I can't see any mention of ATOL
or
ABTA why is this?
We don't need ATOL bonding as we don't offer the flight element of the holiday. ABTA is a voluntary organisation
that is not really geared up for small independents (in other words it's REALLY expensive). There IS a legal
requirement for Tour Operators - it's
'' The Package Travel and Linked Travel
Arrangements
Regulations 2018
'' and we conform with that because we have the following
insurance in
place with Evolution via Towergate Chapman:
Serenity Retreat is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are
therefore
pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with the current ''The Package Travel,
Package
Tours Regulations '' all passengers booking with Serenity Retreat are fully insured for the initial deposit, and
subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy will also
include
repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the
insolvency of Serenity Retreat.
This Policy is issued by Evolution Insurance Company Limited which is
registered
in Gibraltar No. 88737 with a registered office at 5/5 Crutchett's Ramp, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA.
Evolution
Insurance
Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar and authorised and
subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Details about the extent of
our
authorisation and regulation by the FCA are available from us on request.
In the unlikely event of Insolvency
of
Serenity Retreat please follow the procedures below:
Claims should be submitted in writing within 14 days of
the
Administration order or Serenity Retreat being declared insolvent supported by documented evidence quantifying
the
value of the claim.
Claims should be submitted to: Evolution Insurance Solutions Limited, 53A High Street,
Saffron Walden,
Essex, CB10 1AA or via email to claims@evo-insurance.com
Policy exclusions: This policy will not cover any monies paid back to you by your Travel Insurance or any losses which are recoverable under another insurance or bond (with the exception of Credit and Debit card).
This policy will also not cover any loss sustained by Passenger(s) booked on a flight-inclusive package sold and commencing within the United Kingdom.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have booked flights as part of your travel, you should ensure that the company
with which you booked the flights has the appropriate CAA/ATOL bonds in place. If airlines go bust (think
Monarch
and Thomas Cook) make sure that the flight you book is through a company that has CAA/ATOL bonds in place.
What are the passport and visa requirements?
You can travel throughout Europe for 90 days in every 180 but as of 2014 you'll need an ETIAS visa to do that. Do make sure that your passport has at least 6 months left on it before it expires.
What's the weather like?
Average maximum air temperatures (in Centigrade):
- May - 22 degrees - there can be stormy days, wet days and windy days but there are always sunshiny days too!
- June - 26 degrees - more likely to have sunshine, but can't dismiss the chance of a storm or some rain
- September - 26 degrees - the odd stormy/rainy/cloudy day at the beginning of September, getting more likely as the month progresses
What's included and what's not?
Price includes:
- Your accommodation
- Being met at Preveza airport
- An Introduction to Meditation and Mindfulness
- 5 Guided Meditations
- A walk through the cypress trees and olive groves
- 3 classes of about 30 minutes of mindfulness movement in the mornings (weather dependent) per week
- Services of your Serenity Retreat Team in the UK
- Some transfers (see note below)
- Access to affordably priced massage therapies, facials and reflexology
- Sometimes life can feel a little bit overwhelming. You can book a one to one appointment with Kim for £40 for an hour.
Price does NOT include:
- Flights (find out about flights here)
- Food
- Travel Insurance
- Local Trips
- Courses
- Massages
I want to do a course but my friend just wants some peace and quiet.
That's completely fine.
Do
as much or as little as you choose. But please note that there is no sharing of rooms. You're welcome to come
with a
friend but you'll need to book separate accommodations.
How do I book the trips?
The trips are booked separately on Monday and are payable in cash.
What type of food is available?
Traditional Greek with some Italian influence.
How much is a meal out in a restaurant?
Well it largely depends on what you have, of course.
But
two courses will be anywhere from £11 to £25. Vegetarians get the better deal. A Greek salad and fresh local
bread
will fill most people up though and you can get a good one for about £6/£7.
What other activities are available locally?
There are all sorts of watersports available at
the
neighbouring sailing school, yachts for charter, motorboats for hire (very cheap at 70 euros for the day, they
take
5 people).
How much are the buses?
The bus from Nikiania to either Lefkas Town or Nidri is around the 2 euro mark.
How much is a taxi?
Lefkada: Going into Nidri it's about 12 - 14 euros and into Lefkas Town
it's
about 13-16 euros, as a guide.
Can I rent a car or scooter?
Yes, car rental is about 50 euros a day for a small corsa type
car.
Scooters are about 20 euros a day but we really don't recommend them.
Do I need any vaccinations?
No (hurray!)
What kind of insurance cover do I need for Greece?
Getting an E111 (European Health
insurance –
it's easy to get online) is the most sensible place to start although this will only cover the basics. Going to
this
website will give you advice and recommend some companies:
www.travelinsuranceguide.org.uk
How does the E111 work in Greece?
Take your E111 and passport to the local IKA office (the
Greek
social insurance agency – there's one in Lefkas Town), where you'll be given a 'health services book' and
directed
to an IKA clinic or a doctor or dentist in the IKA scheme. Consultations and treatment are free.
But you'll
have
to pay part of the cost of secondary examinations, such as X-rays. You'll also have to pay for supplementary
treatment like physiotherapy, and for dentures. For prescribed medicines, hand the prescription and the 'health
services book' to any chemist in the IKA scheme - IKA offices will provide a list.
You'll have to pay a
small
standard charge, plus 25% of the actual cost of the medicine, which is non-refundable.
Will I be met at the airport?
Yes, one of the team will be there to make sure you get your
transport and to answer any initial queries you may have. It's free on a Sunday and there's a supplement for any
other day of the week.
Can I come with a friend?
Please do! We welcome friends who want to travel together although
we
don't have any rooms for sharing.
How do I get there?
See the Flights section
Are there any banks or cash points nearby?
We have three ATMS in the village
Can I get onto the internet?
Yes, in the village and in most of the accommodations, we just
can't
guarantee that it won't drop out from time to time. It's not reliable enough to have Zoom calls, for example.
Will there be someone there to get advice and information from?
Yes, there will always be
someone available at the end of the phone.
What level of fitness do I need?
A certain level of mobility is required for some of the
trips
(getting up and down ladders for example) and some of the tracks to and from accommodations are uneven. We can advise you if this is a concern.
Will there be any massage treatments available?
Since 2017 we have had the lovely Giota with us offering excellent body massages, facial massages and
reflexology,
she charges 50 euros an hour and 30 euros for half an hour.
Can I borrow a book or two (or three or four)?
We have a lot of books available to borrow -
help
yourself!
What happens if I need to cancel?
See the bookings page or go
to
our terms and conditions
Do I need to bring my own towels?
No. We have beach towels that you can rent for 5 euros a
week
and towels for the shower are provided free of charge with the accommodation.
Can I read up a bit on who you are and the charities you support?
Yes! Check out this link
We've tried to think of everything you might want to know. If we've missed something out, please tell us so that we can add it.
