Your Questions Answered
FAQs
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it in person but you may find your answer below more quickly.
Booking Your Holiday
Yes. Many of our customers choose to add an extra night before or after their tour, particularly on UK holidays where they may wish to arrive early, avoid a long journey on the first day, or extend their stay after the tour has finished.
In most cases, we can request additional nights at the same hotel used for the tour, subject to availability. On rail holidays, we may also be able to help with practical pre- or post-tour arrangements, such as an overnight stay in London or a short break in Paris, where this is possible within the ticketing rules.
Please ask our team at the time of booking and we will be happy to provide a quote.
On some tours it may be possible to make your own way to the destination and join the group there, subject to the itinerary and supplier arrangements. Please contact us before booking so that we can confirm whether a land-only option is available and advise on any price difference or joining instructions.
If online balance payments are available for your booking, the details will be shown on your confirmation or reminder information. You can also contact our team by phone if you would prefer to pay that way or have any questions about your balance.
Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person.
As standard a 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. If the deposit required to confirm your chosen tour is higher, you will be told at the time of booking.
We may ask you for information such as passport details, travel insurance details, emergency contact information, dietary requirements, mobility needs and any other details needed for your specific holiday. Please provide these as early as possible so that we can pass the relevant information to airlines, hotels and local suppliers where required.
You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note that a reminder for balance payments is sent to you approximately 1 week before the payment due date. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. If this is different from the standard terms then this will be notified to you at the time of booking.
Final joining instructions and documentation will be despatched approximately 10 days before travel.
We normally send final travel documents approximately 10 days before departure. These will include the latest version of your itinerary, joining instructions, hotel details where applicable, flight or rail information and any practical notes for your tour. Please read them carefully and contact us straight away if anything looks incorrect. You will also be given a contact phone number in case you need to reach one of our team in an emergency.
Choosing The Right Tour
Entrance fees for the visits listed as included in the itinerary are normally included in the holiday price. If a visit, optional excursion or free-time activity is not included, we will make this clear on the tour page or in your final travel information.
Each itinerary gives an indication of the pace and style of the tour. Many of our holidays involve walking through historic towns, museums, gardens or archaeological sites, and some locations may include cobbles, steps, uneven ground or limited access.
We classify our tours by activity level and include notes on the individual tour page where there are more challenging elements, such as longer walks, steps, standing time or uneven terrain. Please read the tour page carefully and contact us before booking if you are unsure whether a holiday is suitable for you. Our team can talk through the itinerary and advise as far as possible based on your needs.
Demanding tours are more active and may include longer walks, steeper gradients, uneven terrain, sustained standing time or a fuller daily programme. You should be comfortable with the activity level described on the individual tour page. If you are unsure, please speak to our team before booking so that we can talk through the itinerary with you.
There is no upper age limit on our tours, but our holidays tend to appeal to mature travellers with a strong interest in culture, history, art, gardens and special-interest travel. The exact mix varies by tour and departure. If you would like to know more about the current make-up of a group before booking, please contact us and we will help where we can.
The size of the group varies depending on the tour. We limit some holidays to lower numbers to suit the nature of the holiday such as walking, culinary and special interest.
You can see the maximum group size for any holiday on the individual tour page, towards the top right section of the page, under the image at the top.
An escorted holiday means that the practical arrangements of the tour are looked after for you. Depending on the holiday, this may include a Tour Manager, local guides and/or an Expert Lecturer. Your itinerary, transport arrangements, included visits and accommodation are organised in advance, so you can focus on enjoying the places you visit and the people you travel with.
Our activity ratings are designed to help you understand the likely pace and physical demands of a tour. They take into account factors such as walking distances, time spent standing, steps, uneven ground, cobbled streets and the general pace of the itinerary. Please read the individual tour page carefully and contact us before booking if you are unsure whether a tour is suitable for you.
The inclusions vary by tour, so please check the individual tour page carefully. In general, the price usually includes your travel arrangements as described, accommodation, included excursions, visits and entrances listed in the itinerary, the services of a Tour Manager and/or Expert Lecturer where stated, and meals as shown. Items such as travel insurance, personal spending, optional excursions and some meals may not be included.
You can also see our designated page on our website which provides more information on what is or is not included within the cost of our tours.
Our travellers are typically curious, sociable and interested in getting beneath the surface of a destination. Many join us because they enjoy travelling with like-minded people who share an interest in art, history, gardens, architecture, archaeology, music or culture. Groups usually include a mix of couples, friends and solo travellers.
