CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT
Rooms will normally be ready for you by 3pm on the day of arrival and you will be required to check-out of your room by 11 am or midday . Hotels may have a room available where you can change if you have a late departure or they may let you keep your room until later in the day . It will depend on the hotel and their availability and they will make a charge for this . If you do have a late departure and want to keep your room ( at an additional charge ), please let us know at the time of booking so that we can arrange it for you .
CREDIT CARDS
Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the Caribbean . To our knowledge all the hotels in this brochure accept credit cards . You will need cash for taxis , drinks and food when out and about . Small denominations of US $ are most useful or try to use local currency wherever possible .
DRINKS AT HOTELS
Unless your hotel is operating on an all-inclusive basis ( as indicated on the hotel page by Full Board with drinks ) then you will receive coffee or tea and juice with breakfast ( the French islands operate slightly differently sometimes ) as included in the price . All other drinks such as aperitifs , wine , beers etc during the day and with meals should be paid for directly to the hotel . Bottles of wine are usually quite expensive in the Caribbean because of import duties . Some islands such as the Cayman Islands are more expensive than others .
ENTERTAINMENT
On the whole in the Caribbean people rise early and go to bed early . The hotels we feature do not offer late nights of loud entertainment . When entertainment is provided ( and most of the hotels do provide some entertainment at least once a week ) it tends to be low-key - perhaps a local steel band or a pianist . Many hotels will also host a manager ’ s weekly cocktail party .
CONCIERGE FACILITIES
Most of the hotels featured in this brochure offer a wide range of services from bureau de change , to booking car hire , arranging excursions locally or making restaurant reservations for you .
HOUSEKEEPING
Most of the hotels featured in this holiday guide provide you with towels for use by the pool or on the beach in addition to bathroom towels . You might want to take your own beach towels if you intend visiting other beaches on the island or if you want to sail . Towels are usually changed twice a day and the majority of hotels operate an evening turn-down service .
TIPPING
Local taxes ( equivalent of VAT ) and a service charge are included in the room rates we pay on your behalf to the hotels . However , it is usual to give a small tip to drivers , porters and your chambermaid .
Travel
LONGHAUL FLIGHTS
We book flights as they exist at the time of booking your holiday . The exact flight numbers and times are confirmed to you in writing at this point . Sometimes scheduled airlines do change their timetables after you have booked . This can mean that the departure day and even the duration of your holiday can change . These changes are outside our control but we notify you as soon as we are made aware of any such changes and then rearrange your holiday for you .
DIRECT FLIGHTS
On long-haul journeys it is common for a flight to be billed as a direct flight even though it touches down en route . It is direct because you do not have to change aircraft but the overall journey time will be longer than if the aircraft did not stop . Many of the scheduled and charter flights are ‘ direct ’ but not ‘ non-stop ’.
SEATS IN PREMIUM CABINS
Please bear in mind that the very advantageous supplements we charge for club , first , premium economy , upper class , business class etc with the different airlines allows for the full range of check-in and on-board facilities but does not allow for the usual associations in terms of flexibility for changes and cancellations . In this respect our standard booking conditions apply .
SEAT RESERVATIONS
On long-haul flights with British Airways we can only now request seat reservations for you at the time of making your booking if you are flying in First or hold a Gold or Silver executive card . Usually this seat number remains allocated to you until your check-in . However , the airlines reserve the right to change seat numbers without notifying us if they feel they need to for any reason . Therefore a seat number is not guaranteed as such but in most cases it will not change .
NAMES ON FLIGHT TICKETS
The name in your passport is the name that must appear on the flight ticket . ( We just need your surname , first initial and title ). The names you provide us with at the initial time of taking your booking are the names that will appear on your ticket . You cannot change the name the reservation has been made in without incurring cancellation charges . The airlines are very strict about this and unfortunately they make the rules . ( This is particularly important for honeymoon clients ).
Traditional elegance and comfort at Sandy Lane , Barbados
LOCAL FLIGHTS
Please bear in mind that if you are travelling on a local flight in the Caribbean , the weight limit is 20 kilos , even if you have travelled in a premium cabin on the transatlantic flight , which would allow a greater baggage allowance . Also when you have a connecting flight anywhere in the Caribbean , it is advisable to carry a change of clothes and wash things in a carry-on bag with you . Flights can be delayed and luggage sometimes has to be carried on a later flight or one the next day .
Phone 01392 441210 to make a reservation or discuss your holiday plans , or visit www . caribbeanexpressions . co . uk
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