Booking Terms & Conditions for:
Mandala World Travel
Company No: 14449339
1 Green Field Close, The Lizard, TR12 7RT UK
The following booking conditions together with the Booking Information form the basis of your contract with Mandala World Travel read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations.
These booking conditions only apply to holiday arrangements which you book with us in the UK and which we agree to make, provide, or perform (as applicable) as part of our contract. All references in these booking conditions to ‘booking’, ‘contract’, ‘itinerary’, ‘tour’ or ‘arrangements’ mean such holiday arrangements.
In these booking conditions, the following words have the following meanings. References to ‘you’, ‘your’ and ‘party’ means all persons (or any of them as the context permits or requires) named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) and ‘party leader’ means the adult who makes the booking. ‘We’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ means Mandala World Travel (1 Green Field Close, The Lizard, Cornwall TR12 7RT)
1. Making your booking
To confirm a booking, you should provide us with the information requested. All bookings are subject to our booking conditions. The party leader (who must be at least 18) must be authorised by all persons named on the booking, or their parent or guardian where any such person is under 18, to make a booking with us based on our booking conditions. By making a booking, the party leader confirms that you agree to the Booking Conditions. The party leader is responsible for making all payments due to us as set out in more detail in clause 2 below. If you make your reservation through an authorised travel agent, we shall address all communications to the agent.
Subject to the availability of your chosen arrangements and receipt of the payment due at the time of booking (see clause 2), we will confirm your booking by issuing a confirmation invoice. This invoice will be sent to the party leader or your travel agent. Please check your invoice carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact us immediately if any information which appears on the confirmation, or any other document, appears to be incorrect or incomplete as it may not be possible to make changes later. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracy (for which we are responsible) in any document within 14 days of our sending it out (5 days for tickets). We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits, but you must meet any costs involved in doing so. The only exception to this requirement to meet costs is where the mistake in question was made by us and there is good reason why you did not tell us about it within these time limits.
2. Payment
The applicable deposit is 20% of the holiday or £200 – whichever is greater. If you are booking 10 weeks or less before departure, the total cost of the holiday must be paid at the time of booking.
For some holidays we may request a higher deposit to cover non-refundable elements of the holiday payable by us to our suppliers on booking or prior to balance due date. If this is the case, we will let you know the additional costs (eg domestic flight tickets, park fees or deposits from suppliers) at the time of booking if suppliers have told us, or else as soon as they inform us.
When this happens, we will discuss this with you including any risks that may arise to make sure you are fully aware before proceeding.
If we do not receive all payments due (including any surcharge where applicable) in full and on time, we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. In this case, we will be entitled to keep all payments which are paid or due at that date. If we do not cancel straight away because you have promised to make payment, you must pay the cancellation charges shown in clause 8 depending on the date we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled.
Final payment is due 10 weeks prior to travel – 70 days.
3. Prices
Some small group trips require a minimum number before we can operate them. The applicable minimum number depends on various factors and varies from tour to tour. If the group size drops below the minimum number, we reserve the right either to cancel or to run the trip. We promise to advise you no later than 6 weeks prior to departure if we have to cancel your holiday due to lack of numbers. Clause 10 of our booking conditions will then apply. For groups, the price per person given at the time of booking is based on a particular number of participants. If the group size changes at any time prior to departure (including where confirmed participants cancel without being substituted and pay less than 100% cancellation charges), we reserve the right to re-cost the trip and the per person price. Any increase in the price will be payable by all remaining participants. The increase will not be a surcharge and accordingly will not be subject to the surcharge provision set out in clause 9 of our booking conditions. Tailor-made prices are based on two people travelling together and sharing a room. If you require a single room, a supplement (available on request) will be payable.cv
4. Your contract
A binding contract between us and you comes into existence when we despatch our confirmation invoice to the party leader or your travel agent. We both agree that English law (and no other) will apply to that contract and to any dispute, claim or other matter of any description that arises between us (‘claim’) (except as set out below). We both also agree that any claim must be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings must either be brought in the courts of your home country or those of England and Wales. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have the contract and your claim governed by the law of Scotland or Northern Ireland as applicable (but if you do not so choose, English law will apply).
5. Special requests and medical conditions/disabilities/reduced mobility
If you have a special request, you should inform us of it in writing at the time of booking. We will advise the relevant supplier of your requirements, but we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met unless we have specifically confirmed this. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing from us that your request will be complied with (where it is possible for us to give this) if your request is important to you. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability.
