Booking Conditions


All holidays in this brochure are provided by Saddle Skedaddle Limited (“the Company” or “we”) and are sold subject to the following conditions:

Making a Booking
1. Prior to booking please read the brochure description, tour dossier and these booking conditions. If you have any questions please contact us for clarification.To make a booking you must be over 18 and send us whether by post or by completing and transmitting a booking form to us electronically a completed booking form and non-refundable deposit for each person. A contract will only be in place between us (all persons named on the booking form) once your deposit has cleared to us and we have issued a confirmation. We will invoice you for the remainder of the cost of your holiday, which you must pay no later than 56 days before departure. If you book less than 56 days before departure full payment must be made on booking. If the balance is not paid in time we reserve the right to cancel your holiday and apply the cancellation charges outlined below. The date on the confirmation will be the date the contract is made.

Transfers

2. If any person is prevented from travelling, we will agree to that person’s booking being transferred to another person who satisfies all the conditions applicable to the holiday, subject to both persons accepting joint and several liability for fullpayment of the holiday price and our charge for confirming the transfer and any additional costs arising from the transfer. We must be given reasonable notice of the transfer request, which is considered to be at least 14 days prior to the departure date.

Cancellation

3. If you wish to cancel your holiday, this must be done in writing (including by email to info@skedaddle.co.uk) provided that in all instances receipt can be acknowledged by the person who is the first person named on the confirmation issued to you. You will be liable to the following cancellation charges:

(i) 56 days or more before the departure date you will forfeit your deposit;

(ii) more than 28 days and less than 56 days a 50% refund of the holiday price will be made;

(iii) less than 28 days before the departure date no refund will be given; or

(iv) if appropriate in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Company shall be entitled to retain such lower sum as is needed to cover its reasonable costs and losses caused by the cancellation.The Company shall take all reasonable steps to keep its costs and losses to a minimum.

4. To take part in our holidays you must have adequate insurance cover for baggage, equipment (including, without limitation and where appropriate, bicycles and helmets intended for your use whether hired or otherwise) medical expenses and the cost of repatriation should you become too ill to continue with your holiday. There is insurance designed for the type of holidays we offer and we recommend you purchase insurance with this type of cover. Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured must be directed to your insurers.

5. We may cancel your holiday; including in the following circumstances:

(i) where unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our reasonable controlarise, for example, war, civil or political unrest, terrorism, poor weather conditions and technical problems arise with transport; and/or

(ii) the minimum number needed to operate one of our holidays has not been met.
In the latter case we will advise you no later than 14 days prior to departure. If we cancel acting reasonably, we will, if possible, offer an alternative holiday. If this is not acceptable to you we will refund all payments made to us in respect of your holiday but not any insurance premium as this product is purchased from a third party and operates from the time of purchase. As noted above we recommend that you are insured. You should utilise that insurance cover for any loss you suffer before making or accepting a refund from us. Please note that flights and other products you purchase separately do not form part of your holiday.

6. Prices of holidays featured in this brochure may change at any time up to the point a contract is made. We have the right to increase or decrease prices in line with any change in VAT or any other dues or fees levied on your break. We will not make any such increase to the basic cost of your holiday within 30 days of your holiday start date. We will also absorb all such increases where they form less than 2% of the total cost of your holiday. These provisions exclude insurance and cancellation charges. All relevant prices include VAT at the appropriate rate. Price increases, decreases and surcharges will be calculated according to the full extra cost or reduction in cost compared to the costs and exchange rates which were obtained on 14 December 2007 (£1=US$2.022, £1=Euro1.397) except for surcharges required by government action, which will be charged in full.

7. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you accept the risks and hazards of such a holiday, including the dangers inherent in the other activities included in our other holidays. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you accept the risks of such holidays in terms of the potential for delays and alterations, due to possible changes of local politics, weather, border restrictions, terrorism, disease, loss or damage to property, inconvenience, and discomfort.

8. On any of our holidays it is necessary that you abide by the authority of the leader, who represents the Company. Completing our booking form signifies your agreement to this, and if you commit any illegal act when on the holiday or if in the reasonable opinion of the leader your behaviour is causing or likely to cause danger, distress or annoyance to others we may terminate your travel arrangements without any liability on our part. If you are affected by any condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect your or other people’s enjoyment of the holiday, you must advise us before booking. If you do not do so, we may cancel your holiday at any time.

9. There is a natural need to be flexible in a tour of this kind. The day to day agenda and ultimate aim of this trip is taken as an aim and not as a contractual obligation. It is a fundamental condition of booking that you accept this flexibility, and acknowledge that delays and alterations and their subsequent results, such as inconvenience, discomfort, or disappointment, are possible.

