Blue Palace Resort & Spa
Greece, Crete
For many people Spinalonga is the most atmospheric spot on the northern coast. At the beautiful Blue Palace Resort & Spa it is possible to stay right on the shore and gaze out at a view of endless sea and small islands changing in the magical Cretan light. This unique hotel matches the absolute comfort, elegance and professionalism of a famous luxury resort with a sensitivity to this stunning and serene location.
A state-of-the-art spa, which was awarded the ‘Top Spa in Greece’ accolade last year, offers thalassotherapy and olive oil massages among many magically relaxing health and beauty treatments, in rooms right by the sea. Restaurants range from a taverna serving fresh fish, to elegant à la carte dining as well as Eastern and Italian food.
A dedicated concierge desk looks after guests.
A state-of-the-art spa, which was awarded the ‘Top Spa in Greece’ accolade last year, offers thalassotherapy and olive oil massages among many magically relaxing health and beauty treatments, in rooms right by the sea. Restaurants range from a taverna serving fresh fish, to elegant à la carte dining as well as Eastern and Italian food.
A dedicated concierge desk looks after guests.
Accommodation:
- 251 rooms
- 3 outdoor swimming pools, indoor swimming pool, children’s pool
- Bedrooms: air-conditioning, bathroom with separate shower and hairdryer, satellite TV (English speaking news channels), DVD/CD player (in some rooms and suites), internet, mini-bar, safe, balcony/terrace (most with sea view)
- Hotel: three bars, five restaurants, beach and sun-loungers with beach service, Spa and beauty treatments, tennis courts, gym, table tennis, scuba diving, water sports, billiards, hair salon, babysitting service, shops, kids club, children’s playground (most payable locally)
- Breakfast included
- Beach on site
- Tavernas (Plaka) 5min drive
- Shops (Elounda) 10min drive
- Heraklion airport 1hr 30min drive
Please select your preferred travel dates and length of stay.
The price quoted will include:
- accommodation based on two people sharing
- air-conditioned car hire or transfers as specified
- return flights from the UK (flight supplements may be applicable depending on flight availability at time of booking and your preferred departure airport)
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YOUR SECURITY AND PEACE OF MIND
Full protection is guaranteed when you book with us. Our holidays are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under the Air Tour Organisers Licence (ATOL Licence 5858) and by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA Membership W5698).
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE INCLUDES
• Accommodation only for the guests named on your invoice (including breakfast where stated if you are staying in a hotel)
• The assistance of our local representative overseas
• Simpson information book in your accommodation
• Government and local taxes
• Return flights from the UK to Greece (subject to possible flight supplements)
• An air-conditioned car or private return taxi transfers (includes ferries and transfers between airport and port if applicable)
• Air Passenger Duty, Greek and UK airport taxes, aviation insurance and security charges.
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts incurred during your stay
• Visas for non-EU passport holders
• Holiday Travel Insurance
ACCOMMODATION ONLY
On most of our self-catering accommodation we are able to offer ‘Accommodation only’ prices (excluding flights, car hire and transfers).
CHILD CONCESSIONS
Children aged 2-11 years are eligible for concessions of between 10%-25% of the holiday price. This is offered at most of our self-catering properties depending on departure dates. For further information please call our sales consultants.
INFANTS
There is a charge of £50 per infant (under 2 years) on all our holidays. Cots and high chairs are provided free of charge in our self-catering properties. However, some hotels may charge for cots and we will advise you of any extra costs at the time of booking. Many hotels offer reduced rates for children if they share the same room as their parents.
PLACING AN OPTION
In order to allow you to co-ordinate your holiday arrangements with friends and family, in many cases we are able to hold an option for you for up to three days before confirming your booking.
PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
In order to confirm your booking a deposit of £125 per person is required. However, if we need to buy in flight seats especially for your booking, we will ask you to pay a higher deposit to include the cost of the flights – this payment is non-refundable. The balance payment for your holiday should be paid at least eight weeks prior to your departure. We accept most debit cards and credit cards and personal cheques. All payments made by credit card will be subject to a 2% charge* reflecting our incurred costs. (*American Express is subject to a 3% charge.)
FINAL DOCUMENTATION
Your travel documents and itinerary will be sent to you at least two weeks prior to your departure.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is compulsory that all our guests have comprehensive travel insurance. We will need full details of your policy at the time of booking, or before you travel. For your insurance policies we recommend specialist Insurance Brokers, Campbell Irvine (01737 223687) who is authorised and regulated by Financial Services Authority (www.fsa.gov.uk).
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
It is your responsibility to be in possession of a valid passport and of any necessary visas. EU citizens do not need a visa to travel to Greece. If you are a non-EU citizen then you should check with your own embassy for the entry/re-entry requirements necessary for your journey. Children not on an accompanying parent’s passport before October 1998 are now required to hold their own passport if they are under 16 years. If you do not have a passport, it is recommended to apply at least six weeks before your holiday.
DISCOVERING THE GREEK ISLANDS
We offer the possibility of exploring the Greek Islands at a realistic and enjoyable pace on one or two week holidays during the months of May, June, September and October at any of our hotels. We are happy to recommend suitable itineraries. Usually a minimum stay of three nights is required in each hotel and generally only applies to periods outside July and August. Arrival and departure flights should be to the same airport.
