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General Information
 
 Your Accommodation
 Booking & Holiday Need To Knows
 Children's Conditions and Services
 Common Holiday Complaints
 Currency
 Health and Safety Advice
 Passports, Visas and Currencies
 Persons With a Disability
 Sunworld Resort Representatives
 Flying during pregnancy

YOUR ACCOMMODATION

AIR-CONDITIONING
In hotels and apartments with centrally controlled air conditioning, the facility is provided at the discretion of the property management depending on prevailing weather and temperatures.


ALL INCLUSIVE CONDITIONS
-In most All Inclusive properties, guests are likely to be provided with some form of identification such as a card, necklace, bracelet etc) which will have to be shown when ordering drinks, meals and other included facilities.
-Both Sunworld and the management of the All Inclusive hotels reserve the right to withdraw the identification facility of any guest whose behaviour is such that it is, in the opinion of the management, detrimental to the enjoyment of other guests or if this facility is being abused.
-Drinks included are generally only locally produced brands; cocktails, international and premium brands are not available unless stated. Whilst we endeavour to provide locally-produced bottled mineral water as part of the ‘unlimited soft drinks service’ at our All Inclusive properties, this service cannot be guaranteed.
-All hotels reserve the right to refuse to serve alcohol to guests who, in their judgement, are intoxicated or under age (in accordance with local law).
-Outdoor sports and facilities are subject to weather conditions permitting (e.g. watersports, outdoor bars etc).
-All sports are naturally subject to availability and are usually operated on a rota basis, that is, not all may be available on the same day. The hotel may have a system restricting the number of times and hours of use of certain facilities to ensure all customers can enjoy them. Sports are also dependent on there being enough participants.
-For safety reasons guests could be denied the use of sporting equipment if the hotel’s sporting instructor feels they are not competent. In most cases relevant instruction is available but may incur a cost.
-Age and height restrictions may be applied by the hotel for certain activities and facilities. For safety reasons some sports are not available to younger children or children without adult supervision.
-Most hotels remove access to All Inclusive facilities, including food and drink at the time of checkout, which is generally 12 noon on the day of departure.

BREAKAGES DEPOSIT
Some properties may charge a refundable deposit (payable on check-in to the accommodation) against breakages/damage.

CHECK-IN AND VACATING ROOMS
Because of the time needed to fully service apartments after the departure of the pervious occupants, it may not always be possible to check in to your apartment immediately on arrival in your selected property, particularly if you are arriving on a morning flight. In certain properties, check in is in the late afternoon but you can avail of all the facilities of the property while you wait. In accordance with international practice, rooms must be vacated on the morning of the day of departure. In the case of early morning departures, rooms must be vacated on the morning preceding departure.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
All apartments etc. are thoroughly cleaned and serviced prior to your arrival, however it is not always possible to eliminate all signs of wear and tear by guests such as stained paintwork etc. arising during the season. It is also not possible for Sunworld or indeed hotel managers to check all rooms/apartments in the short interval between departures and arrivals and unfortunately room servicing may not always conform to our standards and requirements. If you do find any deficiencies, please report these immediately to reception and your representative and steps will be taken to rectify matters as quickly as possible.

ELECTRICITY & WATER SERVICES
Electricity and water supplies are often less efficient than at home. Furthermore, these services can be erratic at times. In the Caribbean, for example, power cuts are quite common. Most large hotels have their own emergency generators but their use will be limited in order to conserve as much energy as possible and therefore there may be times when lifts, air-conditioning and other electrical services are not functioning or function erratically.

PHOTOGRAPHY
The interior photographs of the accommodation depicted on this site are intended to give an overall impression of the standards provided. The shape, layout and style of furniture and decor of accommodation can vary even within the same block.

SELF-CATERING FACILITIES
In many countries teapots, toasters, electric kettles, irons or washing machines are not provided. Where a property does not provide such items as a matter of course, it may be possible to hire them locally.