During The Tour
This varies by tour. Some holidays include tastings, drinks with specific meals or other food and drink experiences, while others do not. Please check the individual tour page carefully, as included meals, tastings and drinks will be listed there. When wine is included with a meal then a reasonable amount is included for each traveller. After this, if you wish to have any additional drinks then you will need to order and pay for these directly with the hotel or restaurant.
All excursions, once in resort are normally taken by private coach or minibus, and are exclusively for Travel Editions clients. There is no seating plan for the coaches, and seating is left flexible.
No, not always. Our tours are designed so that the included visits form an important part of the holiday, but you may choose to sit out an excursion if you prefer. Please let your Tour Manager know in advance so that they are aware of your plans. In some cases, because of transport arrangements or timings, it may not be practical to rejoin the group until later in the day.
We plan our itineraries carefully, but occasionally changes may be needed due to weather, transport disruption, opening hours, local events or circumstances outside our control. If this happens, we will do our best to provide a suitable alternative and to preserve the overall character of the tour.
In most cases the tour manager will travel out with the tour group from the UK. However, this is not always the case and the tour manager may meet you at the destination station / airport. The exact details specific to your tour will be given to you in your final documentation, 10 days prior to departure. With our Great British Heritage holidays they will meet you at the hotel on the first day.
Tipping customs vary by country and are always at your discretion. In some destinations it is usual to tip local guides, drivers or hotel staff, while in others it is less expected. If you are at all unsure then your Tour Manager can advise during the holiday.
Most tours include some free time, although the amount varies depending on the itinerary. Some holidays are more structured, while others allow a little more time to explore independently, relax at the hotel or revisit a museum, garden or town at your own pace.
Most Travel Editions tours are built around a set programme of included visits, so there are fewer optional excursions than on some escorted holidays. Where optional visits or extras are available, these will be explained on the tour page or in your travel documents, including how and when to book them. Please check the individual itinerary or ask us before booking if free time is important to you.
General Questions
Where tickets are included, this will be shown on the individual tour page. Seating, timings and programmes are usually arranged by the event organiser and may be subject to change. If an event programme changes, we will do our best to preserve the overall character and quality of the holiday.
If you need information in a more accessible format, please contact us and we will do our best to help. This might include sending information by email, enlarging text where possible or talking through key details over the phone.
Occasionally, access to royal residences, heritage buildings or special sites can change at short notice for operational, security, conservation or official reasons. If this happens, we will do our best to make suitable alternative arrangements while preserving the spirit of the tour. Please note for access to some elements of these tours you must bring with you photo ID. This will be highlighted in your final travel information and is your responsibility to provide or access will likely not be possible.
We may be able to arrange private group departures for clubs, societies, associations or groups of friends, depending on the tour, destination and group size. Please contact us with your preferred destination, dates and approximate numbers and our team will advise what may be possible.
No specialist knowledge is needed. Our tours are designed for interested travellers who want to learn more, not for experts only. Your Expert Lecturer or guide will bring the subject to life during the tour, whether you already know the topic well or are simply curious to find out more.
If you are ever unsure whether a message is genuinely from Travel Editions, please do not click links or provide payment details. Contact us using the phone number or email address shown on our official website and our team will be happy to check it for you.
If you would like to change how we contact you, receive fewer brochures or stop marketing communications, please contact us and we will update your preferences. Please note that postal mailings are planned in advance, so you may receive one further brochure after your preferences have been changed.
We only use your personal information where it is needed to manage your booking, provide your holiday arrangements and keep you updated about your travel plans.
This may include sharing relevant details with trusted suppliers involved in your holiday, such as airlines, hotels, transport providers, local agents or tour managers. For example, we may need to pass on passenger names, passport details, dietary requirements, mobility information or other special requests where these are needed for your arrangements.
We take the protection of your personal information seriously and handle it in line with our Privacy Policy. You can read our full Privacy Policy on our website.
The air holidays operated by Travel Editions are ATOL protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 3525. 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 may have paid to us for an advance booking. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme.
When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate
We are also members of the ABTA (ABTA No V3120), (www.abta.com) ensuring both your financial protection for all non-air holidays and high standards of professionalism and reliability. Over the more than 30 years Travel Editions has been operating, our holidays have enjoyed the recommendation of many newspapers and magazines, so you know you are in safe hands.