A £25 per person administration fee will be applied to all ‘Discovering Greek Islands’ holidays.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Included in your holiday price are return economy seats on direct charter flights to the Greek islands we feature. The following are approximate times and expected carriers, however this information may be subject to change and we will always advise you of any significant changes as soon as the airline or their agents notify us. The most up-to-date times will always be shown on your itinerary in your travel documents. Please check these documents carefully and advise us immediately of any discrepancies. Chania and Heraklion flights operate from April to October (except some regional routes).
GATWICK/CHANIA (Tuesdays)
08:15 Depart Gatwick Monarch South Terminal
14:00 Arrive Chania
15:00 Depart Chania
17:05 Arrive Gatwick
GATWICK/HERAKLION (Tuesdays)
06:55 Depart Gatwick Easyjet North Terminal
12:55 Arrive Heraklion
13:35 Depart Heraklion
15:30 Arrive Gatwick
GATWICK/HERAKLION (Tuesdays)
09:00 Depart Gatwick Monarch South Terminal
14:50 Arrive Heraklion
16:20 Depart Heraklion
18:10 Arrive Gatwick
We can also purchase additional direct flights from other regional UK airports to most of our Greece destinations. We can advise on timings, availability and any applicable supplements, at the time of booking. Please be advised that in the event that we may have to book, pay for and ‘ticket’ your flights at the time of booking, we will ask you to pay an increased deposit to cover the cost of the flight in addition to the £125 per person deposit. The exact amount will be quoted to you at the time of booking and this payment will be non-refundable.
SCHEDULED FLIGHTS
Scheduled flights to any Greek airport via Athens with Olympic Airways are also available. These flights offer great flexibility, particularly for tailor-made hotel holidays, allowing you to choose the day you would like to travel and the duration of your holiday. They also offer the possibility to upgrade to the superior services offered by scheduled flights.
EASYJET FLIGHTS
We can also book Easyjet flights direct to Athens, Corfu and Heraklion in Crete, and they operate flights several days each week. Easyjet may offer different services, booking conditions and luggage allowances to those of scheduled and charter airlines, so please discuss this with us if you have any specific questions or concerns.
FLIGHT SUPPLEMENTS
Our prices are based on our lowest contracted fare. Occasionally it may be necessary to purchase flights outside of our normal allocation and in these circumstances we may need to charge an additional supplement to reflect the extra costs incurred. This will also be the case if we are booking flights from regional airports or on flights where we do not have a seat allocation. If a supplement applies, this will be advised to you at the time of booking.
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Most airlines allow 20kg of luggage per person (excluding infants); however it is becoming more common for airlines to change their restrictions on luggage weight and the number of items. Before travelling, we recommend you check your flight tickets for details and check with the airline if travelling on a non-charter flight.
IN-FLIGHT MEALS AND SPECIAL DIETS
If the airline you are travelling with offers free in-flight meals, requests for special meals may be made up to seven days prior to departure. Whilst we will always pass your request onto the airline, we are unable to guarantee supply. Charges may apply and we will confirm these to you at the time of booking. For peace of mind, we recommend that you reconfirm your special in-flight meal request at check-in.
GROUP SEATING AND EXTRA LEGROOM
Some airlines offer passengers the opportunity of pre-booking guaranteed seats together at a pre-paid supplement (seats may be situated either side of an aisle) and some offer seating with extra legroom for a reasonable supplement. Availability and supplements can be advised at the time of booking.
PREGNANCY
You will need a certificate of fitness to fly if you are more than 28 weeks pregnant and airlines will not allow you to fly if you are more than 32 weeks pregnant.
API (ADDITIONAL PASSENGER INFORMATION)
Some countries now require that the airline takes additional personal information from each passenger such as full name, date and place of birth and passport number and expiry date. We may need to ask you for this information at the time of booking or you may need to provide the airline with this information at the time of check-in.
NAME CHANGES
The name shown on a ticket must exactly match the name of the passenger travelling as it appears in his/her passport (first full name and surname). If not, you may be refused boarding. Once your flights have been booked, it is not usually possible to make name changes without incurring substantial charges. If there are any errors on your invoice or your flight tickets, please inform us immediately.
FLIGHT DELAYS
In the event of a flight delay, whenever possible we will ensure that the airline/operator communicates the reasons for and extent of any delays and implements appropriate standards of welfare provision. ABTA guidelines state that after a three hour delay passengers should receive light refreshments followed by a main meal after six hours plus hotel accommodation whenever possible if the delay is overnight. EU carriers should also follow the EU Regulation 261/2004 in the event of delays, cancellations or denied boarding and these can be viewed online at www.auc.org.uk
CAR HIRE INFORMATION
Most of our holidays include an air-conditioned hire car, which will be arranged for collection and return to the airport (or port where applicable). The category of car included in the basic holiday price will vary according to the number of people in your party. We do not consider infants as part of the total party size. The cars we have included offer comfortable seating for the size of party travelling. However, we do ask you to take into account the size of the boot space for your luggage if any infants will be in your party and the number of child and baby seats required. You may wish to upgrade your car to give you extra comfort and space. Availability and supplements for upgrading will be advised at the time of booking. For transporting extra luggage it is also possible to pre-book a taxi.
