ASIA JOURNEYS TO REMEMBER
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Welcome... ...to our new Cleveland Collection brochure – to both existing clients and to newcomers. The former know why we pride ourselves in our knowledge, experience and foresight in recognising and developing new markets and we hope newcomers will soon realise our strengths and see how they can trust our expertise. Asia is a developing market with a great wealth of experiences – beauty, culture, cuisines, natural wonders and archaeological gems – which is why we have concentrated our energies to bring you this brochure. We hope you will enjoy using it and planning your next holiday with us just as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you. Those of you who are new to us should be reassured that as a company your needs are foremost in our minds. We know all these places, we are passionate about them, we have researched them thoroughly, and we have staff on the ground who will not only look after you, but will be available to guide and answer all your queries. Most importantly we are fully bonded and hold an ATOL for your complete financial protection. You should know that we derive great pleasure from making sure that you have the holiday of your dreams – that is our modus operandi. So please do enjoy this brochure – call us, quiz us and remember that the brochure is only the beginning, for our expertise is in tailor made itineraries... and these are built around you and your needs. We look forward to hearing from you. Frances Geoghegan Managing Director
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Cleveland Collection Who we are and what we can do for you Allow us to introduce ourselves. You may be new to Cleveland Collection, or you may be one of our loyal clients who know where to come to sort any travel query or journey. If you are new, then you may well have heard of us from friends or relatives, for we at Cleveland Collection know that wordof-mouth is the highest recommendation and the truest.
properties we recommend. Our holidays are designed specifically for you and your requirements; we understand the different demands of a holiday from couples to singletons and from groups of friends to families, we listen carefully and then work closely with you to ensure that your requirements are met, whether it’s somewhere secluded, with safe beaches, or somewhere buzzy with a host of activities, we tailor-make the We are the experts, the specialists, the people arrangements to suit your needs and budgets. who know about bespoke travel and whose Our knowledge and experience also allow us service is unparalleled. For not only do we have to negotiate the best rates, ensuring that you unrivalled experience of planning holidays but not only get your perfect holiday but also we also have specific expertise in arranging excellent value for money. tailor-made travel. We are both Asian experts and aficionados, for all our staff have travelled Our exciting itineraries and our expertise extensively throughout this magical area. extends throughout Asia from India to We can take you from the foothills of the Indonesia and we know exactly where to Himalayas to Thailand’s golden triangle via recommend, and to advise on what you some of the world’s most exciting cities, perfect should do or see so that your holiday will beaches and private islands you have only be the most memorable. dreamt of until now. We can also organise tours to some of the greatest archaeological and How to use our brochure architectural icons, often at times when you will Our brochure has been specifically designed be the only people there – at Angkor Wat at to not only whet your appetite and entice sunrise or at the Taj Mahal by candlelight. you to Asia’s huge choice of destinations but also to give you ideas of when or where to What is more we only ever give visit or explore – it is simply the beginning recommendations and suggestions based upon of your journey. When you need help, extra personal experience and we are therefore information or guidance that is when to call committed to regular site inspections to the us and we will work through all the options
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on offer to arrive at your perfect tailor-made journey. Unlike some of our competitors we recommend what is right for you, not for us and we will continue to change, amend and make suggestions until you are happy. We will also be honest with you, especially if you are being too ambitious and want to pack too much in to a break. Sometimes distances and transfers are much greater or less frequent than first thought and it is our job to alert you to this so you can still get the maximum enjoyment from your holiday.
over the last few years our clients’ growing interest in healthy holidays – holidays where they want to get fit, to detox, or to lose weight. Places where they want to go not just to refresh, but places which will give true relaxation and help rejuvenate tired and over-stressed minds and bodies. Our staff are both passionate and knowledgeable about spas and they recognize their ever-growing importance in what people look for in holidays... so bring us your problems, needs or desires and we will get to work on them. Asia has been the birthplace of so many healing therapies which is why the spas we have selected here are some of the best you will find – offering traditional ayurvedic treatments as well as massages and programmes of all types alongside meditation, yoga and tai chi, all of which exercise the body and the mind.
Among our many services is our Wedding and Honeymoon programme. If you are thinking of getting married, or renewing your vows in a truly romantic or exotic setting, whether on a beach in Bali or on a sampan on the South China Sea, Cleveland Collection has the staff who will help you plan it and make a day you will always remember (and of course our expertise in helping you choose the most wonderful honeymoon ever is really unrivalled). Our wedding gift list service also allows your family and friends to help contribute to it, or even add something special for you to enjoy.
So talk to us at Cleveland Collection – tell us what you are looking for in a holiday and our experts and expertise will deliver you the best, most enjoyable, most romantic, healthiest or simply the holiday you have only ever dreamed of.
