In order to travel overseas, you’ll need a full passport. British citizens need a full 10-year passport. Ensure that it’s in date, or you’ll not be going anywhere! It’s your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid passport. For some destinations, and it’s a good rule to use at all times, the expiry date of your passport has to be an extra 6 months from the time you come home. Exact requirements vary from country to country, so it’s a good idea to check with the embassy of your destination, to see what they need. Non-British citizens, including those from other parts of the EU, must contact the embassy of their destination for up to date advice. All children who are not already included on their parent’s passport will now need their own.

Check and re-check your passport validity at least 6 weeks before departure. If you need a new passport, apply well in advance of travel. For more details, contact the Passport Office on 0870 521 0410. Remember that the names you give us for your tickets must match EXACTLY those on your passport.

If it’s a honeymoon, do bear in mind whether or not you’ll be changing your passport into your married name before or after you travel. Generally, most people find that they have quite enough to deal with, so travel in their Maiden name with their existing passport.

It’s a good idea to leave a photocopy of the important information of your passport with someone in the UK, so that this information can be faxed through to you should you lose your passport whilst away.

Some countries require that you have a visa before you can enter, although requirements for these vary tremendously from country to country, and can change with little or no warning. It is often necessary or essential to obtain your visa – generally a stamp in your passport – prior to leaving the UK, and a fee is almost always payable for this. Visas may be required by British passport holders for visits to non-EU countries, or for visits to EU countries of more than three months, or if you have a criminal record. Immigration, visa and entry conditions may apply to other nationalities travelling overseas. You should be aware that it is at the discretion of the authorities of your destination whether to issue you with a visa or not, and Escape Worldwide cannot accept any responsibility should you have to cancel your holiday due to a visa refusal.

For specific information about a particular country, visit the COUNTRY INFO section on this site. Always contact the embassy, High Commission or Consulate of your destination in good time before you travel, to ensure that you meet their entry requirements fully. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct documentation to travel.

It may be recommended or essential to meet some health requirements if you travel to certain destinations, and advice for health vaccinations can be found in the relevant section on this site. Please do bear in mind, however, that this advice is for your information only and is subject to change. We strongly recommend that you speak to your GP prior to travelling. Allow plenty of time to do this, as some vaccinations may be given over a series of weeks.

The Department of Health issue a useful leaflet entitled ‘Health Advice for travellers’, which can be obtained from Post Offices or by calling 0800 555777. Additionally, many tour operators will advise you on health tips in resort either by way of a leaflet with your tickets, or on arrival at your welcome meeting.

Some airlines may not accept passengers who are more than 28 weeks pregnant. Please raise this issue with us BEFORE you book.

We STRONGLY advise that you obtain adequate travel insurance prior to your holiday. We can arrange this for you, however, we do not insist that you buy it from us. What we do insist is that your safety and well-being whilst away is given due priority. Visit our INSURANCE section for details of the policy we can provide. If you choose not to buy insurance from Escape Worldwide, we will need to know through whom you purchased your insurance, and the policy number. In doing this, you agree to indemnify ourselves against any losses incurred by us as a result of you being inadequately insured.

The cheapest insurance policy is not often the best one, and what is good for one person may not be ideal for another. Check the details of your policy carefully. Some activities such as scuba diving, hot air ballooning or bungee jumping will require an additional premium to be paid, or will not be covered at all. Check closely. Most have a ‘cooling off’ period, allowing you to change your mind if you feel that it is not suitable. Don’t forget to take the policy with you, and leave a copy with someone at home.

To get the best value for money while away, do some shopping around to find out where offers the best rate, but remember to bear in mind any commission charges. Hotels often charge a higher level, yet they do offer the most convenient service. Bank opening hours vary tremendously, and in many countries, banks are often closed in the afternoon. Remember your credit card PIN, as these can often be accepted overseas. Check with your credit card company before you go.

Tour operators are always keen to resolve any problems you may have while you’re still away, rather than on your return. Should you have any problems, speak immediately to your representative or hotel manager, and give them the opportunity to put it right. Most tour operators will give you a complaint form should you not be happy with their resolution, and if you do wish to pursue a complaint on return from your holiday, contact your tour operators’ customer services department, or ourselves, as we’d be delighted to assist you. You are advised to do this soon after your return.

In recent years, many tour operators have found an increase in the level of complaints which they feel – after thorough investigation – to be unjustified. Reputable tour operators will investigate any issues raised and will fairly treat all complaints. Yet many will be equally thorough in dismissing anything which they feel to be unjustified – in the long term, after all, the additional cost of dealing with unjustified complaints such as bad weather, is simply added to the cost of everyone’s holiday.

If you or any member of your travelling party has any medical condition that means that special travel, accommodation or dietary requirements are necessary, please advise us of this before you book your holiday. We will then be able to check fully with your tour operator of the arrangements they are able to make, allowing you to make an informed decision on your holiday. Most tour operators are pleased to offer full assistance in such circumstances.

Most tour operators will send your tickets to ourselves about two weeks before your date of departure. We will then check your tickets before sending them on to yourself. If you have not received your tickets 7 days before your departure, contact us immediately.

If you have booked your holiday close to the date of departure, your tickets will often be available for collection at the airport. You will be advised of where to collect these from, and a fee is often charged. Again, you will be advised of this at the time of booking. Take your tour operators booking reference and any associated paperwork with you, to collect your tickets.

We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards plus Switch and Delta debit cards. We charge a fee of 2% for all credit card transactions, as we will be charged a fee by the credit card company involved. No fees are charged for debit card transactions.

Once you have booked your holiday, you are legally bound by the terms and conditions of your tour operator. All tour operators include cancellation and amendment procedure in these, and all will levy a charge should you wish to cancel your holiday. Expect to forfeit your deposit immediately, and note that many tour operators impose a sliding scale of fees, increasing to the full cost of your holiday prior to departure. Tour operator’s fees vary, so make yourself aware of these before you book. Tour operators have introduced this procedure as they themselves are in turn often charged fees by hotels, airlines and other suppliers in the event of a cancellation. Your cancellation also means that they have a reduced time in which to resell the holiday, and this has to be taken into account.

Cancellations must be made to us in writing, and must come from the person who originally made the booking. It is in your own interest to do this as soon as possible after you have made the decision to cancel. Some circumstances of cancellation may be covered by your insurance policy, so check carefully.