The types of cars listed are only examples of car models in each category. We cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific make or model.
Group and type of model (or similar) of car in Crete included in the basic holiday price:
Group B – Hyundai Atos, air-conditioned, 4 seats
Group C – Fiat Punto/Citroen C3, air-conditioned, 4-5 seats
Group D – Hyundai Accent/Nissan Almera, air-conditioned, 5 seats
Group F – Suzuki Jimny/Vitara, soft top, 4 seats
Group F2 – Daihatsu Terios, hard top, air-conditioned, 5 seats
Group G1 – Minibus Fiat Doblo, air-conditioned, 6 seats
Group G2 – Minibus Fiat Scudo, air-conditioned, 9 seats
Group H – Hyundai Accent Automatic, air-conditioned, 5 seats
Group I – Cabrio Peugeot 206/Citroen C3
INCLUDED IN YOUR CAR HIRE
• Unlimited mileage
• Local taxes and insurance
• Two main drivers. Please note that there is a minimum age for drivers (minimum ages vary from 21 to 25 and can be advised at the time of booking) although there is no maximum age limit. Drivers must hold a British/EU Driver’s Licence or International Driver’s Licence, held for at least a year. You will not be able to hire a car without your original, valid Driver’s Licence.
CAR INSURANCE
Please note that in most cases you will need to pay an ‘excess’ in the event of theft or damage to your hire car, regardless of blame. As amounts and conditions vary throughout Greece, please ensure you ask for full details at collection, before you sign your car hire contract. Where an ‘excess’ applies, it may be possible to purchase extra insurance locally, which reduces or cancels the ‘excess.’ The insurance with or without the excess will not cover:
• tyres, including puncture repairs
• loss of or damage to car keys (and costs incurred due to this, for example towing and replacement keys, etc)
• windscreen, wing mirrors or undercarriage (you should not drive off-road)
• Personal Accident Insurance (this should be covered in your Personal Travel Insurance)
• any damage, loss, accident, theft, attempted theft, etc caused by your own negligence, for example, driving under the influence of alcohol, unlawful driving, driving off-road, using wrong type of fuel, unlocked doors, apparent personal effects, etc.
CREDIT CARD DEPOSIT
The car hire agents will require you to lodge a credit card deposit when you collect your car. No money will be taken if you return the undamaged car at the correct time with the correct amount of petrol and not requiring cleaning.
CHILD SEATS
Child and baby seats (forward facing seats only are available) can be provided if booked at least two weeks prior to your departure and charged at £2 per day. Please remember to specify the age of the child. Local car hire staff are not authorised to install the child seats and as style and installation may differ to those in the UK, you may prefer to bring your own child seat for your own peace of mind.
WEEKLY CAR HIRE PRICES – Crete – Apr-Jun and Oct
Group B – £195
Group C – £205
Group D – £235
Group F – £300
Group F2 – £460
Group G1 – £340
Group G2 – £440
Group H – £280
Group I – £430
WEEKLY CAR HIRE PRICES – Crete – Jul-Sep
Group B – £210
Group C – £225
Group D – £260
Group F – £340
Group F2 – £500
Group G1 – £370
Group G2 – £480
Group H – £320
Group I – £460
TRANSFERS INFORMATION
Please refer to the information below for the relevant details on the transfers included in the cost of your holiday. Taxis in Greece are licensed and insured to carry up to four passengers. Therefore, if there are four passengers and an infant then two taxis are needed and we will provide you with a separate quotation. If you are travelling with young children or babies, child seats are not provided for any vehicles used for transfers. For your own peace of mind, we recommend that you bring your own although there is no guarantee that local taxi companies will allow the use of child seats. Please note that the transfer times included in our accommodation details are approximate estimates only and do not include any waiting time.
Although we pre-arrange and book your ferry crossings in advance, poor weather or ferry cancellations may disrupt the schedules. In most cases, when you arrive at the port you will have to wait a certain amount of time for your onward boat transfer. If your flight experiences delays and you miss your pre-booked boat transfer, we will then book you onto the next available boat. If you miss the last ferry due to a flight delay or cancellations due to poor weather, it may be necessary for you to overnight at the port and then take the ferry on the following morning.
Crete
Private taxi transfer from the airport to your accommodation is provided when car hire is not included.
ACCOMMODATION AND USEFUL INFORMATION
Air-conditioning and heating
We have indicated in the property descriptions which accommodation has air-conditioning which is included in the holiday price. Heating is available in some of our properties during the low season weeks, also included in the holiday price.
Animals and wildlife
As in all rural communities, indigenous animals are an essential part of the way of life. The braying of a donkey, crow of a cockerel or the barking of a dog is not a complaint that receives much sympathy from the locals! Care should be taken to minimise the presence of insects and animals in your accommodation. Keep surfaces clean, dispose of refuse regularly, and ensure that food is not left uncovered. Cats and dogs are often resident where an owner or manager lives on the property. If you are allergic to cats and/or dogs please ensure that you check the suitability of your chosen accommodation with us prior to confirming your booking.
