Terms and Conditions

Booking Conditions
The clients contract is with Silverbird Travel Ltd. and is made under the Law of England at 4, Northfields Prospect, Putney Bridge Road, London SW18 1PE. Company Registration Number 1937719

Booking request
The appropriate deposit is required with a completed and signed booking form. The deposit will be deducted from the confirmation account.

Confirmation
The booking is not accepted until a confirmation has been issued by Silverbird. If a booking is not accepted or Silverbird is unable to make reservations as requested and no acceptable alternative arrangements can be made, all monies will be refunded.

Payments
A deposit of £250 per person is payable at the time of booking.

Prices
The holiday prices are based on the currency exchange rate as listed in the Financial Times on Monday 15 August 2005 and £1 = US$1.8150. The holiday price will be advised to you at the time of booking and shown on your confirmation invoice. We reserve the right to impose a surcharge on this holiday price only in exceptional circumstances, in the event of increases in dues, exchange rates, taxes (such as VAT), transportation costs (including fuel and air fares) or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports. Even in such cases Silverbird will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of holiday prices which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged but when a surcharge is payable there will be an administration surcharge of £1 to go with an amount to cover agents commission. If this means paying more than 10% extra on the holiday, clients will be entitled to cancel the holiday with a full refund of all money except for any premium paid to Silverbird for insurance and amendment charges. Should the client decide to take up this cancellation option, they must do so within 14 days from the date printed on the final invoice.

Cancellation by the client
Cancellation of a confirmed booking must be notified to Silverbird in writing and will be effective from the day such notification is received. Subject to when cancellation is received the following scale of charges will be payable by the client:

We strongly recommend clients take advantage of our travel insurance scheme which includes cover, under certain circumstances, against cancellation charges.

Alteration by the client
Silverbird will endeavour, but cannot guarantee to comply with any request for alteration to a confirmed booking. The cost of all additional expenses incurred before or after the holiday commencement will be payable by the client, together with an amendment fee of £50 per alteration. Any alteration within 6 weeks of the date of departure will be treated as a cancellation and rebooking and charges made in accordance with the conditions governing cancellation. No refund is applicable for any unused accommodation after date of departure. Please note that airlines will usually refuse amendments to return reservations after departure, except on payment of a fee, which varies from airline to airline, up to and including the full one-way fare. Any additional costs resulting from an earlier or later return than the one scheduled will be the client's responsibility.

Cancellation or alteration by Silverbird
Every effort will be made to operate all holidays as advertised but Silverbird reserves the right to modify or cancel any holiday arrangements at any time up to 8 weeks before departure. In the event Silverbird is compelled to cancel or alter holiday arrangements due to reasons beyond its control, every endeavour will be made to provide suitable alternative arrangements of the same standard or, if the client prefers, Silverbird will refund all monies paid. Silverbird will make every effort not to materially modify or cancel the holiday within 8 weeks of departure, except in circumstances amounting to force majeure. If because of war, riots, civil commotion, strikes, disasters, terrorist activities, or closure of airports, any holiday has to be modified or cancelled, Silverbird will endeavour to offer alternative arrangements or, if the client prefers, make a full refund of all monies paid. It is possible that shortly before departure or on arrival, the accommodation reserved is not available. In these circumstances Silverbird will take all reasonable steps to provide accommodation of a similar or higher standard at no extra cost or, if this is unavailable, a lower standard of hotel and a refund of the difference in price of the accommodation. In addition, compensation will be paid - but only if a lower grade of accommodation has been offered - as detailed below:

Consumer protection
The air holidays and flights featured on this site are ATOL protected since we hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 2852. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.

Liability
Silverbird publishes its brochure on its own responsibility which does not commit any airlines mentioned therein or suppliers whose services are used during the course of the holiday. Silverbird takes all reasonable steps to ensure that those who are involved in the planning and provision of the holiday maintain the highest standards. All information given in the brochure is correct at the time of going to print, but services or facilities may be changed during the validity of the brochure. Wherever possible, clients will be advised of changes prior to departure. If the client considers any particular facility to be vital to their holiday, they must advise Silverbird of this no later than 4 weeks prior to departure. Silverbird will endeavour to confirm that the facilities are still available subject, of course, to inclement weather or unforeseen eventualities. Silverbird will accept liability for matters which arise as a direct result of the Company's negligence and/or breach of its contractual duty to exercise care in making arrangements for its passengers, including any acts or omissions by its employees, agents or suppliers. Where the services in question consist of carriage by air or by sea, Silverbird shall be entitled to limit its obligations and liabilities in the manner provided by international conventions in respect of air or sea carriers. Neither Silverbird nor any person assisting or collaborating with shall be liable for death bodily injury or illness caused to the client, unless caused by the direct and proven negligence of Silverbird and/or its suppliers. Any such claims shall be subject to English Law in respect of any quantum or liability and all proceedings shall be within the exclusive domain of the English courts. Silverbird, at its discretion, will offer assistance to the client, in the form of advice, guidance and initial financial help where appropriate who through misadventure, suffers illness, personal injury or death during the period of their holiday, arising out of an activity which does not form any part of the foreign inclusive holiday arrangements, nor an excursion offered through Silverbird. Costs in respect of the above on behalf of the client and party shall not exceed £5000 in total. This service is provided through SLE Worldwide Ltd., by a legal expenses insurance policy which Silverbird have taken out for each of their customers' benefit.

Passports / Visas / Vaccinations
All clients are themselves responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport, appropriate visas and conform to the health regulations regarding vaccinations current at the time of travel.

Luggage
Silverbird is only liable for loss or damage or delay to baggage caused by the direct negligence of Silverbird.

Special requests
Any special requirements which are an important factor in the choice of holiday, must be advised to Silverbird in writing when the booking form is sent in. Silverbird will make every reasonable effort to make arrangements which comply with the request, but cannot and do not guarantee that there will be compliance with the special request. Furthermore, Silverbird has no legal liability whatsoever in the event that the holiday arrangements do not comply with the special request.

Complaints
If the client has a complaint during the holiday, they should contact the local representatives, agent or the hotel manager. They are best placed to put matters right immediately and may well be able to do so. Failure to make such contact could result in loss of any legal right in connection with matters causing complaint. If there is still cause for complaint on return to the UK, the client is required to seek satisfaction by writing to Silverbird within 28 days of the end of the holiday, providing full details of the holidays and the reason for the dissatisfaction.

Arbitration: Disputes arising out of, or in connection with this contract which cannot be amicably settled may (if the client so wishes) be referred to arbitration under a special scheme, which, though devised by arrangement with the Association of British Travel Agents, is administered quite independently by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The scheme (details of which can be supplied upon request) provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone, with restricted liability on the customer in respect of costs. Alternatively, AITO's Independent Dispute Settlement Service (again, details on request) may be called upon to to bring the matter to a speedy and amicable solution. Whichever option you choose, neither scheme applies to claims for an amount greater than £1,500 per person or £7,500 per booking form nor to claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or the consequences of such injury or illness.