Tangney Tours

Group Leaders Information.

Tangney Tours has provided specialists pilgrimages to many of the shrines and religious centres in Europe for over 30 years. We are the largest UK pilgrimage tour operator to Lourdes, our number one destination, and also specialise in pilgrimages to Rome, Poland, Fatima and the Holy Land amongst others. We offer a range of tailor made Group Pilgrimages to a variety of destinations to Europe and World Wide.

Our head office is in Kent (S.E. England) and all our staff are a highly dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced. We work closely with the airlines, airports, coach companies and hotels and are fully equipped to provide the special service and facilities required to meet the needs of our customers. Furthermore we have resident representatives in Lourdes, Rome and Poland and an excellent support team of part-time couriers.

Tangney Tours holds an ATOL bond and are bonded members of ABTA, AITO and ABTOF. These bonds/licenses are your financial guarantees and recognition of our overall performance and financial good standing.

MANAGING YOUR GROUP BOOKING 2008

Group Size and Travel Dates.
Decide on a date/s and contact us with an approximate number of pilgrims in your group. We will then confirm availability and price and accept your provisional booking. At which point we will send you booking forms.

Funding.
Resolve if pilgrims are to be subsidised and if so plan fund-raising events, e.g coffee mornings, cheese and wine evenings, Christmas and Easter raffles, charity shop etc.

Forming your Group.
At an early opportunity invite parishioners to join the pilgrimage using Parish newsletters, notice board, posters and personal contact. Tangney Tours can help with posters if required.

Confirm Booking.
For 2008 we are asking for a holding deposit of £250 to secure your hotel and flights. Thereafter you will need to ask your pilgrims for a deposit and insurance premium (where appropriate) and get them to complete the application form provided by Tangney Tours. Collect the forms and deposit payments and forward to Tangney Tours. Deposits will normally be required 4-6 weeks after the provisional booking.
It is important that all pilgrims have read and accept our terms and conditions which are published in our brochure, and on this website. www.tangney-tours.com

Payment.
The deposit (as detailed above) is required with the Booking Form. Full payment is due 8 weeks prior to departure or, if within 8 weeks of departure, with the Booking Form. Tickets will not be released until full payment has been received.

Rooming Lists.
For 2008 we are asking groups to provide us with a breakdown of rooms required at 6 weeks prior to departure we will require a full rooming list so we can send it to your hotel.

Travel documents.
Your travel documents, including tickets, ticket wallet, luggage labels, travel information and pilgrimage badge, are normally sent out 2 weeks prior to departure to the group leader. Most groups arrange a meeting for the distribution of the travel documents and we will ensure you receive the documents in good time.

Name change fees.
It is worth pointing out that some scheduled airlines make charges for name changes. Try to avoid name changes if you can. Name changes are free on our own charter flights and coach tours.

EU Passports.
Passports are required for travel to European countries. Please ensure that all members of your group have a valid passport when they travel. We are always surprised how frequently passengers arrive at an airport without a valid passport and sometimes without a passport at all!

Most non EU Passport holders require a Visa.
If any of your group do not hold an EU passport please get them to visit the following website to check on visa requirements, www.ambafrance-uk.org. It is the responsibility of the pilgrim to gain their visa and no visa means no travel. To apply for a visa applicants must phone 09065 540700 to make an appointment. They must allow up to 6 weeks to obtain a visa. We will provide paperwork as appropriate to assist with visa applications.

Insurance.
Our policy is that all pilgrims who travel with Tangney Tours must be insured. We offer a very comprehensive insurance package at a competitive rate geared for the needs and requirements of our customers. If however any traveller has a valid insurance policy, all we ask is that they provide details of their policy. Details of our travel insurance and costs is available on this website.

Less able Pilgrims.
Where less able pilgrims are accompanying your pilgrimage it is important to have a reasonable ratio of less able / sick pilgrims and able bodied helpers. This is particularly important when considering wheelchair duties. It is the group's responsibility to support and assist these pilgrims.

Medical Issues.
Please ensure that anyone undergoing any medical treatment has been classed as fit to travel and, where appropriate, has completed the medical declaration form which our office will provide for insurance purposes.

Special Diets.
We are able to request special diets from hotels if advised in advance. Special medical diets will not be guaranteed unless pre-booked so please make sure all pilgrims have completed the special diets section of the booking form. In-flight meals are restricted, however, on our own chartered flights we may be able offer a vegetarian option if pre-booked.

Wheelchairs.
Please ensure all pilgrims complete the wheelchair section of the booking form. Wheelchairs must be pre-booked. Any wheelchairs not pre-advised may be refused.
* Wheelchair bound pilgrims. - Please tell us of all passengers who are wheelchair bound. This will allow us to ensure they are properly accounted for at the terminals, check-in, boarding, the type of transport required for transfers and hotel accommodation. Some electric wheelchairs are not suitable for air travel. Please check with us. Ensure special chairs are suitably insured our coverage is £500.00. Weight is restricted to 32kgs. (This is a weight imposed by the airport Health and Safety Executive.)
* Pilgrims requiring wheelchairs. - We need to know in advance if a pilgrim requires a wheelchair at the airport. Airports carry a limited number and we would not wish any of our passengers to go without. We do have a limited number of wheelchairs available in Lourdes. Please indicate when booking if any are required.

Contact & Liaison.
Tangney Tours will liaise directly with the Group Organiser over payments, rooming requirements, special requests, your itinerary and any other issues or concerns.
To contact us about a group booking please select your chosen destination from the list below and your enquiry email will go directly to the relevant group co-ordinator who will contact you.





