Passports
It is your responsibility to ensure that all members of your party are in possession of a valid and acceptable passport and any other visa or travel documents that may be required. The information given here is applicable to British citizens holding a full 10 year British passport. All other nationalities or British citizens not holding a British passport should check the passport and visa requirements directly with the Egyptian Embassy in London. Wives plus children under 16 who are included on another person's passport can only travel if accompanied by that person. If they are travelling alone they must have their own full passport. Passports need to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date. Note: Since October 1998, children under 16 are required to have their own passport. Please allow enough time for these to be applied for. Children who are already included in their parent's passport are not affected by this change until the passport is renewed or the children reach 16.
Visas
The Egyptian Consulate recommends that a visa is always obtained orior to travelling to Egypt. If this is not possible due to late booking, holders of British, other E.U., U.S. , Canadian, Australian or New Zealander passports may obtain a visa at the point of entry in Egypt for a fee, currently £15 (must be Sterling) for British passport holders.
Flights
All flight details including the carrier, aircraft type,
timings and routings are indicative only and are
subject to government approvals, airport clearance
and reconfirmation by the carrier. All flights operated by Jewel in the Crown Holidays operate a non-smoking policy in accordance with the UK Federation of Tour Operators policy. SPecial meal requests will be noted and forwarded to the airline who will oblige whenever possible, however we cannot be held responsible for any meal requests which are not met. Check-in desks close well
ahead of the scheduled departure time of your flight and we recommend checking-in at least two hours before departure. If you are
'closed out' you will have no recourse against either the airline or ourselves.
Sadly, inclement weather (usually in England), air traffic control
and technical matters still can and do delay aircraft. Although travel insurance policies often make
a payment for any lengthy delay in departure of your outbound international
flight, neither the airline concerned nor ourselves can be held liable
for any inconvenience suffered or cost incurred as a result of any
flight delays.
Brochure Pricing
Our brochure is carefully prepared many months before your holiday takes place, based on our best estimates of cost levels that will prevail at the actual time of your holiday. However, our brochure prices, published flight supplements, and the level of the aviation insurance surcharge and security levy are continuously reviewed in the light of costs, availability, and market conditions. Until such times as a booking is actually accepted from you, all of these may be increased or decreased accordingly and will be advised to you at the time you wish to book. Once you have booked your holiday however, Condition 3 of our Booking Conditions applies.
Aviation-related
Taxes, Fees and Charges
U.K. Air Passenger Duty, U.K. Airport Passenger Service Charges, Airport Security Taxes, and Egyptian Airport and International Departure Taxes at the levels prevailing at the time of going to press are included in your holiday price. Should any additional taxes be introduced or revised upwards, the same would have to be paid by you in cash to the applicable authority.
Packing & Baggage
The standard baggage allowance for Jewel in the Crown Holidays flights is 20kg for checked baggage plus one small cabin baggage item not exceeding 5kg in weight per person. Infants (under 2 years as at the date of homeward travel) do not qualify for a separate baggage allowance. Please note that computers, radios and other electronic items must not be packed in checked baggage but carried as part of your hand baggage. We advise to pack a range of loose, practical clothing due to the hot climate and layers of clothing for the winter months due to hot days and cooler nights. Casual but smart dress is the usual standard expected in most hotels for dinner. Please check the airlines websites for up to date infornmation as to what items may be carried as part of your hand luggage.
Currency
The currency in Egypt is the
Egyptian Pound (LE) which is made up of 100 piastres (pt). At the
time of our brochure going to press £1.00 buys around 11 Egyptian
Pounds, however the rate of exchange will always be better in Egypt
itself. We recommend taking either Sterling or American Dollar travellers'
cheques and bank notes are both welcome and easily exchangeable.
In fact, these will be required to pay for any extras at your hotel
rather than local currency. Most hotels do have a banking service
of some description rather than a money exchange facility offered
by reception. If not, there is usually an ATM machine (cashpoint)
or authorised exchange office nearby. Visa and MasterCard are
also amazingly quite widely accepted but Scottish bank notes are
NOT. There is a limit of LE 1000 on the amount of Egyptian money
you can carry to or from Egypt.
Language
The national language of Egypt is Arabic; however
English is widely spoken throughout the whole country.
It is highly unusual for our visitors to incur any sort
of language problem! |
|
Sea Swimming
With any beach holiday, the sea is always an attraction and the Red Sea particularly
so. At times there will be strong undertows and currents to take account of.
Great care should be taken to stay well within designated areas as well as
within your depth and capacity, particularly if you are not a strong swimmer,
and never, ever swim (or even frolic in the waves) under the influence of alcohol.