If you have any medical condition or disability or suffer from reduced mobility which may affect your holiday or any special requirements as a result of any medical condition, disability or reduced mobility (including any which affect the booking process), please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and/or making the booking. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking and whenever any change in the condition or disability or your mobility occurs. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability or reduction in your mobility which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. Any client affected by a disability or medical condition must ensure they have notified this to their travel insurers and that their travel insurance will cover it.
6. Insurance
You must have adequate and appropriate holiday travel insurance. The insurance must as a minimum cover holiday cancellation, personal accident, medical expenses, loss of effects, repatriation costs and other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury or delay. Your policy should include a minimum cover of £5,000,000 for medical and repatriation expenses. Policy details should be read carefully and taken on holiday with you. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs.
We strongly advise that you make sure your insurance policy includes cover in the event of you having to cancel or curtail your holiday due to contracting coronavirus, being required to quarantine on medical grounds, or if you have become directly exposed to the virus and ordered to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.
7. Changes by you
If you wish to make any alterations to your holiday, we will do our best to help, but cannot guarantee that alterations will be possible. If they are, these will be subject to payment of any amendment or other charges imposed or incurred by the relevant supplier plus the sum of £25 per amendment / booking (as applicable) to cover our administrative costs. Requests for amendments must be made in writing by the party leader.
If we accept a request to transfer you from one holiday to another you will be liable for the cancellation charges applicable as a result of cancelling the original holiday in addition to the cost of the new one. In addition, we also reserve the right to charge an administration fee of 10% of the value of the first holiday booked.
If you are prevented from travelling, the person(s) concerned may transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you) providing we are notified not less than 2 weeks before the start of your holiday. All costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers as a result together with an amendment fee of £25 per person must be paid before the transfer can be effected. Any overdue balance payment must also be received. For flight inclusive bookings, you must pay the charges levied by the airline concerned. As most airlines do not permit name changes after tickets have been issued for any reason, these charges are likely to be the full cost of the flight.
8. Cancellation by you
Should you or any member of your party need to cancel your holiday once it has been confirmed, the party leader must immediately advise us in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only be effective when it is received in writing by us at our offices. As we incur costs from the time we confirm your booking, the following cancellation charges will be payable. Where the cancellation charge is shown as a percentage, this is calculated on the basis of the total cost payable by the person(s) cancelling excluding amendment charges and any charity donation paid at the time of booking. Amendment charges and charity donations are not refundable in the event of cancellation.
Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us
Cancellation charge per person cancelling.
More than 70 days Deposit paid or payable at the time of booking
45 to 70 days 50%
31 to 44 days 75%
30 days or less 100%
Depending on the reason for cancellation, you may be able to reclaim these cancellation charges (less any excess) under the terms of your insurance policy. Claims must be made directly to the insurance company concerned.
Please note, deposits are not refundable in the event of your cancellation except as set out in these Booking Conditions.
Deposits include any additional amounts payable at the time of booking or as an interim payment to cover non-refundable elements of the holiday which need to be paid to suppliers at this stage or prior to balance due date. Partial cancellation may result in additional costs being payable by the remaining participants.
9. Price changes after booking
Prices quoted are based on costs and exchange rates as known at the time your quotation is prepared. We reserve the right to make changes to and correct errors in quoted prices at any time before your holiday is confirmed.
Once the price of your chosen holiday has been confirmed at the time of booking, we will only increase or decrease it in the following circumstances. A surcharge or refund (as applicable) will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, in the event of a change in transportation costs (e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator) or in dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports or in the exchange rate(s) which have been used to calculate the cost of your holiday.
Even in the above cases, only if the increase in our costs exceeds 2% of the total cost of your holiday (excluding insurance premium and any amendment charges) will we levy a surcharge. A surcharge will only be levied in respect of the amount by which the increase in our costs exceeds this 2%. If any surcharge is greater than 10% of the cost of your holiday (excluding any insurance premiums and amendment charges), the party leader will be entitled to cancel the booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid to us (except for any amendment or previously levied cancellation charges) or alternatively purchase another holiday from us as referred to in clause 10 below. Where a surcharge is payable, there will be an administration fee of £5 per person. Please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your holiday due to contractual and other protection in place.
A refund will only be payable if any decrease in our costs exceeds 2% as set out above. Where a refund is due, we will pay you the full amount of the decrease in our costs.
You have 14 days from the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel or purchase another holiday where applicable. If you do not tell us that you wish to do so within this period of time, we are entitled to assume that you will pay the surcharge. Any surcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of the holiday or within 14 days of the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later.
We promise not to levy a surcharge within 30 days of the start of your holiday. No refunds will be payable if any decrease in our costs occurs within this period either.
10. Changes and cancellation by us
We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors in details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations, we reserve the right to do so.
Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a ‘significant change’. A significant change is a change made before departure which we can reasonably expect to have a major effect on your holiday. Significant changes are likely to include the following changes when made before departure; a change of outward departure time or overall length of time you are away of twelve or more hours*, a change of UK departure point* to one which is more inconvenient for you and a significant change of itinerary missing out one or more major destination substantially or altogether (on which our decision is final).
* Only applies where international flights to and from the UK form part of your holiday.
If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you or your travel agent as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:
(For significant changes) accepting the changed arrangements; or
Purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similar quality to that originally booked if available. Providing it is possible to do so, we will offer at least one alternative holiday of at least equivalent standard for which you will not be asked to pay any more than the original price. If this holiday is in fact cheaper than the original one, we will refund the price difference. If the party leader does not wish to accept the holiday we specifically offer, you may choose any of our other then available holidays. You must pay the applicable price of any such holiday. This will mean you paying more if it is more expensive or receiving a refund if it is cheaper; or
Cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us.
Please note: the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one.
If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will as a minimum (where compensation is appropriate) pay you the compensation set out below depending on the circumstances and when the significant change or cancellation is notified to you or your travel agent subject to the following exceptions. Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or where we have to cancel because the minimum number of persons required to operate your holiday is not reached. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) or if the change made is a minor one. A minor change is any change which is not a significant change.
Period before departure within which significant change or cancellation is notified to the party leader or your travel agent Compensation per person
More than 70 days Nil
70 to 43 days £10
42 to 29 days £15
28 to 15 days £20
14 to 0 days £30
In the unlikely event that we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the services you have booked after you depart, we will endeavour to make alternative arrangements in respect of those services at no extra charge, or, if we are unable to do so or you do not accept these alternative arrangements for a good reason, we will provide you with transport back to your point of departure with us as soon as we are reasonably able to (using the same type and class of transport included in the holiday) and a pro rata refund of the cost of the remainder of your holiday. In addition, if appropriate, we will pay you compensation of an amount which is reasonable taking into account the circumstances. Compensation and refunds (unless obtained from any supplier) will not be payable where the situation is caused by force majeure – see clause 11.
11. Force majeure
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our obligations under our contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage or loss (as more fully described in clause 15.2) as a result of ‘force majeure’. In these booking conditions, ‘force majeure’ means any event or circumstances which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Examples include (in all cases whether actual or threatened) war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, epidemics / pandemics, fire, flood, adverse weather conditions and closure or restriction of airspace or airports.
12. Flexibility of itineraries and your responsibilities overseas
The type of travel we offer requires flexibility on your part. The itinerary provided at the time of booking is intended to be followed but local conditions and other circumstances may require changes. The final decision on the itinerary and conduct of any holiday will be taken by us in the interests of the group as a whole. At all times the decision of our tour leader or overseas representative will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well being of the tour being operated. You must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange requirements and drug regulations of the countries visited. Should you fail to do so, you may be required to leave the holiday. In this situation, you will not be entitled to the payment of any refund, expense or other sum whatsoever.
13. Damage and behaviour
You are responsible for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be made direct at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If the actual cost of the loss or damage exceeds the amount paid where estimated, you must pay the difference once known. If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the difference will be refunded. You will also be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us (together with our own and the other party’s full legal costs) as a result of your actions.
We expect you to have consideration for other people and the environment. We strongly condemn the collecting of any specimen from the natural world. Our holidays often provide the opportunity to view and photograph wildlife but not to disturb it! If in our reasonable opinion or in the reasonable opinion of any other person in authority, you behave in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to anyone or damage to property or fail to comply with the reasonable instructions of our tour leader or overseas representative or with clause 12, we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate your holiday. In this situation, you will be required to leave the accommodation or other service. We will have no further responsibility towards you including any return travel arrangements. No refunds or compensation will be paid and we will not meet any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.
14. Inherent risks
By booking with us, you acknowledge and accept that the holidays we offer often involve their own inherent risks and dangers due to matters such as the geographical location of the tour, activities involved, proximity to wildlife and distance from medical facilities. Such risks may on occasion be significant and include injury, disease, illness, death, loss or damage to property, inconvenience and discomfort.
15. Our responsibility for your holiday
15.1: We promise to make sure that the holiday arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide as applicable as part of our contract are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or the contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, the contracted arrangements. Please note it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers).
15.2: We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (for example, loss of enjoyment or possessions), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:
The act(s) and/or omission(s) of the participant(s) affected or any other participant(s); or
The act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
’Force majeure’ as defined in clause 11 above.
