Holiday Information
Thank you for booking with Alfa Travel, we hope you have an enjoyable holiday. This information is designed to help you enjoy your time away, so please read very carefully.
24hr Emergency Number 01257 248002
For use in the event of an emergency or late arrival of coach on day of departure.
Joining Instructions
Your pick-up point, date and time are shown on your Travel Ticket, so please make sure you arrive there in good time for the start of your holiday. Please note that your ticket will show the finalised pick-up point and time which may differ from the original time shown on your confirmation Invoice.
Although most clients are picked up by our own coaches, we also use the coaches of other companies as well as taxis and minibuses, so please look out for your pick-up vehicle and make yourself clearly visible. In the unlikely event that your coach/taxi/minibus has not arrived within 25 minutes of the stated departure time, please telephone us on 01257 248002 (low call rate).
Please follow the instructions printed on your ticket carefully.
It is essential that you join at the point shown on your Travel Ticket.
Do not go to a different point because you are aware that we often pick-up there, as there may be no service from that point on the day you are travelling.
Luggage and Luggage Labels
Due to limitations of luggage space, only one medium sized suitcase per person can be accommodated, measuring no more than 69cm x 28cm x 46cm (27in x 11in x 18in) and weighing no more than 20kg (44lb). Passengers are not able to combine their luggage allowances.
In the interests of health and safety of our employees and agents, we ask customers to strictly observe this weight limitation on individual suitcases and customers will be refused porterage facilities for suitcases which exceed the weight limit. Due to the high incidence of overweight cases, for departures on or after 1st January 2024, a £5 per kg excess weight charge will be payable at the hotel for each full kilogram that a case weighs over 20kg. You will also be required to ensure that your case is under the 20kg weight limit for the return journey.
Please ensure that the luggage label provided in your document wallet is used, so that our staff can identify your case. These labels are colour coded and help our staff to ensure your luggage is moved quickly. You need to complete your name and pick-up point information in the spaces provided prior to departure and attach them securely to your suitcase.
Hotel Accommodation and Requests
Any special requests you have made will be noted on your ticket and the hotel will be informed in advance of your arrival. Please be aware that although we make every effort to accommodate special requests we are unable to guarantee them
Clients with Special Requirements
Your ‘Special Requirements’ form will have been submitted to our Customer Service department at least 21 days prior to your departure date, so you can sit back, relax and look forward to your holiday, safe in the knowledge that your needs are being catered for by Alfa.
Mobility Impairment – please note that the Company does not have any vehicles fitted with wheelchair lifts, so it is essential that all clients are able to manage the steps necessary to board the coach, either unaided or with the assistance of members of their own party.
Wheelchairs – We can generally transport a collapsible manual wheelchair without any difficulty, but you must notify us in advance if you wish to bring one because some transport services from your local pickup point are operated by taxis and minibuses, so we need to check there is ample room to accommodate the wheelchair.
Mobility Scooters – Due to weight restrictions on our coaches, we can no longer accommodate scooters on our coaches. No scooters will be accepted at our interchange or your local pick up point. Passengers can hire scooters during their stay and are able to take these on excursions, as long as the heaviest piece weighs no more than 15kg and the scooter brake is applied when the coach is moving. Please note that passengers are responsible for the mobility scooter and Drivers cannot be held responsible for loading/unloading.
Meals – Please ensure that any special dietary needs have been noted and that you notify the reservations team at the time of booking, no later than 7-10 days prior to your arrival. Please see our brochure or website for further information on Special Requests and Special Requirements.
General Health
Don’t forget to take any necessary medication on holiday with you and make a list of these with your GP’s name and a person that can be contacted at home. It’s better to ‘be prepared’, so we recommend that you take double the amount of the medication you require and pack half in your travel bag and half in your suitcase to make sure your medical needs are catered for.
For those at heightened risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), please follow the ‘Travel Advice’. Clients with a higher risk of DVT include: people over the age of 40, those with a history of heart disease or blood clots, those who have had recent surgery, are undergoing a course of hormone replacement therapy, are taking the contraceptive pill or have had recent cancer treatment
Smoking
Please be aware that by law smoking is prohibited in all public spaces and in hotels in the UK and Ireland. As a Company we ask that you use designated smoking areas and refrain from smoking on or near all vehicles and in all hotels whilst on your holiday. This also applies to electronic cigarettes
Lost/Stolen Items
If you have lost or had any item of value stolen (including travel documents) please advise the local police and obtain a report confirming the loss. Also, check your insurance policy to see what is required. We are unable to take responsibility for personal property left behind in resort or on the coach. A charge may be applied for returning lost or left items
Reporting a Problem
f you experience a problem at the hotel, please.
- Inform the hotel staff without delay
- Speak to the Hotel Manager if you need to escalate your problem
- In the unlikely event that he/she cannot resolve the problem, please speak to your driver/courier
- In the case of an emergency or where the above measures have failed to resolve the issue, please call 01257 248002.
- Experience has shown that most issues can be quickly resolved if you raise your concerns as soon as the problem arises
Alfa’s Peace of Mind Guarantee
For customers that have chosen to add Alfa’s Peace of Mind Guarantee, you are covered in the case that you need to postpone your holiday, due to illness, death of a travelling companion, jury service or a hospital appointment (see your Peace of Mind Guarantee for full terms and conditions).
Should you need to postpone your holiday, please contact us on 01257 248000 as soon as possible.
The Peace of Mind guarantee also covers any extended stay or transport home, should you be taken ill or have an accident whilst you are away. Should you need assistance whilst you are away please contact our Peace of Mind assistance line on 01257 248040.
Travel Advice
Coach travel is one of the most comfortable and safest modes of transport which ensures that you really can sit back, relax and take in the scenery. Here are a few tips that could help to make it even more enjoyable;
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes
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Whilst sat on the coach carry out the following exercises approximately every 30 minutes;
1. Bend and straighten your legs, feet and toes
2. Repeatedly press your feet firmly down on the floor of the coach
3. Take a number of deep breaths - Our regular comfort breaks allow you to stretch your legs at every available stop and a little exercise will keep the blood circulating and make you feel less tired at the end of the journey. Please note that not all coaches have on-board toilet facilities.
- Keep hydrated by having regular drinks - all of our vehicles are air conditioned and this can lead to mild dehydration in some people.
- Keep your seatbelt on at all times. This is a legal requirement whilst the vehicle is in motion. You can still use the toilet and drink facilities if available, but we ask that you only use these facilities when necessary to reduce the amount of time you are without a seatbelt.
24hr Emergency Number 01257 248002
For use in the event of an emergency or late arrival of coach on day of departure.
Don’t Forget
- Important documents including your travel tickets and insurance certificate
- To complete the luggage label we have sent you and put it on your suitcase
- To take any medication you require on your holiday
- Comfortable clothes for the journey and plenty of fluids for hydration
If you are going to Ireland
- Your passport/visa (or photographic identity for Northern Ireland)
- Your money/travellers cheques/credit card - you’ll need enough money for refreshments on your journey
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – further information available from www.nhs.uk