Villa Camerina
Italy, Sicily
A former hunting reserve of the Marquises Ganzeria, this luxurious property is set in 20 hectares of unspoilt countryside. Private grounds burgeoning with natural herbs, lemon, orange, fig and mulberry trees surround the house, tennis court and azure blue swimming pool. At the heart of the villa is a large living and kitchen area, a sociable space ideal for gathering around the log-burning stove in cooler seasons. Elegant rooms have an air of tranquillity, and look out over countryside. Walk to the hilltop after a summer dinner on the veranda and watch the sunset over the panoramic view which stretches from the Agrigento Gulf to the beach of Punta Secca, the Ragusa highlands and the terracotta rooftops of Santa Croce Camerina.
Accommodation:
- Single storey 6 bedroom villa (up to 12 guests)
- 4 double bedrooms en-suite, 2 twin bedrooms en-suite
- Living/dining room with open plan kitchen with full cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher
- Living room with satellite TV, Hi-Fi, CD player
- Laundry area with washing machine, iron, ironing board
- Air-conditioning and heating
- Private swimming pool 12m x 6m (depth 0.9m – 1.60 m) – open 8 May – 22 October
- Veranda, garden, barbecue
- Tennis court
- Artificial lake
- Cooking classes on request
- Guests benefit from the Simpson Representative and Telephone Service whereby all guests will be contacted by telephone or text on their arrival day and visited personally within 48 hours of arrival by the Simpson representative.
- Restaurants/shops 8min walk
- Beach 5min drive
- Marina di Ragusa 10min drive
- Ragusa 20min drive
- Modica 30min drive
- Syracuse 1hr 35min drive
- Agrigento 2hr 10min drive
- Catania airport 1hr 45min drive
- Palermo airport 3hr 50min drive
- Trapani airport 4hr 45min drive
Prices based on accommodation only:
• 7 night prices from £2,750 to £5,400
• 14 night prices from £4,800 to £9,800
For further information and availability, please call our Italy specialist consultant on 020 8392 5854.
• 7 night prices from £2,750 to £5,400
• 14 night prices from £4,800 to £9,800
For further information and availability, please call our Italy specialist consultant on 020 8392 5854.
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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 if you are staying in hotel accommodation)
• The assistance of our local representative or Simpson Telephone service overseas as appropriate to your choice of accommodation (please refer to the property details for exact service)
• Simpson information book in your self-catering accommodation
• Government and local taxes
• Return flights from the UK to Italy (subject to possible flight supplements)
• An air-conditioned car or private return taxi transfers
• Air Passenger Duty, Italian and UK airport taxes, aviation insurance and security charges.
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Any additional transfers and/or car hire between properties in multi-centre holidays
• Any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts that have occurred 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
In some self-catering properties and depending on departure dates, children aged 2-11 years are eligible for concessions of between 10%-25% of the holiday price. For further information, please call our sales consultants.
INFANTS
There is a charge of £50 per infant (under 2 years) on all our holidays. In self-catering properties, cots and high chairs are provided for a small charge or free of charge depending on the property. 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 some cases we are able to hold an option for you for up to 24 hours before confirming your booking.
PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
In order to confirm your booking a deposit of £125 per person is required. The balance payment for your holiday should be paid at least eight weeks prior to your departure. We accept most debit cards, 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. Please check these documents carefully and advise us immediately of any discrepancies.
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 Corsica. 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 ITALY’ TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
A ‘Discovering’ holiday offers you the flexibility of location and length of stay – this is an ideal way of discovering different areas, or any one region in greater depth. You can even combine several of our destinations in Italy. We will be pleased to recommend suitable itineraries and pricing. Your stay in a hotel can also be combined with an additional seven nights stay in a villa, apartment or another hotel.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Included in your holiday price are return economy seats to Italy. As we do not pre purchase restrictive chartered seats in advance, we are able to offer our guests the flexibility of flights from most UK airports such as London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, but also Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and many more regional airports. Furthermore, we are able to offer a choice of scheduled, low cost and charter airlines.
