Holiday Information
Please read the following information carefully. They, together with the Booking Terms and Conditions (which is incorporated into this Holiday Information), apply to all holidays and flights on this website and they deal with your rights and obligations to us and ours to you.
To see the answers to some commonly asked questions, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
How we calculate your holiday price
The basic price of your holiday as set out in our brochures and website includes variable items such as the cost of aviation fuel and various costs paid in foreign currencies, which are subject to varying exchange rates. Your holiday price (except for any car hire) includes all domestic and foreign taxes and charges unless these are not pre–payable. Some countries, for example the Spanish Balearic Islands and Greece have introduced a tourist tax (although it goes under a variety of names depending on the country, but which is referred to as “tourist tax” throughout this Holiday Information) which can only be paid locally at your accommodation.
Please note that throughout this the flight, accommodation or both have been selected from third party companies to meet your specific requirements. This gives you enormous flexibility in your holiday/travel arrangements and all flights and holidays are fully ATOL protected by Olympic Holidays. Particularly with accommodation, however, it does mean that we will not have personally inspected your selected accommodation and act as an agent only for the hotelier or other supplier (please see our Booking Conditions). Therefore, while the general guidance (e.g. as to visas and health requirements) given in this Holiday Information section is valid for all bookings - flights and accommodation may have their own particular information/requirements attached to them (e.g. ticketing and baggage allowances on flights, and the standard of services and facilities available at accommodation) which we cannot set out here because of their immense variety. Please read all information available on this website relating to flights and accommodations and if you have any questions please contact us and we'll do our best to help you. We regret that in some instances we cannot accept bookings from persons under the age of 18 unless there is someone aged 18 or over travelling in the party and normally this person should be the lead passenger (see our Booking Conditions).
What's included in your holiday price
The basic cost of your holiday includes:
- Flight from UK airport to resort airport and return.
- All airport and passenger taxes and charges at home and abroad (except any local tourist tax which can only be paid locally at your accommodation).
- The baggage allowance on your flight (if any), confirmed during the booking process – see also Baggage below.
- In–flight entertainment as provided by the particular airline providing your flight.
- If specified during the booking process, transport between the resort airport and your accommodation (unless you have hired a car for collection at the destination airport or have booked a villa or house which includes a free car).
- Accommodation and meal arrangements as specified in our confirmation.
The services of our local representatives for advice and assistance – unless stated otherwise during the process of booking your holiday
What's not included
- Transport between your home and the UK airport.
- Holiday insurance which you must have.
- Carriage of baggage (other than hand baggage) on your flight, unless specified as included during the booking process.
- Transfers between your arrival airport and your accommodation unless specified as included during the booking process.
- Any tourist tax payable locally at your accommodation.
- Any charge made by hotels or apartments for the use of facilities and equipment (e.g. room service, sports facilities etc.)
- other than outdoor swimming pools.
- The provision of cots or pushchairs and meals for infants.
- Any excursions unless specified in our brochures and website as being included in the price of the holiday.
- Any additional food, drinks or other items you may purchase at your accommodation.
- Any tips or gratuities and any other item of a personal nature not specified in our brochures and website description.
- Unless specified otherwise during the booking process, transport between the resort airport and your villa or house (when free car hire is included, the car should be collected from the destination airport).Port taxes and gratuities on cruises, unless stated otherwise during the booking process
- Port taxes and gratuities on cruises, unless stated otherwise during the booking process
Group bookings
For Group Bookings call us on 020 8492 6896
- Requests for holidays for more than 10 passengers need to be made via our Team.
- A deposit will be required for each passenger.
- Certain offers are only available to large groups. These offers change frequently and are subject to availability.
- We provide Group Bookings with low deposits from just £89 per person.
- Early booking discounts for group bookings can reach up to £200 per person.
- Our Group Offers are constantly updated so call us on 020 8492 6896 or email us with details of your requirements.
- All our group holiday bookings come fully ATOL and ABTA protected.
Occupancy rules
- Four adults sharing a 2 or more bedroom apartment may book 2 children at the first child price. In hotel rooms with only 3 beds, first and second children must share a bed to qualify for the child price. Sharing beds is only permissible where the total combined age of both children is 11 years or less.
- All children not qualifying for special offers or discounts pay the full adult price and count as adults towards the occupancy of the accommodation.
- Only persons who pay the full adult price count towards the occupancy of accommodation. The Party Size row in special bonus boxes states how many persons we expect to pay the full adult price. If fewer persons paying the full adult price occupy the accommodation, under–occupancy supplements must be added as shown at the bottom on each price panel.
- Special Offer rules about occupancy occasionally mean that your child may travel cheaper if paying the full adult fare rather than a child price. Our Reservations Department or your travel agent will be able to advise you on how to achieve the best price.
- All children and infants must have adequate holiday insurance.
- We cannot accept bookings for children under the age of 16 on the date of return who are not accompanied by an adult.