SUN RATINGS
Included in each property description is the official local rating. However, these ratings vary from country to country and may not give a true guide as they are often influenced by local considerations such as tax liability. To help you choose, therefore, we have awarded our own ratings based on our personal knowledge of each property. These are on a scale of one to five ‘suns’, indicating a range from modest but good value, to first class with excellent facilities. Please note that in addition to the actual quality of the accommodation, our sun ratings are also influenced by customer satisfaction levels in previous years and by the standard of service and general atmosphere in the property.

TIMESHARE & REAL ESTATE SALES
Timeshare and real estate sales have become increasingly prevalent in many holiday complexes. We would urge caution in relation to both timeshare and property sales. Should you decide to sign any documentation, please ensure that there is a cooling-off period sufficient to enable you to obtain independent professional/legal advice and in relation to real estate that you have the property independently surveyed. We also strongly recommend that you do not part with any monies before obtaining legal advice.

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BOOKING AND HOLIDAY NEED TO KNOWS

YOUR CONTRACT WITH SUNWORLD
Your booking with us constitutes a legally binding contract the terms of which are fully set out in our terms and conditions. Please ensure that you read the terms and conditions carefully before finalising your booking.

HOW TO BOOK
With Sunworld, booking your holiday couldn’t be easier or quicker. There are three ways to book:

CALL IN

Your local travel agent can give you helpful advice as well as up to date details of prices and availability, allowing you to choose and book your holiday on the spot.
CALL NOW…01-8814333
Our call centre professionals can give you expert, personal service at a time that suits you.
AND CLICK ONwww.sunworld.ie

The quick, easy way to check prices and availability and to book your stay. Open 24 hours a day, it has details of all our holidays and properties.
To secure your booking, you will be required to agree to our booking conditions and to pay a deposit of either €90 for shorthaul destinations (which includes your insurance premium if you take Sunworld insurance) or €120 for longhaul destinations which does not include your insurance premium.

MINIMUM NUMBERS
A minimum number of persons is required in order for any holiday in this brochure to take place. We shall assess whether the minimum numbers have been reached for your holiday and will inform you immediately in the event that they are not reached. Should this be the case, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday at any time up to four weeks prior to your scheduled departure date and to immediately refund to you all monies which you have paid to us (see clause 8(c) Booking Conditions)

GROUP REDUCTIONS & EXTENDED DURATIONS
Please ask your travel agent to contact our reservations department or call us directly on 01-8814333.

AFTER YOU BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY
In order to ensure that your holiday gets off to a smooth start and that you get exactly what you expected, we would ask you to carefully check the following within a few days of booking: - All members of your party must have a valid passport and any necessary visas (see section entitled Passport and visas). The name on the passport must match the name/initial on the ticket, otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.
- It is Sunworld policy to issue an invoice to your travel agent or to you directly (if you booked directly with us) as soon as a booking is made. It is important that you carefully check this invoice to ensure that all details are correct and that they correspond exactly with the details on your booking form. If for any reason, you do not receive a Sunworld invoice, please request it from your travel agent or from us. The sooner that we are informed of any discrepancies, the better chance we have of rectifying them. Please also ensure that you bring your Sunworld invoice on holiday as this is the only proof you have of what has been reserved for you.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with the requirements of your chosen travel insurance policy. Please ask your travel agent or insurance supplier for a copy of the policy, if one is not provided to you within a few days of booking. It is normal with most travel insurance that pre-existing illnesses must be disclosed to the insurance company at the time that the insurance is taken out. Furthermore, if, after making a booking, something occurs which may have a bearing on your ability to travel or which may require you to curtail or alter your holiday in any way, there will usually be an obligation on you to notify the insurance company of the increased risk as soon as you become aware of it.