GEORGE FISHER
The people who know people Cleveland Collection has always been at the very forefront of knowing the different types of holidays clients are looking for, which is why we have launched Healing Holidays, our dedicated spa programme. We have noted
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Our airline partners
This award-winning airline serves a number of Asian destinations and offers every comfort and amenity, however you choose to travel. UPPER CLASS – includes complimentary chauffeur driven cars* to and from the airport, with DriveThru Check-In and a Private Security Channel at London Heathrow, while the airport Clubhouse offers everything from a massage to manicures and sushi to sandwiches. On board the Upper Class Suite converts to one of the longest fullyflat beds in business class, there’s an innovative new meal service and an on-board bar. PREMIUM ECONOMY – offers a dedicated check-in service and priority boarding and disembarkation, with one of the biggest seats in its class, in-seat laptop power and a choice of meals including a vegetarian option. ECONOMY – for fun and comfort this is difficult to beat with a spacious seat pitch and personal seat-back screen. There’s delicious food and drink with complimentary snacks throughout, a well-stocked amenity kit plus special kid’s meal, in-flight entertainment and activity bag. * Chauffeur driven car at most destinations and available with most Upper Class fares. Restrictions apply.
EVA Air flies non-stop daily from London Heathrow to Bangkok, offering passengers a choice of three classes of cabin service: Premium Laurel Business Class, the awardwinning Elite Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class. Personal seat-back, state-of-the-art touch screen audio/video on demand entertainment systems are installed in all three cabin classes.
Emirates is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world with over 500 international awards for excellence. They operate 16 daily flights to Dubai from six UK airports and onwards to a network of over 120 destinations worldwide. Onboard, passengers can experience ‘ice’, Emirates’ awardwinning inflight entertainment with up to 1300 channels on-demand in all classes. Generous checked baggage allowances, multi-course gourmet meals, complimentary advance seat selection and multilingual cabin crew round off the Emirates experience.
Vietnam Airlines offers the first ever non-stop services between the UK and Vietnam, with four departures per week from Gatwick Airport, flying twice-weekly to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The schedule offers UK travellers the option of exploring this fascinating country via ‘open jaw’ itineraries, starting with Hanoi and culminating in Ho Chi Minh, or vice versa. Flights are also carefully scheduled to offer convenient onward connections to Vietnam Airlines’ comprehensive network within Vietnam and Indochina, including exciting destinations such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and China. Vietnam Airlines’ direct services are operated by B777 aircraft with Economy, Deluxe Economy and Business Class cabins – all with full in-flight entertainment systems (IFE) with seat-back screens.
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British Airways offers one of the most extensive flight networks which enable travellers to connect to destinations throughout Asia. Just choose your cabin and enjoy the journey. FIRST – the ultimate in luxury travel with a dedicated check-in and elegant lounges offering peace, calm and delicious food, drink and snacks. Travellers can enjoy meals in the airport lounge thereby offering maximum time for sleep or work on-board, while selected airports also offer well-being Elemis Travel Spas so that passengers can enjoy a treatment while they wait. On board the dedicated crew offer a super-attentive service ensuring your flight experience is of the finest. Flat beds, duvets, crisp linens, cotton pyjamas and a generous amenity bag are on offer as well as an a la carte menu or lighter meal options.
CLUB WORLD – has perfected the ease of travel with its online check-in which allows you to reserve your favourite seat, print your boarding card and then head straight for the Bag Drop desk on arrival at the airport. All of this leaves you free to enjoy the airline lounges – there are more than 70 worldwide – and relax before boarding. At London Heathrow Terminal 5 travellers can experience the luxurious Galleries Club and Elemis Travel Spas. On board your space becomes an office, a dining area or a sleep zone with just the touch of a button, a generously sized desk, a choice of entertainment and a flat bed. WORLD TRAVELLER PLUS – make your trip that little bit more special by flying premium economy in the World Traveller Plus cabin. Enjoy added extra privacy, relaxation, space and expert service, ensuring you arrive at your destination in better shape to enjoy your holiday or start a day’s work. You can also check-in online and will get an increased baggage allowance.
WORLD TRAVELLER – will help get your journey off to the easiest, most comfortable start. Choose either to check in on line or from your mobile phone and reserve your seat to give you more time to enjoy the retail and dining experiences at the airports. While on-board you will enjoy attentive service, tasty meals and complimentary drinks. If you’re travelling with children there is a ‘Kids Eat First’ policy and special Skyflyer activity packs, while the in-seat entertainment offers a choice for adults as well as kids.