FLIGHT SUPPLEMENTS
The cost of the flights included in the price of your holiday is the expected cost of most return economy flight seats for that time of year, estimated at the time of going to press. However, supplements may be applicable on certain routes, especially if lower price seats have run out closer to departure date or the flight prices have increased – these will be confirmed 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.
LOW COST AIRLINES
Low cost airlines may sometimes 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 or check their websites for up-to-date information.
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 at and return to the airport (or accommodation where applicable). The category of car included in the basic holiday price will vary according to the number of people in your party. Please note that 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. We do however ask you to take into account the size of the boot space for your luggage and if any infants will be in your party. You may wish to upgrade your car to give you extra comfort and space for your luggage. 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 below are only examples of car models in each category. We cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific make or model. Most of our hire car agents offer a number of additional categories and models, including larger cars, jeeps, minibuses and even cabriolets and we offer you the possibility to upgrade to these at competitive rates.
Group and type of model (or similar) of car included in the basic holiday price:
• 2 guests – 1 Group A car
• 3 guests – 1 Group B car
• 4-5 guests – Group D car
• 6 guests – 2 Group B cars
• 7 guests – 2 Group D cars or a Group K * people-carrier
• 8-10 guests – 2 Group D cars or a group M * minibus (max 9 guests)
Group Type of model or similar:
• Group A Fiat Panda, Chevrolet Matiz – small city car, air-conditioned
• Group B Fiat Grande Punto, Opel Corsa – small economy car, air-conditioned
• Group C Fiat Grande Punto 1.3, VW Polo – small economy car, air-conditioned
• Group D Opel Astra, Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 – medium compact car, air-conditioned
• Group E Opel Astra, Ford Focus – medium estate car, air-conditioned
• Group F Fiat Croma, Alfa 159 – large standard car, air-conditioned
• Group G Opel Zafira, VW Passat – large multi vehicle car, air-conditioned
• Group H BMW 3 series – large executive car, air-conditioned
• Group I VW Golf Plus, Mercedes A Class – medium compact automatic car, air-conditioned
• Group J Nissan Micra, Lancia Ypsilon – small automatic car, air-conditioned
• Group K Ford Galaxy, Fiat Ulysse – large multi-vehicle, 7 seats, air-conditioned
• Group L Mercedes E Class, Chrysler 300 – large luxury automatic car, (not Southern Italy)
• Group M Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit – minibus, 9 seats, air-conditioned
• Group N VW Beetle, Peugeot 207 – medium cabriolet, air-conditioned
• Group P Nissan X-Trail, Chevrolet Captiva – 4x4 vehicle, air-conditioned
* Please note that the types of cars listed are only examples of car models in each category. We cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific model, as Avis purchase their fleet of cars after we publish our brochure. If the category included in the holiday price is not available, Avis reserve the right to upgrade you at no extra charge. Categories E to P are subject to availability and we will need to request them in advance.
All cars have air-conditioning and a radio/cassette or CD player. Avis do not supply roof racks.
Group N (convertible cars) and automatic cars must be picked up and dropped off at the same airport.
Included in your car hire
• Unlimited mileage
• Super Collision Damage Waiver (Super CDW reduces damage excess to a €60 administration fee) *
• Theft Protection (TP reduces theft excess to approx. €960 – Super TP can be purchased locally) *
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
• Two main drivers. Please note that drivers must be 23-75 years of age (local charge applies to drivers 21- 22 years of age for maximum 10 day rental) and 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.
• Road tax, local taxes and VAT
• Collection and drop off at different locations (except groups N, P and automatics)
• 24 hour breakdown service
*Please note that this insurance does not cover tyres, windscreen or undercarriage (you should not drive off-road) or any damage, accident, loss, theft or attempted theft 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
Avis will require you to lodge a credit card deposit when you collect your car. This will be debited should you:
• return your car without a full tank of petrol
• return your car requiring extra cleaning
• return your car after the intended day and time as booked through us (max 59 minutes delay allowed)
• be required to make any payment (excess or other) as outlined above
Child seats
Child and baby seats can be provided if booked at least two weeks prior to your departure. They are charged at €50 each regardless of length of time and this is payable to Avis locally. Please remember to specify the age of the child. Please note that Avis 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. In the event that the seat is not returned or it is damaged Avis will charge approximately €125.