15.3: Please note, we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel, accommodation provider or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not included in the cost of your itinerary and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract, and any excursion or activities you purchase whilst overseas. In addition, regardless of any wording used by us on our website, in any of our brochures or elsewhere, we only promise to use reasonable skill and care as set out above and we do not have any greater or different liability to you.
15.4: The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract – and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with the local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holidaymaker to refuse to take the holiday in question. Please note, however, our obligation is to exercise reasonable skill and care as referred to in clause 15.1. We do not make any representation or commitment that all services will comply with applicable local laws and regulations and failure to comply does not automatically mean we have not exercised reasonable skill and care.
15.5: Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £1000 per participant affected or twice the price (excluding any amendment charges and charity donations) paid by or on behalf of the participant(s) affected, whichever is the lower, unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under clause 15.6 below. For all other claims which do not involve death or personal injury, if we are found liable to you on any basis, the maximum amount we will have to pay you is twice the price (excluding any amendment charges and charity donations) paid by or on behalf of the participant(s) affected in total unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under clause 15.6 below. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your holiday.
15.6: Where any claim or part of a claim (including those involving death or personal injury) concerns or is based on any travel arrangements (including the process of getting on and/or off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea or rail carrier to which any international convention or EC regulation applies, our liability (including the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you, the types of claim and the circumstances in which compensation will be payable) will be limited as if we were the carrier in question as referred to below. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is the most the carrier concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended or unamended and the Montreal Convention for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No 889/2002 for national and international travel by air, the Athens Convention for international travel by sea (as amended by the 2002 Protocol where applicable) and COTIF, the Convention on International Travel by Rail). Where a carrier would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable international convention or regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the carrier for the claim in question. Copies of the applicable international conventions and regulations are available from us on request.
15.7: Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description which (1) on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract or (2) did not result from any breach of contract or other fault (for which we are legally liable) by ourselves or our employees or, where we are responsible for them, our suppliers or (3) relates to any business (including without limitation, self-employed loss of earnings).
15.8: Covid – please see section 22 below.
16. Complaints
If you have any complaint whilst on holiday, you must immediately inform your tour leader or our overseas representative who will use all reasonable efforts to remedy it. If he or she is unable to resolve the matter to your satisfaction, you must inform either us or our local agent immediately to give us an opportunity to use all reasonable efforts to rectify it. If you remain dissatisfied, you must make full details of the complaint known to us in writing within 28 days of the end of your holiday. If you fail to follow this simple complaints procedure, your right to claim the compensation you may otherwise have been entitled to may be affected or even lost as a result.
17. Land only arrangements
For land only arrangements where you have booked your own flights, it is your sole responsibility to ensure you arrive at the departure point for the contracted arrangements in good time before these commence. In the event that flight delays or cancellation result in your late arrival, you will be responsible for all costs we incur in assisting you to join the holiday at a later stage. No refunds will be provided in respect of any services which are unused as a result. Similarly, our contractual responsibilities cease at the end of your contracted arrangements.
18. Delays and the Denied Boarding Regulations
We regret we are not in a position to offer you any assistance in the event of delay at your outward or homeward point of departure. The airline concerned will be responsible for you in the event of flight cancellation or delays and may provide refreshments / meals /accommodation in the event of a delay or cancellation.
We cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in clause 15.2 of these booking conditions (which includes the behaviour of any passenger(s) on the flight who, for example, fails to check in or board on time). In addition, we will not be liable for any delay unless it has a significant effect on your holiday arrangements.
If any flight you have booked is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline, depending on the circumstances, the airline may be required to pay you compensation, refund the cost of your flight and/ or provide you with accommodation and/or refreshments under EC Regulation No 261/2004 – the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004. Where applicable, you must pursue the airline for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements.
The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flight cancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket or denial of any boarding as the full amount of your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline’s obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If, for any reason, we make any payment to you or a third party which the airline is responsible for in accordance with the Denied Boarding Regulations, you must, when requested, assign to us the rights you have or had to claim the payment in question from the airline. If your airline does not comply with these rules, you may complain to the Civil Aviation Authority on 020 7453 6888 or by email to passengercomplaints@caa.co.uk or see www.caa.co.uk – Referring your Complaint to the CAA.
19. Local standards
It is the requirements and standards of the country in which any services which make up your holiday are provided which apply to those services and not those of the UK. As a general rule, these requirements and standards will not be the same as the UK and may often be lower.
