BOOKING CONDITIONS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE

Inter-city travel: By private coach, trains and ferries (see individual itineraries).

Touring: By air-conditioned luxury coaches with on-board lavatory and reclining seats. Please note that on some Regional Tours in Europe as well as all tours in the Middle East, coaches without toilet facilities are used.

Air transportation: is included in the total price as indicated for each specific itinerary.

Hotel accommodation: Prices are per person and based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded or one double-bedded (couples only) room with private bath or shower. When booking triple rooms please note that the third bed may be a 'roll-away' bed. Triple rooms in North America are based on three people sharing one room with two beds. Roll-away beds must be arranged with the hotel or Tour Director and may not be available. Additional fees for roll-away beds in in North America are payable directly to the hotel. Availability of triple rooms is limited. Triple rooms may not be comfortable with three adults sharing. Substitute hotels may be used at certain times and will be of similar standard whenever possible. Please note that single rooms in Europe may be smaller than twin-bedded rooms. Many hotels in North America are not 100%non-smoking. Smoking in a non-smoking room will result in a fine of $350USD per room. Clients with hotel frequent traveller programmes are not entitled to points. Special room requests must be noted at the time of booking and cannot be guaranteed and are based on availabilty at check-in.

Cruises: On Nile cruises, triple rooms are only available if the third occupant is a child under the age of 12. On North American Cruise Tours, triple rooms are on request.

Tour Director: Escorted tours are conducted in English only by a professional Tour Director.

Meals: In-flight meals and snacks are served according to airline policy. Full, continental or buffet breakfast on all tours. Dinners and lunches are included as detailed within the itineraries. All meals are included on cruises.

Sightseeing: Excursions and entrance fees to places of interest visited as detailed on each itinerary with an English-speaking guide where necessary.

Transfers: Between airports, hotels, railway stations and piers where indicated on each tour itinerary. There will be no refund for unused transfers.

Porterage & luggage allowance: Baggage handling for one suitcase per person on tour, at hotels, is included in the tour price, with the exception of China tours. Due to limited coach capacity, this single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 76x46x25cm and weight not exceeding 23kg. For South America tours that involve internal flights, the maximum weight should not exceed 20kg. Charges will be levied and collected by the Tour Director in the event that these limits are exceeded. It cannot be guaranteed that more than one suitcase will be carried. Hand luggage should be one piece per person and should be limited in size (not exceeding 30x28x14cm) so as to fit under your coach seat or in the small overhead shelf. These are the responsibility of each tour member and should be taken onto the coach with you. Please note that luggage with telescopic handles and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartments and can therefore not be accepted as carry-on luggage for safety reasons.Note: Porterage and luggage allowance is not included on trainsin Europe. Luggage allowance may be less on internal flights.

Tips: All tips are included for services on tour provided by dining room waiters, chambermaids and porters at hotels, airports, docks and stations. All tips to train personnel are included onboard the Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail's The Canadian trains.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE

Passport and visa fees, insurances of all kinds, laundry, phone calls, beverages, meals not detailed in the itinerary, tips to Tour Directors, coach drivers and local city guides or on cruise ships, items of a personal nature such as excess baggage and optional excursions. The tour price also does not cover costs and expenses, including the return to your home if you leave the tour at your own volition or due to illness or as a consequence of official action by the government of any country visited.

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT

Deposit: £140 per person per tour (non refundable)
Final Payment: At least 66 days prior to tour departure
Final Payment: At least 80 days prior to tour departure for Cruise and Tour and Train tours

1. Your land reservation will be confirmed on receipt of a non refundable deposit of £140 per person per tour, which is required within 7 days of booking (except on some departures where space is limited and your deposit may be required sooner. You will be advised at time of booking). An increased deposit may sometimes be required at the time of booking to cover additional third party arrangements and payments including Cruise Tours. Payment in full is required when booking reservations less than 66 days before tour departure.

2. World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd reserves the right to cancel the reservation and impose cancellation charges should payments not be received within the above specified periods.

3. If you book an itinerary with included flights, you will be contracted with World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd, who hold ATOL number 9774.