Yes. Once your booking is confirmed, the price of your Travel Editions holiday is fully guaranteed. We operate a no-surcharge policy, so you can book with confidence knowing that we will not add extra charges to your confirmed holiday price because of changes to fuel costs, exchange rates, taxes or supplier costs.
Our Voted by You tours are holidays chosen with the help of Travel Editions customers. We asked our customers which new tour ideas they would most like us to operate, and the most popular choices have been added to the programme. It is a way of showing which holidays were shaped by customer feedback and demand.
We plan garden, flower and wildlife tours for the best likely time of year, but nature cannot be guaranteed. Flowering times, garden conditions and wildlife sightings can vary depending on weather and seasonal conditions. Where possible, our Tour Managers, guides and local partners will adapt arrangements to make the most of the conditions at the time.
Your safety and wellbeing are our priority. We monitor official travel advice and, if the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against travel to a destination included in your holiday, we will review the situation carefully and take appropriate action. This may include making changes to the itinerary or, if necessary, cancelling the holiday.
If official advice does not advise against travel, but you personally decide that you no longer wish to travel, this would usually be treated as a cancellation by you and normal cancellation charges may apply. You should also speak to your travel insurance provider to understand what cover may be available.
While we take care in planning our holidays and working with trusted local partners, all travellers should take sensible precautions while away, just as they would at home. This includes keeping an eye on personal belongings, taking care in busy areas, avoiding poorly lit or isolated places at night, and following any advice given by your Tour Manager or local guide.
Before you travel, we recommend checking the latest official advice for your destination:
GOV.UK foreign travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
On tours with an Expert Lecturer, they provide specialist insight into the subject of the holiday, such as art, history, archaeology, architecture or gardens. The Tour Manager looks after the practical running of the tour, including timings, group arrangements and liaison with suppliers. Some holidays are accompanied by a Tour Manager only, while others also include an Expert Lecturer. Please check the individual tour page for details.
You can also read more about both our Experts and Tour Managers on the relevant pages on our website.
If a tour or departure is no longer showing online, it may simply be sold out or temporarily unavailable. If you already have a confirmed booking, we will contact you directly if there is any issue with your holiday. If you are interested in a sold-out tour, please contact us and we can advise whether a waitlist is available.
Preparing For Your Trip
Yes. Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery service called thebaggageman, which can collect your suitcase from your home before departure and deliver it directly to your hotel. This can be particularly helpful on rail holidays, as it removes the worry of carrying your case on and off trains or through stations. Travel Editions clients can receive a 10% discount on thebaggageman service.
For more information, please visit their website: https://www.thebaggageman.com/
You can also contact thebaggageman directly on 01844 264890.
Luggage allowances vary depending on the airline, rail operator or transport arrangements for your tour. The relevant allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents. Please also bear in mind that you will need to handle your own luggage at airports, railway stations, ferry terminals or when boarding coaches. Porterage is not usually available, especially in smaller hotels or historic buildings.
Packing advice varies by destination, season and itinerary. We recommend comfortable shoes, layered clothing, weather-appropriate outerwear and any personal medication you need. For tours involving gardens, historic sites or uneven streets, practical footwear is especially important. Any specific packing notes will be included in your final travel documents.
It is your responsibility to check whether you need any vaccinations, medication or other health precautions for your holiday. Travel Editions cannot provide medical advice and cannot be held responsible if you are unable to travel, or are refused entry, because you have not arranged the correct health requirements.
Health advice varies depending on your destination, itinerary, length of stay, medical history and any countries you travel through. Requirements and recommendations can also change, so you should check the latest official travel health advice well before departure.
We recommend checking NHS travel vaccination guidance and TravelHealthPro, then speaking to your GP, practice nurse, pharmacist or a specialist travel clinic if you need advice specific to your circumstances.
Useful sources:
NHS travel vaccinations: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/travel-vaccinations/
TravelHealthPro destination advice: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
GOV.UK foreign travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
It is your responsibility to check and arrange any visa, entry, transit or travel authorisation requirements for your holiday. Travel Editions cannot apply for visas or travel authorisations on your behalf and cannot be held responsible if you are unable to travel because the correct documentation has not been arranged.
Requirements vary depending on your nationality, passport, destination, route and any countries you travel through. They can also change at short notice, so you should check the latest official guidance well before departure and again before you travel.
British passport holders should check the latest entry requirements for each destination on GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
For visa applications or specific entry requirements, please contact the relevant embassy, consulate or official visa authority for the country you are visiting. Passengers of other nationalities, or those travelling on non-British passports, must check the requirements that apply to them directly with the relevant embassy, consulate or official visa authority.
