Resort Information

Algarve and Madeira

Main Language: Portuguse.
Currency: Portuguese Escudos.
Power Supply: 22OV AC 50Hz
Travel: Good bus service, plentiful taxis and car hire.
Special Tips: Visitors are required to carry ID incorporating a photograph, so please keep your passport with you at all times.
Flight Time: Approximately 2½-3 hours
Please Note: Funchal International Airport, will be under expansion until September 2000

Austria

Main Language: German.
Currency: Schilling.
Power Supply: 22OV AC 50Hz.
Travel: Excellent bus/train service.
Flight Time: Approximately 2 hours

Andorra

Main Languages: Catalan, Spanish, French.
Currency: Spanish Peseta or French Franc.
Power Supply: 22OV (lighting 125V) AC 50Hz.
Travel: Excellent bus service in most resorts.
Flight Time: Approximately 2 hours

Canada

Main Languages: English and French.
Currency: Canadian Dollar. Visitors are advised to take a credit card.
Power Supply: 11OV AC 60Hz.
Travel: Excellent communication links throughout the country.
Special Tips: Weather can be extremely cold. It is recommended that underwear is well layered and good quality gloves/hat are worn.
Flight Time: Approximately 11 hours

Caribbean

Main Language: Spanish is the main language in the Dominican Republic and Cuba. English is the main language in Barbados and Jamaica.
Currency: Dominican Republic Peso, Jamaican Dollar, Cuban Peso (US Dollars used by tourists) and Barbados Dollar.
US Dollars are widely accepted in all Caribbean destinations listed above.
Power Supply: 11OV AC 60Hz. Dual voltage appliances are recommended.
Water supply: Tap water is drinkable in Cuba, Barbados and Jamaica but not in the Dominican Republic. Bottled water is advised in all Caribbean resorts.
Travel: Public transport in Barbados is frequent, reliable and inexpensive, while the Dominican Republic and Cuba have less reliable bus services. Taxis are recommended in Cuba and car hire is always popular with visitors to Jamaica.
Special Tips:
Check vaccination requirements before you travel.
Passports must be valid for at least six months after your return to the UK.
Tourist card costing £15 is required for entry into Cuba.
Tourist Visa is required for Dominican Republic. Cost is US$10 on arrival or £7 from the Dominican Republic Embassy in London. Call 0891 600620 for full details.
Amex not accepted in Cuba.
US$ accepted in Cuba.
Departure Tax:
Barbados BBD 25.00 per person
Dominican Republic US$10.00 per person
Jamaica JMD 1,000 per person
Cuba US$20 per person
Flight Time: Approximately 8-10 hours
Airport Information:
Jamaica: The trolleys available in the baggage claim area are for use inside the terminal building only, however, you will find red cap porters available to assist you with your baggage from the building to the coach. It is customary to tip the porters approximately 50 US cents per bag.
Dominican Republic: When you arrive you will have to buy a tourist visa for $10.00 in the immigration area, this form will need to be filled in before going through to passport control.
Barbados: In the baggage area there are no trolleys, there are "recap" licensed porters who will charge 1Bds $ per case. When you arrive at the airport for your flight home, you will have to pay a departure tax of 25Bds $ at check-in.

Cyprus

Main Languages: Greek and English
Currency: Cypriot Pound
Power Supply: 24OV AC5OHz
Travel: Bus service and taxi service.
Special Tips:
Do not take photos of military personnel or installations.
Certain food items must not be taken into the country.
Anyone with an Israeli or Turkish Cypriot stamp in their passport should contact their local passport office as it may be necessary to obtain a supplementary passport.
Flight Time: Approximately 4 hours
Airport Information: On arrival and when departing, your luggage will be taken by a separate van to your transfer coach, which will follow behind.
Larnaca Airport: In the summer months the airport can be crowded so expect to queue and wait for luggage.
Paphos Airport: Ouite a small building and queues can be expected.

Greece

Main Language: Greek
Currency: Greek Drachma
Power Supply: 22OV AC5OHz
Travel: Good bus service and plentiful taxis in tourist centres
Special Tips: Be prepared for the traditional Greek plumbing
Flight Time: Approximately 3-4½ hours
Airport Information:
Kos: Please note that there can sometimes be a long wait for baggage reclaim, and also that there is a lack of trolleys.
Zakynthos: Has only one baggage reclaim carousel, so delays are likely. A monitor will display which flights baggage is about to come off the carousel.
Corfu: Has a limited amount of carousels.
Rhodes: Please note that coaches often cannot park outside the airport, so there may be a distance to walk to get to them.