- For persons aged 16 years or over but under 18 on the date of return who are traveling unaccompanied by a responsible adult, we will only accept bookings if an adult agrees to be responsible for any costs arising from the booking or its cancellation.
Infants under the age of 2 on the date of their return to the UK pay a small charge for their flight but are not provided with a seat or any baggage allowance. Should you need a cot to be provided at your holiday accommodation, please state this as a 'Special Request' either during the booking process or when you call to book. As cots provided overseas may not comply with British standards, please check the cot before use to ensure suitability. We also recommend that you take your own linen for use in the cot for reasons of hygiene. At most of the hotels we offer FREE cots, but if there is any charge, this must be paid locally. PLEASE REMEMBER IN ALL CASES TO REQUEST A COT WHEN BOOKING. Please note that the presence of a cot, more often than not, counts towards the maximum occupancy of any given unit. Please ask our Reservations Team before booking a unit to avoid disappointment.
Special offer rules
These Conditions apply to all special offers our brochures and website.
- To qualify for a 'Reduced Child Price' offer the child must be aged under 16 years on the date of return for the holiday and does not count towards the occupancy of the accommodation booked.
- For a 'Child Stays Free' offer a child must be under the age of 12 years on the date of return from the holiday.
- To qualify as Infants, children must be under the age of 2 years on the date of return from holiday.
- You must state the ages of all children or infants when booking.
- If a child or infant discount or special offer is booked, and the child is found to be outside the age limits for the discount, special offer or infant price, the full adult or child price will be payable before departure, in resort, or on return to the UK, as appropriate.
- 'Child Stays Free', 'Reduced Child Price' and 'Free Extra Weeks' offers refer to the basic brochure price only and do not include any relevant supplements for flights, accommodation, insurance etc. which remain payable in full, unless otherwise specified in the relevant accommodation price panel or special bonus box.
- All special offers are only available on holidays booked at the full brochure price and not on any discounted or concessionary booking.
- References to 'Holidays Completed Between' our brochures and website means that the holiday booked must start and end on or between the dates mentioned. Otherwise, at 'Olympic Holidays' discretion, if part of your holiday falls between the dates mentioned in connection with a special offer or discount will be given on a pro rata basis.
- Only one of the reductions or discounts advertised in our brochures and website is available per family or booking form except '2 for 1' and 'No Under Occupancy' offers may be taken together and 'Early Booking' discounts and 3 days free car hire are both available in addition to any other offer applicable to your chosen holiday.
- They are in all cases subject to availability.
BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
The price of your holiday
All initial prices shown on the Olympic Holidays website include all compulsory taxes and charges (except any local tourist tax). Any optional charges are not included in the initial price show, but you will have the opportunity to select or reject optional services and facilities during the booking process.
Extra nights
Please note that extra night prices are determined by the actual dates of the extra nights in your hotel, not by the date of your departure from the UK. If the extra nights fall over a bank holiday (in the UK) or a festival period (overseas) a supplement may be payable which will be confirmed to you when the extra nights are reserved.
Your flights
In accordance with EU regulations we are required to advise you of the actual carrier operating your flight. We do this by listing the flights that are intended to be operated as per information in the page of Olympic Flight Information. We are also required to bring to your attention under EU Directive (EC) 2111/2005 the existence of a Community list which contains details of carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the EU. Click here to inspect this list.
Please note that we reserve the right to substitute alternative carriers and/or aircraft types. Any such alteration or substitution will not entitle you to cancel your booking except in accordance with our standard cancellation terms – see 'If You Cancel' under our Booking Conditions.
Flights mentioned on this website may have been planned but not fixed or licensed. We therefore accept bookings on those flights subject to their operation and grant of licences by the appropriate Civil Aviation Authorities.
The flight timings shown on this website are for guidance only and are subject to confirmation and alteration. You must adhere to the timings advised to you in the tickets provided to you before departure. Flight times in our brochures and website and on all documentation are local times on the basis of the 24–hour clock and you should bear this in mind when looking at journey times. Flights may have an intermediate stop for refuelling or other reasons. Please enquire before booking.
You must check in for your flight at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure time, but in view of enhanced security at airports you should allow extra time to check in. Particular seats are generally not pre–bookable (but see Pre–bookable seats below) so that if you prefer to be in a particular part of the aircraft, or wish to be seated with traveling companions, the earlier you check in the more likely you are to obtain your requirements (although these cannot be guaranteed in any circumstances). You should also re–confirm your return flight in resort at least 2 days before the date of your return.
Pre–bookable seats
If you pre-book your seats, this ensures that your family/party will be seated together. To guarantee this, all passengers in your party must travel under the same booking and pre-bookable seats must be booked for all party members on that booking. If you have booked Group Seating your seats are pre-allocated a few days before your flight departure dates and are subject to change therefore, seat numbers will be given to you when you check in for your flight. Some members of your party may be seated across an aisle or in a row in front/behind each other; depending on party size, aircraft configuration and window seat requests. Window seats are allocated at check-in according to availability. Please note that in case of a dispute concerning pre-booked seats, you and other members of your party are required to retain your boarding passes.