Passport validity rules vary depending on where you are travelling, so we recommend checking the latest official entry requirements for your destination before you travel. For many European countries in the Schengen area, British passport holders usually need to make sure that their passport:
• was issued less than 10 years before the date they enter the country
• has an expiry date at least 3 months after the day they plan to leave the Schengen area
Important: if your passport was renewed before your previous passport expired, extra months may have been added to the expiry date. These extra months may not count for entry into some countries. The key date to check is the passport’s date of issue, not just the expiry date.
These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland. For Ireland, British citizens can continue to use their passport as long as it is valid for the length of their stay.
As requirements can change, please check the latest official guidance before travel:
GOV.UK foreign travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
GOV.UK passport validity guidance: https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport/renew
ABTA passport advice: https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/passports
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is now in operation across participating European countries. It applies to most British passport holders travelling for a short stay and replaces the manual stamping of passports with a digital border record.
When travelling to participating European countries, you may be asked to register biometric details at the border, such as a facial image and fingerprints. There is no charge for EES registration and you do not need to complete anything before you travel. Border checks may take longer than usual, particularly during busy periods.
If you are travelling via Eurostar from London St Pancras, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or the Port of Dover, EES checks may be completed before you leave the UK.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is also expected to be introduced in future, but it is not currently open for applications. Requirements can change, so we recommend checking the latest official guidance before travel:
ABTA travel to Europe guidance: https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/upcoming-changes-travel-europe
GOV.UK EU Entry/Exit System guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system
Official EU EES information: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees
Official EU ETIAS information: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
If you are travelling to an EU country or Switzerland, you may wish to carry a valid UK GHIC or existing valid EHIC card. These cards are not a replacement for travel insurance, but they can help you access state healthcare in some destinations. Please check the latest NHS and government guidance before you travel. https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/
Please contact us before booking if you use a wheelchair, walking aid or mobility scooter. We will check the practicalities of the itinerary, transport, hotels and visits wherever possible. Some historic sites, older hotels and city centres have steps, cobbles, uneven surfaces or limited lift access, so it is important that we discuss your needs before confirming the booking.
Where flights are included, we can usually request airport assistance from the airline if you let us know in advance. This service must be booked before travel and is subject to airline and airport arrangements. Please tell us about any mobility requirements as early as possible so that we can advise on the suitability of your tour and request assistance where available.
We do classify all of our tours and you can see on the individual tour page what that tour is rated as. There will also be notes in the itinerary detailing any particularly challenging elements of each day. Please read the tour page carefully and contact us if you have any concerns. We can advise on expected walking, steps, terrain, time spent standing, coach access and whether there are opportunities to opt out of more demanding visits.
Your final travel documents will include the relevant contact details for your holiday, including how to reach your Tour Manager or local support where applicable. In a genuine emergency, you should also contact the appropriate local emergency services and your travel insurer.
Your Tour Manager is there to help the group enjoy the holiday and to support the smooth running of the itinerary. They cannot provide personal care, lift or carry guests, push wheelchairs or provide one-to-one assistance. If you need personal assistance with mobility, medication, dressing, eating or similar needs, you should travel with a companion who can provide this support. You can read more about the role of the Tour Manager on the dedicated website page.
Please speak to your Tour Manager as soon as possible so that they have the opportunity to help during the holiday. If the matter cannot be resolved locally, they will contact our UK office or local partners as appropriate. It is always best to raise concerns at the time rather than waiting until you return home.
Tea and coffee making facilities are more common in UK hotels, but they are not always provided as standard in the UK or in hotels overseas, even in 4-star properties.
Where this is important to you, we recommend taking a small travel kettle and your preferred tea, coffee or other supplies with you. Please also check that any travel kettle is suitable for use in the country you are visiting and that you have the correct plug adaptor.
Please let us know about any dietary requirements at the time of booking, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, allergies, intolerances, religious dietary requirements or any other specific needs. These should also be noted on your booking form.
We will pass your requirements to the relevant hotels, restaurants, airlines and local suppliers, and will do our best to accommodate them wherever possible. However, please be aware that standards, availability and understanding of dietary requirements can vary from country to country, and we cannot guarantee that all requests will be met.
If you have a severe allergy or medical dietary requirement, please make this clear when booking and speak to a member of our team before confirming your holiday, so we can advise as far as possible based on the arrangements for your chosen tour.