Italy

Main Language: Italian
Currency: Lira
Power Supply: 22OV AC 50Hz
Travel: Comprehensive bus, train and taxi service
Special Tips: Watch out for pick pockets in the cities
Flight Time: Approximately 3 hours

Maldives

Main Languages: Maldivian and English - Muslim culture
Currency: Maldivian Rufiya.
US Dollar traveller's cheques are recommended. Major credit cards are widely accepted
Power Supply: 220v AC 50Hz
Water: Tap water is not drinkable
Travel: Transfers are by boat or seaplane depending on the island you are travelling to (at certain times of the year the sea may be rough).
Special Tips:
Check vaccination requirements before you travel.
Be aware of safety requirements and tips provided at time of boarding.
Avoid buying souvenirs of an ecological nature e.g. animal or plant products.
Most food and drink is imported which is why menus may be limited and sometimes expensive.
Alcohol cannot be taken into the country.
Scuba divers must take their medical certificate, log book and insurance.
Oriental dishes and curries are popular.
Alcohol only available on resort islands.
It is illegal to remove shells or coral from the islands, or to purchase any items made from turtles.
Departure Tax: US $10 per person
Flight Time: Approximately 11 hours

Malta

Main Languages: Maltese, English, Italian.
Currency: Maltese Lira
Power Supply: 24OV AC5OHz
Travel: Good bus service covering the whole island
Special Tips:
Dress respectably in built up areas.
Nude and topless sunbathing is not allowed.
Minimum age for driving is 25 years and the maximum age is 70 years.
Flight Time: Approximately 3 hours

Mexico

Main Language: Spanish
Currency: Mexican Peso.
US dollars and credit cards are also widely accepted
Power Supply: 110 V AC 60Hz. As this is less than the UK voltage, some stereos and hairdryers may not work. Two pin flat plug adaptor required.
Water supply: We do not recommend that you drink tap water (bottled water is recommended)
Travel: The local bus services are cheap and efficient. Taxis are reasonably priced and readily available.
Special Tips: Vaccinations are recommended for your protection.
Please check vaccination requirements before you travel.
Be prepared for the manana attitude of the locals who never do today what could be put off until tomorrow!
Passports: must be valid for at least six months after your return to the UK.
Arrival Tax: Estimated at US $15 per person, subject to variation.
Departure Tax: Estimated at US $18 per person, subject to variation.
Flight Time: Approximately 10-12 hours
Airport Information: A tourist visa will be issued for completion on the aircraft (1 per person). Please keep this visa safe. If this is not submitted on departure, a charge of US$15.00 (subject to variation) will be incurred.

Spanish Mainland, Balearics and Canaries

Main Languages: Catalan, Spanish (Castilian), Galician and Basque
Currency: Peseta
Power Supply: 22OV AC5OHz
Travel: Plentiful public transport though road traffic is often congested in towns and cities.
Special Tips: Although some shops do stay open all day and some late into the evening, many places close for a siesta period in the afternoon.
Flight Time: Approximately 2-4 hours
Airport Information:
Malaga: Please note that a 100pts coin is required for the luggage trolleys. If you need to use a wheelchair we recommend that you bring your own, due to the lack of availability.
Alicante: Please note that wheelchairs are only available up to the luggage carousels.
Costa Dorada: Reus is a small military run airport with only two luggage carousels therefore please expect to wait to reclaim your baggage. As it is such a small airport there are limited facilities within the departure lounge/area, so we advise that any last minute shopping should be done in resort.

Tunisia

Main Languages: Arabic, French, English
Currency: Tunisian Dinars
Power Supply: 22OV AC in hotels
Water: Tap water is not drinkable
Travel: Local taxis are available.
Special Tips:
Do not take photos of the airport or military personnel and installations.
Avoid food from street traders.
Tunisia is a muslim country so visitors are expected to respect religious and social customs. Women are advised to dress modestly away from the holiday accommodation and no one should wear shorts to visit a mosque.
Pork products are unlikely to be available.
Vaccinations are recommended for your protection. Check for latest information.
Flight Time: Approximately 3 hours

Turkey

Main languages: Turkish, English, German
Currency: Turkish Lira
Power Supply: 22OV AC 50Hz plugs are of the two pin type
Travel: Excellent Dolmus service connecting resorts, taxis are also widely available
Special Tips:
Check vaccination requirements with your doctor.
All visitors must purchase a £10 visa on entry into Turkey, English £10 or £20 notes must be used but no change is given. Please note: Scottish and Irish notes will not be accepted
Flight Time: Approximately 4-4112 hours
Airport Information:
Dalaman: Please note that on arrival there is a charge for a visa, this can only be paid for in one £10.00 note per visa as no change will be given.

USA

Main Language: English
Currency: US Dollars. Most major credit cards are widely accepted
Power Supply: 110/120 volts AC
Travel: Minimum driving age for hire cars is 21. Drivers under 25 pay a surcharge.
Special Tips: Fresh produce must not be taken into the USA.
Legal drinking age is 21.
Flight Time:
Florida: Approximately 9 hours
Las Vegas: Approximately 12 hours