Transfers for bookings without car hire
Some bookings in Sicily, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and to our City hotels do not include car hire. Return taxi transfers from the airport to your accommodation will be provided (if road access is difficult this may not be to the front door). For multi-centre holidays we can also quote for transfers between your chosen properties if you choose not to hire a car. Please note that if you are travelling with young children or babies, car seats will not be provided for any transfers and you may prefer to bring your own child seat for your own peace of mind. A driver waiting fee may apply in the event of flight delays or a missed transfer.
We do recommend hiring a car for at least part of your stay and in some areas it may be possible to deliver to and collect from your accommodation. Please contact us for a quote.
ACCOMMODATION AND USEFUL INFORMATION
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. If you are booking a hotel room, please let us know your room preference (double or twin) at the time of booking. We will make every effort to request your choice to the hotel, but cannot guarantee that 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 to allow the cleaners enough time to prepare for the next guests. If you are making your own travel arrangements please advise us of your time of arrival, so we can make all necessary arrangements. Most of our hotels follow common practice with regard to check-in and check- out times (around midday); however, many have later check-in times between 3pm and 5pm. This information will be provided with your travel documents.
Cleaning
Self-catering accommodation is cleaned for your arrival and at the end of your stay. Some properties also benefit from an additional mid week tidy up. Any extra cleaning, which is additional to the arrival and departure cleaning, usually consists of a sweep, mop, bathroom and kitchen tidy up. Some properties are cleaned more regularly.
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 and as style and size may vary, for your own peace of mind, you may prefer to take your own. Cot linen is not supplied, so you will need to take your own.
Distances and timings
Please note that all walking and driving distances/timings stated in this brochure 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 on it. 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.
Hotel restaurants
Please note that hotel restaurants may or may not always serve both lunch and dinner and may sometimes not be open every day. If you require this information, please do not hesitate to ask.
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, bath and kitchen linen is provided and laundered on a weekly basis and for your convenience many 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.
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 must be done 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. In the event that you do not have a Credit or Debit Card you will be required to send us a cheque. The specific amount required for your chosen property will be advised to you at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that any damage to the property exceeds the maximum applicable amount, then you will be responsible for the full cost. Many of our properties are the owners’ personal homes and repairs, replacements and extra cleaning in Italy can be very expensive, so we do ask you to take care in order to avoid incurring extra costs.
Swimming pools
Swimming 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 yourself 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. As stated, 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.
Some swimming pool rules disallow toys, fins, and other objects as they can damage the liner and/or mechanism. Many swimming pools contain an automatic pool cleaner (vacuum), which keeps the water and pool surfaces clean and hygienic for your enjoyment. This equipment should not be removed or hindered at any time. Where the swimming pool is shared, large inflatable toys are usually not permitted.
Smoking
Please note that all public areas in Italy are now designated non-smoking by law and some hotels are completely ‘non-smoking’.
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’ that 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 if you are staying in hotel accommodation)
• The assistance of our local representative or Simpson Telephone service overseas as appropriate to your choice of accommodation (please refer to the property details for exact service)
• Simpson information book in your self-catering accommodation
• Government and local taxes
• Return flights from the UK to Italy (subject to possible flight supplements)
• An air-conditioned car or private return taxi transfers
• Air Passenger Duty, Italian and UK airport taxes, aviation insurance and security charges.
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Any additional transfers and/or car hire between properties in multi-centre holidays
• Any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts that have occurred 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
In some self-catering properties and depending on departure dates, children aged 2-11 years are eligible for concessions of between 10%-25% of the holiday price. For further information, please call our sales consultants.
INFANTS
There is a charge of £50 per infant (under 2 years) on all our holidays. In self-catering properties, cots and high chairs are provided for a small charge or free of charge depending on the property. 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 some cases we are able to hold an option for you for up to 24 hours before confirming your booking.
PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
In order to confirm your booking a deposit of £125 per person is required. The balance payment for your holiday should be paid at least eight weeks prior to your departure. We accept most debit cards, 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. Please check these documents carefully and advise us immediately of any discrepancies.