	Group Leaders Information. Tangney Tours has provided specialists pilgrimages to many of the shrines and religious centres in Europe for over 30 years. We are the largest UK pilgrimage tour operator to Lourdes, our number one destination, and also specialise in pilgrimages to Rome, Poland, Fatima and the Holy Land amongst others. We offer a range of tailor made Group Pilgrimages to a variety of destinations to Europe and World Wide. Our head office is in Kent (S.E. England) and all our staff are a highly dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced. We work closely with the airlines, airports, coach companies and hotels and are fully equipped to provide the special service and facilities required to meet the needs of our customers. Furthermore we have resident representatives in Lourdes, Rome and Poland and an excellent support team of part-time couriers. Tangney Tours holds an ATOL bond and are bonded members of ABTA, AITO and ABTOF. These bonds/licenses are your financial guarantees and recognition of our overall performance and financial good standing. MANAGING YOUR GROUP BOOKING 2008 Group Size and Travel Dates. Decide on a date/s and contact us with an approximate number of pilgrims in your group. We will then confirm availability and price and accept your provisional booking. At which point we will send you booking forms. Funding. Resolve if pilgrims are to be subsidised and if so plan fund-raising events, e.g coffee mornings, cheese and wine evenings, Christmas and Easter raffles, charity shop etc. Forming your Group. At an early opportunity invite parishioners to join the pilgrimage using Parish newsletters, notice board, posters and personal contact. Tangney Tours can help with posters if required. Confirm Booking. For 2008 we are asking for a holding deposit of £250 to secure your hotel and flights. Thereafter you will need to ask your pilgrims for a deposit and insurance premium (where appropriate) and get them to complete the application form provided by Tangney Tours. Collect the forms and deposit payments and forward to Tangney Tours. Deposits will normally be required 4-6 weeks after the provisional booking. It is important that all pilgrims have read and accept our terms and conditions which are published in our brochure, and on this website. www.tangney-tours.com Payment. The deposit (as detailed above) is required with the Booking Form. Full payment is due 8 weeks prior to departure or, if within 8 weeks of departure, with the Booking Form. Tickets will not be released until full payment has been received. Rooming Lists. For 2008 we are asking groups to provide us with a breakdown of rooms required at 6 weeks prior to departure we will require a full rooming list so we can send it to your hotel. Travel documents. Your travel documents, including tickets, ticket wallet, luggage labels, travel information and pilgrimage badge, are normally sent out 2 weeks prior to departure to the group leader. Most groups arrange a meeting for the distribution of the travel documents and we will ensure you receive the documents in good time. Name change fees. It is worth pointing out that some scheduled airlines make charges for name changes. Try to avoid name changes if you can. Name changes are free on our own charter flights and coach tours. EU Passports. Passports are required for travel to European countries. Please ensure that all members of your group have a valid passport when they travel. We are always surprised how frequently passengers arrive at an airport without a valid passport and sometimes without a passport at all! Most non EU Passport holders require a Visa. If any of your group do not hold an EU passport please get them to visit the following website to check on visa requirements, www.ambafrance-uk.org. It is the responsibility of the pilgrim to gain their visa and no visa means no travel. To apply for a visa applicants must phone 09065 540700 to make an appointment. They must allow up to 6 weeks to obtain a visa. We will provide paperwork as appropriate to assist with visa applications. Insurance. Our policy is that all pilgrims who travel with Tangney Tours must be insured. We offer a very comprehensive insurance package at a competitive rate geared for the needs and requirements of our customers. If however any traveller has a valid insurance policy, all we ask is that they provide details of their policy. Details of our travel insurance and costs is available on this website. Less able Pilgrims. Where less able pilgrims are accompanying your pilgrimage it is important to have a reasonable ratio of less able / sick pilgrims and able bodied helpers. This is particularly important when considering wheelchair duties. It is the group's responsibility to support and assist these pilgrims. Medical Issues. Please ensure that anyone undergoing any medical treatment has been classed as fit to travel and, where appropriate, has completed the medical declaration form which our office will provide for insurance purposes. Special Diets. We are able to request special diets from hotels if advised in advance. Special medical diets will not be guaranteed unless pre-booked so please make sure all pilgrims have completed the special diets section of the booking form. In-flight meals are restricted, however, on our own chartered flights we may be able offer a vegetarian option if pre-booked. Wheelchairs. Please ensure all pilgrims complete the wheelchair section of the booking form. Wheelchairs must be pre-booked. Any wheelchairs not pre-advised may be refused. * Wheelchair bound pilgrims. - Please tell us of all passengers who are wheelchair bound. This will allow us to ensure they are properly accounted for at the terminals, check-in, boarding, the type of transport required for transfers and hotel accommodation. Some electric wheelchairs are not suitable for air travel. Please check with us. Ensure special chairs are suitably insured our coverage is £500.00. Weight is restricted to 32kgs. (This is a weight imposed by the airport Health and Safety Executive.) * Pilgrims requiring wheelchairs. - We need to know in advance if a pilgrim requires a wheelchair at the airport. Airports carry a limited number and we would not wish any of our passengers to go without. We do have a limited number of wheelchairs available in Lourdes. Please indicate when booking if any are required. Contact & Liaison. Tangney Tours will liaise directly with the Group Organiser over payments, rooming requirements, special requests, your itinerary and any other issues or concerns. To contact us about a group booking please select your chosen destination from the list below and your enquiry email will go directly to the relevant group co-ordinator who will contact you.