Children should always be supervised.
Hotel Gradings
Our unique 'jewel' ratings are our own opinion and do not necessarily reflect 'official' hotel grades, if any. Official gradings are in any case somewhat inconsistent and prone to a measure of 'local politics' and often place importance on certain things that may be of value in a city hotel (e.g. the ratio of T.V. sets to rooms) which are not so important 'on the beaches'. Accordingly, we recommend you follow our unofficial but generally more useful appraisal system.
Transfers
Return transfers in resort
to and from the airport, at the beginning and end of your holiday,
are included. Transfer times quoted in the brochure are approximate.
Transfers are usually by coach or mini-bus and in most cases will
make drop offs at various accommodations.
Ground Representation
In Egypt we engage the services of a highly experienced Egyptian ground handling company to provide transfers in resort and also to take care of our clients with regular hotel visits. Please note that should you purchase any additional services locally such as tours and excursions, Jewel in the Crown Holidays Limited is not party to these arrangements and you will be bound by the local operator's terms and conditions of booking.
Accommodation
Your room
will normally be available to you from 3pm on your day of arrival.
When departing, it is usual to have to leave your room by 12 noon
on the final day to allow for cleaning before the new arrivals. Except
in cases of excursions booked locally whilst in Egypt, rooms must
be vacated whilst on tour. Please be aware that a room 'for three
or four persons' is usually a twin / double room with either an extra
bed of a pullout / folding design and hence conditions may be cramped.
When two children up to 12 years are sharing the same room as two
full-fare paying passengers, either an extra bed will be provided
or children may well be expected to share, especially in a room with
2 queen size beds. Also, if a twin / double room is booked for a
single occupancy, its standard and location are often not always
as good as a twin / double room reserved for two people. When two children up to 12 years are sharing the same room as two full-fare paying passengers, either an extra bed will be provided or children may well be expected to share, especially in a room with 2 queen size beds. As you will
appreciate, rooms in any hotel vary although the hotelier and our
local representative will always do their best to meet your needs.
Rooms are allocated by the management of the accommodation and no special requests will be taken.
Breakfast
Where continental breakfast is offered this usually
consists of bread or toast, jam or marmalade and
tea or coffee. Additional items such as juice or
eggs, where available, are often at an extra
charge.
Hotel
Facilities
Facilities as set out in the hotel description will
normally be available and are given by us in all
good faith. However, certain features may be
withdrawn or restricted at certain times especially
in the low seasons depending on demand and
occupancy and otherwise at the discretion of hotel
management (e.g. heated pools). T.V.s with satellite
usually include at least one news channel in
English, however the choice of channels is not the
same as in the U.K. There will be a variety of
facilities offered by a hotel which are subject to a
local charge directly payable to the hotel. These
fees are totally at the manager's discretion.
Charges are often made for sauna, jacuzzi, gym
equipment, massage, spa, hairdresser, tennis,
squash, golf, watersports, table tennis, volleyball
and billiards. Alcohol is not always easily available
and imported alcohol will always cost a lot more
than that locally produced. Guests have a 24-hr
period from the time of arrival in which to buy duty
free goods from the duty free shops.
ALL INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS
Food & Beverages
Most main meals are buffet style and usually
include a variety of international and local
dishes and some hotels organise weekly theme
nights. Snacks can include sandwiches, pizzas
and hamburgers. Drinks may not be available
from all bars at all times. Around the pool,
drinks may be served in plastic cups for safety.
To provide a faster service, hotels may limit
each person to one or two drinks each time
you visit the bar. When the bar closes for the
evening, a cash bar may operate into the early
hours.
Activities
and Entertainment
Some all-inclusive hotels have resident
'animation' teams. They organise games,
competitions, demonstrations, cabarets, live
music and most evening shows, although local
entertainers may appear on some evenings.
For safety reasons some activities require
supervision or may only be available with the
animation team in an organised event. Some
activities such as shooting, archery and scuba
diving usually have a minimum age of 14.
Hotels may operate a booking system for
popular activities, and you may have to pay a
deposit to hire equipment.
General All
Inclusive Information
You may need to wear an identity bracelet or carry an ID card to ensure that only
participants in the All Inclusive package benefit from the meals, drinks and facilities.
If your identity bracelet is lost, the hotel may charge for a replacement. Hotels
can refuse to serve alcohol to guests who, in their judgement, are intoxicated.