Missed flights
It is your responsibility to ensure that you arrive at the airport in time for the departure of your flight, whether outbound or inbound. Please allow plenty of time for traffic delays etc. If you should miss your flight, we will do our best to arrange an alternative (subject to availability). Since in these circumstances it might not be possible for your accommodation to be held, we will similarly do our best to provide an alternative. Please note, however, that in these circumstances the replacement flights and accommodation may not be to the same destinations or to the same standard as originally booked and are in all cases subject to availability. In addition all extra costs which we incur in respect of replacement flights, accommodation, transfers etc. will be payable by you prior to your departure.
Flight delays
Although most flights depart on time, there may be occasions when for reasons beyond our control a flight is delayed. We cannot accept any liability whatsoever for any delay in or cancellation of your flight to or from your resort caused by or resulting from adverse weather conditions, a re–scheduling by the airline, airport authorities/air traffic controllers, technical problems with any aircraft, industrial action or any other cause for which we are not directly responsible. Information about the cause or likely duration of a delay is sometimes hard to come by, but we will try to keep you informed. Subject to available facilities at the time and place of the delay, for delays of: 4 to 6 hours we will provide light refreshment; 6 to 10 hours a meal at mealtimes; over 10 hours, if overnight and if possible or advisable in liaison with the airline arranging your flight, basic accommodation.
Inbound flights
If we are advised that there is to be a substantial flight delay before you leave for the airport, if possible, we shall try to arrange for you to remain in your resort, rather than having to wait at the airport. Refreshments as outlined above will be provided for delays in excess of 4 hours, although this does depend on local availability having regard to the time of day, numbers involved and local availability of services.
Baggage
If specified as included during the booking process the baggage allowance is normally a minimum of 15kg for each person. Infants under the age of 2, on the date of their return flight, have no allowance. The baggage allowance may vary depending on the airline or flight. Please check your confirmation email or itinerary for correct details. In addition one small piece of hand baggage (normally of a size which will fit under an aircraft seat and of not more than 5 Kg in weight) per person may be carried. Baggage in excess of these limits may be refused carriage or incur an excess baggage charge at check–in for your flight which will be payable by you. If you wish to carry any particularly bulky item of baggage (e.g. wheelchairs, pushchairs, windsurfers, golf clubs etc.) please tell us at the time of booking so that we can ask the airline for permission. Carriage of items such as these cannot be guaranteed and may incur an additional charge. Hand baggage requirements are subject to change in accordance with security measures and it is advised that you check before travel for any changes to baggage allowance. It is also advised that you check on the Government website for the current list of prohibited articles on aircraft by following the link for hand baggage rules.
Pregnancy
You are advised that normally airlines require a medical certificate of fitness to fly if you are more than 28 weeks pregnant and after 32 weeks of pregnancy you will not be allowed to fly. You are in any event advised to consult your Doctor before travelling. If you are travelling with an infant it is very unlikely that skycots or bassinets will be available on most of the flights that we offer, however please ask if this is important to you.
Passports & Visas
The information in this section is valid for British citizens only. If you are not a British citizen (and this includes citizens of British Dependent Territories, citizens who hold their citizenship by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar, British subjects who have a right of abode in the UK and EU and other nationals) the passport and visa requirements for the Country you intend to visit may be different and you are advised to contact the Embassy or High Commission of the Country you are intending to visit to check the requirements for your intended visit.
At all times it remains your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct documentation for your holiday and return to the UK, and to regularly familiarise yourself with the requirements as passport and visa requirements can change prior to departure. Please note that some countries may require you to show additional documentation on arrival such as proof of accommodation, return flight and proof of funds for the duration of your stay. Information regarding specific entry requirements of the country you are planning to visit can be found on the FCDO website here - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
We accept no responsibility if you do not have the correct documents. If you need a new or renewed passport you should apply in good time before your departure. It normally takes about (4 weeks) to obtain a passport by post, but this time may vary depending on the time of year or the passport office you apply to.
Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Malta & Spain
A full British passport is necessary and it must meet the following requirements:-
f you are planning to travel to an EU country, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements:-
- issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
British citizens do not require a visa to visit as a tourist for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. Please note that visits to any other Schengen area country within the same 180 day period will count towards the 90 day limit. For EU non-Schengen countries such as Cyprus, you can still visit as a tourist for up to 90 days in any 180 day period without a visa and visits to any other EU country during the same 180 day period will not count towards the 90 days.
If you are visiting Cyprus, and you have a Turkish Cypriot stamp in your passport, you are advised to contact the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus as you may need a supplementary passport.
Passport Stamping
Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.