4. Any special meal requirements will be made on a request basis only. World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd cannot guarantee special meal requests nor will it assume any responsibility or liability if passengers' special meal requests are not fulfilled.

5. At the time of publication, we are unable to be specific on the carriers and the type of aircraft that they will use.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Travel documents will be sent to you approximately 14-21 days prior to departure (provided full payment has been received). Please make sure that you provide World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd with any flight details that are booked independently from World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd 66 days prior to travel.

BOOKING CHANGES, CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

Booking changes: A fee of £50 per person will be charged for any revision or alteration (including any change or substitute of a passenger name) made to a reservation after the booking is confirmed unless the change increases the value of the booking. A change of tour date or tour itinerary within 66 days (90 days for River Cruises and 80 days for North American Tour & Cruise tours) prior to departure will be treated as a cancellation, and normal cancellation fees will apply except when the change is to an earlier tour departure of equivalent or greater value, in which case a £50 per person amendment fee will be charged.

Cancellation and cancellation fees: Notice of cancellation must be made in writing directly to World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd. The following scale of charges will apply:

Coach tours:
No. of days prior to departure* and the cancellation fee as a % of total price:
66 days or over - £140 non-refundable deposit
65 - 41 days - 25%
40 - 35 days - 35%
34 - 22 days - 50%
21 - 15 days - 60%
14 - 8 days - 90%
7 days - day of departure - 100%

North American Tour & Cruise and Tour & Train tours:
No. of days prior to departure* and the cancellation fee as a % of total price:
80 days or over - £140 non-refundable deposit
79 - 46 days - 35%
45 - 16 days - 60%
15 - 8 days - 90%
7 days - day of departure - 100%

River and Galapagos Islands Cruises:
No. of days prior to departure* and the cancellation fee as a % of total price:
90 days or over - £140 non-refundable deposit
89 - 66 days - 35%
65 - 26 days - 50%
25 days - day of departure - 100%

Different cancellation fees apply for December Galapagos departures. 

*Please note: The departure constitutes the date indicated on World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd confirmation. If you do not join the tour on the departure day of departure, cancellation fees will be 100%. The cancellation fee applies to the total cost of all travel arrangements purchased from World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd.

Airline Arrangements: Cancellation charges may also apply for airline arrangements made by World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd on your behalf as follows:
Before the airline ticket is issued, £50 per person fee.
After the airline ticket is issued, £50 per person fee plus any airline imposed penalties, which may be up to the full value of the ticket.

Extra night hotel accommodation that is cancelled within 14 days of the booked date will incur a 100% cancellation fee; outside 14 days the following fees will be charged:

66 - 41 days - 25%
40 - 35 days - 35%
34 - 22 days - 50%
21 - 15 days - 60%
Accommodation cancelled outside 66 days of the booked date will incur a charge of £15.

Cruise Arrangments:

Cruise Fees & Taxes: Your total twin-share Tour & Cruise price includes an amount covering Cruise Fees & Taxes. Cruise Fees or 'Non-Discountable Amount' as referred to by the cruise line, is a mandatory fee levied by the cruise line. That portion of the price is not subject to reduction in the event of a discount promotion, nor commissionable to travel agents. Cruise Taxes, as used by the cruise line, refers to certain taxes, fees and charges imposed by U.S. and/or foreign governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, relating to any aspect of your cruise, including, but not restricted to; customs fees, head taxes, inspection fees, immigration and naturalization fees, harbour maintenance fees and Internal Revenue Service fees. Government fees and taxes are subject to change without notice and will apply irrespective of your booking's payment status. Similarly, the cruise line reserves the right to impose or pass through fuel surcharges, security surcharges or similar incidental surcharges. No right of cancellation exists under either of these circumstances. These additional Cruise Fees & Taxes are available on request.

Cruise Line Immigration Questionnaire: These mandatory forms are available online with your cruise company and must be completed online no less than 30 days prior to your departure.

Shore Excursions: Cruise lines offer an extensive program of optional shore excursions. Confirmed passengers may confirm shore excursion requests online in advance of sailing.

Hotel Service Charge: In North America a Hotel Service Charge of $11 per passenger will be automatically added to each passenger's shipboard account on a daily basis. If the service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of the cruise.