We, or the hotels may confiscate identity cards or bracelets from guests who misbehave
or abuse the All Inclusive basis. Local laws on the minimum age for alcohol consumption
apply. All Inclusive packages end when you check out of your room, even if your
flight does not leave until later that day. In some cases, you can pay a fee to
continue using the All Inclusive facilities.
|
|
Children & Infants
There are discounts for 'third person in room' or reductions
for children between the ages of 2 and 11 (as at the date of return
travel), who are sharing and staying in the same room as two full-fare
paying adults. Please see the relevant accommodation price panel.
Infants under 24 months (as at the date of return travel) who do
not require a flight seat, travel for £50 plus the cost (if any)
of a child's bed or cot as supplied by the hotelier locally.
Child reductions are available on full brochure priced holidays only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Children paying child prices must pay all applicable supplements, insurance and any other items not included in the basic holiday price.
Conduct
Naturally, you are subject to the laws of Egypt and must respect local culture,
customs and dress code. Touching drugs in any shape or form will land you in
jail or worse. Also, do remember to bring your swimsuit – and wear it – since
nudity on Egyptian beaches (and elsewhere in public!) is strictly prohibited.
There are many festivals and holidays celebrated in Egypt of which the month
of Ramadan could affect opening hours and facilities. Please check the Egyptian
State Tourist Office website for details. If you cause, or appear likely to cause,
damage or distress to others or to property, either ourselves or the supplier
concerned (air carrier, hotel or ground handler, etc) may terminate their services
on the spot without refund or compensation.
Water & Electricity
The voltage is 220 volts AC, and you will need a two-pin adapter
plug. Conserving the water supply is important and although hot water
is usually available, be aware that problems, whilst rare, can and do
occur.
Climate
Egypt enjoys delightful temperatures and a very dry heat. Rain does
not fall on more than 40 days a year and then only in a few places. For
this reason, it is a year-round destination. Approximate coastal temperatures
as a guideline are; Winter 52°-70°F, Spring 61°-79°F,
Summer 72°-97°F, and Autumn 68°-82°F. However, in upper
Egypt durinng the summer the heat can be much more intensive. It is very
important to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and we recommend
only to drink bottled water and not from the tap. Mosquitoes are not
a big problem in Egypt but between 6pm and 8pm it's still a good idea
to apply repellent to ankles and any exposed skin areas.
Mosques
Egypt is a Muslim country and you will see many mosques in the resorts with their attractive minarets, however we should warn you that the traditional call to prayer has now been modernised and most minarets now boast a sound system that would not be out of place in a disco. Be prepared, it's part of your holiday experience - and it doesn't last too long!
Development & MaintenanceWork
Due to the popularity of Egypt as a holiday destination and
their reliance on tourism as a source of income, continual development
is a fact and necessary to the continual improvement of facilities
and services. However, necessary renovation and maintenance work may be carried out at any time, although this work is kept away from guests as far as possible, to minimise any disturbance or inconvenience.
Local Transport
Self-drive car hire by foreigners is not recommended. Taxis
are available from most hotels. Most hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh that
are any distance from the beach run service shuttles into Naama Bay
but their cost and regularity will be at the discretion of the hotel
management.
The Holiday Price
Shown On Your Invoice Includes;
Return flights between the U.K. and Egypt, U.K. Air Passenger Duty, U.K. Airport
Passenger Service Charges, Airport Security Taxes, Egyptian Airport and International
Departure Taxes (all at levels prevailing at the time of going to press), baggage
allowance as specified on your air ticket, return transfers between the Airport
and your hotel (except 'flight only'), the service of our own representative
and locally appointed ground handling agents (except for those selecting a 'flight
only') with a 24 hour emergency local 'duty officer' contact, and accommodation
and meal plan as specified in the hotel description.
Your Holiday
Price Excludes;
Holiday insurance (which is ESSENTIAL), travel between your home and U.K. departure
airport, published flight supplements, aviation insurance or fuel surcharges,
any charges made by accommodation owners for facilities such as sunbeds, safety
deposit boxes, sauna, sports equipment and facilities, gym/health club, diving,
porterage, telephones, gratuities, optional excursions available in resort, accommodation
supplements (such as single room), taxis, 'spending money' and any other items
not specifically included in the price of your holiday.
Costs & Exchange
Rates
The holiday prices shown in our brochure were based on known costs and exchange
rates as shown in the 'Financial Times' on 6th June 2007. £1 Sterling = Egyptian
Pounds LE 11.0088; U.S. Dollars $1.9929.
Further
Information on Egypt
Further information on Egypt can be obtained from
The Egyptian State Tourist
Office,
170 Piccadilly,
London
W1V 9EJ
Tel: 020 7493 5283
Fax: 020 7408 0295
Web: http://www.gotoegypt.org
or a travel guide
on Egypt from any good book shop.
|