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Laos
Landlocked and mountainous with the marvellous Mekong River flowing through it, Laos is mostly covered with untouched tropical forest and until recent years unknown to all but the most inquisitive traveller. Visit its capital Vientiane to see the iconic architecture of Pha That Luang, the national symbol, and then journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the ancient royal capital of Luang Prabang which is filled with monasteries and saffron-robed monks.
PHOTOGRAPH: ROMULO REJON / GETTY IMAGES
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08 Cleveland Collection Asia – Laos Laos – Introduction A completely landlocked country, Laos is gently waking to visitors and travellers so it still reflects a lifestyle that has not changed for centuries. Charming towns, unspoilt villages, the great Mekong and uncharted interiors makes for an unforgettable holiday. Cities, towns and culture The capital Vientiane, which is full of old French colonial buildings and great noodle shops is a city small enough not to get lost in. Visit the Morning Market and the Buddha Park but mainly find time to absorb and ingest the charm of the place. Further south is Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Buddhist heartland of the country. Teeming with temples and monasteries, it has become a tourist rite of passage to head for the main street in the early morning to witness the monks patrol for food – buy some and donate to the bowls proffered to you. Visit the night market and the specialist design studios along the main street but also head for the riverbank to enjoy coffee and croissant as if you were by the Seine.
In Khnang Province find the Plain of Jars; huge stone and sandstone jars dotted around the countryside which have been there for centuries, and whose provenance is unknown. Country and riverside The interior of Laos is unspoiled and almost unknown with friendly villages, wonderful forests and huge limestone karsts. Dotted with rivers, this is where you can kayak and go river rafting as well as walk, hike and cycle along uncluttered trails. Head south to Pakse where the Mekong meets the Xe Don River. Here in the rainy season the Mekong spreads itself to almost 14 kilometres in width, and it is where you will find the area known as Si Phan Don, which translated means four thousand islands.
CHINA
WHAT TO SEE AND DO – Enjoy the temples and pagodas of Vientiane – Explore the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang – Visit the Plain of Jars – View the early morning procession of the monks in Luang Prabang – Stumble upon the Vat Phou ruins – Cruise along the Mekong
VIETNAM
•Luang Prabang Plain of Jars •
SOUTH CHINA SEA
Vientiane
LAOS
THAILAND
•Pakse Mekong River Si Phan Don
100 ml 200 km
CAMBODIA
•
i
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Capital: Vientiane Currency: Kip Airlines: Thai Airways & British Airways via Bangkok Point of Entry: Vientiane, Luang Prabang Flying time: 12 hrs 35 mins Time zone: GMT +6 hrs Combine with: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia Visa: Required – can be obtained on arrival Best time to visit November to April is optimum period, with monsoon season from May to October.
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Our hotels in Laos Luang Prabang LUANG SAY RESIDENCE
Close to the town centre and its myriad of streets, temples and monasteries this boutique hotel takes its style from traditional architecture – polished wood, bamboo, shutters and silks with the embellishments of its French colonial past. There are just 24 luxurious suites in this chic hideaway. – Gourmet restaurant – Freeform swimming pool – Library – Lush tropical gardens
Vientiane LA RESIDENCE PHOU VAO
The town is the oldest in Laos and is now a World Heritage Site – enjoy it from the comfort of this former Royal residence which is now part of the Orient Express group. Set in lush tropical gardens and with spectacular views of the nearby mountains, the hotel provides peace and tranquillity after a day’s sightseeing of the wats and temples – it even has its own liveried tuk-tuk to take guests the short distance into town. – Swimming pool – Award-winning Mekong spa – Cookery classes – River cruises
THE 3 NAGAS
SETTHA PALACE HOTEL
– Delicious cuisine – Well-stocked hotel boutique – Landscaped gardens – Lies on the alms-giving procession route
– Central location – Swimming pool – Poolside bar – Sidewalk café and main restaurant
A charming boutique hotel right in the centre of town, it is renowned for its restaurant which serves delicious Cambodian specialities as well as Indochine fare. Accommodation is in suites or rooms, all of which have a balcony or verandah which overlooks either the street or the garden – ideal spots for people-watching.
A charming 29 room hotel in the city centre which retains all the elegance of its French colonial architecture and furnishings and combines it with state-of-the-art modern amenities, such as air-conditioning, satellite TV and internet access. The swimming pool with its local rock formations is set in landscaped gardens alongside a Jacuzzi and poolside bar.
