Terms & Conditions
You enter into a booking with us when we issue our confirmation invoice. If you then cancel, there will be cancellation charges. Initially this may only be a deposit, but can go up to 100%.
You can make changes to your booking in certain circumstances. We make a charge for this. We can change and cancel your booking.
We are responsible to you for providing your holiday but there are legal limits.
Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all our travellers and it is a condition of accepting your booking that you agree you will have obtained adequate and valid travel insurance. We recommend you take out insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed.
Please read the full terms for more information and for other important rights and obligations.
Special Requests
If you have any special requests for a facility not advertised by us and for which there is no supplementary charge, for example double bed, adjoining rooms, special diets, etc., we will convey your request to the hotel or purveyor of services concerned, but only those special requests confirmed in writing by Little Italian Suitcase can be guaranteed. We cannot accept bookings conditional upon the fulfilment of any special request.
Special Needs
We appreciate that clients with special needs have specific requirements that must be met to ensure a successful holiday. Please ask for our Special Needs form before making your booking in order that we can assess your personal requirements. However, this may not be available for late bookings. We will do our best to find a holiday to suit you, however, we may be unable to meet your particular needs.
Rail holidays
Rail holidays (excluding Venice Simplon-Orient-Express) are provisionally booked on request, and are confirmed 6-8 weeks before departure date. In May and June, when rail schedules change, there is an additional delay and reservations may be confirmed 2-4 weeks before departure. We will endeavour to book the class of travel requested. In the unlikely event, however, that your preferred class of travel is not available when the reservation system opens up you will be entitled to the options specified in the paragraph ‘If We Change or Cancel Your Holiday’.
Accommodation Only Bookings
Little Italian Suitcase can only accept responsibility for matters directly linked to the contract between us. Should it be necessary for us to amend or cancel an accommodation only booking we cannot accept liability in respect to any costs you may incur in respect of any other service or product, including flights, you have purchased independently of Little Italian Suitcase. An Accommodation only booking fee will apply. No payments whatsoever shall be made in this respect as our contract with you is solely for the provision of accommodation only.
Website and Brochure Accuracy
We reserve the right to make changes to the particulars contained on this website and in our brochure before a contract is concluded. We take every precaution to ensure that the descriptions of each property and facility are as accurate as possible at the time of publication. However, circumstances can change after publication. For example, all the facilities in a resort might not be fully functional in early or late season. Sometimes a hotel may change its meal system from waiter service to buffet service, or back again or the number and type of restaurants may change. A pool may be closed for maintenance, or air conditioning may only be available at certain times of the day and/or year. We reserve the right to make changes after publication of information. Public holidays and religious festivals may also affect the availability of resort and hotel facilities. We will tell you of any significant changes that we know about when you book your holiday. If you have already booked, we will tell you of any significant change in circumstances which would affect your holiday as soon as we can before you leave.
What Is Included In Your Holiday Price
For holidays that you ask us to design for you but not lead, we will make your arrangements to your exact requirements and quote / confirm your price. Your confirmation / invoice will specify exactly what is included in your arrangements.
What Is Not Included In Your Holiday Price
· Holiday insurance which is compulsory
· Accommodation for guests not named on your invoice
· All items of personal expenditure and all items not specifically indicated as being included. NB our liability starts and ends at the UK airport, station or port of your departure and arrival (excluding any arrangement that Little Italian Suitcase have not booked on your behalf)
· Consequential loss not directly linked to the pre-paid contract
· Porterage
· Optional excursions
· Charges made by hotels for sun-beds, tennis courts and any other activity or equipment
· Air-conditioning (where payable)
· Any charges levied for an infant's cot or food
· Any local charges, which may change without notice
Prices
The basic price of your holiday, when sharing, is determined by the actual dates of your stay, your choice of travel eg air/rail and your accommodation. There may also be supplements (eg for single room, balcony, sea view, full board etc). All supplements unless otherwise stated are expressed in £'s and are per person per night. Please note that these supplements only apply to facilities booked and confirmed in the UK. Any facility not confirmed nor prepaid for in the UK but provided locally, at your request, must be paid for at the hotel’s rates and Little Italian Suitcase cannot accept any liability for this.
