may also accompany the group from the UK. 

Tours are based on a minimum number of passengers and these are clearly shown against each tour. Should the minimum not be reached, it may be necessary to cancel the tour although we also reserve the right to continue to operate the tour if it is at all possible.

We strongly recommend that you carry any essential medication and items such as contact lens solution in your hand baggage and keep them with you at all times. Please do not ask or expect your guides or drivers to take responsibility for your money or valuable items as they are not authorised to do so.

Tipping is discretionary and varies by country and by tour. We would suggest you budget about £5-£10 per day for porters, drivers, guides and tour escorts (cruises £10-£15). Where porterage is not included it can be arranged locally at an average tip per bag of £1-£2.

If visas are required for your tour they can be obtained either directly from the embassies or through a visa procurement agency, applications should be submitted a minimum of 8 weeks prior to travel. Whichever method you use, please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that you travel with the correct documentation to enter the countries included in your itinerary. Visa procurement and information on visa requirements relating to your Jules Verne tour are available from CIBT and Travcour, suppliers of visa processing services.

CIBT offer a dedicated Visa Service web portal for our travellers at https://www.cibtvisas.co.uk/vjvvisas. For telephone advice call 0207 593 6286 or email specialservices@cibtvisas.co.uk. When contacting CIBT identify yourself as a Jules Verne traveller to ensure you are provided with the correct visa information, instructions and discounted pricing.

Travcour offer a personalised India visa procurement service and have appointed a Jules Verne representative to meet your needs. Enquiries can be taken by phone on 020 8543 1846 or by email at darren@travcour.com. The visa application & travel information can be found on the following link: https://travcour-vls.com/visa-application/india-tourist-visa-application-travel-information/. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Travcour website. 

You will be dealing directly with Travcour or CIBT for your visa applications and you will be responsible for informing them of all relevant details, amendments or cancellations relating to your visa arrangements. Jules Verne will not be liable for any costs that you incur relating to visa applications.

Some of our journeys (such as Nepal, Tibet, Himalayan India, Peru, Ecuador etc.) will be travelling at altitude. We therefore strongly recommend that anyone, regardless of age, should consult their doctor to ensure that they are fully fit and understand the effects of travelling at altitude. This is absolutely essential if you have any pre-existing heart conditions, anaemia or lung problems. 

Health facilities, hygiene and disease risk vary worldwide, so please take early health advice and ensure that vaccinations or preventative measures are taken early enough. Sources of information include the Department of Health’s free leaflet ‘Health Advice for Travellers’ available from your GP or local specialist clinic. We indicate in the itinerary if tours travel at high altitude. Please consult a doctor to ensure that you are fully fit and understand the effects of travelling at altitude – essential if you have any pre-existing heart conditions, anaemia or lung problems.

All the flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate.

We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect the information you provide us in order to process your booking. We must pass this information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, transport companies etc. 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. However, we will not pass on any information to 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.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office produces up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. For further information please visit www.gov.uk/fcdo. Alternatively, you can contact ABTA’s Travel Information line on 020 3117 0599. This line is open from 10.00 hrs to 14.00 hrs Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.