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Weddings and Honeymoons
At Cleveland Collection we will help you plan the most romantic, idyllic and unforgettable day to remember. More and more couples are choosing to marry abroad in tropical and exotic surroundings. Some choose a deserted island, while others opt for a romantic beach at sunset, or a location overlooking a favourite monument, temple, lake or mountain. Some couples want to plight their troth alone while others want to be surrounded by family and friends. Whatever choice you make we are here to help you. Our experienced wedding co-ordinators have arranged for couples to marry all over the world and are here to lend their expertise to you. WEDDINGS
We can arrange your wedding in: India Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Sri Lanka Thailand We can sort out all your official documents, organise the registrar or church and take the worry out of all your pre-wedding plans. With our experience we can organise everything from flowers to wedding cakes to witnesses – we can even find you a designer or a dress maker if you have not made up your mind what to wear. Of course we make all your travel arrangements and look after those of your family and friends, as well as helping them choose where to stay and holiday either before or after the happy event. RENEWING YOUR VOWS
Another experience growing in popularity is couples wishing to renew their vows in some special location. Sometimes it may be returning to their honeymoon resort, for others it may be a trip into the unknown. The Cleveland Collection’s wedding experts can help you choose the place and help sort out a ceremony especially for you.
HONEYMOONS
Whether you choose to remain in the same place that you married or to travel onwards for your honeymoon we can organise and help. For if there is one holiday that really has to be idyllic, it’s a honeymoon. Our specialists offer a stunning choice of locations, from unspoilt beaches, tropical islands, romantic fort palaces, to stylish hotels and exquisite hideaways, all personalised to create the most important and memorable holiday you will ever take. Upgrades and romantic surprises are the norm, from champagne and flowers and secluded suites, to a couple’s massage or a sunset cruise for two. Whether you want to stay on a tiny secluded island, take a cultural tour or learn to scuba-dive, enjoy the bustle of a glamorous city location or even try a cookery course – we know the places and the locations where all of this is possible. WEDDING LIST
In response to requests and enquiries from relatives and friends of the happy couple Cleveland Collection has developed a flexible wedding gift concept. While your personal specialist travel consultant works closely with you to arrange your ideal honeymoon, we then compile a list containing elements of the honeymoon that friends and family can purchase or contribute to as a wedding gift. The concept has been received with resounding success as the couple enjoys the benefit of additional resources and activities that they might otherwise not have been able to include/afford. Guests enjoy a little insight into your honeymoon, appreciate the convenience of the wedding gift system, and are truly excited about giving an experience instead of an object. The wedding list is simple. Let your friends and family know that your wedding list is held with Cleveland Collection. You can do this either on your invitations, by email or, if you wish, we can send out a mailing on your behalf. You decide with your dedicated wedding consultant what you want on your list, and each guest can contribute accordingly. Honeymooners pay the balance of their holiday 8 weeks prior to departure, but the wedding list remains open right up to the wedding date, protecting the couple from disappointment and ensuring no pressure about payment deadlines for your guests.
The couple receives regular updates of the wedding All we ask is that you give us sufficient time to organise list. On return from honeymoon, an updated list the ceremony of your dreams – and we will ensure is sent to the newly-weds, making it easy to send you will have the happiest of worry-free weddings. thank-you's.
PHOTOGRAPH: ANDREA POHLMAN
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Booking Conditions All reservations are made with Cleveland Travel Limited trading as Cleveland Collection, a company registered in England under company number 2797491. In the following conditions the term company means Cleveland Travel Limited trading as Cleveland Collection, and the term customer means the person signing the booking form and all other persons on whose behalf he or she signs it. Consumer protection All holidays and flights in this brochure are ATOL protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organisers Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL3384. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk. The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Cleveland Travel, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: 1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK; 2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK; and 3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the UK. 1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Cleveland Travel. 1. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY To make a holiday booking the customer should complete, sign and send in a booking form with a deposit of 20% of the holiday cost requested or the full amount if the booking is made within ten weeks of departure. The booking is accepted and the contract made when the company issues a confirmation invoice, which is usually within twenty four hours of receiving the booking form. Please note that on some occasions more than 20% deposit may be required. 2. PAYMENTS Payment of all confirmation invoices must reach the company not later than ten weeks prior to departure. 3. AMENDMENTS AND CANCELLATION (i)Amendments The company will make every effort to assist you if you wish to alter your arrangements. Requests for an amendment must be in writing, signed by the signatory of the booking form. If the Company is successful in making your requested amendment then you must pay an amendment charge of £50.00 per booking. If the Company is not successful then there will be no charge. (ii) Cancellations All cancellations must be advised in writing, signed by the signatory of the booking form. Cancellations are effective on the day that they are received by the Company. Recorded delivery is strongly recommended. The following Cancellation charges (together with holiday insurance premium) will be payable, depending on the number of days prior to departure the company receives your notice of cancellation. Days prior to departure date when written advice of cancellation received
Percentage of total holiday cost
More than 70 days 69 to 42 days 41 to 29 days 28 to 15 days 14 days
Loss of deposit 30% of total holiday cost 75% of total holiday cost 90% of total holiday cost 100% of total holiday cost
(iii) Amendments by the company After the confirmation invoice has been issued, the Company makes every effort to operate all holidays as confirmed. In very rare circumstances, the company may have to modify your holiday before you depart. If the modification is significant the Company will notify you as soon as practically possible and you will be entitled to one of the following options as chosen by the Company:(a) take a substitute package of equivalent quality at no extra cost to you; or (b) take a substitute package of lower quality and recover from the company the difference in value between the original arrangements and the new ones; or (c) have repaid to you as soon as possible all monies paid by you under the contract, where upon your holiday arrangements will be cancelled. In addition, if the Company has to modify your holiday it will pay you compensation for non-performance of the contract (see table below for levels of compensation), if this is for any reason other than ‘force majeure’ (see opposite).