Credit Card Payment
We can only accept card payments from passengers travelling on the booking.
In-flight Catering and Baggage Allowance
An increasing number of airlines are choosing not to offer a complimentary meal in-flight and there may be a charge for in-flight refreshments. Baggage allowance varies between airlines, please ask us for up-to-date information.
Flight Seats
We cannot guarantee you will be seated together. Some airlines offer a 'Sitting together' supplement. 'Sitting together' may mean across the aisle or one behind the other. Some airlines offer a supplement for a priority boarding service. Charges remain valid even if this service is not available at your chosen airport. Online check-in is not always available and is dependent on the type of flight booked and the operational requirements of the airline concerned.
Actual flight numbers are not known at the time of publication. We reserve the right to substitute alternative carriers and/or aircraft types if necessary. Airline schedules may vary, sometimes at short notice, and an unexpected change of aircraft may be necessary. Compensation is not payable for such changes. Due to airline policy most flights will be non-smoking and some may not serve alcohol. We strongly recommend that you purchase flexible tickets if you are making independent arrangements to meet ongoing flights, as we will not refund unused tickets purchased independently when scheduled flight times change. Delays, for whatever reason, are the responsibility of the airline and subject to their conditions of contract. Where a delay results in lost holiday time, no refunds are given for unused accommodation and meals. Similarly airlines, do not always offer compensation for flight delays and will not alter your homeward flight to account for any lost holiday resulting from outbound flight delays. We cannot accept any loss arising out of a) missed connections; or b) cancellation or change of flights unless they are part of the package booked by us. If you miss your outbound flight please notify your airline as soon as possible in order that your homeward flight is not affected. On-line check-in is not always available and is dependent on the type of flight booked and meals may not automatically be included.
Carriage of Prohibited Items
There are strict rules about bringing prohibited food items, such as animal products, back into the EU even if they are meant for personal use. Useful information can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk and www.direct.gov.uk/dontbringmeback. A number of items are prohibited in hold luggage, such as explosives and flammable products, so you must not travel with these products. To see the list of items and some useful information about hold luggage and hand luggage prohibited items, go to www.direct.gov.uk or contact your airline.
Seats With Extra Space
These are often close or next to emergency exit doors, behind a bulkhead or behind a dividing wall. They may therefore have additional space in front of the seat, but not always additional room to stretch your legs out. Emergency exit row seats are only available to passengers who are able to move quickly and operate the emergency exit without difficultly if necessary in line with European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) regulations.
Just a few things to bear in mind before you book an emergency exit row seat:
Any passengers who because of…
- physical or mental impairment or disability
- age or sickness
- physical size
- have difficulty moving quickly cannot sit in these seats.
Neither can anyone…
- under the age of 14 (whether accompanied or not)
- who requires an extension seatbelt
- under the influence of alcohol
- travelling with an assistance animal.
These regulations have been put in place by the EASA and are for the safety of all passengers. The cabin crew have the final say and we kindly ask that their decisions are respected. Seats with extra space can be pre-booked on a number of airlines for an extra charge. Please us at Little Italian Suitcase to request an amendment. Extra Leg Room seats are not available to pre-book on all airlines. Some choose to allocate these seats at check-in due to the restrictions listed above.
Hotel Categories
As a tour operator we are obliged by law to print the official category awarded to the properties featured in our programme. The official star ratings are awarded by the Italian National Tourist office in each region. They may not be comparable to UK ratings and the quality of hotels within the same category can vary immensely. The awards are based on certain facilities or services being available. They do not, however, take into account the size of the bedrooms or public rooms nor the décor.
Agriturismo / Country House / Historic Residence
Some properties in this brochure have been described as Agriturismo / Country House / Historic Residence and may have no star rating. These terms are often used for country houses, farms or historical preserved buildings which are often family run.
Accommodation
Bedroom facilities: Descriptions apply to twin rooms in hotels and facilities may vary for other room types. All rooms contracted by Little Italian Suitcase have private wc, bath and/or shower. In some Italian hotels a shower facility is provided in the bathroom, but without cubicle or curtains. This sometimes means the water drains through the hole in the bathroom floor rather than through the drain in the shower cubicle. In some cases when a room is described as having a terrace, this may be an area shared by more than one room. It is not normal practice in Italy to have tea and coffee making facilities in the room. Certain electric items cannot be used in hotel rooms, such as water heating elements, kettles, irons, etc except those provided by the hotel. Minibars may not necessarily be stocked.