Barbecues
We have specified if a barbecue is available at your accommodation. Please note that often in summer, due to the hot weather, use of your barbecue may not be allowed and/or strict rules for its use may apply. The local or national government reserves the right to introduce new rulings at any time, often with little prior notice – prohibiting the use of barbecues to reduce the risk of fires. Where a barbecue is not provided, it is usually because the surroundings are considered a fire risk or inappropriate for the use of barbecues.
Beach/pool towels
We provide Simpson Travel beach towels in all our self-catering properties and these are normally laundered weekly. We would be happy to advise you which of our hotels provide beach/pool towels and if a charge applies.
Beds
Please note that a double bed could be two single beds put together. Double beds in Greece usually measure 140cm x 190cm and single beds 80/90cm x 190cm. If you are booking a hotel room, please let us know your room preference (double or twin). Although we will make every effort to request your choice to the hotel, we cannot guarantee your choice will be available.
Check-in and check-out
You will usually be able to occupy your villa or apartment after 4pm and you must vacate it on the day of departure by 10am. Most of our hotels follow common practice with regard to check-in and check-out times (around midday); however some have later check-in times between 3pm and 5pm.
Cleaning
Self-catering accommodation is cleaned a minimum of twice a week (including arrival day) and some accommodation may be cleaned more often. Cleaning usually consists of a sweep, mop, bathroom and kitchen tidy up.
Cots and highchairs
Travel cots and high chairs can be supplied free of charge in all our self-catering accommodation and some hotels (a charge may apply at hotels). In most cases, these will be fold-up portable cots and highchairs. Cot linen is not supplied, so you will need to take your own.
Distances and timings
Please note that all walking and driving times stated are approximate estimates only. Transfer times are also approximate estimates only and do not include any waiting time.
Foreign office advice before you travel
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. Should you wish to check their advice or information about the destination you are travelling to, please visit their website: www.fco.gov.uk/en or call 020 7008 1500.
Half-board
Hotel bookings with half-board include dinner, which is usually a fixed menu with or without a choice of dishes. In some hotels, you may take your half-board meal at lunchtime.
Health and safety
Simpson Travel is committed to raising the standards of health and safety throughout all our programmes. Our guests’ safety and wellbeing is of the highest importance to us. However, please note that since many of our properties are private homes, it is not always possible to meet the same exacting standards as in the UK. In your accommodation we will provide any necessary health and safety information. We ask you to familiarise yourself with this information and the property on arrival, particularly when travelling with children, and to raise any concerns with your local representative.
Internet connection
If a property has Wi-Fi or internet access, the type of connection will vary and broadband is not readily available in all areas. There may be a charge for internet use or other charges, depending on the type of internet connection available.
Linen and laundry
Bed and bathroom linen is provided and usually laundered twice weekly. For your convenience some of our properties have a washing machine.
Noise and building works
Traffic, farm work, roadwork, animals and other sounds form part of everyday life, however, what constitutes ‘noise’ to one person may not be a problem for another. Please let us know if you have any special needs regarding this. Occasionally, building work is unavoidable as we do not control such work and may not know about it in advance. Whenever possible, we will notify you of any work that we believe may affect your holiday.
Occupancy
Only guests named on your invoice are entitled to occupy the accommodation.
Plumbing
Throughout Greece, especially in the older houses, the plumbing system is not designed to have items flushed down the lavatory. Where necessary, bins are provided in all bathrooms.
Satellite television
We cannot guarantee that a full selection of satellite channels will be available. Channels in English may be very limited and these are often only CNN or BBC World.
Seasonal facilities
Some facilities mentioned in our brochure are subject to weather conditions and the general season, for example swimming pools, restaurant terraces, pool bars, local restaurants, and they may be limited or unavailable at the beginning or end of the season. Please do not hesitate to check with us, should a particular facility be a necessity to you.
Security and cleaning deposits
For self-catering properties, we require you to lodge a security deposit against any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts, which you may have incurred during your stay and/or due to your negligence. This should be paid by credit or debit card at the time of booking by providing authorisation for us to deduct (within 21 days of your return home) any advised charges from your card – up to the maximum amount of £1,000 per booking. The specific amount of the deposit required for your chosen property will be advised to you at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that any damage exceeds the deposit amount, then you will be responsible for the full cost. Most of our properties are the owners’ personal homes and repairs, replacements and extra cleaning in Greece can be very expensive, so we do ask you to take care in order to avoid incurring extra costs.
Swimming pools
Swimming pool details are given in the ‘Accommodation details’ of our main brochure and the pool dimensions are approximate only and unless specified otherwise, pools are freshwater and unheated. Dates when pools are open are subject to the prevailing weather conditions at the time of opening and closing and we cannot be held responsible if poor weather means that the pool is opened later, or is closed earlier in the season.
Upon arrival at your accommodation, we kindly ask you to acquaint yourselves with the pool’s safety and hygiene rules. Very few pools have covers, fencing or life rings, so children must be supervised at all times. Some pools are ‘infinity pools,’ which have an exposed pool edge with an unprotected drop – this maximises views and is an attractive feature of the pool. However, we recommend that children are supervised and that you do not sit, lean or walk on the unprotected edge.
Villa owners
Whilst the owners or staff of some properties may live on site and tend to the grounds, they are aware that you value your privacy, and will do their best not to intrude. We do ask you however, to allow them reasonable access to the property so that they can maintain the grounds and keep them in good order.