Days prior to departure date when notification of change is sent
Minimum compensation per person
More than 42 days 21 to 42 days prior 15 to 20 days prior 0 to 14 days prior
£10.00 £20.00 £25.00 £30.00
‘Force majeure’ means unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the Company’s control, the consequence of which neither the Company nor its suppliers could avoid even if all due care had been exercised. This may include, but is not limited to, war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity (actual or threatened), industrial dispute, technical problems with transport, machinery or equipment, power failure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, flood, drought, adverse weather conditions and level of water in rivers. If the Company becomes unable to provide a significant proportion of your holiday after it has commenced, suitable alternative arrangements will be made for you at no extra charge to you or, alternatively, you will be returned to you point of departure and given a pro rata refund for ground arrangements not received. You may also in such circumstances be entitled to compensation by the Company in accordance with the table above. (iv) Cancellation by the Company If you fail to pay the balance of the holiday price at least 10 weeks (70 days) before departure, the Company will treat your booking as cancelled and levy the cancellation charge as set out in paragraph 3(ii) above. If the Company is obliged to cancel your holiday in any other circumstances before departure, the Company will use its best endeavours to offer alternative arrangements at no extra cost to you, or offer a substitute package of lower quality and you may recover from the Company the difference in cost, or have repaid to you as soon as possible all monies paid by you. In addition, unless the cancellation has been caused by force majeure the Company will pay you compensation as set out in paragraph 3(ii). (v) The Company Liability (i) We accept responsibility for ensuring that your travel arrangements, which you booked with us are supplied as described in our printed material and the services offered reach a reasonable standard. If any part is not provided as promised, we will pay you the appropriate compensation if this has affected the enjoyment of your travel arrangements. (ii) We accept responsibility for death, injury or illness caused by the negligent acts and/or omissions of our employees, agents and suppliers, whilst acting within the scope of/or in the course of their employment in the provision of your travel arrangements. We will accordingly pay to you such damages as might have been awarded in such circumstances under English law. (iii) I n respect of the services provided by air or sea carriers, our liability in all cases shall be limited in the manner provided by international conventions and conditions of carriage of our suppliers. Copies of these conventions and, conditions of carriage are available on request. Operational decisions may be taken by air or sea carriers and, airports and ferry terminals resulting in delays, diversions or re-scheduling, over which our company has no control. When such changes are made, our Company will endeavour to minimise any inconvenience. (vi) I f you have a problem If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g., hotel) and our local representative immediately, who will endeavour to put things right. Not only may prompt action enable you to enjoy your holiday, but it is also a legal requirement, the omission of which can substantially affect your rights against our company. If it is not possible to make the complaint to the appropriate organisation at the time, you should make contact with our company, so that our company can endeavour to resolve it. However, should a problem remain unsolved, a complaint should be made in writing to our company office manager within thirty days of your return. Please note we do not use an approved provider to resolve disputes. (vii) Our company price policy Our suggested itineraries are prepared many months before the start of your holiday and the prices quoted in them are for your guidance only. If at the time of booking the price has changed from that shown in our suggested itineraries, you will be told of the revised price applicable to the travel arrangements before you commit yourself. Cleveland Travel Ltd trading as Cleveland Collection. Registered in England and Wales No. 2797491. VAT Registration No. 626 085
Tel: 020 7843 3597 Email: info@healingholidays.co.uk www.healingholidays.co.uk
Tel: 020 7843 3531 Email: info@clevelandcollection.co.uk www.clevelandcollection.co.uk
Tel: 020 7843 3500 Email: info@africatravel.co.uk www.africatravel.co.uk