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 Corsica. 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 ITALY’ TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
A ‘Discovering’ holiday offers you the flexibility of location and length of stay – this is an ideal way of discovering different areas, or any one region in greater depth. You can even combine several of our destinations in Italy. We will be pleased to recommend suitable itineraries and pricing. Your stay in a hotel can also be combined with an additional seven nights stay in a villa, apartment or another hotel.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Included in your holiday price are return economy seats to Italy. As we do not pre purchase restrictive chartered seats in advance, we are able to offer our guests the flexibility of flights from most UK airports such as London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, but also Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and many more regional airports. Furthermore, we are able to offer a choice of scheduled, low cost and charter airlines.
FLIGHT SUPPLEMENTS
The cost of the flights included in the price of your holiday is the expected cost of most return economy flight seats for that time of year, estimated at the time of going to press. However, supplements may be applicable on certain routes, especially if lower price seats have run out closer to departure date or the flight prices have increased – these will be confirmed 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.
LOW COST AIRLINES
Low cost airlines may sometimes 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 or check their websites for up-to-date information.
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 at and return to the airport (or accommodation where applicable). The category of car included in the basic holiday price will vary according to the number of people in your party. Please note that 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. We do however ask you to take into account the size of the boot space for your luggage and if any infants will be in your party. You may wish to upgrade your car to give you extra comfort and space for your luggage. 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 below are only examples of car models in each category. We cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific make or model. Most of our hire car agents offer a number of additional categories and models, including larger cars, jeeps, minibuses and even cabriolets and we offer you the possibility to upgrade to these at competitive rates.
Group and type of model (or similar) of car included in the basic holiday price:
• 2 guests – 1 Group A car
• 3 guests – 1 Group B car
• 4-5 guests – Group D car
• 6 guests – 2 Group B cars
• 7 guests – 2 Group D cars or a Group K * people-carrier
• 8-10 guests – 2 Group D cars or a group M * minibus (max 9 guests)
Group Type of model or similar:
• Group A Fiat Panda, Chevrolet Matiz – small city car, air-conditioned
• Group B Fiat Grande Punto, Opel Corsa – small economy car, air-conditioned
• Group C Fiat Grande Punto 1.3, VW Polo – small economy car, air-conditioned
• Group D Opel Astra, Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 – medium compact car, air-conditioned
• Group E Opel Astra, Ford Focus – medium estate car, air-conditioned
• Group F Fiat Croma, Alfa 159 – large standard car, air-conditioned
• Group G Opel Zafira, VW Passat – large multi vehicle car, air-conditioned
• Group H BMW 3 series – large executive car, air-conditioned
• Group I VW Golf Plus, Mercedes A Class – medium compact automatic car, air-conditioned
• Group J Nissan Micra, Lancia Ypsilon – small automatic car, air-conditioned
• Group K Ford Galaxy, Fiat Ulysse – large multi-vehicle, 7 seats, air-conditioned
• Group L Mercedes E Class, Chrysler 300 – large luxury automatic car, (not Southern Italy)
• Group M Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit – minibus, 9 seats, air-conditioned
• Group N VW Beetle, Peugeot 207 – medium cabriolet, air-conditioned
• Group P Nissan X-Trail, Chevrolet Captiva – 4x4 vehicle, air-conditioned
* Please note that the types of cars listed are only examples of car models in each category. We cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific model, as Avis purchase their fleet of cars after we publish our brochure. If the category included in the holiday price is not available, Avis reserve the right to upgrade you at no extra charge. Categories E to P are subject to availability and we will need to request them in advance.
All cars have air-conditioning and a radio/cassette or CD player. Avis do not supply roof racks.
Group N (convertible cars) and automatic cars must be picked up and dropped off at the same airport.
Included in your car hire
• Unlimited mileage
• Super Collision Damage Waiver (Super CDW reduces damage excess to a €60 administration fee) *
• Theft Protection (TP reduces theft excess to approx. €960 – Super TP can be purchased locally) *
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
• Two main drivers. Please note that drivers must be 23-75 years of age (local charge applies to drivers 21- 22 years of age for maximum 10 day rental) and 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.
