Corsica Booking Information
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE INCLUDES
- Prices are in pounds sterling and are per person
- Accommodation only for the guests named on your invoice (including breakfast where stated if you are staying in a hotel)
- The assistance of our local representative, the property owner, housekeeper or concierge
- Simpson information book in your accommodation
- Welcome pack in villas and apartments
YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Flights and car hire/transfers
- Any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts incurred during your stay
- Visas
- Holiday travel insurance
- Government, local and hotel taxes
YOUR SECURITY AND PEACE OF MIND
Full protection is guaranteed when you book a package 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).
FOREIGN OFFICE ADVICE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development 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.
INFANTS
There is a charge of £80 per infant (under 2 years) on all our holidays. Travel cots and highchairs are provided free of charge in our self-catering properties, however, some hotels may charge for these items and we will advise you of any extra costs at the time of booking. Many hotels offer reduced rates for children if they share the same room as their parents.
PLACING AN OPTION
In order to allow you to co-ordinate your holiday arrangements with friends and family, in many cases we are able to hold an option for up to 24 hours before confirming your booking.
PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
In order to confirm your booking, we require a deposit as follows:
- for packages with Simpson Travel allocated flights: 25% of the accommodation cost
- for packages with flights purchased extra to our allocation: 25% of the accommodation cost + full purchased flight cost
- for accommodation only bookings: 25% of the accommodation cost
For bookings made within 70 days or less of departure, we require full payment at the time of booking.
All the above payments are non-refundable. The balance payment for your holiday is due 10 weeks prior to your departure. We accept most debit cards and credit cards, and personal cheques. Multi-centre holidays incur a £15-100 per person administration fee. Please familiarise yourself with our full booking terms including our cancellation policy here.
SECURITY DEPOSIT
Most of our self-catering accommodation is privately owned and sometimes it is the owner’s main residence, which they vacate for the summer season. In order to protect the furnishings and fittings, some owners require a security deposit which is collected 3 weeks prior to departure. The deposit will be refunded in full within 7 days of your return provided there is no damage or additional cleaning required and the property remains in the same condition as upon arrival. If a security deposit is applicable, the amount required will be stated in the Details section of the property. Please alert your local representative to any breakages or damages during your stay.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is compulsory that all our guests have comprehensive travel insurance including personal liability cover which can adequately cover major damage to a rented holiday property caused by you or your party. We will need full details of your policy at the time of booking or before you travel.
FINAL DOCUMENTATION
Your travel documents are available to download and print 2 weeks prior to departure provided you have paid in full, completed and submitted Advanced Passenger Information and car hire details (if applicable). Should you prefer to receive your documents by post, please ask us at the time of booking.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
It is your responsibility to be in possession of a valid passport and any necessary visas. EU citizens do not need a visa to travel to France. 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. All passports must be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter Corsica (check the ‘date of issue’) and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’). If you do not have a passport, it is recommended to apply at least 6 weeks before your holiday.
PREGNANCY
You will usually need a certificate of fitness to fly if you are more than 28 weeks pregnant. Most airlines will not allow you to fly if you are more than 32 weeks pregnant. Please refer to the airline’s website for details of their policy.
API (ADDITIONAL PASSENGER INFORMATION)
Most countries require that the airline take additional information from each passenger such as full name, date and place of birth, passport number, country of issue and expiry date. You will need to provide this information at the time of booking or, at the very latest, prior to release of your travel documents.
NAME CHANGES
The name shown on the itinerary 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 itinerary, 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 delay and implements appropriate standards of welfare provision. EU carriers should also comply with EU Regulation 261/2004 in the event of delays, cancellations or denied boarding and guidance is provided on the CAA’s website www.caa.co.uk.
CAR HIRE INFORMATION
We are happy to book car hire for you with our trusted partners. Regrettably we cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific make or model.
INCLUDED IN YOUR CAR HIRE
- Zero excess on all car types
- Unlimited mileage
- Air-conditioning
- Super CDW insurance cover against theft and accidental damage
- Please note for this destination, car tyres and windscreen are included in the cover
- Medical and technical assistance
- Two main drivers. Please note that there is a minimum age of 21 years although there is no maximum age limit. Drivers must hold a British/EU driver’s licence or international driver’s licence, held for at least 1 year. You do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Corsica if you have a plastic photocard driving licence issued in the UK. You will not be able to hire a car without your original, valid driver’s licence which you must carry at all times when you are driving. Further information for UK licence holders is available here. If your licence is from outside the UK or the EU, please consult the relevant authority in the country of issue.
