Italy Booking Information

YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE INCLUDES

  • Prices are in pounds sterling
  • 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 and/or transfers
  • Any breakages, damage, losses, extra cleaning or outstanding accounts incurred during your stay
  • Visas
  • Holiday travel insurance
  • Government, local and hotel taxes
  • Airfares, car hire or transfers

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
One cot and one highchair are provided free of charge in most of our self-catering properties. Additional cots and highchairs may be available upon request.

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 48 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 the owner/caretaker to any breakages or damages during your stay.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is compulsory that all our guests have comprehensive travel insurance and 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 Italy. 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 Italy (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 (ADVANCE 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 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; more information is available here. Regrettably we cannot guarantee that you will receive a specific make or model.

INCLUDED IN YOUR CAR HIRE

  • Unlimited mileage
  • Local taxes and fully comprehensive insurance (loss damage waiver including theft protection with zero excess)
  • Two main drivers

Important:

  • Tuscany and Umbria rentals: drivers must be over 21 and have held a licence for a minimum of one year (there is no maximum age limit) 
  • Puglia rentals: drivers must be over 25 and not older than 70, and have held a licence for a minimum of one year
  • Drivers must hold a British/EU driver’s licence or international driver’s licence, held for at least one year. You do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Italy if you have a photocard plastic 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 €60 administrative fee will apply to each fine)

CAR HIRE DEPOSIT
A credit card is required for payment of the car rental company's security deposit. Debit cards and pre-paid credit cards are not accepted.. No money will be taken if you return the undamaged car at the correct time with the correct amount of fuel.

CHILD SEATS
Child seats (only forward facing seats are available) can be provided if booked at time you book your holiday, and are charged at £80 per child seat per week and £35 per booster seat per week. 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

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
Beach/pool towels are provided 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. French bed sizes vary and can be 140cm.

Check-in and check-out
You will usually be able to occupy your accommodation between 4-7pm and you should vacate it on the day of departure before 10am. Please refer to specific property details for exact times. 

Cleaning
All our properties are cleaned for your arrival. The details section of each property has further information regarding the cleaning schedule. If additional cleaning is required, please contact us to arrange this in advance of travel. Please note additional charges will apply.

Distances and timings
Please note that all walking and driving times stated are approximate estimates only.

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 the Simpson Travel telephone representative.

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 most of our properties in Italy 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. 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.

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.