Bedroom photography: The photographs do not necessarily depict the room type that will be allocated to you, which may vary in size, décor and style from that shown.
Hotel views: When a room is described as having a sea view, this means that such a view may be obtained from it. It does not imply that the room faces the sea and frequently only a side sea view may be obtained from the window or balcony. Where sea views are described as ‘front’ sea view this means the view from the bedroom window faces the sea. Where rooms have a sea view for which no supplement is charged, the nature of the views may vary from room to room. This also applies to other specific views, for example 'lake view' or 'city view'.
Single rooms: Despite the supplement payable for single accommodation, it should be noted that the size, standard and location of such rooms are sometimes inferior to those of other types of rooms, and may not have all the amenities we have described as being available in a twin room.
Double rooms: In Italy, it is normal practice to link two single beds together to use as a double bed.
Triple rooms: When 3 people share a room this is usually on the basis of adding an extra bed, (which may be a fold up bed), to a normal twin room and may be rather cramped.
Suites: Unless otherwise stated, a Junior Suite typically consists of one room. Suites are two rooms one of which is a bedroom (unless otherwise stated) with a separate seating area.
Orient Express: Your cabin will have a washbasin, and toilet facilities are located in the corridor.
Hotel Check-In Times
The accepted practise for most hotels is that check-in is not normally before 3.00pm. Facilities are usually available to freshen up and hotel facilities may be used until your room is ready.
On the day of departure, you will usually be requested to vacate your room by 10.00am and most hotels will look after your luggage and provide a day room if your flight is not until the evening. You may have to pay a supplement if you wish to retain your room until the evening. Your Confirmation Invoice will confirm the number of nights reserved for you.
Hotel Meals
Breakfast may be 'continental' where extras such as eggs, bacon and fruit juice may be available for an additional charge. Please note that in peak season you may be asked to share a table and to select your choice of evening meal at breakfast.
Half board, Full board and All Inclusive is often based on a set menu, buffet or meal voucher system. At some hotels, where an à la carte menu is also available, guests who have paid for half / full board may have the opportunity to dine à la carte receiving a credit for the half board meal. Any amount that exceeds the credit is payable locally. Because flight, train and transfer times can vary, it is sometimes impossible for customers to enjoy a complete number of days’ half or full board meals at the hotel.
Whenever vegetarian meals are requested, this request will be passed on, however, we cannot guarantee their provision by hotels or airlines. Under Italian Law smoking is prohibited in all public places but dedicated smoking sections are available in certain hotels.
Villas & Apartments
Cleaning: Normal end of stay cleaning is included but a supplement will be charged if the kitchen area and equipment are not left clean for the next guests.
Kitchen facilities: Where provided, these will normally consist of a minimum of 2 gas rings or electric hotplates, a refrigerator, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery.
Gas, water and electricity: Included.
Linen: Excepting beach/poolside towels, is provided. Heating: Where heating is available but not included it will be charged locally. Please note however, that the provision of central heating is subject to compliance with the fuel saving requirements current in Italy which normally limits heating to Apr and Oct.
Check-in times: Villas/apartments are not normally ready for guests until 4.00 pm and check-out must be by 10.00 am on the day of departure.
Breakage deposits: Where our villa/apartment owners require a breakage deposit against possible loss or damage, the deposit requirement details are normally shown in the description or will be advised on your itinerary.
Occupancy: Only those guests whose names appear on Little Italian Suitcase confirmation invoice & accommodation voucher may occupy the apartments or villas. Any unauthorised guests will be charged locally.
Accommodation only boookings: Guests buying accommodation only will be responsible for any costs incurred due to late arrival at the accommodation. Key collection is normally available until 20.00hrs. Late arrivals who cannot collect keys until the following day will be liable for any costs incurred in alternative overnight accommodation. Little Italian Suitcase therefore, cannot accept any liability for any loss or additional expense and no refunds will be made.