Egypt
A full British passport is necessary and it must be valid for 6 months from the day you arrive . British passport holders travelling to Egypt normally need a visa. Visa processing fees are non-refundable. British passport holders travelling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts ONLY, for a maximum of 15 DAYS, do not require a visa prior to travelling as a free entry permission stamp will be granted upon arrival. If you intend to visit or travel outside of the these areas or stay longer than 15 days, you must obtain a Visa. Visas can be obtained on arrival from Egyptian Airports (from 1st May onwards) and will cost $25 USD for a single entrance visa or can be applied for before departure from the Egyptian Consulate at a cost of £20 GBP for single entrance and takes three days to obtain. Please visit the Egyptian Consulate's website for more information.
The Gambia
If you are visiting The Gambia, your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.
Visas - For visits of less than a month, you don’t need to get a visa before you travel. British nationals are given a 28 day stamp in their passports on arrival. You can get further 28 day extensions from the Immigration Office in Banjul or the Tourist Police Stations in the Tourism Development Area.
If you’re planning to enter The Gambia for a period longer than 3 months, check entry requirements with the Gambian High Commission in London.
Airport Development and Security Fee - A compulsory Airport Security Fee must be paid upon entering and exiting the country. The fee is 20 dollars, or equivalent in euros, sterling or local currency. This will be collected via marked kiosks in Banjul International Airport. Visa credit card is accepted. Children below 2 years of age and passengers in transit are exempt.
Goa
A full British passport is necessary and it must be valid for 6 months after the date of your return. British nationals travelling to Goa need a Visa. Make sure you get the right visa for your travel and that it’s valid for the purpose and duration of your stay. If you enter India on the wrong visa, you could be detained on arrival and you may be deported and blacklisted, meaning that you cannot enter India again. Make sure you meet entry requirements. E visas are now accepted at Mopa Airport (GOX). If you have already obtained an e visa and selected Goa as the point of entry and are now flying into Mopa Airport (GOX) the e visa will be accepted.
To avoid problems at immigration, make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry into India. Your passport must also be machine-readable & have 2 blank pages for your visa. Foreign nationals who arrive at an Indian port holding non-machine-readable passports will be denied entry. Carriers who transport foreign passengers holding non-machine-readable passports may be subject to a fine.
You can find further information on the Indian High Commission website or the Indian Immigration Bureau website
Turkey
A full British passport is necessary and it must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive. There should also be a full blank page for entry and exit stamps. British citizens do not require a visa to visit Turkey - for visits up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office provides free of charge a variety of important information about the country you intend to visit, including security, entry requirements and health and this is kept up to date. We recommend you check at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Health
Although no inoculation certificates are required for entry to any of the countries mentioned in our brochures and website, we advise you to consult your own doctor in good time before your departure as to what precautions may be recommended. In addition, there is a leaflet which you may find helpful in connection with health while travelling It is a leaflet entitled 'Advice on Health for Travellers available either from your travel agent or from the Department of Health website or call FREEPHONE 0800 555777. We also recommend you visit the Foreign Travel section of the DirectGov website.
Overseas holidays – what to expect
To make the most of your holiday we recommend that you try to find out as much as possible about your intended destination before you book and travel on your holiday. The Internet is a great source of information and much of it is free. It's important that you look at such things as the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office’s Know Before You Go Campaign, which gives essential information about your intended destination country; the NHS and Department of Health websites both contain very useful information on health for travellers and the Meteorological Office for information about climate. As an alternative to the Internet your local reference library will be able to help with reading matter about your intended destination. One of the attractions of holidaying overseas is to see something of a culture and way of life that is different to what we are used to at home. You should not therefore expect things to be the same as in Britain – invariably this is not so. In many destinations – some of which have only become accustomed to an influx of foreign tourists in recent years – the locals tend to be more relaxed in their approach to life, and this usually means taking their time over things. Also because of rapid development in some resorts the development of the infrastructure (roads, power supplies, water supplies etc.) has not kept pace with the demands of tourism.
This is part of the charm of these areas.
Of course, in the more sophisticated resorts of Europe, you will often find all the facilities you are used to at home, but elsewhere things may be a good deal simpler. You may experience problems with plumbing or drainage or inconveniences like a broken door handle, or missing light bulbs. Standards of furnishings or electrical fittings may be more basic. It is also worth remembering that on a holiday where the absence of rain rates high on your list of priorities, water shortages can sometimes be unavoidable – indeed even in the largest hotels if everyone decides to shower or bath at the same time, hot water may run short. Don't get annoyed if these things occur. If it is something that can be rectified just report it to the person in charge of your accommodation and it will be fixed – eventually! If you have real difficulty report it to our representative or agent. They will be glad to do what they can to assist.
Food may also be a little different to what you're used to. You may encounter unusual dishes, but try them – you might like them. Food is a very subjective matter and often hotel menus are international in character and designed to please the greatest number of people. Unless otherwise stated, breakfast is of continental style. You may, for example, find greater use of olive oil, or food may not be served as hot as we expect in the UK. However, most larger resorts do have restaurants and snack bars where British style dishes can be bought if you prefer it. Visitors to Egypt in particular should be aware that due to unfamiliar climate, cuisine and environment it is not unusual to suffer minor stomach upsets.
Cruises
It is your responsibility to ensure you have taken out adequate travel insurance that includes cover for cruising.