Welcome Hamper
For all our valued past clients we offer a small ‘Welcome Hamper’ in all our self-catering accommodation consisting of:
- Bottle of red wine
- Local beer
- Large bottle of water
- Large carton of juice
- Tea bags
- Jar of coffee
- Sugar
- UHT milk 500ml
- Packet of pasta
- Jar of pasta sauce
- Regional biscuits
- Savoury snacks
New Simpson clients for 2010 may purchase this small hamper prior to departure. Prices are £30 for 2-4 guests and £45 for 5-8 guests. This includes delivery to your accommodation.
Essentials Pack
All our self-catering accommodation includes an ‘Essentials Pack’ which consists of:
- Dishwasher tablets (if applicable)
- Washing powder (if applicable)
- Washing up liquid and sponge
- Salt and pepper
- Vegetable/sunflower or olive oil
- Vinegar
- Mixed herbs
- Lavatory paper.
Full protection is guaranteed when you book with us. Our holidays are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under the Air Tour Organisers Licence (ATOL Licence 5858) and by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA Membership W5698).
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE INCLUDES
• Accommodation only for the guests named on your invoice (including breakfast where stated if you are staying in a hotel)
• The assistance of our local representative overseas
• Simpson information book in your accommodation
• Government and local taxes
• Return flights from the UK to Greece (subject to possible flight supplements)
• An air-conditioned car or private return taxi transfers (includes ferries and transfers between airport and port if applicable)
• Air Passenger Duty, Greek and UK airport taxes, aviation insurance and security charges.
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts incurred during your stay
• Visas for non-EU passport holders
• Holiday Travel Insurance
ACCOMMODATION ONLY
On most of our self-catering accommodation we are able to offer ‘Accommodation only’ prices (excluding flights, car hire and transfers).
CHILD CONCESSIONS
Children aged 2-11 years are eligible for concessions of between 10%-25% of the holiday price. This is offered at most of our self-catering properties depending on departure dates. For further information please call our sales consultants.
INFANTS
There is a charge of £50 per infant (under 2 years) on all our holidays. Cots and high chairs are provided free of charge in our self-catering properties. However, some hotels may charge for cots and we will advise you of any extra costs at the time of booking. Many hotels offer reduced rates for children if they share the same room as their parents.
PLACING AN OPTION
In order to allow you to co-ordinate your holiday arrangements with friends and family, in many cases we are able to hold an option for you for up to three days before confirming your booking.
PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
In order to confirm your booking a deposit of £125 per person is required. However, if we need to buy in flight seats especially for your booking, we will ask you to pay a higher deposit to include the cost of the flights – this payment is non-refundable. The balance payment for your holiday should be paid at least eight weeks prior to your departure. We accept most debit cards and credit cards and personal cheques. All payments made by credit card will be subject to a 2% charge* reflecting our incurred costs. (*American Express is subject to a 3% charge.)
FINAL DOCUMENTATION
Your travel documents and itinerary will be sent to you at least two weeks prior to your departure.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is compulsory that all our guests have comprehensive travel insurance. We will need full details of your policy at the time of booking, or before you travel. For your insurance policies we recommend specialist Insurance Brokers, Campbell Irvine (01737 223687) who is authorised and regulated by Financial Services Authority (www.fsa.gov.uk).
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
It is your responsibility to be in possession of a valid passport and of any necessary visas. EU citizens do not need a visa to travel to Greece. If you are a non-EU citizen then you should check with your own embassy for the entry/re-entry requirements necessary for your journey. Children not on an accompanying parent’s passport before October 1998 are now required to hold their own passport if they are under 16 years. If you do not have a passport, it is recommended to apply at least six weeks before your holiday.
DISCOVERING THE GREEK ISLANDS
We offer the possibility of exploring the Greek Islands at a realistic and enjoyable pace on one or two week holidays during the months of May, June, September and October at any of our hotels. We are happy to recommend suitable itineraries. Usually a minimum stay of three nights is required in each hotel and generally only applies to periods outside July and August. Arrival and departure flights should be to the same airport.
A £25 per person administration fee will be applied to all ‘Discovering Greek Islands’ holidays.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Included in your holiday price are return economy seats on direct charter flights to the Greek islands we feature. The following are approximate times and expected carriers, however this information may be subject to change and we will always advise you of any significant changes as soon as the airline or their agents notify us. The most up-to-date times will always be shown on your itinerary in your travel documents. Please check these documents carefully and advise us immediately of any discrepancies. Chania and Heraklion flights operate from April to October (except some regional routes).
GATWICK/CHANIA (Tuesdays)
08:15 Depart Gatwick Monarch South Terminal
14:00 Arrive Chania
15:00 Depart Chania
17:05 Arrive Gatwick
GATWICK/HERAKLION (Tuesdays)
06:55 Depart Gatwick Easyjet North Terminal
12:55 Arrive Heraklion
13:35 Depart Heraklion
15:30 Arrive Gatwick
GATWICK/HERAKLION (Tuesdays)
09:00 Depart Gatwick Monarch South Terminal
14:50 Arrive Heraklion
16:20 Depart Heraklion
18:10 Arrive Gatwick
We can also purchase additional direct flights from other regional UK airports to most of our Greece destinations. We can advise on timings, availability and any applicable supplements, at the time of booking. Please be advised that in the event that we may have to book, pay for and ‘ticket’ your flights at the time of booking, we will ask you to pay an increased deposit to cover the cost of the flight in addition to the £125 per person deposit. The exact amount will be quoted to you at the time of booking and this payment will be non-refundable.