Air Conditioning & Heating in Hotels
The period in the season and times of day when these operate are at the discretion of the management.
Swimming Pools
If a pool is expected to be out of use for a considerable period, we will endeavour to inform you as soon as reasonably possible. The normal period of use for outdoor pools is May-Sep. Italian law requires the use of a swimming cap in pools and may be enforced at certain hotels.
Pool and Beach Charges & Facilities
The period of use is subject to the discretion of the management. Charges are payable locally for any additional facilities including sunbeds. Most hotels do not provide towels for use on the beach or at the pool.
Private Beaches In Italy
There may be a charge to use the facilities unless we state in the description that beach charges are included. Please note that the beach may not be for the exclusive use of hotel guests.
Special Offers
Where an offer includes one or two free nights’ accommodation this will be on the board basis included in the basic holiday price. If you choose to upgrade your board basis you will be required to pay the board supplement even on the nights when the accommodation is free. The first/second nights of the stay will be considered the free nights. Some hotels offer wine, sparkling wine, fruit or flowers, room upgrades or other gifts and these must be claimed in resort as we cannot refund against non provision of these offers. You are required to indicate your eligibility for the offers at the time of booking your holiday and you should supply a copy of the relevant document. Percentage discounts shown against a hotel (e.g. 10% early booking discount) apply to that specific accommodation.
The discount excludes flights, taxes transfers, fuel surcharges, opera and event tickets, credit card charges, administration fees, some excursions and any other accommodation on the booking (unless this shows its own discount).
Car Parking & Garaging Arrangements
There are often car parking restrictions in towns and cities and parking arrangements can be expensive. Where a hotel description indicates that a garage is available charges normally apply and are payable locally.
Extra local charges
Some facilities, unless otherwise stated as included, may have extra local charges. These might include water sports (such as sunfish & dinghy sailing, kayaks and windsurfing), scuba-diving, games and sports (including table tennis) and sport equipment, pool tables, minigolf, golf, tennis, squash, gym equipment, saunas and steam baths, beauty treatments, massage, safety deposit boxes, minibars, bottled water, satellite and pay TV, entry to discos and nightclubs, porterage, charges for infants’ cots and food, laundry and hotel minibuses.
Television
We cannot guarantee that channels will be available in English.
Hotel Lifts
Where a hotel has a lift there may still be some steps to negotiate in or outside the hotel.
Children's Reductions
Some hotels offer reductions for children aged 16 and under (on date of return), and these will be reflected in your holiday price.
Children Under Two
Children under two years old on the date of return travel, pay from £30 provided that no aircraft, rail seat or sleeper is occupied. It may be possible to book a seat for your child under 2 years only and bring your own infant car seat to use on the aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority allows passengers travelling on British registered airlines with a child aged between 6 months and 2 years to either carry the infant on their lap, for our normal charge or pay for a seat (prices on application) and bring their own infant car seat. In this case, you must advise our reservations staff and obtain further information prior to confirming your booking. Only CAA approved seats are allowed on the aircraft and it is essential to check in early and bring the operating instructions. Should the CAA make the above option mandatory, we reserve the right to charge the appropriate extra seat price for all infants affected. No food or baggage allowance is provided for children under two years old. If this is unacceptable, you will be entitled to cancel with a full refund of all monies paid. Citalia cannot accept any liability should the airline subsequently refuse the use of a car seat.
Cots
Cots are not available in some hotels and villas. Please check availability with our reservations staff. Hoteliers normally charge for the use of a cot and service and the cost must be paid locally.
Expectant Mothers
Airline regulations vary and some refuse permission to fly to women who will be 28 weeks (or more) pregnant on the date of their return journey. Please check with the airline if in doubt.
Transfers and Distances
Any given distances and transfer times are approximate and are based on normal weather and traffic conditions and an average state of health / agility.
Transfers
Transfers can be arranged on request and are not included unless specifically stated on your confirmation invoice. They will not be private transfers unless it is stated on your invoice. Private transfer means sole use of the vehicle, which may be a car or mini-bus.