YOUR SUNWORLD HOLIDAY INCLUDES

  • Accommodation in apartments/hotels as described in the property description
  • Airport taxes and security charges
  • Transfers from the airport to your accommodation and return. This will be by coach unless a taxi transfer is pre-booked or included.
  • Services of SUNWORLD, THOMAS COOK, JMC OR SUNSET representative throughout your holiday
NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR HOLIDAY
  • Sunworld Travel Insurance
  • Meals unless specifically included in the property description
  • Some hotel/apartment facilities featured in this brochure are payable locally (e.g. health clubs, indoor fitness facilities, tennis, table games, cots etc.).
  • Some properties charge for the use of sunloungers and parasols.
  • Extra security and aviation charges.
  • Excess baggage charges - airlines may charge for excess baggage including golf-clubs, wind-surfs, sailboards, bicycles etc.
  • T.O.D. charge - if a holiday is booked within 2 weeks of departure, a ticket on departure (T.O.D.) will be issued at the airport. This service will incur a charge of €25 per booking (this amount is subject to review and change).
  • Locally collected taxes such as the departure taxes in the Dominican Republic
  • Tourist cards for some destinations such as the Dominican Republic are payable locally
  • Some properties charge a breakages deposit which is refundable less the cost of any damage or loss.
SECURITY AND AVIATION CHARGES

Since September 11th 2001, extra security/insurance charges have been imposed upon airlines and tour operators. The charges advised to us at the present time are included in the cost of your holiday, however these charges are influenced by world events and, as such, may be subject to change from time to time. Sunworld reserves the right to add to the cost of your holiday any extra security/insurance charges which may arise at any time prior to booking. Please therefore check carefully the total costing, including these extra charges, with your Agent or with us before you book.

SPECIAL REQUESTS
As a complimentary service to our customers we forward any special request (e.g. low floor, pool view) which you make to the management of your selected accommodation. The granting of such requests is at the sole discretion of the property management and you will be advised on arrival if it has been possible to facilitate your request. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for special requests which cannot be accommodated. Such requests can only be processed if made at the time of booking and can not be processed in the case of bookings made within six weeks of departure.

CANCELLATIONS
The amount of cancellation charges payable varies in line with the period of notice given. The full scale of cancellation charges payable is set out in clause 3 of the Booking Conditions. Cancellations apply to the full holiday booking cost, i.e. the basic holiday package cost plus any supplementary costs e.g. twin centre supplements, wedding package supplements etc.

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CHILDRENS CONDITIONS AND SERVICES

CHILD PRICE CONDITIONS

  1. Children paying a child price must share accommodation with at least two persons paying the full adult brochure price.
  2. The child’s age on the date of departure must not exceed the age limit described in the property description.
  3. Children DO NOT count toward apartment occupancy levels.
  4. Infants under 2 years of age on the day of RETURN pay €25 on all flights and must travel on an adult’s lap unless an empty seat is available. Extra services required such as cots etc must be paid to the apartment/hotel locally.
  5. The full adult deposit must be paid for all children except infants.
  6. Child ages you provide must be applicable to the relevant date of departure. If a child is subsequently older on the date of departure than originally specified at the time of booking, this may mean they no longer qualify for a child price and you will have to pay the full adult fare, plus any administration fees before the party can travel. Please check carefully with us or with your travel agent before you book.

EXTRA CHILD CONDITIONS

An extra child can be accommodated in certain properties (usually sleeping on a camp bed) and will be charged the child panel price.

FREE CHILD PLACES
Hundreds of free child places are available across a selection of properties and flights in our programme. The properties where there are free child places available are denoted by a “Free Child” symbol. Don’t delay though, because there is a limit on the number of free child places available and they are offered on a first come first served basis!

A free child place means that the 1st child up to 16 years of age travels free as long as that child is travelling with a minimum of two full fare paying adults.

A free child offer can not be combined with any other special offer or discount.

Free child places are limited to one per booking.

Any free children taking an optional board supplement offer must pay the board supplement in full, but they are not classified as a paying passenger.

All children, including free children, must take holiday insurance in accordance with clause 9 of the Booking Conditions.

All children, including free children, must pay a booking deposit of either €90 (for shorthaul destinations) or €120 (for longhaul destinations) per person.