10. If after departure we are unable to provide a significant proportion of the services we had agreed to aim to provide as part of our contract with you, we will act reasonably to make suitable alternative arrangements.

11. Our responsibility does not commence until the appointed time at the designated meeting point. If you fail to arrive there at the appointed time for whatever reason, we will not be responsible for any additional expenses incurred by you to meet up with the group.

12. Medical vaccinations and other preliminary arrangements including passport,travellers cheques, visa procurement are your responsibility. Recommended vaccinations for each tour are detailed in the specific tour dossiers. Please check these before booking and comply with any recommendations in good time. Allow suitable time to obtain these vaccinations and consult your local GP.

13. Travel arrangements to meet or on leaving any tour are your responsibility and do not form part of your holiday. Any guidance we may provide is simply that and must be checked by you.

14. No refund or compensation will be made or given for any unused hotel accommodation, services or features of the holiday where unused at your discretion or action/inaction.

15. We shall not be held liable for any damages caused by the total, or partial failure to provide your holiday if such failure is:

(i) attributable to you; or

(ii) unforeseeable or unavoidable and attributable to a third party unconnected with the Company or any of our sub-contractors; or

(iii) as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control such as strikes, war, civil or political unrest or government action; or

(iv) as result of an event that we with all due care could not foresee or forestall; or

16. In all instances the total maximum amount of damages, compensation and loss of enjoyment is limited to twice the basic tour price per person shown onthe invoice.

17. Any information given by the Company in regard to climate, clothing, special equipment, topography etc is done so in good faith and must be rechecked by you prior to relying on it.

18. Any complaints regarding the holiday should be made to the tour leader and/or local representative who will normally take the appropriate action. If at the end of the tour, you feel that your complaint was not dealt with properly and were not satisfied with the response, you must notify us of your complaint in writing within 28 days of the actual completion date of the return. We will try to agree a settlement with you.

19. If, despite our best efforts and having followed the above procedure for reporting and resolving your complaint, you feel that it has not been satisfactorily settled, we recommend that it is referred for arbitration under the ABTOT Travel Industry Arbitration Service. An Independent arbitrator will review the documents relating to any complaint and deliver a binding decision to bring the matter to a close. Details of this scheme are available from ABTOT, Tower 42, Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ. In order for the complaint to be reviewed by the arbitrator a fee of £94 is payable by the customer. This scheme cannot decide in cases where the sums claimed exceed £1,500 per person or £7,500 per booking form, or for claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or the consequence thereof.

20. These booking conditions may only be waived by a Director of the company in writing.

21. When you sign the booking form, or accept confirmation of booking where booking online you agree to accept all these conditions and when we accept your booking we agree to carry out our obligations as detailed to you. These booking conditions and the information in the tour dossiers form the basis of the contract between you and the Company. If there is any discrepancy, please bring it to our attention and seek clarification. In all cases the tour dossier should be considered as more up to date than the brochure. These booking conditions are governed by English law and both you and the Company agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

22. A general indication is provided of the itinerary for each holiday, the type of accommodation used, what is included in the price, passport and visa requirements, and health formalities. Changes in all of these items may be made at any time and we will notify you of any changes that we become aware of as soon as we are reasonably able to do so. For most holidays we publish detailed Trip Dossiers which contain the up-to-date definitive information about the holiday, and which will be sent on request or can be downloaded from our website. You should ensure that you are fully aware of the contents of the Trip Dossier before booking. The information and conditions relating to your holiday (and extension/options where applicable) contained in the Trip Dossier will be deemed to be part of the contract, and you should therefore read them carefully.

23. By booking, any likeness or image of you secured or taken on any of our holidays maybe used by the Company without charge in all media (whether now existing or in the future) for bona fide promotional materials of any kind, such as brochures, videos and the internet.

24. If bringing your own equipment on one of our holidays, please ensure that it is adequately maintained and insured. We will take all reasonable care when transporting equipment, however we are not responsible financially for any damage caused by a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for during our holiday or in transit to the start point of the holiday.

25. The Company may transfer and / or assign its rights and / or its obligations under these booking conditions. This will not affect your rights under this contract. You may not transfer any of your rights or obligations under these booking conditions without the Company’s prior written consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld.

26. If either you or we breach this contract and the party not in breach ignores this, the party not in breach will still be entitled to use its rights and remedies at a later date.