Porterage
It is not always possible for a coach or minibus to pick up/drop off guests at the door of the hotel. Where there are traffic restrictions or the road is too steep or narrow our resort staff will arrange the most convenient setting down point. This can apply in towns and cities and it is particularly common in historical city centres such as Lecce or Verona. In Venice transfers (if booked as an optional extra) are by water taxi boat and access to landing stages can be dependant on the tide. Please note that porters are rarely available in Italian historical city centres, therefore bags with wheels can be useful.
Resort Development
From time to time, building work or local improvements, such as beach dredging or roadwork, and its associated noise is unavoidable in a resort. We have no control over such works arising from a resort's growth in popularity and we are unable to anticipate the speed or the extent to which such development may occur. If we learn of specific developments at or close to your accommodation, which are likely to significantly affect the enjoyment of your holiday, then we will do our best to contact you before departure. We will discuss the details and any options available to you at that time, but cannot offer compensation if changes are made due to third parties.
Noise
In cities you may be able to hear street/traffic noise in your room. The resort and hotel descriptions will help you identify those which are stated to be in quiet locations and those which may not be (eg. hotels in or close to town centres, or near to main roads or railways lines).
Local Holidays
During local and national holidays, certain facilities and museums may not be available and therefore sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited and transport may be affected. Please check with the Italian State Tourist Office (1 Princes St, London, W1B 2AY. Tel: (020) 7408 1254) for details. Please note many galleries and state museums are closed on Mondays.
Force Majeure
Force Majeure incidents may occur during your holiday, either in the resort or country you are in, or elsewhere but affecting your onward or homeward journey. If you are requested to return home early or move hotels for your safety, or whilst your inbound / onward flight is rescheduled, we will not pay compensation for downgrades or facility changes and cannot refund unused components. If you choose not to change hotels during such delays, we will be unable to consider a refund of additional costs you incur. If you choose to make your own way home and not accept or wait for your confirmed carrier to offer the rescheduled journey, we are unable to consider a refund of any accommodation, welfare or transport costs you incur, and cannot guarantee a refund of your unused costs.
Opera Tickets and Pre-booked Venue tickets
Opera and concert tickets can usually be reserved for you in advance and we can normally confirm tickets within a week or two. There may, however, be exceptions and we will confirm tickets as soon as possible. If tickets are booked on a client’s behalf, an administration charge will apply and in some instances a pre booking fee is levied by the theatre. The price you pay will therefore be more than the face value shown on your tickets. Cancellation charges at 100% will apply once the tickets are confirmed, even if they have not been issued. Travel Agents, please note that no commission is payable for our booking service. Programmes are subject to change (up to day of performance without refunds being due). Also see Local holidays.
Your Right to Holiday Health Care in Europe
At the time of going to press there were no particular health requirements for British Citizens going to Italy. If you are a UK resident you are entitled to free, or reduced cost, state provided healthcare when visiting Italy. The UK adopted the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The card and the booklet "Health Advice for Travellers" can be obtained from the Post Office. Forms are also available to download from the Department of Health’s website: www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. The card must be in-date and is not a substitute for travel insurance as it only pays for some emergency medical cover and doesn't cover repatriation home.
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, UK registered EHICs will no longer be valid. We ask our customers to make sure they have appropriate travel insurance, whether they have an EHIC card or not, as there are limitations to EHIC. When travelling in the EU and beyond, it is important you take out travel insurance and check that it covers your current circumstances, including any medical conditions. If you have an annual policy, make sure you check the Terms and Conditions and contact your insurance provider if you’re not sure.
Passports & Visas
British Citizens must be in possession of a valid 10-year passport. If you are 16 or over and haven't yet got a passport, our recommendation is that you should apply for one at least 6 weeks before your holiday. The UK Passport Service has to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport and from October 2006 will ask you to attend an interview in order to do this. Everybody, including children and new born babies (who were not on a valid passport before 5th October 1998) must have their own individual passport to travel abroad. Children under 16 years who were included on an adults passport may not travel unless accompanied by that adult. Written authorisation from the other parent may be required if a child is travelling with one parent only. If you are not a British Citizen, you should check visa regulations with the Italian Consulate by phoning 0207 235 9371 or on their website at www.embitaly.org.uk and any other consulates if you are travelling through other countries by road, rail or cruise. At the time of going to print British Citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy. Passports and visa requirements may change after Brexit so you should check the up-to-date position in good time for departure and ensure you allow enough time to obtain a visa if required. We cannot accept liability, or consider refunds for clients who cannot travel because of insufficient or incorrect documentation. If you are refused check-in or entry to your destination because you do not have the appropriate documentation, we cannot guarantee a refund of unused components and will not refund any additional costs incurred. Should we incur additional costs, these will be recovered from you.
