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I’m not single, but I love the sound of your holidays - can I still come on my own?
Yes! Our trips are based on the belief that some people miss out on doing activities they love, and trying new activities, because none of their friends, partners, wives & husbands will join them. Adventura puts an end to this- you never need miss out again.
Do I need to have a certain level of fitness to go on one of your breaks?
If the only exercise you do is reaching for the remote control and your 7th slice of takeaway pizza then we doubt our breaks are for you. Being an activity based organisation a certain level of fitness is helpful but this is more a recommendation then a requirement. We would hate for anyone to have a bad experience because their fitness is holding them back.
I have special dietary requirements - will these be catered for?
It goes without saying that any vegetarians will of course be catered for, however if your dietary requirements go beyond this then please let us know. If it is a substantial allergy (no dairy, celiac, no wheat) or if you are vegan the hotel may not be able to offer you a wide variety of meals so we recommend you bring some staple bits of food to supplement your meals.
Do you provide the necessary insurance for your trips?
No. We don’t provide insurance on our trips- it is imperative that you have the necessary cover before your break starts otherwise you might not be able to take part in certain activities once you arrive. On our skiing holidays our hosts will ask you for a copy of your insurance documents on the day of arrival.
What is the Early Bird Saver?
When we put a new holiday live on our website we sometimes attach the Early Bird Saver. This means that the price showing is the discounted price for all those booking early. On average 6 weeks before the event is due to take place we will take the Early Bird Saver off and the price will increase by an average of 20% so it is definitely worthwhile booking in advance.
What size groups do you take on your breaks?
This varies from trip to trip. With our summer breaks the group size can vary from 10 to 20 people. On our winter breaks, most notably skiing, the groups are a little larger and can be as big as 30 people. Please be aware that on certain breaks the activity works better in a smaller group, for instance diving, and so we may take under 10 people so that you get the best instruction possible.
How does the rooming allocation work?
We always allocate a certain amount of twin rooms and single rooms on all of our breaks. If you book a twin room we will place you with someone of the same sex and we always endeavour to put people of similar age together. Please be aware that the single room option tends to sell out first and so if you do not want to share don’t hang about - get booking!
If I arrive at the hotel and am not happy with something, what should I do?
Say something! If there is anything you are unhappy with on arriving at the hotel, or during your stay, say something to your Adventura host. We cannot do anything if we don’t know anything is wrong. Our hosts are there to help, there is no point waiting until you are back at home to voice your concerns- we cannot rectify anything after your trip.
How can I leave feedback on the trip I have recently been on?
After every trip we run, whether it’s an activity day or a week long break, we send out an email feedback survey. If you would like to email feedback to us directly, please do so at feedback (at) adventura (dot) com. We appreciate all feedback, comments and suggestions- without these we cannot improve what we do. However due to the volume of surveys we send out it is not always possible to reply to each and every one of you. Please, rest assured, we have listened to everything you have said and we value your opinion.
Am I protected if I book a holiday through Adventura?
Yes! You are completely protected if you book a holiday that includes flights. Adventura is ATOL protected, number 9075, any bookings you make that include flights are safe and secure. ATOL stands for Air Travel Organiser’s Licence and all holiday companies are required by law to hold one. For more information about ATOL protection click here.
What age do I need to be to go on an Adventura trip?
In our experience a cross section of people from all walks of life and all ages makes the best mix for one of our trips. Our groups come with an open mind ready to mix and socialise with as many new people and to embrace as many new experiences as possible. You'll have the experience of meeting and making new friends from all age groups. Our experienced travel consultants can direct you towards your perfect holiday dependent on age group should you wish.
Do any of your holidays require visas?
We have diving holidays to Egypt, sailing holidays to Turkey & safari to South Africa- these are the only destinations that require visas. It is your responsibility to check visa requirements in any country you travel to outside of the EU, particulary if you are not an EU citizen.
Egypt:
EU nationals require a visa but can buy it on arrival in Egypt for £12. If you're from outside the EU please consult the Egyptian Consulate website at www.egyptianconsulate.co.uk EU citizens can enter Sharm El Sheikh without paying for a visa. We strongly advise against this as you will not be able to leave the town or get on any of the dive boats.
Many international airports require 6 months unexpired period remaining on your passport (including Egypt). Check-in staff in UK airports will usually enforce this if appropriate and not allow you to travel if there is not a clear 6 months remaining on your passport. For travel between EU countries this is usually overlooked but we recommend you check your passport and make renewal arrangements if necessary before you travel.
Regardless of your nationality, you must have 6 months remaining on your passport to enter Egypt. The airline check-in staff in the UK will not allow you to travel if you have less than 6 months remaining.