CAR INSURANCE
The insurance will not cover:
- Call out charge for assistance for tyre punctures
- Filling up with the wrong fuel
- Roof or undercarriage (you should not drive off-road)
- Personal accident insurance (this should be covered by your personal travel insurance)
- Any damage, loss, accident etc caused by your own negligence, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, unlawful driving, driving off-road, using wrong type of fuel etc
- Your car key: this usually contains an electronic device which will be damaged by water, sand etc; please do not swim with your key; you will be charged for any damage or loss, including the cost of a replacement key, towing away of car etc (replacement keys cost €24-€205 depending on the car category plus a delivery charge)
- Damage to the interior (back shelf, seats etc)
- Theft of valuables (cameras, mobile telephones, jewellery, money etc)
- Any damage/loss caused by theft or attempted theft due to unlocked doors, personal effects left in view etc
- Parking fines, speeding fines or other traffic infringements (a €46 administrative fee will apply to each fine)
- The call out charge for assistance with any of the above is €290 per call out.
CAR HIRE DEPOSIT
The car hire agents will require you to lodge a credit card deposit when you collect your car. Cards accepted are: Visa (except Electron), AMEX, Diners and Eurocard Mastercard (except Maestro). Debit cards and pre-paid credit cards are not accepted.
Funds will only be taken from your card if you:
- Return your car without a full tank of petrol (admin fee ofof €150 plus the cost of the missing fuel).
- Return your car without its security kit (15€ charge).
- Receive a traffic infringement notice (a €46 administrative fee will apply to each fine).
- Return your car after the intended day as booked by us (charged at the local rate). There is a 30 minute grace period between the pick up and drop off time.
CHILD SEATS
Child seats (forward facing seats only are available) can be provided if booked at the time of booking your holiday, and are charged at £45 per child seat and booster seat. Local car hire and Simpson Travel 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 greater peace of mind.
Additional driver possible at a supplement per driver of £70 for one week and £120 for any duration of more than a week.
£90 charge if you pick up and drop off at different airports in Corsica.
MAKES AND MODELS
Categories B, C, D, F, H, M & O can be automatic or manual, we are able to request a specific transmission but this is not guaranteed.
The only car with guaranteed Automatic transmission is Group E.
If you book a Group D, F and H please note Avis can give you any car within these groups subject to availability, no specific car can be guaranteed.
Please note that the car models listed are an example only, there are many cars within each category:
Group B: Peugeot 208, Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Citroen C3, Dacia Sandero, VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Skoda Fabia, Kia Rio, Hyundai I20, Opel Corsa
Group C: Citroen DS3 Crossback, Ford Eco-sport, Ford Focus, Hyundai Bayon, Hyundai Kona, Kia Stonic ,Kia Ceed, Opel Mokka, Peugeot 308, Peugeot 2008, Renault Capture, Seat Leon, Toyota Yaris Cross, VW T-Roc, VW Golf.
Group E: Citroen DS4, Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Niro, Opel Grandland X, Peugeot 3008 ,Seat Ateca, VW Tiguan, Ford Mondeo, Seat Arona & Jeep Compass
Group D, F & H: Ford Mondeo, Renault Scenic, Peugeot 508, Lexus UX, Dacia Duster, Citroen DS4, Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Niro, Opel Grandland X, Peugeot 3008 ,Seat Ateca, VW Tiguan , Seat Arona & Jeep Compass.
Group M: VW T-Roc Cabriolet
Group N: Toyota Proace
Group O: Ford Tourneo, Peugot 5008, Renault Grand Scenic, Citroen Grand Space-tourer
TRANSFER INFORMATION
Please refer to the information at the top of the page for details of the transfers included in the cost of your holiday. Taxis are licensed and insured to carry up to 4 passengers. Therefore, if there are 4 passengers and an infant then 2 taxis are needed and we will provide you with a separate quotation. If you are travelling with young children or babies, child seats are not provided for any vehicles used for transfers. For your own peace of mind, we recommend that you bring your own although there is no guarantee that local taxi companies will allow the use of child seats. For the safety and comfort of all passengers, luggage capacity on our transfers is limited to one suitcase or large cabin bag per person, plus one small personal bag/backpack per person. Personal bags will usually need to be placed on your lap or by your feet in the vehicle. Should you require more luggage space there will be a charge for additional taxis/minibuses.
Please note that the transfer times included in our accommodation details are approximate estimates only and do not include any waiting time.
ACCOMMODATION AND USEFUL INFORMATION
Air-conditioning and heating
We have indicated in the property descriptions which accommodation has air-conditioning included in the holiday price. Heating is available in some of our properties during the low season weeks, which is normally included in the holiday price.