SCHEDULED FLIGHTS
Scheduled flights to any Greek airport via Athens with Olympic Airways are also available. These flights offer great flexibility, particularly for tailor-made hotel holidays, allowing you to choose the day you would like to travel and the duration of your holiday. They also offer the possibility to upgrade to the superior services offered by scheduled flights.
EASYJET FLIGHTS
We can also book Easyjet flights direct to Athens, Corfu and Heraklion in Crete, and they operate flights several days each week. Easyjet may offer different services, booking conditions and luggage allowances to those of scheduled and charter airlines, so please discuss this with us if you have any specific questions or concerns.
FLIGHT SUPPLEMENTS
Our prices are based on our lowest contracted fare. Occasionally it may be necessary to purchase flights outside of our normal allocation and in these circumstances we may need to charge an additional supplement to reflect the extra costs incurred. This will also be the case if we are booking flights from regional airports or on flights where we do not have a seat allocation. If a supplement applies, this will be advised to you at the time of booking.
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Most airlines allow 20kg of luggage per person (excluding infants); however it is becoming more common for airlines to change their restrictions on luggage weight and the number of items. Before travelling, we recommend you check your flight tickets for details and check with the airline if travelling on a non-charter flight.
IN-FLIGHT MEALS AND SPECIAL DIETS
If the airline you are travelling with offers free in-flight meals, requests for special meals may be made up to seven days prior to departure. Whilst we will always pass your request onto the airline, we are unable to guarantee supply. Charges may apply and we will confirm these to you at the time of booking. For peace of mind, we recommend that you reconfirm your special in-flight meal request at check-in.
GROUP SEATING AND EXTRA LEGROOM
Some airlines offer passengers the opportunity of pre-booking guaranteed seats together at a pre-paid supplement (seats may be situated either side of an aisle) and some offer seating with extra legroom for a reasonable supplement. Availability and supplements can be advised at the time of booking.
PREGNANCY
You will need a certificate of fitness to fly if you are more than 28 weeks pregnant and airlines will not allow you to fly if you are more than 32 weeks pregnant.
API (ADDITIONAL PASSENGER INFORMATION)
Some countries now require that the airline takes additional personal information from each passenger such as full name, date and place of birth and passport number and expiry date. We may need to ask you for this information at the time of booking or you may need to provide the airline with this information at the time of check-in.
NAME CHANGES
The name shown on a ticket must exactly match the name of the passenger travelling as it appears in his/her passport (first full name and surname). If not, you may be refused boarding. Once your flights have been booked, it is not usually possible to make name changes without incurring substantial charges. If there are any errors on your invoice or your flight tickets, please inform us immediately.
FLIGHT DELAYS
In the event of a flight delay, whenever possible we will ensure that the airline/operator communicates the reasons for and extent of any delays and implements appropriate standards of welfare provision. ABTA guidelines state that after a three hour delay passengers should receive light refreshments followed by a main meal after six hours plus hotel accommodation whenever possible if the delay is overnight. EU carriers should also follow the EU Regulation 261/2004 in the event of delays, cancellations or denied boarding and these can be viewed online at www.auc.org.uk
CAR HIRE INFORMATION
Most of our holidays include an air-conditioned hire car, which will be arranged for collection and return to the airport (or port where applicable). The category of car included in the basic holiday price will vary according to the number of people in your party. We do not consider infants as part of the total party size. The cars we have included offer comfortable seating for the size of party travelling. However, we do ask you to take into account the size of the boot space for your luggage if any infants will be in your party and the number of child and baby seats required. You may wish to upgrade your car to give you extra comfort and space. Availability and supplements for upgrading will be advised at the time of booking. For transporting extra luggage it is also possible to pre-book a taxi.
The types of cars listed are only examples of car models in each category. We cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific make or model.
Group and type of model (or similar) of car in Crete included in the basic holiday price:
Group B – Hyundai Atos, air-conditioned, 4 seats
Group C – Fiat Punto/Citroen C3, air-conditioned, 4-5 seats
Group D – Hyundai Accent/Nissan Almera, air-conditioned, 5 seats
Group F – Suzuki Jimny/Vitara, soft top, 4 seats
Group F2 – Daihatsu Terios, hard top, air-conditioned, 5 seats
Group G1 – Minibus Fiat Doblo, air-conditioned, 6 seats
Group G2 – Minibus Fiat Scudo, air-conditioned, 9 seats
Group H – Hyundai Accent Automatic, air-conditioned, 5 seats
Group I – Cabrio Peugeot 206/Citroen C3
INCLUDED IN YOUR CAR HIRE
• Unlimited mileage
• Local taxes and insurance
• Two main drivers. Please note that there is a minimum age for drivers (minimum ages vary from 21 to 25 and can be advised at the time of booking) although there is no maximum age limit. Drivers must hold a British/EU Driver’s Licence or International Driver’s Licence, held for at least a year. You will not be able to hire a car without your original, valid Driver’s Licence.