Turkey:
British and Irish passport holders travelling to Turkey require a visa. Visas can be obtained at the port of entry in Turkey or from the Turkish Consulate General in London or Turkish Diplomatic Missions in other countries. Sticker type visas are issued at the port of entry and allow staying in Turkey for up to 90 days. It costs £10 for UK and Irish passport holders. It is advisable to have a minimum of six months validity on your passport from the date of your entry into Turkey.
Other nationals (or anyone requiring further information) should contact the Turkish Consulate General in London at the Visa Information Line: 09068 347 348 (24 hrs) or check the website: www.turkishconsulate.org.uk
South Africa:
If you are travelling on a UK passport the only country you require a visa to enter is Zambia, this will cost approx 50USD and can be purchased on the border before you enter. If you are of American nationality & carry an American passport then you will require a visa. For more information please visit this website: http://www.home-affairs.gov.za
Sailing Questions:
What do I need to bring with me on a sailing weekend?
For Southampton weekends (UK) we'll ask you to bring sleeping bags and towels with you and a pillow for comfort!
In Croatia all bedding is provided.
For all our sailing trips other essentials are sun-tan cream and non-marking trainers or deck shoes. We also recommend you bring a swimming costume with you and sufficient warm clothing (as it can be quite cold and windy on a sailing boat). After you book we will send you a recommended clothing list with your itinerary.
For our UK sailing trips you can order oil-skins (high quality waterproof jackets and trousers) from us for an additional charge. Alternatively you need to bring your own. In Croatia you need to bring waterproof clothing with you or buy it there.
Please travel reasonably light and bring your stuff in a soft kit bag (no hard suitcases and preferably no wheeled bags please as they can damage the yachts).
Are the sailing itineraries likely to change?
Our itineraries are carefully planned to work with the prevailing tides. We can predict the tides but unfortunately cannot predict the weather. All itineraries are therefore subject to change in the event of bad weather.
Am I likely to get sea sick?
If you've never sailed before this is a hard question to answer. However, sea sickness can be very unpleasant so if in any doubt, we recommend you take sea sickness tablets which are available over the counter at pharmacies. But please remember these must be taken before the boat sets sail! We also recommend you don’t drink too much alcohol the night before we set sail and that you eat a light breakfast.
Can I get a single room on the yachts?
Unfortunately the yachts do not have single cabins. However, we will ensure that you are sharing a cabin with someone of the same sex. If you’re coming with a friend we will ensure you share with your friend. Please note yachts are quite cramped. The experience is more akin to luxury caravanning on water than to staying on the QE2.
Some of the berths do not have two separate beds but one large mattress, although you will have two separate sets of bedding or two sleeping bags.
Are meals included?
Any meal you eat on board the yachts is included (breakfast & lunch) Any meal taken ashore is not included and we ask everyone to pay for whatever they eat and drink.
What are oilskins and do I need them?
Oilskins are high quality waterproofs (jacket and trousers) that will keep you dry and warm whatever the weather. You can bring your own with you if you prefer. If it’s choppy or raining heavily however you will need waterproof trousers too.
How many people on each boat?
Generally the boats we use accommodate 10 people for weekend trips.
The exact arrangement of cabins can vary but a typical configuration is as follows: 1 x double berth in the bows, 1 x double bunk berth on the port side just behind the bow cabin, 1 x double berth in the galley (the table in the galley folds down to create this berth), 2 x double berths in the stern (one on each side of the boat).
Cycling Questions:
What level of cyclist are your trips aimed at?
Our trips are currently aimed at level 1, level 2 and level 3 cyclists. Higher level cyclists are also welcome but will find the rides quite easy.
Our levels are as follows:
Level 1 - the infrequent cyclist mainly on the flat with gentle slopes. Distances of between 15-25 miles/25-40 kms per day.
Level 2 - for leisure cyclists who exercise regularly. Will include some steeper climbs. Distances of between 20-30 miles/ 35-50 kms per day.
Level 3 - for people who cycle regularly. Includes some steep climbs and distances of between 25-50 miles/40-80 kms per day.
What type of bike do I need?
For our rides around the London area, just about any bike with gears will do. However we'd recommend a mountain bike or a hybrid and don't recommend very thin racing tyres.
For our Llanwrtyd mountain biking the minimum we recommend is a mountain bike with front suspension, v-brakes or disk brakes and off-road tyres. If you’re unsure whether your bike is suitable please call us on 0845 838 2600.
What clothing/equipment do you recommend for cycling?
For our cycling days and weekends we recommend shorts (you'll find cycling shorts - baggy or tight fitting are the most comfortable). We also recommend fingerless cycling gloves. Helmets are essential.
For all our rides we recommend you carry a spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump (although these will be provided with hire bikes).
Diving Questions:
What does the PADI Advanced Open Water course include?