KIDSWORLD
At Sunworld we believe that happy children make happy families. To help your children get the most from their holiday we are featuring our own KidsWorld in selected properties throughout our portfolio. The KidsWorld programme targets different age groups from 3-12 years. Furthermore some properties feature Kidsworld Junior which, in addition to catering for 3-12 year olds, also features a creche facility for 0-2 years. Kidsworld places are allocated on a first come first served basis and cannot be pre-booked from Ireland.

PROPERTY RUN MINI-CLUBS
Apart from our own KidsWorld clubs, many of the properties featured in this brochure offer their own mini-club and children’s entertainment programme's - see For Children section under the individual property descriptions. Please note however that in most cases the minimum age of admission is 3 years and that children between the ages of 3 and 5 years must be accompanied by an adult. Children’s mini-clubs may be curtailed or suspended in low season depending on the number of children available to participate. For safety and security reasons, all clubs have maximum numbers which they accept and they operate on a first come first served basis.

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COMMON HOLIDAY COMPLAINTS


BUGS AND BEASTS
Insects such as ants, mosquitoes and cockroaches are an unfortunate but common occurrence in hot climates and their presence does not mean that your accommodation is dirty or unhygienic. However if you report their existence to reception or your representative, steps will be taken to eliminate them.
Stray cats and dogs are also a common sight in many resorts and cats in particular are often encountered within holiday complexes. We accept some holidaymaker's may find these animals distasteful but regret they are a feature of life over which we have no control.

BUILDING WORK
It is not uncommon to find construction work going on in holiday resorts which may from time to time cause disturbance and inconvenience to holidaymaker's. Such works are totally outside our control and all we can do when they occur is to seek the assistance of your hotel management to minimise inconvenience if possible.

ENTERTAINMENT APPEAL AND SUITABILITY
Some of the properties which we feature in our programme receive guests from other countries and you may find that menus and entertainment programme's are set to appeal to the majority tastes. In all of our properties, house rules are designed to meet the tastes and wishes of the majority of guests and bar opening hours etc. usually vary accordingly.

ITEMS LEFT BEHIND
Please check your apartment, coach and aircraft seat very carefully before leaving in case you have left any items behind. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all your personal belongings and by taking a few minutes to do a final check, you can ensure that you have everything and that no one returns home disappointed at having left something behind. Sunworld cannot accept responsibility for the recovery of items of clothing, valuables etc and will not be in a position to arrange for, or cover the cost of their return to Ireland.

NOISE & DISTURBANCE
While we have no wish to spoil the enjoyment of your holiday, we would ask you to show consideration for your fellow guests particularly in relation to causing excessive noise late at night and in the early morning hours. Hotel and apartment managers are fully within their rights to evict guests who are misbehaving or causing persistent nuisance to other guests.If you feel that you are being unreasonably disturbed by the activities of other guests, please report this to your representative or reception but bear in mind that it is not always possible to dictate behaviour to other guests.A quiet word or earnest appeal from fellow guests is often the most effective solution to this problem (see clause 15 Booking Conditions). Please note we cannot accept responsibility for complaints which are not made known to our representatives at the time they occur or come to light (see clause 12 Booking Conditions).

LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE & PUBLIC SERVICES
Unpleasant smells occur from time to time due to high temperatures and sewage systems generally not being up to the standards we enjoy in Ireland.
Problems may arise from time to time over which we have limited control due to erratic public services or essential maintenance work in your accommodation such as lifts and air conditioning not working due to power cuts or low voltage, poor water pressure etc.

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CURRENCY

Euro is the accepted currency in all countries on this site with the exception of Bulgaria and Turkey. The national currency in Bulgaria is the Lev. The national currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira. You can exchange Euro or any other international currency for Lev and Turkish Lira in all banks and in most hotels and shops in Bulgaria and Turkey.

