IMPORTANT INFORMATION
WHAT WILL MY DAY OUT COST?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY TRIP ONCE THE DEPOSIT IS PAID AND MY BOOKING HAS BEEN ACCEPTED?
WHAT HAPPENS IF ROY NEEDS TO CANCEL OR CHANGE THE TRIP AFTER A BOOKING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AND A DEPOSIT PAID?
HOW STRENUOUS OR OTHERWISE WILL THE DAY BE?
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE AGREED PRICE?
WHAT SHOULD WE BRING WITH US?
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGREED PRICE?
HOW ARE YOUR PRICES WORKED OUT?
What will my day out cost?
The cost for a trip will depend on how many hours the trip will take and how many miles we plan to travel on any particular day. Therefore each day can be a different cost.
As a rough guide, a day which takes 6 to 9 hours of my time in which my vehicle travels 35 to 65 miles (56 to 105 Km) would cost around £115 to £175. This price is for the trip, to get a cost per person just divide the total cost per day by the number of people in your group. E.g. the above day would cost £19 - £29 per person if there were 6 in your group which is the maximum number that I can take in my vehicle.
NOT included in my prices; lunch, snacks or drinks. Admission fees are payable by the visitor on the day at the venues. Prior to your visit I will advise you of the usual admission fees for any venue that you may want to visit.
If you have a particular budget in mind, please contact me and I will put together an itinerary to suit.
We will agree an itinerary and price in advance. To confirm your date or dates I will require a credit card deposit of £50 per-day or part day. Once this is paid the booking is confirmed, I will not take any more bookings for those dates. The balance of the agreed price is payable at the end of your trip, which can be either charged to your card or paid in cash £ Pounds Sterling. Should your plans change on the day from those that we have previously discussed, I may need to adjust the balance accordingly after discussing it with you. I accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro/debit cards. Credit card details will never be discussed by e-mail - only by phone or fax.
These costs are correct at January 2008. Please note: fuel costs in the UK are high, if the price of fuel increases significantly I may need to adjust your final balance to take account of this. I will of course let you know fuel increases prior to your tour date.
What happens if I need to cancel my trip once the deposit is paid and my booking has been accepted?
As a one person operation, it is essential that I can plan ahead which is why I advise that all visitors have their own travel insurance to cover them in the unusual eventuality that they need to cancel their trip. Once a booking is confirmed by the payment of a deposit I will refuse bookings for the same period from other visitors who contact me. For this reason, if you need to cancel, please give me as much notice as possible, by telephone and e-mail.
If this is more than 1 month before your tour I will refund 80% of your deposit.
If it is between 2 and 4 weeks before your tour I will NOT refund any of your deposit but no further payment will be due.
IN THE EVENT THAT YOU CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOUR TOUR THE BALANCE OF THE AGREED PRICE WILL BE CHARGED IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR CREDIT CARD
For this reason all bookings MUST be confirmed with a credit card number although the balance payment on the day can be with cash if you prefer. If I need to, cancellation charges will be billed to the credit card number. By making a booking and paying a deposit you are deemed to have accepted these conditions and read and understood the other important information on this page. E-mail communications will also constitute part of the agreement between us.
What happens if Roy needs to cancel or change the trip after a booking has been confirmed and a deposit paid?
In the unlikely event that I have to cancel a trip please be assured that it will be an absolute last resort and will be due to circumstances beyond my control. I would do my best to give you as much notice as possible and any monies paid will be refunded in full if your trip can't be rescheduled. I will do everything I can to minimise any inconvenience to you. If a trip needs to be changed due to unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions I will try to make alternative arrangements to suit you.
How strenuous or otherwise will the day be?
It is really up to you. The day is designed by you to suit your interests and abilities. You know your own limitations and I will rely on you not to exceed them. That said, the best way to see Speyside is to get out and about in it. We will stop often and you decide how much walking or not to do - just let me know when we discuss the trip beforehand if you have any particular likes or dislikes. For instance if you don't like heights I won't include a trip to the top of Elgin Cathedral tower, if you don't like confined spaces I won't include a trip to Sculptors Cave. The trip is all about you and to make the most of it you need to be realistic about what you are comfortable doing. If at any time during the day you find that you want to rest or change your mind about something you must say so. Whatever you do decide to do is entirely at your own risk. Some of the best sites are off the beaten track or may need a bit of determination to see but all of this will be agreed in advance. Some however are really easy to get to and involve no walking at all so there is something for everyone. The beauty of being in a small group is that the day is infinitely flexible, think when you plan your day what you want to get out of it and remember that you are on holiday not an endurance exercise.
What is included in the agreed price?
The price includes the planning of your own personalised day out, the services of me as your driver and guide and travel in my Mercedes V Class people carrier. Agreed prices are for the vehicle and me for the agreed period. This is for up to six people and the price is per Trip NOT per person.
What should we bring with us?
Leave the pressures of home life at home where they belong. Apart from an open frame of mind you will need to be equipped for the changeable Scottish climate. No matter what the time of year you will need a hooded waterproof jacket and some strong footwear with non slip soles and a sweater for cooler mornings or days is advisable. You can always take a layer off and leave it in the vehicle if the weather changes. You may want to bring a change of footwear if we are planning to be out and about before visiting somewhere such as Ballindalloch Castle. There is plenty of room in the vehicle for you to leave everything. An absolute essential is your camera and lots of film or flashcards for those of you in the digital age. Nobody ever goes home and says that they wished they had taken less photographs! Credit cards are accepted widely in Speyside but you will wish to have some cash with you for making small purchases or paying admission fees. You are the judge of whether your day out is suitable for your children. Younger children may not be admitted to certain whisky distillery tours and may find that other aspects of the day do not entertain them as much as they entertain you. Children are welcome but they remain your responsibility at all times and you should consider them carefully when planning your day.
What is not included in the agreed price?
Admission fees to anywhere which charges them are not included nor is any lunch, snacks or drink that you may wish to purchase during your trip. I can advise you of the usual admission fees for any venue that you may wish to visit.
How are your prices worked out?
The price that we agree before you make a booking will be based on the number of hours that you need me for and the number of miles that I think we will travel. My time is measured from my leaving my home to my returning, as is the mileage so if your accommodation is a long way from my home this will be reflected in the price that we agree. If we do extra miles or take longer on the day there may be an extra charge but I will let you know as we go along if I think that this might happen.
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