CAR INSURANCE
Please note that in most cases you will need to pay an ‘excess’ in the event of theft or damage to your hire car, regardless of blame. As amounts and conditions vary throughout Greece, please ensure you ask for full details at collection, before you sign your car hire contract. Where an ‘excess’ applies, it may be possible to purchase extra insurance locally, which reduces or cancels the ‘excess.’ The insurance with or without the excess will not cover:
• tyres, including puncture repairs
• loss of or damage to car keys (and costs incurred due to this, for example towing and replacement keys, etc)
• windscreen, wing mirrors or undercarriage (you should not drive off-road)
• Personal Accident Insurance (this should be covered in your Personal Travel Insurance)
• any damage, loss, accident, theft, attempted theft, etc caused by your own negligence, for example, driving under the influence of alcohol, unlawful driving, driving off-road, using wrong type of fuel, unlocked doors, apparent personal effects, etc.
CREDIT CARD DEPOSIT
The car hire agents will require you to lodge a credit card deposit when you collect your car. No money will be taken if you return the undamaged car at the correct time with the correct amount of petrol and not requiring cleaning.
CHILD SEATS
Child and baby seats (forward facing seats only are available) can be provided if booked at least two weeks prior to your departure and charged at £2 per day. Please remember to specify the age of the child. Local car hire staff are not authorised to install the child seats and as style and installation may differ to those in the UK, you may prefer to bring your own child seat for your own peace of mind.
WEEKLY CAR HIRE PRICES – Crete – Apr-Jun and Oct
Group B – £195
Group C – £205
Group D – £235
Group F – £300
Group F2 – £460
Group G1 – £340
Group G2 – £440
Group H – £280
Group I – £430
WEEKLY CAR HIRE PRICES – Crete – Jul-Sep
Group B – £210
Group C – £225
Group D – £260
Group F – £340
Group F2 – £500
Group G1 – £370
Group G2 – £480
Group H – £320
Group I – £460
TRANSFERS INFORMATION
Please refer to the information below for the relevant details on the transfers included in the cost of your holiday. Taxis in Greece are licensed and insured to carry up to four passengers. Therefore, if there are four passengers and an infant then two taxis are needed and we will provide you with a separate quotation. If you are travelling with young children or babies, child seats are not provided for any vehicles used for transfers. For your own peace of mind, we recommend that you bring your own although there is no guarantee that local taxi companies will allow the use of child seats. Please note that the transfer times included in our accommodation details are approximate estimates only and do not include any waiting time.
Although we pre-arrange and book your ferry crossings in advance, poor weather or ferry cancellations may disrupt the schedules. In most cases, when you arrive at the port you will have to wait a certain amount of time for your onward boat transfer. If your flight experiences delays and you miss your pre-booked boat transfer, we will then book you onto the next available boat. If you miss the last ferry due to a flight delay or cancellations due to poor weather, it may be necessary for you to overnight at the port and then take the ferry on the following morning.
Crete
Private taxi transfer from the airport to your accommodation is provided when car hire is not included.
ACCOMMODATION AND USEFUL INFORMATION
Air-conditioning and heating
We have indicated in the property descriptions which accommodation has air-conditioning which is included in the holiday price. Heating is available in some of our properties during the low season weeks, also included in the holiday price.
Animals and wildlife
As in all rural communities, indigenous animals are an essential part of the way of life. The braying of a donkey, crow of a cockerel or the barking of a dog is not a complaint that receives much sympathy from the locals! Care should be taken to minimise the presence of insects and animals in your accommodation. Keep surfaces clean, dispose of refuse regularly, and ensure that food is not left uncovered. Cats and dogs are often resident where an owner or manager lives on the property. If you are allergic to cats and/or dogs please ensure that you check the suitability of your chosen accommodation with us prior to confirming your booking.
Barbecues
We have specified if a barbecue is available at your accommodation. Please note that often in summer, due to the hot weather, use of your barbecue may not be allowed and/or strict rules for its use may apply. The local or national government reserves the right to introduce new rulings at any time, often with little prior notice – prohibiting the use of barbecues to reduce the risk of fires. Where a barbecue is not provided, it is usually because the surroundings are considered a fire risk or inappropriate for the use of barbecues.
Beach/pool towels
We provide Simpson Travel beach towels in all our self-catering properties and these are normally laundered weekly. We would be happy to advise you which of our hotels provide beach/pool towels and if a charge applies.
Beds
Please note that a double bed could be two single beds put together. Double beds in Greece usually measure 140cm x 190cm and single beds 80/90cm x 190cm. If you are booking a hotel room, please let us know your room preference (double or twin). Although we will make every effort to request your choice to the hotel, we cannot guarantee your choice will be available.
Check-in and check-out
You will usually be able to occupy your villa or apartment after 4pm and you must vacate it on the day of departure by 10am. Most of our hotels follow common practice with regard to check-in and check-out times (around midday); however some have later check-in times between 3pm and 5pm.
Cleaning
Self-catering accommodation is cleaned a minimum of twice a week (including arrival day) and some accommodation may be cleaned more often. Cleaning usually consists of a sweep, mop, bathroom and kitchen tidy up.
