Booking Information
Please do not hesitate to call to talk about any tour that you are interested in and to check that there are places available. Between us in the office, we set up every detail of our programme and can answer all your questions. There is further practical information in the brochure and on the hard copy of the booking form which can also be found on our brochure download centre. Click to read our booking conditions.
In order for you to get the most enjoyment out of your holiday and to ensure that you choose the best holiday we strongly recommend that you ready the pre-trip information contained in our booking form PDF – see our Download Centre.
Step 1. How to Book
You may book by any of the following methods:
a) RESERVE PLACES ONLINE. Go to your chosen tour on our website, scrolling down to the dates and prices box and clicking on ‘Book’, please leave a telephone number and fill any bold fields that you do not have information for with “x”. We will then call you back to take your payment. (Note: We do not recommend sending card details by email) We will confirm your booking by email.
b) BOOK BY TELEPHONE. Call us (0044 (0)1730 263111) to confirm your places and provide us with your debit or credit card details for your deposit (credit cards incur a 1.5% charge). We can fill in the booking form for you over the phone, and then send it to you for you to sign and return.
Alternatively you may download the booking form to send to us by fax (0044 (0)1730 711295), email this to us sales@winetours.co.uk or post it to us (see address at bottom of the page). (Please do not put credit card details on the form if you are emailing a copy to us.
c) BOOK BY FAX or POST. We can send or fax you a copy (or download it as above). Please complete it with your credit or debit card details for your deposit and send it to us by fax. Or post it to us with your cheque, credit or debit card details .
d) FIRST MAKE A PROVISIONAL BOOKING. If you need a few days to discuss the tour with your travelling companion(s) or you prefer to pay by cheque, please call us to check availability and if we have sufficient space we will hold your place(s) for you for up to 5 days to give you time to forward your booking confirmation to us.
e) COME & SEE US. We are very pleased to welcome you at Arblaster and Clarke. Please call first to make sure that the person you need to see will be in the office as we do all travel a lot! For directions and a map see The Office.
Please do make sure that you have completed all sections of the booking form including any special requests, and full details of dietary requirements in order that we can be sure to deliver these to you on tour wherever possible. Dietary requirements should be given to us at the time of booking. Dietary Requirements (except for new medical conditions) not advised to us at least 28 days before departure will incur an amendment fee of £50 to cover the extra administration and phone calls to restaurants changing menus etc which are involved.
We accept payment by ACCESS, VISA & AMERICAN EXPRESS credit cards; VISA and CONNECT debit cards. There is a 1.5% charge to cover the cost of Credit Cards but no charge for Debit Cards. You may provide your card details via our secure website, by phone or by fax.
Step 2 – Booking Confirmation
We acknowledge your booking and confirm special arrangements with a confirmation invoice, and mail or email your hotel and parking details for your joining point.
Step 3 – Paying the balance
Your final balance is due no later than 10 weeks on all tours except cruises where it is due no later than 12 weeks before departure. The date will show on your confirmation invoice. When you book a holiday within 10 weeks(or 12 weeks for cruises) of departure full payment is due on booking.
The date is shown on your invoice but please note no reminder letter is sent. If you are likely to be away at this time, please make arrangements for payment to reach us before you leave. Late payment may mean that we cancel your holiday and the cancellation terms as in clause 5 of the booking conditions will apply.
If you have paid your deposit by debit or credit card we will automatically deduct the final balance due with the 1.5% charge (if applicable) from this card on the due date. If the balance is due on a non-business day (e.g. weekend or bank holiday), it will be taken on the previous working day.
If you would prefer to make this payment by any other method it is essential that we receive the alternative payment in good time before the due date, as once we have deducted the payment from your credit card we cannot refund the bank charges. With recent security checks the banks are often refusing clients’ payments, so please do ensure that you advise your bank when this payment is due to avoid delay or misunderstanding.
If payment is not received in our offices 10 weeks (or 12 weeks for cruises) before the date of travel, we may offer these places to clients on our wait-list and your deposits would be forfeit.
Step 4 – Pre-trip documents
On receipt of your balance we will send you (via email or post) your confirmation with practical tour information and the website link for a packing checklist and regional wine information for your destination. All pre-trip information can be found on Useful Travel Information:/useful-travel-info at any time.
Step 5 – Tickets & final timings
8 – 10 days before departure you will receive, by e-mail, the final joining instructions, outline daily tour plan, restaurant list and any necessary travel documents and e-ticket details if you are flying with us. Where you do not have an e-mail address this will all be sent by standard post within the U.K.
If you would like your travel documents mailing by special delivery there is a £10 charge, and if you would like them mailing to a non UK address there is a £30 charge. If you are likely to be away from your main address when these details are due to arrive, we may be able to email or mail you the final joining instruction information only, sooner than this date and supply you on tour with any additional information as necessary. If this is the case please contact us to discuss what arrangements can be made.
Travel Insurance
All clients must have travel insurance with medical emergency assistance, personal accident and liability cover and it is the client’s responsibility to supply A&C in writing of the policy name, number and emergency phone number numbers.
Travel Insurance Information
At Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours we believe that your safety and holiday enjoyment are very important. Therefore travel insurance is a must whenever you travel abroad, from the moment that you make your booking, to ensure that you are covered in the event of your cancellation for insurable reasons.
Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours’ preferred travel insurance partner is Campbell Irvine Ltd. However, as a consequence of a change in the current regulatory framework for travel insurance all policies issued from 1st Jan 2013 will be arranged directly with Campbell Irvine. Please quote Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours when you purchase your insurance.
You can obtain a quotation and purchase travel insurance directly from Campbell Irvine and if you have any queries relating to insurance please do contact the Travel Insurance consultants at Campbell Irvine on:
Telephone: 0844 826 2722 | Email: info@campbellirvine.com | Website: www.campbellirvine.com/asp/quotationChooseSTMT.asp
Arblaster and Clarke Wine Tours Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd who are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Please Note: Non-UK clients, please consult your local insurance broker.
Special Requests & Celebrations
Wine Tours make great birthday, anniversary or other gifts!
We often help celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. If you’d like us to add a cake, champagne or flowers on your wine tour, we can arrange this for a small charge. If the holiday is a surprise, mark your booking form clearly with the different address or instructions, so that we can help you keep the secret.
Also if there is something that is important to you for your enjoyment of your holiday, please do ensure that you address this in writing to us at the time of booking. Our aim is to give clients great holidays and if you tell us what you want, we can do our best to supply it, or to let you know if it may be possible or not!
ARBLASTER & CLARKE WINE TOURS Ltd
Cedar Court, 5 College Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, England GU31 4AE
Telephone: 0044 (0) 1730 263111 Fax: 01730 711295
Company registered in England no 2966601. VAT no GB 459 6545 01. ATOL no 2543. Non-flight tours bonded with ABTA Y5806.