Sail in Greece Cruises – Port fees of 80.00 euros per person is not included in your holiday price and is to be paid locally on embarkation. Please note due to the late arrival policy, in case of any actual late arrival, the vessel will not depart from Corfu until every passenger is on board so in the case of a late arrival the gulet will depart on Sunday or due to weather conditions. Please check our individual Sail In Greece webpages for specific details of what is and is not included in your cruise package.
Miray Cruises – Please note upon check in, passports are taken by the cruise line and a keycard is issued and used onboard as ID. Guests are to take a picture of their passport on their mobile phone or a copy of their passport, this picture/copy is mostly used for Turkey. Passports are return upon check out on the departure day. Onboard the cruise line no cash or credit card payment is accepted. All purchases are made via your keycard and full settlement of purchases is settled upon check out which can then be paid via cash or credit card. Please check our individual Miray Cruise webpages for specific details of what is and is not included in your cruise package.
Adriatic Cruises - Port and residence tax of 60.00 euros per person to be paid locally and is not included in your package price. Beach towels can be hired are a cost of 7 euros per week. Please check our individual Adriatic Cruise webpages for specific details of what is and is not included in your cruise package.
Celestyal Cruises - Please check our individual Celestyal Cruise webpages for specific details of what is and is not included in your cruise package.
Animals & insects
In many destinations cats, dogs and other animals are allowed to wander at will and there are many that are not domesticated. Please treat any animals you come across with caution and if you are bitten or scratched consult a doctor immediately.
Another factor that can alarm British visitors to the warmer climates is the number and variety of insects. Ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and wasps for instance are prolific, particularly in the more rural areas and little can be done about them, except regular control measures. They do not mean that your accommodation is dirty or unhygienic, although the sight of them may be disturbing if you are not used to seeing them.
Noise & building works
Finally, a word about noise and building works. On this website we have tried to give a fair description of each resort which may give you some idea of whether it is noisy or peaceful. Of course, which you prefer will depend upon the sort of holiday you are looking for. You may consider that being in the centre of a busy resort, near to all the shops, bars, discos and other entertainments is your ideal. Alternatively, you may consider such things best avoided and want a peaceful holiday. The choice is yours. Noise is a very subjective matter, for instance if you live in a rural area you are likely to find even the resorts described as quiet on this website more noisy than you might expect. Remember life has to go on for the locals. They often start work as early as 6:30 a.m., and motorcycles are a common and popular means of transport. Many locals keep dogs or an assortment of other animals which wake up early! Also these are holiday resorts and generally holidaymakers like to stay up late and the local entertainment tends to continue into the early hours and may be in the open air.
More information about the resorts featured on this website is available from the Embassy or High Commission of the country you intend to visit, on the Internet, or from us, but remember check before you book.
It is also a fact of life that even the most idyllic resorts are also working towns/villages for the inhabitants and building works will occasionally be taking place. We have no control over this, but our staff will check regularly for the commencement and progress of any building work near to any of the accommodation featured on this website and will keep us updated. If you are concerned about this, please ring us before you book your holiday and we will advise you if we know of any building works that might affect the holiday you wish to book. After you have booked if we find out about any building works going on near to your accommodation and which we think will affect the enjoyment of your holiday we will notify you. If we think that such works are likely to seriously affect your holiday, we will give you the opportunity to transfer to another holiday or cancel without penalty.
Our descriptions
The descriptions of resorts and particularly of hotels, apartments etc. on this website have been compiled as a result of inspection by our staff or information obtained from third parties. We have taken all reasonable care to ensure accuracy where our staff have inspected. In some resorts, however, you may find that if you are holidaying early or late in their season some facilities or services may be closed or unavailable either in your hotel or other accommodation, or in your resort as a whole. Some may also be dependent on the weather or the numbers of guests at the hotel or other accommodation. These things cannot be avoided and are completely outside our control.
Please note that the description 'inland view' in accommodation descriptions simply means that the accommodation faces inland, not that any particular view is available from it.
If you have a disability
We have identified hotels throughout our destinations that have rooms suitable for disabled guests. If you do have specific requirements, we would recommend that you contact us before you book and we will be happy to check the suitability of the selected accommodation for your disability or needs. Please call us on 020 8492 6868 or send an email request to online.enquiries@olympicholidays.com for further information.
The Olympic 'Flame' rating
The number of "flames" given to a hotel or apartments depend on feedback from our customer questionnaires and the opinions of our staff overseas. They range from 2 flames for no frills, good value, budget accommodation to 5 flames for hotels with a high level of comfort and a wide range of services and amenities. A+ after the rating indicates that we think it is of a better quality than the average in its category.
Misprints ⁄ Errors
We take all reasonable care to ensure that the descriptions, prices and information on this website are correct. Regrettably, occasionally, an error will appear. Please contact us and we will tell you of any corrections affecting the holiday you are interested in, or send your details by email. We regret that we cannot accept any liability for such errors unless you have followed this procedure.