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HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY ADVICE

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The following advice is for your guidance. We also advise all our customers to exercise their own personal judgement towards the unfamiliar environment when travelling abroad. Please note that all properties featured in this brochure operate to, and comply with their applicable local and/or national health and safety legislation. The setting, monitoring and enforcement of local regulations is a matter for the authorities of the country and the foreign supplier of services concerned.

DVT AND AIR TRAVEL
There has been recent and extensive publicity highlighting the small risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or clotting of the blood in the leg. DVT has been quite incorrectly labelled ‘economy class syndrome’. The term ‘immobility syndrome’ would be a much more accurate description. The following advice has been obtained and you may find it useful:
-Passengers who suffer from heart disease, lung disease, cancer or have a family history of DVT, are recommended to seek advice from their GP prior to flying. Other risk factors include malignancy, hormone treatment, recent surgery, recent trauma involving lower limbs and abnormalities of blood clotting factors.
-If swelling occurs in the leg following a flight, medical advice should be sought - particularly if symptoms occur while on holiday prior to the return flight.
-Purchase a pair of elastic compression stockings to wear for the duration of the flight. They promote the flow of blood through the legs.
-Wear loose, baggy clothing during the flight.
-If you can take aspirin, have one tablet on the morning of travel. This decreases the risk of a clot developing (please ensure that you consult your doctor first).
-Drink plenty of water during the flight to dilute the risk of a blood clot. Too much alcohol tends to cause dehydration, which can increase the risk of clotting.
-Doing a few simple exercises regularly from your seat during the flight, such as stretching your arms and legs and rotating your feet, helps to promote the flow of blood.

MONEY & VALUABLES
Tourists in any part of the world are natural targets for thieves and consequently we strongly advise against bringing large amounts of cash, jewellery and expensive equipment on holiday. ATM machines are now widely available in most resorts and traveller’s cheque's are still the safest way to transport currency. Where your accommodation offers safety deposit boxes for hire, we recommend that you avail of these.

SWIMMING POOL AND WATER SAFETY
Swimming pools and indeed any water reserves present an inherent danger for children and poor swimmers in particular, but sometimes for even the most experienced swimmers. We ask that you remain extra vigilant in relation to members of your party, but also in relation to other holidaymaker's, in and around the swimming pools in your holiday accommodation and in the sea. Please pay particular attention to the following:
-Most holiday complexes do not have dedicated life-guards and, even if they do, it is essential that you exercise extreme caution and particularly that you keep children under constant supervision in the pool and surrounding area.
-It is important that you familiarise yourself with the pool depths and layout at the earliest possible opportunity after arriving at your accommodation, paying particular attention to any sharp drops in gradient or hidden obstructions which are a feature of some pools.
-Tiles around some pools can become slippery when wet so take care not to run in the area.
-Ear infections are commonplace, particularly amongst children, on holiday. Doctors advise that the main cause of ear infections is prolonged exposure of the ears to water and that children are particularly prone to developing ear infections when the ear is submerged in water within 48 hours of flying.
-If there is a "No Diving" sign displayed, or if the water is less than 1.5 metres deep, please do not dive or jump into the pool.
-If swimming in the sea, do not swim out of your depth and be aware of currents.
-Do not swim in the sea when a red flag is being flown.
-Avoid swimming after drinking alcohol or eating.

SUN SAFETY
Please be aware of the dangers of prolonged exposure to the sun. Some of the following tips will help to ensure that you stay safe in the sun:

  • Avoid being in the sun when it is at its strongest - between 11am and 3pm.
  • Regularly apply a high factor sun cream (at least SPF15+) and if dipping in and out of the pool or sea, ensure that your cream is fully water resistant and that you reapply it when you come out of the water. Alternatively, choose one of the creams that you can apply first thing in the morning (at least 1.5 hours before exposure to the sun) and that lasts for the entire day. These are particularly handy for children and people who are very active.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat and be extra vigilant in relation to children's heads and necks being well covered. Where possible stay in the shade rather than in direct sunlight.
  • Keep hydrated in hot climates by drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Ensure that your eyes are protected by wearing sunglasses (wraparound if possible) with high UV protection (European standard EN1836 or British standard BS 27 24 19 87).
  • Keep young babies out of the sun as much as possible.