• Road tax, local taxes and VAT
• Collection and drop off at different locations (except groups N, P and automatics)
• 24 hour breakdown service
*Please note that this insurance does not cover tyres, windscreen or undercarriage (you should not drive off-road) or any damage, accident, loss, theft or attempted theft 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
Avis will require you to lodge a credit card deposit when you collect your car. This will be debited should you:
• return your car without a full tank of petrol
• return your car requiring extra cleaning
• return your car after the intended day and time as booked through us (max 59 minutes delay allowed)
• be required to make any payment (excess or other) as outlined above
Child seats
Child and baby seats can be provided if booked at least two weeks prior to your departure. They are charged at €50 each regardless of length of time and this is payable to Avis locally. Please remember to specify the age of the child. Please note that Avis 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. In the event that the seat is not returned or it is damaged Avis will charge approximately €125.
Transfers for bookings without car hire
Some bookings in Sicily, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and to our City hotels do not include car hire. Return taxi transfers from the airport to your accommodation will be provided (if road access is difficult this may not be to the front door). For multi-centre holidays we can also quote for transfers between your chosen properties if you choose not to hire a car. Please note that if you are travelling with young children or babies, car seats will not be provided for any transfers and you may prefer to bring your own child seat for your own peace of mind. A driver waiting fee may apply in the event of flight delays or a missed transfer.
We do recommend hiring a car for at least part of your stay and in some areas it may be possible to deliver to and collect from your accommodation. Please contact us for a quote.
ACCOMMODATION AND USEFUL INFORMATION
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. If you are booking a hotel room, please let us know your room preference (double or twin) at the time of booking. We will make every effort to request your choice to the hotel, but cannot guarantee that 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 to allow the cleaners enough time to prepare for the next guests. If you are making your own travel arrangements please advise us of your time of arrival, so we can make all necessary arrangements. Most of our hotels follow common practice with regard to check-in and check- out times (around midday); however, many have later check-in times between 3pm and 5pm. This information will be provided with your travel documents.
Cleaning
Self-catering accommodation is cleaned for your arrival and at the end of your stay. Some properties also benefit from an additional mid week tidy up. Any extra cleaning, which is additional to the arrival and departure cleaning, usually consists of a sweep, mop, bathroom and kitchen tidy up. Some properties are cleaned more regularly.
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 and as style and size may vary, for your own peace of mind, you may prefer to take your own. Cot linen is not supplied, so you will need to take your own.
Distances and timings
Please note that all walking and driving distances/timings stated in this brochure 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 on it. 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.
Hotel restaurants
Please note that hotel restaurants may or may not always serve both lunch and dinner and may sometimes not be open every day. If you require this information, please do not hesitate to ask.
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, bath and kitchen linen is provided and laundered on a weekly basis and for your convenience many 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.
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 must be done 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. In the event that you do not have a Credit or Debit Card you will be required to send us a cheque. The specific amount required for your chosen property will be advised to you at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that any damage to the property exceeds the maximum applicable amount, then you will be responsible for the full cost. Many of our properties are the owners’ personal homes and repairs, replacements and extra cleaning in Italy can be very expensive, so we do ask you to take care in order to avoid incurring extra costs.
Swimming pools
Swimming 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 yourself 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. As stated, 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.
Some swimming pool rules disallow toys, fins, and other objects as they can damage the liner and/or mechanism. Many swimming pools contain an automatic pool cleaner (vacuum), which keeps the water and pool surfaces clean and hygienic for your enjoyment. This equipment should not be removed or hindered at any time. Where the swimming pool is shared, large inflatable toys are usually not permitted.
Smoking
Please note that all public areas in Italy are now designated non-smoking by law and some hotels are completely ‘non-smoking’.
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’ that 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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- Elegant country house
- Set in 50 acres
- 6 en-suite bedrooms
- Air-conditioned
- Delightful Mediterranean gardens
- Private swimming pool
- Tennis court
- Santa Croce di Carmerina 10min drive
- Beach 10min drive
- Air-conditioned car 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.