Other hotel guests
Many hotels, especially in cities and major resorts, accommodate conventions and conferences. Also, at certain times of year, some destinations have an influx of groups, such as students, associations or clubs. The hotels that we feature are shared with guests from many countries with different cultures and customs. We have no control over the acceptance of bookings at the hotels we feature other than our own bookings. We are therefore unable to accept responsibility for any limitation of facilities due to such groups or inconvenience that their activities may cause you, but would be happy to advise which hotels or resorts we think might suit your requirements best.
All inclusive holidays
We wish you to enjoy your all inclusive holiday to the full, and therefore advise you that the following applies to all inclusive holidays: On arrival you may be issued with an identity card or bracelet to be shown when ordering food and drink or using the facilities. If this is lost you may be a charged for a replacement. All hotels reserve the right to refuse to serve alcoholic drinks to guests who, in their judgment, are intoxicated. Further, we and the hotels reserve the right to confiscate identity cards/bracelets from guests who misbehave or abuse the terms of the all inclusive board basis. Different hotels offer different facilities, services and food and drink arrangements as part of their all inclusive tariff, or offer more than one grade of all inclusive tariff. We have included details on this website where appropriate. Please read them carefully to ensure that you select the all inclusive tariff you require.
Bungalows
Some hotels offer accommodation in 'bungalows'. The term 'bungalow' is interpreted differently in many destinations particularly Cyprus and Greece where it is used to denote any low–rise building usually separate to the main building. These are rarely stand–alone units and may be more than just one storey high.
Pool ⁄ Sea views
A supplement may be required for sea or pool views at some properties – please check at time of booking. Sea views in particular may sometimes be lateral or partly blocked by trees and vegetation.
Self catering accommodation
For self catering accommodation, usually the description will give you a good idea what to expect, but some further explanation might be helpful:
All villas, apartments etc. are provided with towels, bed linen, crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, lighting and hot water unless stated otherwise. Please remember however that while your basic requirements will be provided, not everything you would find in a fully equipped home will be supplied. For instance large bath and beach towels are not usually provided (except in the larger hotels) and we suggest that you take these with you. Kettles are not normally supplied in Greek accommodation, and cooking facilities range from double cooking rings to full ovens. Normally crockery and other utensils will be supplied sufficient only for the number of persons occupying the accommodation. Each Self Catering property may provide different cooking facilities. Some properties may have portable cooking rings while others only provide a kettle or sandwich maker. We have tried to specify what is available in each individual accommodation, but if this is particularly important for you, please check before you book.
Studio
This means a bed sitting room style open plan apartment with twin single beds or bed settees, and adjoining or integral basic kitchenette and separate shower/WC.
Kitchenette
Refers to a small kitchen area which may be separated from the living/dining area by a breakfast bar.
Beds
Some of our accommodation for three or four persons involves the use of bunk or folding beds or bed settees as the third/fourth bed. You are deemed to agree to such arrangements. A room or studio for 3 or 4 persons is usually a twin room (or studio for 2) with extra beds. The addition of a third/fourth bed to some accommodation can result in shortage of space and make the accommodation rather cramped.
In our accommodation descriptions we have given the official classification of accommodation (where available). Official classifications vary from country to country, and are based on the general availability of facilities and services at a particular hotel or apartment complex. There are variations within categories. We have tried to reflect these variations in our descriptions and prices.
4 or 5 bedded rooms
For great value we have a number of hotels with rooms that will sleep four or more people: great for families! Please note some room types may be at a supplement, and third or subsequent beds may be of the folding type or sofa beds.
Exclusively for adults
We know that many of our clients would prefer to enjoy their holiday exclusively in the company of other adults and away from other people's children. That's why some of our hotels are designated 'Adults Only' hotels and others offer accommodation in areas specially designated for 'Adults Only'. Please see hotel descriptions for details.
“Round the house” or “Promo rooms”
For some hotel accommodation on this website you will see room types described as “Round The House” or “Promo Rooms”. “Round The House” means that while the room size/type will be specified (e.g. double, twin, family room etc.) the rooms can be located anywhere within the particular hotel: they may be sea view, side sea view, inland view, in the main building or in an annexe. For “Promo Rooms” on the contrary, the view will be specified (e.g. sea view, inland view etc.) but the room type will not except for the maximum number which may be accommodated. For “Round The House” rooms we can give no indication of location prior to your arrival and for “Promo Rooms” we can give no indication of room type prior to your arrival. If you require a specific room type or location within a hotel these rooms may not be for you, but since they are competitively priced they provide budget accommodation within hotels, We accept no liability, however, if the room type/location does not meet your wishes if you book one or more of these rooms.
General photographs
Other than photographs of specific hotel/apartment buildings and rooms there may be general photographs not specific to or descriptive of the resort/accommodation featured throughout this website.
Nights at resort
Our prices are based on the number of nights for which your hotel or other accommodation is available.