The course consists of 5 adventure dives, including the Deep and Navigation Adventure Dives over two days. You will also choose 3 additional dives including, for example, enriched air nitrox, peak performance buoyancy and underwater naturalist. Price includes tuition and hire of equipment but not certification or manual.
What do dive packs include?
Dive packs include two dives per day with tanks, air, weights and weight belt. Dive packs do not include equipment hire (wetsuit, BCD, regulators, computer, fins, snorkel, etc), nitrox, 15 litre tanks, lunch or soft drinks onboard the boats (approx £4). Equipment can be hired at the dive centre for approx 25 Euros per day.
I'm a qualified diver looking to book the 5 day dive package. Are there any excursions to the larger wrecks in the Red Sea? Will there be a variety of dive sites visited or will the same ones be repeated?
Sharm has three distinct dive locations; local dive sites, the Straits of Tiran and Ras Mohamed National Park. We will take certified divers to all three locations during a 5 day dive package to experience the variety of underwater environments. Both Tiran and Ras Mohamed tend to be particular favourites with divers due to the drop offs (wall diving), good state of the coral and regular encounters with pelagic creatures.
Sharm has a number of wreck dives including the renowned Thistlegorm, a WW2 transport vessel that contains a wealth of war materials and the Dunraven which ran aground over a century ago.
The wrecks are weather dependent (both are very exposed to the elements) and hence must be booked when in the resort.
All experienced divers will be given an itinerary for the week which will include the option of some wreck diving but will be liable to a supplement payable locally.
Do I need to take my log book and certification card?
Yes. If you have not dived in the last six months you will be required to complete a check dive (£14 supplement to dive pack). If you have not dived for over 12 months you will be required to complete a Scuba review (£50 supplement to a dive pack).
Do I need to consult a doctor before I come?
For safety, all students complete a brief questionnaire that asks about medical conditions that could be a problem while diving. If none of these apply, you sign the form and you're ready to start.
If any of these apply to you, as a safety precaution your physician must assess the condition as it relates to diving and sign a medical form that confirms that you’re fit to dive. If you think that there is condition that may stop you diving, we strongly advise you see your physician in the UK as if you don't you may miss some diving. To know what they ask click on the following link PADI Medical Form.
How much does the diving certification cost?
The certification is 35EUROS for your PADI, this is payable locally in the resort.
How well do I need to be able to swim to learn to dive?
The minimum requirement is that you can swim 200 metres unaided or 300 metres with a mask and flippers.
Skiing Questions:
I'm a very experienced skier/complete beginner. Will there by anyone of my standard to ski with?
Most of our trips, unless otherwise stated, are suitable for a range of skiing abilities. We usually have several expert skiers, lots of intermediates and a smattering of beginners. Everyone should have people to ski with.
If a trip is particularly well suited to beginners or intermediates, for example, we will say so.
What equipment do I need for a skiing trip?
As a minimum you will generally need a ski jacket, ski trousers, a hat, gloves and sunglasses. Goggles, thermal underwear, fleeces and suncream are also useful. Skis/board and boots can always be hired. Many people choose to bring their own boots and some people bring skis too (normally subject to a supplement payable to the airline).
How do you assess people's level when you sort them into groups to ski with?
We will send you a questionnaire before you depart to sort people into the following categories for people to ski with. We limit groups to a maximum of ten skiers.
Level 1 - Absolute beginner never been on skis/board
Level 2 - Greens and easy blues still using snow plough (typically 1 or 2 weeks skiing)
Level 3 - Blues and easy reds starting to ski parallel (typically 2 or 3 weeks skiing)
Level 4 - You are quite happy to ski parallel on all blue runs at a reasonable speed and happy to tackle easy red runs (typically 3 to 10 weeks skiing)
Level 5 - You are confident to ski parallel at a steady pace on all red runs whatever the conditions and easy black runs. Tackling blacks, moguls or going off piste is tricky (typically a minimum of 7 weeks skiing)
Level 6 - You are confident to ski parallel at a good pace on red runs, and can tackle bumpy blacks and off piste. You need to ski cautiously on steep moguls or off-piste (typically a minimum of 9 weeks skiing)
Level 7 - You are confident to ski parallel at high speed on red runs, and confidently tackle bumpy blacks and off piste. You need to pick the route carefully off piste and on steep moguls. You have skied for a minimum of 10 weeks and can ski most places quite happily.
Level 8 - You are confident to ski at high speed on blacks whatever the conditions, on moguls whatever size and off piste in all snow conditions. You can ski anywhere but now want real challenges; steeper slopes, deeper snow, bigger moguls and higher speeds. You've lost count of how many weeks skiing you've done.
Do I have to pay to take skis with me on the plane?
Generally yes. The trend is for all the airlines to charge for transporting skis and snowboards.
Most airlines now charge between £15 and £20 each way to travel with skis or snowboards. We will normally make this clear on your itinerary, please check with us if you are unsure.
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