Booking a holiday

Each Bikexplore holiday really is a unique experience. Whereas other companies run the same packages several times the same season (but only run the dates that fill), most Bikexplore holidays happen once only, on a specific date, and if repeated will usually be a bit different and not until the following year – or even later.

Bikexplore tour organisers plan and organise tours that they want to do themselves. Tours might be repeated in subsequent years or might never be repeated. Often people will have expressed an interest in a tour when it is at the planning stage and as a result when the tour is available to book it might fill very quickly.

Apply using the 'Go To Booking Form' On the Holiday Overview section of the prospectus

For most Bikexplore organisers, your holiday is their holiday too and if you can’t enjoy it, neither will they! Our organisers want to be sure you won’t struggle, so our application form asks about your recent cycling experience. You may also be contacted by the organiser, seeking more information. Ability to go the distance is especially important on self-supported tours, where there’s no option of remaining in the resort or riding in a support van. Even on supported tours, there may be only one passenger seat.

Another reason you can’t simply book in one go is that our organisers often use smaller hotels and guesthouses, which can’t simply change double rooms into twins and don’t have many singles. So before your application can be accepted, the organiser needs to check that their holiday is suitable for you, that the cycling is not more demanding than your other recent rides and that the particular accommodation you want is available.

Applications can be made utilising the 'Go To Booking For' on the first page / Holiday Overview of the prospectus

We will try hard to confirm that a place is available for by return. Once the organiser has received your application, they will be in contact with you about paying a deposit. This may not be immediate and can in some cases take a few days, as on occasion we will be on holiday or doing other things as this is our hobby not our jobs.. If there is any doubt please email the organiser.

Pay the deposit

The tour organiser will advise if there is space available and will email you with details for paying the deposit into the TTA Trust Account.

When your payment has cleared the tour organiser will email you to confirm your booking and will attach a Confirmation Invoice and an SASSPG. The SASSPG is insurance that Bikexplore takes out with the TTA to protect your money and is not a substitute for your personal travel insurance. We are members of TTA (Travel Trade Association). Your payment goes straight into a dedicated trust account (with TTA trustees) and stays there until the tour finishes.

Please don’t make any travel arrangements until…

Holiday go-ahead

Once the holiday has enough participants break even and accommodation is confirmed, the Organiser will tell you the holiday is going ahead. Now you can really look forward to the holiday and make all your other preparations, such as arranging travel to the starting point.

Further Payment(s)

Both Interim and Final payments should be transferred to the Trust account (using the same reference as your deposit) by the dates specified in the prospectus

Enjoy the holiday!

Waiting lists and Expressions of Interest

If a tour that you are interested in is fully booked the tour organiser will be happy to hold your name in reserve on their waiting list.

A number of our tours may be advertised as ‘Planned’ and if you’re interested, please contact the organiser.  This can help gauge interest in a tour and can enable the organiser to contact those who are interested when the tour planning has been completed and it is available for booking.

Cancellations

If you find that you cannot go on the holiday after all, you should inform the Organiser immediately by Email.