Staterooms: 'Ocean-view Stateroom' is a cabin that features either a porthole or a window as opposed to an 'Inside Stateroom.' Cabin assignment is controlled by the cruise lines.

Ships' Registry: Holland America Line: ms Zuiderdam, ms Volendam, ms Statendam, ms Ryndam: The Netherlands.

REFUNDS AND PENALTIES:

Illness or absenteeism: In the event of your withdrawal from a tour after commencement for reasons of illness, you must obtain a medical certificate in support of any insurance claim. We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including but not limited to missed meals or sightseeing. World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd makes no representation or guarantees concerning reimbursements of funds paid by you under any insurance claim.

Airlines and airfares: If a promotional airfare contained in this website is broken or extended for any reason, an additional cost may be incurred. Airfares are subject to change at any time. Changes to flight itineraries and name changes may result in penalties charged by World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd and/or the airline concerned passed on to the passenger. All flights are subject to availability and flights may not be available to confirm at the time of booking. Any airline seat requests cannot be guaranteed.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS

Tour prices: Are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, prices, taxes, levies, exchange rates and airline prices that include fuel surcharges as at 11th August 2009. The price of your travel arrangements is subject to surcharges on the following items for increases in: transportation costs such as fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges, which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator / organiser, government action such as increases in VAT or any other government imposed increases, currency in relation to adverse exchange rate variations.Where holiday prices are surcharged, we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the holiday price, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged, but where a surcharge is payable, there will be an administration charge of 50p per person, together with the amount to cover the agent's commission. If any fuel surcharges are imposed on us by the airline after 11th August 2009 we reserve the right to pass this charge onto our clients. If this means paying more than 10% on the holiday price, you will be entitled to cancel your holiday with a full refund of all money paid except for any premium paid to us for holiday insurance and amendment charges. Should you decide to cancel because of this, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on the invoice. Should the price of your holiday go down by more than 2% of your holiday cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place. Prices for holidays in this website are based on exchange rates published in the Financial Times World Currency Guide on 11th August 2009.

Tour participation: Children under 5 years of age are ineligible on coach tours. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Passengers with disabilities are welcome on World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd tours provided they are accompanied by an able-bodied companion capable of providing all necessary assistance, and do not require special assistance from World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd personnel. Some tours may involve lengthy periods of walking or walking on uneven surfaces. Please check with your Personal Travel Consultant if you have any queries prior to travel or booking. An assessment to the suitability to join a tour may be necessary prior to booking. World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd reserves the right to refuse to carry anyone if it is felt the individual cannot cope with the requirements of coach tour travel and who may require services and facilities that World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd cannot guarantee will be available. You agree to not hold the World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd group of companies responsible for any decision made by any of them or any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you or to provide any service to you. For the benefit of all tour members,World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd reserves the right to accept or reject, or remove any tour member whose conduct is considered to be incompatible with the interests of other tour members. World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd is not responsible for any costs incurred if we have to terminate a tour member's tour due to unacceptable behaviour.

Itinerary variations: All itineraries are subject to change.World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd constantly strives to improve tour itineraries and features. If such improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, including airline schedule and routing changes, make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. At certain peak periods duplicate departures may operate, and sometimes in reverse order, in which case hotels may vary from those stated on the itinerary pages. On tours that include cruises the ship may be changed due to operational reasons. Departures in early and late seasons are potentially operated in cool weather conditions. As a result, slight itinerary variations may occur and certain activities may not be available. Availability of certain activities may also be limited due to itinerary variations. If your enjoyment may be diminished by such limitations, please check with your Personal Travel Consultant prior to booking.

Extended stays: If you have arranged with us extra night accommodation at a destination before or after your tour, please understand your stay will be at your sole expense as is the transfer from or to the airport. Breakfast and luggage handling is not included. A maximum of two nights additional accommodation can be booked in North America. Regrettably, World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd cannot provide free transfers to either the hotel or airport for passengers booking extra night accommodation before or after their tour. Please also be aware that if your extra night hotel is not the hotel where your tour begins, you will be responsible for your own transfer arrangements at your own expense. Additional transfers can be purchased from World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd.