All accommodation must be vacated by 12:00 noon on your day of departure but some destinations/accommodation require earlier check-out. Please check on your arrival at your accommodation. In the case of arrival on a night flight your room may have been booked from the previous day to ensure that you have immediate access when you arrive and if this is the case the night/morning of your arrival will be counted as the first night of your holiday. If departing on a night/early morning flight, where possible a room may be made available for changing and storing hand luggage when you have vacated your room by 12 noon. This is in all cases subject to local availability and a charge may be made. Sometimes managements may be able to allow you to keep your room, but they are entitled to make an additional charge if they wish. Alternatively our local Representatives may be able to arrange temporary accommodation but again there will be a charge. Where half or full board has been booked flight timings may necessitate the loss of one meal. In such cases the holiday price has been reduced to compensate.
Transfers
Some of the island holidays on this website involve transfers from your arrival airport by hydrofoil or ferry. Transfers by sea will not be accompanied. Hydrofoils are used for short sea crossings and provide a much more comfortable and reliable way to travel than ferries which may, however, be a great way to see something of different islands during your holiday. Both can be affected by sea and weather conditions and there is absolutely nothing that anyone can do about this.
All transfer times stated on this website assume that everything is working properly and take no account of delays for the variety of reasons that can affect all types of transport. In some cases access for vehicles, particularly coaches, to accommodation is restricted and therefore you may be dropped at the nearest accessible point. You may have to carry your luggage for the last distance in these circumstances. Where there is a transfer between islands by ferry as part of your holiday arrangements, please note that we recommend day flights to permit ferry transfers on the same day where possible.
However, ferry sailing times do not always allow this. In such cases you will (if appropriate) be provided with temporary accommodation on the island at which your aircraft arrives until the next ferry sailing. In such cases your stay at your accommodation may be shorter than the full 7 or 14 nights you have booked. No refund will, however, be payable. In some instances, it may also be necessary to bring you back to your airport island earlier should ferry schedules not allow enough time to comfortable travel on the same day as your return flight. You may also be required to return to your airport island should bad weather or ferry strikes be forecasted for your planned departure day. Further information on our transfers can be found online here.
Please note that in some cases your transfer coach may have to wait for later flight arrivals before departing.
If booking private taxi transfers please ensure you book enough vehicles to transport all passengers together with one piece of luggage per person
Island Hopping
Tickets for your ferry will be given to you on arrival by a local representative. They will be in an Olympic envelope and must be kept safe, until you board the ferry. The ferry tickets are not replaceable and new ones would need to be purchased if lost. Inside your envelope with the tickets will be detailed information relating to your itinerary. Subsequent tickets will be given 24-48 hours prior to the next leg of the Island Hopping.
Should your flight be delayed or your flight arrives after the last ferry has departed, our staff member in resort will arrange an overnight accommodation for you. This could be located anywhere as it depends on availability. We cannot advise you of these arrangements in advance as ferry times can change. This is all arranged for you by Olympic Holidays and there is no extra charge for accommodation*. Unless you have a board basis booked in your holidays, meals will not be provided. *This is only applicable if you have booked transfers with us. Further information on our island hopping itineraries can be found online here
Distances/
Where practicable the distances quoted On this website have been measured. However where we give distances in terms of walking time, these are on the basis that an average person walks 1 kilometre in 10 minutes. Maps are not to scale and are for general guidance only.
Local customs
We at Olympic love the destinations we offer and we think you will too. However, the local people have their own, sometimes idiosyncratic, way of doing things and we thought we ought to tell you about some of them:
- Water, Plumbing and Drainage: Generally tap water is drinkable throughout Greece and Cyprus, but bottled water is widely available, if preferred. We recommend that you do not drink tap water in other destinations, nor use it for e.g. cleaning your teeth or washing food, but use bottled water instead. Water is a valuable resource, in many areas of the world and occasionally water pressure may fall or fail altogether. Relax. You will not be left without water for long. Many properties now rely on solar power for water heating, and therefore on overcast days – hopefully few and far between – or early or late in the day hot water may be in short supply. In some areas, water is sometimes very scarce and the water supplied may be seawater rather than fresh. Plumbing can be a little different from here. Problems can occur, especially in peak season. Do like the locals – and help minimise problems. Observe notices about the disposal of used paper in the bins provided, which will be emptied regularly. Showers in some areas – particularly the Greek Islands tend to be compact with a hand held shower, and maybe no shower curtain, or even shower tray. Drainage is often through a drainage outlet in the floor and the room will get very wet when the shower is in use. Please be extremely careful when negotiating wet floors.
- Electricity Voltages: In Cyprus, for instance it is 240v from 3 pin sockets, the same as the UK, but in Greece it is 220v. In neither place therefore, is any transformer required, but in Greece the sockets are of the 2 pin continental type so that an adapter will be required. Other countries vary and we suggest you check with the Tourist organisation for the Country you are visiting to see what adapters etc. may be necessary. In the more rural areas of most countries, public lighting is scarce and you may wish to take a small torch – especially if you will be staying at one of our more secluded properties.