Not many hotels have three beds in a room or space to set up a third bed but for those that do, please bear in mind that the third bed placed in the room may be a camp-style bed or sofa bed. Please call us on 020 7251 0045 to discuss your requirements further.
In order that the service for our group is as efficient as possible then meals tend to be a set menu. Of course the hotel or restaurant will endeavour to meet all dietary requirements. Please tell us when you book in order for us to inform the restaurants in good time before your arrival.
On a Travel Editions holiday, the focus is very much on the places you visit, the sights you see and the experiences included each day. You are unlikely to spend a great deal of time in your hotel room, but we know it still matters to have a comfortable and pleasant base to return to at the end of the day.
We mainly use carefully selected 3 and 4-star hotels that offer a good balance of comfort, location and value. Star ratings are awarded by the relevant local authorities and can vary from country to country, so they may not always match UK expectations exactly.
Rooms have private facilities unless stated otherwise. Most rooms will have a bath, shower or shower over bath, but the exact room layout can vary by hotel and country.
The hotels used on our tours have either been visited by a member of our team or recommended by our trusted local partners. We make every effort to provide accurate information about the accommodation and facilities included with each holiday. However, hotel facilities and local services can occasionally change, particularly due to seasonality, maintenance, weather conditions or other circumstances outside our control.
Solo Travellers
If you are thinking of booking and would like to understand the current group make-up, please contact us. While we cannot guarantee how the final group will look, we can often tell you whether other solo travellers, couples or friends are already booked.
We welcome many solo travellers on our holidays and always try to keep single supplements as low as possible.
To help you find the best-value options, our website includes a solo traveller filter, which highlights holidays where the single supplement is lower compared with the overall tour price. If you are travelling alone and would like advice on the most suitable holidays or room options, please contact our team and we will be happy to help.
No, not unless you want to. Many of our customers travel solo and our Tour Managers help create a friendly group atmosphere. Where meals are included, the group will usually dine together. At other times, you are free to make your own plans or join other like-minded travellers if you wish.
Travelling By Rail Or By Air
Whether online check-in and advance seat selection are available depends on the airline you’re flying with. We’ll let you know if these services are available when we send your final travel documents, which are usually issued around 10 days before departure. Your final travel documents will include any relevant instructions for checking in online and pre-booking seats, where applicable.
Can I fly from my local airport or upgrade my flight?
Flight upgrades and connections from local airports are available on a request basis and subject to availability, please contact Travel Editions directly for more information, call 020 7251 0045 or email tours@traveleditions.co.uk.
Our itineraries use a number of reputable airlines and all our costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated. All flight times as stated on your confirmation invoice are based on local time. Please note that all flight times are subject to alteration by the airline. Full details concerning departure times and meeting points will be given in your final joining instructions, which will be sent to you 10 days before departure.
We would advise you not to book any connecting travel arrangements before receiving your final timings to prevent any loss of non-refundable booking fees.
A significant proportion of our travellers come on their own. On many departures, solo travellers make up the majority of the group. There is nothing uncomfortable about arriving alone, many other guests will be doing the same and the Tour Manager will always be a friendly face to welcome you and ensure everyone is comfortable and included within the wider group. You will find yourself among people with a great deal in common, and the rest tends to take care of itself.
Sometimes. Some rail arrangements can be changed or extended, subject to availability, rail operator rules and any additional cost.
For example, it may occasionally be possible to break a return journey in Paris for up to 24 hours, or to request additional pre- or post-tour arrangements. Please ask our team before booking, as rail tickets and group arrangements can be restrictive once confirmed.
We advise that you should plan to arrive at the relevant station around 90 minutes prior to the departure of the Eurostar.
All timings given are purely an indication and are subject to alteration by airlines and train companies. Full details concerning departure times and pick-up points will be given in your final joining instructions, which will be sent to you 10 days before departure. We would advise you not to book any connecting travel arrangements before receiving your final timings to prevent any financial loss from non-refundable tickets.
On rail holidays, you should be comfortable managing your own luggage at stations and when boarding or leaving trains, including lifting cases into storage areas. Porterage is not always available, and some stations may involve steps, ramps or walking between platforms. If carrying your case is a concern, our recommended luggage delivery service may be helpful on selected holidays.
Regional airport options vary by tour, date, destination and airline availability. Where regional flights are available, these can be requested at the time of booking and our team will confirm if available. Regional flights are not guaranteed on every holiday or departure, so please ask before booking if a particular airport is important to you.
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