For your comfort: World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd operates a seat rotation system and a strict non-smoking policy onboard coaches but regular comfort stops are made on travelling days. Alochol is not allowed on coaches. VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer have strict-non smoking policies throughout their trains.

Tour cancellation: World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control. If material alterations become necessary to tours or travel arrangements, for which bookings have already been made, World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd will inform passengers without delay and will give passengers the choice either of accepting the alteration, which will be of comparable standard if available, or of receiving a prompt and full refund of all money paid. Compensation will not be paid for cancellations or alterations due to force majeure events or non-payment of the balance by the passenger.Please note that World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd is not liable for any cancellation penalties incurred on any other travel arrangements including air tickets not purchased by World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd and insurance.

Complaints procedure: Should you have a complaint in respect of your holiday, you should inform your Tour Director/Representative immediately. If the matter cannot be resolved after the Tour Director's/Representative's best endeavours to do so during  the holiday, your complaint should be made in writing to World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd within 60 days of completion of your holiday.

Travel insurance: World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd recommends that passengers purchase comprehensive travel insurance. Some countries have a requirement for foreign visitors to have valid medical insurance on entry. World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd cannot be held responsible if a passenger is denied entry for being unable to provide details to the authorities of such insurance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd, the Operator, is responsible for the following duties:

1. The Operator shall be responsible to the passenger for supplying the services and accommodations described in this website, except where such services cannot be supplied or the itinerary used is changed due to delays or other causes ofwhatever kind or nature beyond the control of the Operator. In such circumstances, the Operator will do its best to supply comparable services, accommodations and itineraries and there shall be no refund in this connection.

2. Our brochure represents the entire agreement between the passenger and the above mentioned Operator.

3. In the absence of their own negligence, neither the Operators nor their agents or co-operating organizations shall be responsible for any cancellations or for acts of any other service providers concerned, diversions or substitution of equipment of any act, variations, postponements, omission or default whatsoever by air carriers, land carriers, hoteliers or hotels, transportation companies, or any other persons providing any of the services and accommodations to passengers including any results thereof, such as changes in services, accommodations or facilities necessitated by same. Nor shall they be liable for any loss or damage to baggage or property, or for injury, illness or death, or for any damages or claims whatsoever arising from loss, negligence or delay from the act, error, omission default or negligence of any person not its direct employee or under its exclusive control, including any act, error, omission, default, or negligence of any country, government or governmental authority, officer or employee. All baggage and personal effects are at all times and in all circumstances at the risk of the participant. Baggage cover is recommended. The Carriers, accommodation and other suppliers providing services are independent contractors and are not agents, employees, servants or joint ventures of the operators or their affiliates. All certificates and other travel documents for services issued by the operators are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the carriers and suppliers and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied. Carriage by sea is subject to the Carrier's Conditions of Carriage, which are expressly incorporated into this contract, copies of which are available upon request. The Operators are not responsible for any criminal conduct by third parties.

4. Where the passenger occupies a motorcoach seat fitted with a safety belt, neither the Operators nor their agents or co-operating organisations or service providers concerned will be liable for any injury, illness or death or for any loss or damages or claims whatsoever arising from any accident or incident, if the safety belt is not being worn at the time of such accident or incident.

5. Transportation companies, airlines etc. are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board planes, transportation or conveyances.We rely on international convention which may apply to the services provided by us, our suppliers or agents with respect to any claim of any nature brought by you against us as a result of the provision of those services. International conventions which apply may include: Warsaw Convention 1929, (as amended by Hague Protocol and Montreal Protocol) in relation to air travel, or Montreal Convention; the Berne Convention for rail travel; Athens Convention 1974 for carriage by sea; the Geneva Convention for carriage by road and the Paris Convention 1962 for Hotels.We are to be regarded as having all benefit of these conventions on limiting our liability in relation to any claim for death, injury, loss, damage and delay to passengers and luggage.

