travel consultancy terms of business

cancellation or changes to your booking prior to the start of your holiday (by us)

We try to avoid making any changes to your holiday arrangements. However, due to the fact that we plan holiday programmes many months in advance, it is sometimes necessary to make minor alterations. Therefore, we must reserve the right to alter travel arrangements after this contract has been entered into for which we are not obliged to advise and for which no compensation or refund is due. However, if major changes are made, as defined in the next paragraph, we will advise you as soon as we are in a position to do so and you have a number of options available to you.

Major Changes include a change of resort, accommodation of a lower official rating and cancellation of your holiday. Please note that these are examples only and there may be other changes, which constitute Major changes.

If we alter your booking in any way which amounts to a Major change as defined above, or if we cancel the original booking within 56 days of the scheduled departure you will be free to: a) accept the new holiday arrangements, offered by us, or, b) purchase another holiday from us at the current advertised selling price, or, c) cancel your holiday with us altogether and receive a full refund of monies paid.

You must notify us of your choice in writing, within 7 days of the alternative holiday arrangements offered by us. (Refer to “Open Sicily contact details” section) as failure to do so will be deemed as your acceptance. Whichever option you choose you will be entitled to compensation as outlined in the table below and subject to all conditions being met.

Please note – Compensation payments or refunds will not be made where the changes are caused by situations under the heading force majeure, such as war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural disasters, epidemics, health risks, fire, technical problems to transport, closure or congestion of airports, stations or ports, cancellations or changes of schedules by carriers ceasing to operate due to adverse weather conditions or other reasons and similar events outside our control or where we cancel because you have failed to pay the balance of your holiday cost.

Tours are dependent on minimum numbers. In the case of insufficient demand for a particular tour we reserve the right to consolidate or cancel the tour, though we will not do so within 56 days of your scheduled departure. We will endeavour to offer the same tour on a different date, or an alternative holiday of similar standard, or a refund of all monies paid.

changes to your booking prior to the to the start of holiday (by you)

If you are prevented from travelling, you may transfer your booking to another person or group, as long as you give at least 21 days notice and the arrangements remain exactly the same as the original booking. You must also agree to pay any charges we may incur or levy to make this change. For the purpose of this contract we define “prevented” to be death, accident, illness, jury service or witness summons, or redundancy of yourself or a travelling companion.

If you wish to transfer your booking to another Open Sicily product thereby changing the arrangements completely this will be treated as a cancellation with loss of deposit and if applicable cancellation charges as set out in the table below and it will be necessary to re-book another holiday.

If you wish to add any new persons onto the booking, including car hire, pre-booked excursions or other offers featured on our website and we are able to confirm such changes, no amendment fee will be levied. However such changes may not always be accepted within 14 days prior to the date of departure, unless confirmed at the time of booking.

If you wish to make any changes at all to your holiday booking, including name changes, once we have issued a confirmation invoice, but outside the cancellation period outlined in “Cancellation or changes to your booking prior to the start of your holiday (by us)” we will do our best to help. However, we may not always be able to meet your request and have no obligation to do so. Where it is possible to meet your request, the total holiday cost will be recalculated in accordance with any new arrangements taking into account under occupancy supplements, any applicable cancellation fees or other extra charges payable and a new confirmation invoice issued. There will also be an additional charge of £25 per person.

If you cancel your holiday, the lead name on the booking must advise us in writing by post, fax or email immediately. Verbal cancellations will not be accepted. If you cancel you will be liable to pay the cancellation charges set out in the table below. Cancellation periods are calculated from the date your cancellation is received by us at our offices at Open Sicily via post, fax or email (refer to “Open Sicily Contact details” section. The term “total holiday cost” in the table means the total holiday booking cost for all persons included on the booking and shown on our invoice, if cancellation occurs prior to the scheduled date of departure.

If you cancel your holiday more than 56 days prior to your departure then an administration charge of £25 will apply and this will be deducted from your initial holiday payment.

If you cancel your holiday on the day of departure due to circumstances beyond your control, compensation or refunds will not be payable by ourselves and any such claims should be forwarded to your insurers.

If you curtail your booking, for whatever reason, no refunds will be payable for any unused nights accommodation.  Subject to the other terms of these booking conditions, no refunds will be made in respect of any accommodation or other services, which are not used, for whatever reason.

Please be aware that travel insurance supplied by Open Sicily is payable in full at the time of booking and is non refundable.  Therefore, this service is not subject to the cancellation charges shown above.