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PASSPORTS, VISAS AND CURRENCIES

PASSPORTS AND VISAS
Please note that a passport is still required for travel between Ireland and all countries featured on this site. Holders of passports issued in Ireland or other E.U. countries do not require a visa for entry to The Canaries or Portugal. When entering Turkey, everyone is required to purchase an entry visa. The charge at the time of publication is €10 for holders of Irish passports and €15 for holders of British passports. Holders of other passports are advised to check what requirements apply with the Turkish Embassy (Tel: Dublin 01 - 668 5240) in good time before their intended date of departure. Holders of non EU passports should check the entry requirements if travelling to any of the countries featured on this site. All children including infants require a passport.

From 1st October, 2004 all children, regardless of age, must obtain an individual Irish passport in their own name. However, parents passports issued before 1st October on which children have been included remain valid and do not need to be replaced. Children who are included on a parent’s passport issued before 1st October, may continue to travel to most countries up to their 16th birthday along with that parent providing the passport is still valid. The exception to this is Bulgaria where customers travelling there must ensure that children, regardless of age, must have their own passport

Children aged 16 years and over require their own passport. It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is valid for the full duration of your holiday. In addition you should note that some overseas countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period after the date of entry to that country. If your passport is in its final year of validity, you are advised to check the requirements of the destination before you make your final travel plans. If you need to obtain a new passport, you should do so in good time. It can take up to 12 weeks to obtain a passport by post but this may vary depending upon the time of year.

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PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY

Many overseas hotels and apartment complexes are not equipped to cater for the needs of holidaymaker's with disabilities. Furthermore, the natural terrain and the layout of some resorts can sometimes make life difficult for wheelchair users. It is therefore important, if you have any disability, that the appropriate enquiries are made about the suitability of particular accommodation and resorts, and that you are fully satisfied you have made the correct choice before you book and confirm your holiday. In order that we may assist you in ensuring that your holiday choice is suitable, we require you to complete a special needs form (available from our reservations department by phoning 01-8814333). (see clause 2 Booking Conditions).

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SUNWORLD RESORT REPRESENTATIVE

At SUNWORLD we aim to provide an efficient, friendly and frequent service by thoroughly trained representatives. To this end, we demand the highest standards of presentation and dedication from all our staff. From the moment you arrive to the time you depart, they will do their best to ensure you enjoy your holiday to the full. Use their knowledge about your accommodation and resort, and the country, its local customs and how best to see it.

Moreover, we believe that frequent visits to where you are staying are very important and a representative is in attendance at all of our properties regularly during your stay. Even if you feel you do not require the service of our representatives, you can relax knowing they are available if you need them. If something should go wrong PLEASE speak to our representative in your resort.

They are trained to sort things out on the spot. In some of our destinations, representation services are provided in conjunction with our U. K. based sister companies, Thomas Cook, JMC and Sunset and your representative may be from anyone of the three. In other resorts such as Portugal and Turkey, we provide our own Sunworld representatives.

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FLYING DURING PREGNANCY

You may travel up to week 28 of pregnancy with your doctor's permission. Once your pregnancy has entered its 28th week, we ask that you carry with you a letter from your obstetrician stating the pregnancy is uncomplicated and confirming the expected date of delivery. In this letter, the doctor should state that you are in a good health, that he/she is happy for you to fly, and that in his/her opinion there is no reason why you cannot fly..

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Sunworld Holidays is a trading name of Capitol Holdings Ltd. Registered in Ireland at Unit 20D, Beckett Way, Parkwest Business Park, Nangor Road, Dublin 12 Registered No. 163008.
   Irish Tour Operators Federation © Sunworld Holidays, a Thomas Cook company Fully protected holidays - Licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Licence No. T.O. 066. Powered by Sell-It
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