6. Should you or any member of your party suffer illness, personal injury or death through any misadventure arising out of an activity which does not formpart of any excursion sold through us, we shall, subject to our reasonable discretion, offer you every assistance we can. Where, with our prior agreement, legal action is undertaken, initial costs associated therewith shall be met by us, always provided that such assistance is requested 90 days fromthe date of themisadventure. This includes advice, guidance and initial financial assistance where appropriate, up to the limit of £5,000 per booking. This service is provided by a legal expenses insurance policy. Should any payment be made to you or any member of your party by us in any of these circumstances, we reserve the right to claim in your place against the party responsible. This means that you must agree to assign that part of your rights to us and we will be subrogated to those rights.

7. All matters arising are subject to English law.

8. Every effort is made to ensure brochure accuracy at the time of going to press; however World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd cannot be held responsible for printing or typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances.

9. Enrolment in and payment for a tour shall constitute agreement and acceptance by the passenger of the terms and conditions set forth in this website, which cannot be varied except in writing by an officer of the Company.

10. Arbitration of Disputes: Disputes arising out of or in connection with this contract which cannot be amicably settled, may, (if the customer so wishes) be referred to arbitration under a Special Scheme which, though devised by arrangement with the Association of British Travel Agents, is administered quite independently by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The Scheme (details of which will be supplied on request) provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on the customer in respect of costs. The Scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5,000 per person. There is also a limit of £25,000 per booking. Neither does it apply to claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness. The rules of the Scheme provide that the application for arbitration must be made within nine months of the return from the holiday, but in special circumstances it may still be offered outside this period.

OTHER CONDITIONS

It is your responsibilty to comply with the terms, conditions or requirements of any service provider, or any country or governmental authorities, or to bear any costs or losses incurred as a consequence of you not complying with them.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Passports and visas: Each passenger is responsible for ensuring that all necessary visas are obtained prior to departure and that their passport is valid as per the laws of the country that they are travelling in or through. Passengers will require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the conclusion of their trip and that has appropriate visas. Some countries including the US require a Machine Readable passport. Some of our tours enter a country more than once and multiple-entry visas may therefore be required for some countries. Please contact your relevant government authority for the necessary up-to-date visa and travel information.

Tour documents: will be sent to you approximately 14-21 days prior to departure. Read this information carefully before you leave as it contains advice and vital information about your trip.

Medical: Please check with your GP prior to travel as you are responsible for all necessary vaccinations prior to travel.

Holidays and changes: During local and national holidays abroad, certain facilities such as museums, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited. In such instances and, whenever possible, World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd makes slight itinerary adjustments to minimise inconvenience to tour members. If however your enjoyment might be diminished by such minor limitations, please check with the respective national tourist office before selecting a departure. Holidays, closing days and other circumstances may change the day of the week for scheduled 'dining out', gala dinners, sightseeing or other activities.

Plan your budget: You are advised to do this well in advance and be sure to allocate funds for special events while on tour such as theatre, celebration meals, shopping and side trips, and additional optional excursions.

PLEASE NOTE: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) may have issued information online at www.fco.gov.uk/travel. For travel information you can also contact ABTA's website at http://www.abta.com/ or phone them on 0901 201 5050 (calls charged at 50p/minute).

CONSUMER PROTECTION

The air holidays and flights on this website are ATOL Protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser's License granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9774. In the very unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information, visit the ATOL website at http://www.atol.org.uk/.

ABTA statement: World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd is amember of ABTA withmembership number Y0569. ABTA and ABTA members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan.We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA's code of conduct. For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London. SE1 9EQ. Tel: 020 3117 0500 or http://www.abta.com/.

DATA PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT

Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities or dietary/religious requirements. In making a booking, you consent to this information being passed on to relevant persons.Where the data might be passed on for marketing purposes, you have the right to opt out of future marketing. You also have a right of access to data held which can be obtained by writing to World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Unfortunately it is inevitable that some of the prices or details contained within this website may have changed since the website was published. You will be informed about any changes to any of the relevant details when you book with ourselves as part of our commitment to high quality customer service. Any bookings made in the UK will be made with World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd (6334865), which is a member of ABTA and licensed (ATOL) by the Civil Aviation Authority.

World's Leading Travel Companies Ltd (trading as Milestones)
Beulah Court, Albert Road, Horley, Surrey. UK. RH6 7HP
Tel: +44(0)1293 471 461 Fax: +44(0)1293 471 672