How to Book
Travel with Tikalanka
Making a booking with Tikalanka is very easy, in fact as simple as one, two, three!
- One – Read our Booking Conditions (see below)
- Two – Complete our booking form (which is sent to you on request)
- Three – Pay the 10% deposit and for flights (if applicable), or full amount if within 60 days of departure (see our Booking Conditions for more information)
Booking Conditions
It is important to us that you are happy with your holiday and that you understand the nature of our holidays. We would, therefore, ask that you take a few minutes to read these Booking Conditions and if you need clarification on any point, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Your Financial Protection
When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. Our ATOL number is ATOL 6425.
We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).
If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims maybe re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. For more information: www.caa.co.uk/atol-protection/
To Make a Booking
All bookings are made with Tikalanka Tours (UK) Limited (ATOL 6425) and by confirming a booking you are agreeing to the conditions set out below. To secure a booking, Tikalanka Tours (UK) Limited requires a completed Booking Form and the necessary deposit/flights payment or full payment for travel within 60 days. Persons booking by e-mail or telephone will be deemed to have read these Booking Conditions and have signed the booking form. A booking is accepted and a contract is entered into when we issue you with a written confirmation of booking. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to English Law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion.
It is a prerequisite of travelling with Tikalanka that you take out sufficient travel and medical insurance on booking. We will require proof of your travel insurance cover at some stage before you fly to continue with a booking. Please contact us for more details. We strongly advise you to seek travel insurance that includes COVID-19 cover.
As a consequence of the updated health protocols for arrivals to Sri Lanka and Maldives, we have made a company policy decision of only accepting bookings from customers who are fully COVID-19 vaccinated and this is now a necessary prerequisite of booking with Tikalanka. We will require proof of vaccination at some stage before you fly to continue with a booking. Customers who have completed the recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccinations and arrive two weeks after the completion of vaccination will be considered vaccinated. Any COVID-19 vaccination accepted by the customer’s country of origin is acceptable.
Payment for the Holiday
If you are booking more than 60 days prior to the date of departure you will need to send 10% of the total cost of the holiday as a deposit. The balance of all monies due must be paid to us not later than 60 days before departure (or immediately if booking less than 60 days prior to departure). Payment of your flights may need to be made before the balance due date (60 days prior to departure) in order to confirm your flights with the airline or take advantage of special airfares. If this is the case, you will be informed of the payment schedule on confirmation of your holiday booking. In the event of non-payment of the balance we reserve the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. Payment for your holiday may be made by direct bank transfer or personal cheque.
If You Cancel Your Booking
Should you wish to cancel your booking, the following cancellation charges will be imposed. They are calculated from the day your cancellation is received in writing:
- More than 60 days prior to departure - retention of deposit and airline cancellation fees, if applicable.
- Between 30 and 59 days prior to departure - 50% of total holiday price and airline cancellation fees, if applicable.
- Between 14 and 29 days prior to departure - 90% of total holiday price and airline cancellation fees, if applicable.
- Less than 14 days - 100% of total holiday price.
If We Cancel Your Holiday
We will not cancel your holiday unless we are forced to do so by circumstances beyond our control such as flight cancellations, war, civil or political unrest or 'force majeure'. If we cancel the holiday, we will offer you an alternative holiday if possible. If this is not possible or not acceptable to you, we will refund all payments made to us in respect of the holiday cost, less any administration charges, but we are not liable for any incidental expenses you may have incurred.
Surcharges
We will absorb fluctuations in exchange rates or increased costs of less than 2%. Surcharges may, however, be imposed up to 60 days prior to departure due to rises in excess of 2% in exchange rates, increases in transport or other costs, or if Government action forces us to increase charges. If any surcharge is imposed which exceeds 10% of the holiday cost, you have the right to cancel your booking within 7 days of the notification of the surcharge and we will refund any monies paid to us in respect of the holiday, less any cancellation fees charged by the accommodation or airlines.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about your holiday you must make it known to your National Guide Lecturer or Chauffeur Guide as soon as possible so that he is able to take appropriate action at the earliest opportunity. If you are not satisfied with our response and you feel your enjoyment of the holiday will be significantly affected you should contact our office in Kandy, Sri Lanka or our Head Office in the UK to discuss how we might best resolve the problem. If on return from your holiday you remain unsatisfied you must notify us in writing within 30 days.
Liability
The Company will accept liability for the negligence of its own employees causing direct physical injury to passengers only to the extent that it is obliged to do so under English Law. We cannot be held responsible for any other mishaps to yourself or your property, in particular those arising as a consequence of flight cancellations, strikes, wars, riots, robbery, sickness, quarantine, Government intervention or other such happenings. The Company will not accept liability for damages caused by the total or partial failure to carry out the contract if the failure is attributable to the passenger; or unforeseeable or unavoidable and attributable to a third party unconnected to the Company; or the result of circumstances beyond the Company's control; or the result of an event that the Company even with all due care and attention could not foresee or forestall. Where the Company is found to be liable for damages in respect of its failure to carry out the contract, the maximum amount of such damages will normally be limited to the price paid for the holiday. Where the damages relate to the provision of transport by air, sea or rail, or hotel accommodation, any compensation payable will be further limited by the Warsaw Convention as amended by the Hague Protocol 1955 (air), the Athens Convention 1974 (sea), the Berne Convention 1961 (rail) and the Paris Convention 1962 (hotel accommodation). Any independent arrangements that you make which are not part of the holiday are entirely at your own risk.
Transport
Details such as airline and aircraft type will be confirmed at the time of your booking. Please note that we use scheduled airlines for all flights. Timings of all transport are estimates only. They may be affected by operational difficulties, weather conditions or failure of passengers to check in on time. Please also note that the carriers' conditions of carriage that apply to you have clauses that limit or exclude liability. We do not make any arrangements at the outbound or inbound airports for flight delays (airlines make provision in this case) but we will, however, if this affects your outbound flight, do all we can to make any necessary adjustments to your itinerary to ensure that there is a minimum knock-on effect to your overall holiday.
Warning
Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you realise the hazards involved in a holiday of this nature, including injury, disease, loss or damage to property, inconvenience or discomfort. It is a condition of travelling with us that you accept any necessary flexibility, local inadequacies or unpredictable events when they occur. You must abide by the authority of the National Guide Lecturer or Chauffeur Guide and your signing of our Booking Form acknowledges this. We reserve the right to terminate your travel with us immediately should you commit an illegal act or your behaviour be judged to be a danger or nuisance to our employees or service providers.