20. Passports, visas and health requirements
All participants must be in possession of a valid passport and all visas, permits and certificates, including medical certificates, required for the whole of the holiday booked. It is your responsibility to obtain these unless you are expressly advised otherwise by us. All information and advice given by us on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment etc. is given in good faith. The party leader must ensure that all participants are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry correct documentation. If you are not a British citizen or hold a non British passport, you must check passport and visa requirements with the embassy or consulate of the country(ies) to or through which you are intending to travel. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us or costs incurred by us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly.
We require details of the passports held by all participants no later than 6 weeks prior to departure. A full British passport usually takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks to obtain unless you are 16 or over and are applying for a first passport. The UK Passport Service has to confirm your identity before issuing such a passport and asks applicants to attend an interview in order to do this. A minimum of 6 weeks should be allowed in this case. If you do not have a passport or will need to renew it prior to departure, you are recommended to apply at least 2 months in advance.
For travel to and via the USA, every person travelling (including children) must have a visa unless they qualify for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Most British citizens travelling on holiday will qualify for the VWP but please see the important note below. All visitors who are eligible for the VWP must now apply for authorisation to travel to the US in advance in accordance with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). You must complete an online application for authorization to travel on the ESTA website (details below) at least 72 hours before your flight to the US departs but you are recommended to apply earlier. Providing the application is accepted, you will be provided with approval via the website. Approval is usually provided very quickly but can take up to 72 hours if data needs to be checked. You should make a note of the ESTA approval number when you receive it.
Please note; authorisation to travel under ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States; that decision rests with the immigration official at the point of entry in the same way that travellers currently entering the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program or with a visa are subject to inspection. Warning: If your passport has ever been reported lost or stolen to the authorities and then recovered, please do not attempt to use it for travel to the United States. If you input the passport details into ESTA, your application will be denied. It is your responsibility to obtain ESTA approval or a US visa if required. If you fail to obtain authorization to travel through the ESTA website or a US visa in advance of travel, you will not be allowed on your outbound flight to the US. Full cancellation charges will then apply.
The ESTA website can be found at esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta.
Important note: Not all British visitors to the USA will qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. You cannot apply for the VWP and will require a visa if you do not have a machine readable passport. All new style, burgundy coloured UK passports are machine readable. You will also need to apply for a visa if you have ever been arrested (even if you were not convicted of an offence) or have a criminal record of any description. Other exemptions also apply. If you are in any doubt as to whether you may require a visa, please contact the US Embassy, Consular Information Unit, 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE or visit the website www.uk.usembassy.gov/visas before making your booking. Further information on entry requirements for the USA is available at travel.state.gov. You must check entry requirements at the time of booking and in good time before departure as requirements may change.
Requirements generally and for any country may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure with the embassy or consulate of the country(ies) you are travelling through and to.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions in good time before departure. Details are available from your GP surgery and from the National Travel Health Network and Centre www.nathnac.org. Information on health abroad is also available on www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Travelhealth For holidays in the EEA you should obtain an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) prior to departure from www.ehic.org.uk. An EHIC is not, however, a substitute for travel insurance. Health requirements and recommendations may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel information on its website www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice which you are recommended to consult before booking and in good time before departure.
21. Financial protection
Your booking will be protected by our membership of Protected Trust Services which provide security for your money prior to travel along with supplier failure insurance.
Mandala World Travel is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with ”The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations” all passengers booking with Mandala World Travel are fully protected for the initial deposit, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form.
Your money is fully protected and paid into an independent Trust Account, managed by Protected Trust Services Ltd of 307-315 Holdenhurst Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH8 8BX and its Trustees, chartered accountants – Elman Wall Ltd of 8th Floor, Becket House, 36 Old Jewry, London EC2R 8DD
22. Covid or other Pandemics
22.1 If we are unable to run the trip because the situation in the destination means that it is not possible or safe to do so – for example: lockdowns at sites or locations, then we will provide options for changes of date, location or a refund.
22.2 If the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the destination, after the booking has been confirmed, then we would offer a change of date, location or a refund IF that advice is still in place 1 month before travel.
In such circumstances we request that clients are understanding and understand that for the sake of our business we cannot cancel and refund if the situation changes months away from departure. As the situation may change we need to wait until a realistic time closer to departure as things may well have resolved themselves by then.
22.3 If there was already FCDO advice against travel in place at the time of booking, then we will have already informed you and in the event that you decided to proceed with the booking regardless, then you will have accepted that a refund would not be payable if you chose not to travel later. We can look at date changes though, subject to any additional costs incurred between the original booking and the eventual departure date.
22.4 If clients cannot travel for personal reasons – for example, getting a positive test – then a refund would not be due as is the case for any illness.
Important Note:
Travel insurance should always be purchased at the same time as you book your holiday, so that you are covered for any cancellation for personal reasons of any kind, including Covid.