- Safety: While we at Olympic are committed to ensuring your safety while on holiday, please remember that safety and other standards which apply in the resorts and accommodation featured on this website are those of the country concerned, and not British standards. Local standards are regrettably normally much lower than British, which are generally among the highest in the world.
- Dress: Please also note that in 4 and 5 star hotels (Class A and Deluxe in Greece) it is generally required that men wear long trousers at least for the evening meal. If visiting churches or other religious sites, please respect the local tradition by avoiding shorts and wearing sleeved upper garments. To be on the safe side, please check with your representative first as to any dress requirements.
- Accommodation: While the 4 and 5 star hotels we feature are among the best available, self–catering properties (although not in Cyprus) tend towards the more simple and basic, although we have selected from the best for this website. We will always ensure that accommodation is clean and comfortable, but you must be tolerant of the fact that not everything we would regard as standard in Britain will be available. Also, during a long busy season, items do get broken, become worn or go missing. If you find this, please do not get annoyed. Relax and report it to your representative who will ensure that it is replaced.
Maid service will typically be provided two or three times a week (depending on area and type and grade of accommodation booked) and linen will be changed mostly twice a week. In Cyprus maid service will be between 3 and 6 times per week and linen will normally be changed twice a week. Since maids are very busy during peak seasons, if you find a pocket of sand or dust that has been missed, please don't worry. It will be dealt with next time round.
Air conditioning, where present, may only be switched on during the height of Summer to conserve power. Generally, however, you should not expect air conditioning in selfcatering accommodation or the lower grade hotels. In Cyprus, though, where air conditioning is much more widely available, a charge may be made locally for it in selfcatering accommodation.
As a general rule, remember that your accommodation is not home. It is a base for your holiday, not the holiday itself. Please also remember that the comfort and quality of your accommodation is related to the price you pay for your holiday. Ultimately you decide what you want in the way of comfort and conveniences by the price you choose to pay for your holiday.
Accommodation allocated on arrival
We will sometimes offer holidays where the accommodation is allocated on arrival. This means that you leave the choice of accommodation and resort to our resort office or representatives at the specified arrival airport (and, where relevant, island). Therefore, you will not know the names of the resort or the accommodation, or the facilities they have, until you arrive at your destination. We do not guarantee that you will be allocated one of the accommodations or resorts featured on this website as we are continuously contracting rooms in other resorts and accommodations not featured. We will neither guarantee whether your accommodation will be in a hotel, apart–hotel or apartment complex nor whether it will be a room, a studio or an apartment. Where holidays are for durations longer than 7 nights we will endeavour to ensure that you remain in the accommodation initially allocated to you throughout your stay. However, there is a possibility that you may be moved to another accommodation during your stay. We recommend that if you have specific needs or requirements, or if you wish to ensure that your accommodation or resort has certain features, you book named accommodation and do not choose this type of holiday.
Porterage & tipping
Porterage is not included in the cost of the holidays on this website, although it will be available at the better quality hotels. Especially in more secluded areas, our advice would be to travel as lightly as possible! Tipping is conventional in most countries (provided service is not included in restaurant bills) and 10–15% of the amount of the bill is customary.
The last word...
We have tried to select holidays which will give you the flavour of our Olympic destinations. We have also tried to give you information which will help you make the most of your holiday.
If you have any queries or require any information about your holiday destination, contact:
Cyprus Tourist Office
17 Hanover Street
London W1R 0AA
Tel: 020 7569 8800
National Tourist Organisation for Greece
4, Conduit Street
London W1R 0DJ
Tel: 020 7495 9300
Egypt Tourist Authority
Egyptian House
170 Piccadilly
London
W1J 9EJ
Tel: 020 7493 5283
India Tourist Office
7 Cork Street
London W1X 1PB
Tel: 020 7437 3677
Malta Tourist Office
Parkhouse, Unit C
14 Northfields
London, SW18 1DD
Tel: 020 88776990
Portuguese National Tourist Office
11, Belgrave Square
London, SW1X 8PP
Tel: 020 7201 6666
Spanish National Tourist Office
64 North Row
London W1K 7DE
Tel: 020 7486 8034
Turkish Culture and Tourism Office
170–173 Piccadilly
London W1J 9EJ
Tel: 020 7629 7771
Abbreviations
Throughout this website we have used various abbreviations, so that you will more easily be able to read them, here is a list of them with their full meanings:
BB = Bed & Breakfast; HB = Half Board; FB = Full Board; AI = All Inclusive; IV = Inland View; MV = Mountain View; SV = Sea View; SSV = Side Sea View; FSV = Front Sea View; PV = Pool View; WF = Waterfront; SC = Self Catering; TW = Twin Room; TWSU = Twin Room for Sole Use; STD = Studio; Exec = Executive; GDN = Garden; JNR = Junior; BUNG = Bungalow; SUP = Superior; FAM RM = Family Room; SGL = Single; MB = Main Building; PPPN = Per Person Per Night; AO = Accommodation Only.