27. If any part of these terms and conditions is unenforceable (including any provision in which the Company’s liability to you is excluded) the enforceability of any other part of these terms and conditions will not be affected.

28. A person who is not a party to this contract has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this contract, but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party that exists or is available apart from that Act.

We draw your special attention to the following:

29. Security of your property

29.1 Your personal belongings are your own responsibility during your holiday with us.

29.2 Activities which take place out of doors are provided subject to appropriate weather conditions prevailing at the time the activity is to take place.

29.3 You must ensure that any activity or facility selected by you or any members of your party is suitable for those who are taking part.

30. Special Requirements

30.1 We welcome people with restricted mobility, medical or particular care requirements or a disability, and aim to ensure that our services are as accessible as reasonably possible to all. In order that we may consider the possibility of making reasonable adjustments however, it is important that we are fully apprised of any needs, requirements and conditions prior to any booking being concluded. Please telephone us and we will be happy to discuss availability, suitability and potential reasonable adjustments with you, including any requirement for you or a member of your party to be accompanied by someone who is able to provide for any particular needs you or they may have, over and above any reasonable adjustments we are able to make. A risk assessment might be required prior to confirming a booking or allowing participation in certain activities. Please note that we rely on the information you provide to help us anticipate and satisfy your needs. We therefore require you to update us with any change in circumstances prior to and during your stay. Our guides can only provide general first aid. As such it may be necessary for you or a member of your party to be able to administer or attend to your/their own medical needs or have someone accompany you/them who can do so.

31. Points to consider before booking

31.1. You may not bring with you or use any shotgun, knife, firearm, air weapon, archery equipment, fireworks (including sparklers), illegal substances or similar item under any circumstances.

31.2. Should you wish to use one of our holidays as a gift, prize, part of a reward programme or other promotion you must contact us before making the booking. We will detail the special requirements that apply. By booking you will be deemed to have accepted our special requirements as notified to you.

31.3. You may not advertise, use, give or resell your holiday or any discount offer associated with it or offer to do so (for profit or otherwise) or use it in connection with a competition, promotion, business and charitable or any other similar venture without our express advance written permission.

31.4. You should inform us immediately if, within 4 weeks prior to your arrival date or during your break, any member of your party has, or develops, an infectious or contagious medical condition. If so we have the right to:

31.4.1. refuse to accept your booking;

31.4.2. cancel your break; or

31.4.3. ask any member of your party to leave immediately, should we, at our reasonable discretion, consider it necessary to protect the health of others.

32. Equipment etc

32.1. You are expected to use the equipment and facilities provided to you with care and to keep them in a clean and tidy condition. We reserve the right to charge you for any extra cleaning, missing items or damage. We reserve the right to enter your accommodation at any time for any reasonable purpose, for example, to make checks, or carry out essential inspection, maintenance work, housekeeping or repairs. Please note that your occupation is not therefore exclusive.

33. Behaviour

33.1. Your behaviour should not be excessive, noisy or disruptive, especially at night. Offensive or illegal behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in the police being involved. We do not consider offensive or aggressive behaviour or language towards our staff to be acceptable. We may ask you and/or any member of your party to leave immediately if your conduct is considered by us to be inappropriate, likely to cause harm, or impair the enjoyment, comfort or safety of your neighbours, other members of your group, staff and the general public, or is likely, in our belief, to breach any of our agreement with you. No refunds or compensation will be given in these circumstances and we reserve the right not to accept any future bookings from you or any member of your party.

34. Children’s Supervision and Parental Responsibility

34.1. You are responsible for the supervision of all members of your party under the age of 18.

35. Compensation payable by you

35.1. By booking you agree that we have the right either during or after your holiday to recover from you, either via the credit/charge or debit card used to pay for the holiday or otherwise, the costs of:

35.1.1. any compensation we may pay to others, including others on the tour,and/or

35.1.2. any property or accommodation damage, and/or

35.1.3. any other charges, fees or levies we may incur resulting from your action or inaction and from any breach of these conditions.

36. Improvements and Maintenance

36.1. As we continually strive to improve our facilities and holidays you may find that:

36.1.1. new facilities are available;

36.1.2. listed facilities are temporarily closed for maintenance and/or improvement;

36.1.3. some facilities have been altered;

36.1.4. maintenance work or housekeeping tasks are undertaken;

36.1.5. different equipment is provided to that described in our brochures or other communications.

37. Safety

37.1. You are required to follow any safety advice provided to you.

Saddle Skedaddle Limited, Ouseburn Building, East Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1LL United Kingdom Registered in England 3719782