Local Laws & Customs
Laws and customs of the countries you visit can be very different to those in the UK. Be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend, especially if you intend to visit religious areas. There may be serious penalties for doing something that might not be illegal in the UK. You are strongly advised to check with the appropriate embassy, consulate or British and Commonwealth Office or https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for further information regarding local laws and customs of the countries you plan to visit. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with, and respect local laws and customs. If you fail to do so, we will have no liability to you for any cost, loss or damage which you suffer nor will we refund you the cost of any unused portion of your travel arrangements.
Passenger Name Records (PNR) or Advance Passenger Information (APIS)
Passenger information is required in advance by a number of countries and airlines. It is your responsibility to provide this information to us or the airline as instructed. Failure to do so may result in you being denied boarding or refused entry to your destination. You will be liable for any additional costs incurred.
Emergency Contact Details (ECD)
ECD may be required by us or the airline. It is your responsibility to provide this information if required. Your APIS and ECD data will be handled as described in our Data Protection Policy.
Machine Readable Passports
An increasing number of countries require Machine Readable Passports. Please check with the relevant embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
No Smoking Policy
Since 10 January 2005, a no smoking policy has been introduced throughout Italy and applies to all public places including nightclubs, bars, cafés, shops, museums etc and includes public areas of hotels. Smoking is only permitted in private homes, hotel rooms (at hotel’s discretion), in the open air or designated specially adapted rooms (which are few). A fine is imposed on anyone who flouts this law and the police are vigilant.
Excursions
Please note that we do our best to maintain prices of excursions at the same level as is payable locally. However, on occasion the pre-bookable price may be slightly higher than that paid locally overseas due to exchange rate fluctuations and in order for us to secure places on some of the more popular trips. Please note that for any adhoc tickets such as operas, sporting and theatre tickets, an administration fee of £25 plus agency charges is added to the price of your ticket for this service. In some cases it is necessary to ask you to pay in full at the time of booking for your tickets in order to secure them. In the case of the cancellation of either your holiday booking or event booking, any monies paid for prepaid tickets will not be refunded.
Know Before You Go
As a partner in the Know Before You Go campaign, we are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to do all that we can to help British Travellers stay safe overseas. Make the most of your trip abroad, get proper insurance and check out the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk to find out in a flash how best to avoid trouble. Packed with essential travel advice and tips, the website offers a wealth of country specific information.
Safety First - Your Health and Safety
Personal Security: The need to think about your own personal security in any destination is a fact of life, just as at home. It is advisable to identify if there are any areas which it is best to avoid, particularly at night. The use of safety deposit facilities at hotels is essential as this will allow you to carry only the minimum necessary jewellery, cash and other valuables. Cities are particularly busy in comparison to other types of holiday destination and it is therefore advisable to be discreet and keep wallets, purses, expensive camera equipment etc. out of sight.
First for Balcony Safety: Balcony safety is an issue for adults as well as children. Many hotels, especially in cities, are prohibited from changing their exteriors because of local legislation and cannot therefore alter the structure of room balconies, balustrades or windows to meet UK Building regulations recommended 1.1m. For this reason, we would urge you to take extra care when enjoying the views and particular care in supervising children.
First for Pool Safety: Pool safety is not just an issue for beach holidays, especially as few city hotel pools are supervised or have a life guard in attendance. Therefore, children and non-swimmers must always be supervised by an adult and no one should swim shortly after taking food or drink. Pools in city hotels are usually smaller than those at beach hotels making diving more hazardous.
Please note that the Little Italian Suitcase Terms and Conditions also applies to the pay your balance online facility.
Payment details in respect of your holiday booking are updated every 24 hours, and may not be shown on pay your balance online until after this time.