Cots and highchairs
Travel cots and high chairs can be supplied free of charge in all our self-catering accommodation and some hotels (a charge may apply at hotels). In most cases, these will be fold-up portable cots and highchairs. Cot linen is not supplied, so you will need to take your own.
Distances and timings
Please note that all walking and driving times stated are approximate estimates only. Transfer times are also approximate estimates only and do not include any waiting time.
Foreign office advice before you travel
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. Should you wish to check their advice or information about the destination you are travelling to, please visit their website: www.fco.gov.uk/en or call 020 7008 1500.
Half-board
Hotel bookings with half-board include dinner, which is usually a fixed menu with or without a choice of dishes. In some hotels, you may take your half-board meal at lunchtime.
Health and safety
Simpson Travel is committed to raising the standards of health and safety throughout all our programmes. Our guests’ safety and wellbeing is of the highest importance to us. However, please note that since many of our properties are private homes, it is not always possible to meet the same exacting standards as in the UK. In your accommodation we will provide any necessary health and safety information. We ask you to familiarise yourself with this information and the property on arrival, particularly when travelling with children, and to raise any concerns with your local representative.
Internet connection
If a property has Wi-Fi or internet access, the type of connection will vary and broadband is not readily available in all areas. There may be a charge for internet use or other charges, depending on the type of internet connection available.
Linen and laundry
Bed and bathroom linen is provided and usually laundered twice weekly. For your convenience some of our properties have a washing machine.
Noise and building works
Traffic, farm work, roadwork, animals and other sounds form part of everyday life, however, what constitutes ‘noise’ to one person may not be a problem for another. Please let us know if you have any special needs regarding this. Occasionally, building work is unavoidable as we do not control such work and may not know about it in advance. Whenever possible, we will notify you of any work that we believe may affect your holiday.
Occupancy
Only guests named on your invoice are entitled to occupy the accommodation.
Plumbing
Throughout Greece, especially in the older houses, the plumbing system is not designed to have items flushed down the lavatory. Where necessary, bins are provided in all bathrooms.
Satellite television
We cannot guarantee that a full selection of satellite channels will be available. Channels in English may be very limited and these are often only CNN or BBC World.
Seasonal facilities
Some facilities mentioned in our brochure are subject to weather conditions and the general season, for example swimming pools, restaurant terraces, pool bars, local restaurants, and they may be limited or unavailable at the beginning or end of the season. Please do not hesitate to check with us, should a particular facility be a necessity to you.
Security and cleaning deposits
For self-catering properties, we require you to lodge a security deposit against any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts, which you may have incurred during your stay and/or due to your negligence. This should be paid by credit or debit card at the time of booking by providing authorisation for us to deduct (within 21 days of your return home) any advised charges from your card – up to the maximum amount of £1,000 per booking. The specific amount of the deposit required for your chosen property will be advised to you at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that any damage exceeds the deposit amount, then you will be responsible for the full cost. Most of our properties are the owners’ personal homes and repairs, replacements and extra cleaning in Greece can be very expensive, so we do ask you to take care in order to avoid incurring extra costs.
Swimming pools
Swimming pool details are given in the ‘Accommodation details’ of our main brochure and the pool dimensions are approximate only and unless specified otherwise, pools are freshwater and unheated. Dates when pools are open are subject to the prevailing weather conditions at the time of opening and closing and we cannot be held responsible if poor weather means that the pool is opened later, or is closed earlier in the season.
Upon arrival at your accommodation, we kindly ask you to acquaint yourselves with the pool’s safety and hygiene rules. Very few pools have covers, fencing or life rings, so children must be supervised at all times. Some pools are ‘infinity pools,’ which have an exposed pool edge with an unprotected drop – this maximises views and is an attractive feature of the pool. However, we recommend that children are supervised and that you do not sit, lean or walk on the unprotected edge.
Villa owners
Whilst the owners or staff of some properties may live on site and tend to the grounds, they are aware that you value your privacy, and will do their best not to intrude. We do ask you however, to allow them reasonable access to the property so that they can maintain the grounds and keep them in good order.
Welcome Hamper
For all our valued past clients we offer a small ‘Welcome Hamper’ in all our self-catering accommodation consisting of:
- Bottle of red wine
- Local beer
- Large bottle of water
- Large carton of juice
- Tea bags
- Jar of coffee
- Sugar
- UHT milk 500ml
- Packet of pasta
- Jar of pasta sauce
- Regional biscuits
- Savoury snacks
New Simpson clients for 2010 may purchase this small hamper prior to departure. Prices are £30 for 2-4 guests and £45 for 5-8 guests. This includes delivery to your accommodation.
Essentials Pack
All our self-catering accommodation includes an ‘Essentials Pack’ which consists of:
- Dishwasher tablets (if applicable)
- Washing powder (if applicable)
- Washing up liquid and sponge
- Salt and pepper
- Vegetable/sunflower or olive oil
- Vinegar
- Mixed herbs
- Lavatory paper.
Gallery
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- Luxury hotel in stunning location
- Air-conditioned bedrooms
- Breakfast included
- Inside and outside pools
- Beach 1min walk
- Tavernas/shops 5min drive
- Private transfers included
The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 5858. ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom.Click on the ATOL logo if you want to know more.