Animals and wildlife
As in all rural communities, indigenous animals are an essential part of the way of life. The braying of a donkey, crow of a cockerel or the barking of a dog is not a complaint that receives much sympathy from the locals! Care should be taken to minimise the presence of insects and animals in your accommodation. Keep surfaces clean, dispose of refuse regularly and ensure that food is not left uncovered. Cats and dogs are often resident where an owner or manager lives on the property. If you are allergic to cats and/or dogs please ensure that you check the suitability of your chosen accommodation with us prior to confirming your booking. Unless specified otherwise, taking your own pet to any accommodation is not permitted.
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/pool towels in all our self-catering properties and these are normally laundered weekly.
Beds
Please note that a double bed could be two single beds placed together. If you are booking a hotel room, please let us know your room preference (double or twin). Although we will make every effort to convey your request to the hotel, we cannot guarantee your preference will be available.
Check-in and check-out
You will usually be able to occupy your villa or apartment after 4pm and you should vacate it on the day of departure at 9am. Please refer to specific property details for exact times. Most of our hotels follow common practice with regard to check-in and check-out times (around midday); however some have later check-in times between 3pm and 5pm. Please refer to the individual property information for timings.
Cleaning
Self-catering accommodation is clean on your arrival and for two week stays it will be cleaned mid-holiday. The mid-holiday clean includes bathroom, kitchen surfaces, floor sweeping and change of bed and bath linen. If additional or more frequent cleaning is required, this can be arranged locally with our representative at an additional cost.
Distances and timings
Please note that all walking and driving times stated are approximate estimates only. Transfer times are also approximate estimates only and do not include any waiting time.
Half-board
Hotel bookings with half-board include dinner, which is usually a fixed menu with or without a choice of dishes. In some hotels, you may take your half-board meal at lunchtime.
Health and safety
Simpson Travel is committed to raising the standards of health and safety throughout all our destinations. 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.
In some properties a baby monitor has been provided and to the best of our knowledge it is operating correctly but it is vital that you check regularly that the device is operating to your satisfaction. We strongly advise against relying on the baby monitor in case of malfunction. Simpson Travel cannot be held liable for any malfunction of the baby monitor and the use of the device is entirely at your own risk.
Internet access and WiFi
Internet access and WiFi are available when stated in the relevant accommodation description details and the type of connection may vary. All properties with WiFi are able to support basic functionality such as web browsing and checking emails. There may be restrictions with the availability and speed of the service transmitted by the local provider and technical issues may cause temporary withdrawal of internet facilities. Additionally, the signal may not be available in all areas of the property. We are unable to accept responsibility for any down time or consequences of using this service and refund/compensation cannot be offered due to circumstances beyond our control such as adverse weather conditions.
Linen and laundry
Bed and bathroom linen is provided weekly. For your convenience some of our properties have a washing machine.
Noise and building works
Traffic, farm work, roadwork, animals and other sounds form part of everyday life, however, what constitutes ‘noise’ to one person may not be a problem for another. Please let us know if you have any special needs regarding this. Occasionally, building work is unavoidable as we do not control such work and may not know about it in advance. Whenever possible, we will notify you of any work that we believe may affect your holiday.
Occupancy
Only guests named on your invoice are entitled to occupy the accommodation.
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 are subject to weather conditions and the general season, for example swimming pools, restaurant terraces and courtyards, 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.
Swimming pools
Swimming pool details are given on our website. Pool dimensions are approximate and, unless specified, are unheated. Pools are mostly freshwater but can be saltwater. Dates when pools are operational are subject to the prevailing weather conditions at the time of opening and closing and we cannot be held responsible if poor weather means the pool is opened later, or is closed earlier in the season.
Upon arrival at your accommodation, we kindly ask you to acquaint yourselves with the pool’s safety and hygiene rules. All our pools in Corsica and mainland France comply with French law and are fitted with one of the following forms of security: fence, alarm or cover. Please check the property details page for the specific security measure that applies to your selected property. 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. We recommend that you do not sit, lean or walk on the unprotected edge. Children must be supervised at all times.
Pool heating is a service that can be provided on a weekly basis in select properties. The cost varies according to size of pool from £100 to £200 per week. As a general rule pool heating will only bring the pool temperature up by approximately 10 degrees higher than the night time temperature. As such in early or late season you may still consider the pool temperature to be too cold despite heating. We regret that should this be the case Simpson Travel, our local agents and owners cannot refund monies paid for this facility.
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 pack
We offer a welcome pack in all our self-catering accommodation consisting of a small selection of staple items and local produce. This usually includes the following complimentary items: instant or filter coffee (machine coffee capsules not supplied), tea bags, milk, bottled water, fruit juice, wine, local beer, a local welcome snack, washing powder, washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets, washing-up sponge, salt and pepper, sugar, vegetable or olive oil, vinegar and toilet paper.