Latest Travel Updates
Update 8 February, 2021
As the vaccination roll-out gathers speed in many countries across the world, we feel that we can tentatively start looking forward to travelling again this year. We continue to see a lot of interest in our tours and holidays, but we are aware that there is still a lot of uncertainty when considering future travel.
We would like to provide you with a further update at this point about how this ongoing situation may affect your future booking with us. The below Q&A page you may find useful and we hopefully answer your questions. Before contacting us, please read this page if you have any concerns or questions. If after reading the Q&A page you still feel the need to contact us, please do so by email or call us on +44 (0) 161 7038161 and we will reply to you as soon as possible.
What is Sports Tours International’s position on the Coronavirus situation?
Our team is continually monitoring any travel guidance updates, in relation to the current Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). We are taking our information from official sources such as UK’s Foreign Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA), ABTA, Public Health England, and the local health authorities in the countries where our events are taking place.
If any advice is given by the FCO or DFA, against all but essential travel to your event destination or if event organisers decide or are forced to cancel their events, we will respond promptly. Once we have confirmation that we will no longer be able to provide your holiday or the event that you are travelling for; we will contact you as soon as possible.
Will my holiday be going ahead as normal?
Where destinations are subject to official travel restrictions or if events are cancelled; we are working proactively with customers who are due to travel to quickly find a satisfactory solution. Please see below for further detail.
What happens if my event is cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak?
If the event is cancelled then we will get in touch with you, as far in advance of your departure date as possible, and discuss your alternative travel options with you. The options presented to you may include;
- the option to postpone your trip and rearrange for a later date
- transferring your booking to another tour with us
- to receive a refund of your travel package
If you would like to postpone or transfer your package booking to a future date or if you would just like more time to explore your options, you will be issued with an ABTA bonded credit note within 14 days of the cancellation or postponement of your trip. These Credit notes will be for the total monies paid to date and will be able to be issued until 31st March 2021 with validity until 30 September 2021.
More information about the ABTA Credit Note scheme can be found here and below
What if my destination is subject to travel restrictions but my event is still going ahead?
If there are travel restrictions in place but the event and all elements of the holiday that you’ve booked with us are going ahead as normal and you make the decision not to travel and opt to cancel your holiday yourself then our usual terms and conditions of cancellation apply – please look HERE for full details. If we are able to cancel your entry, hotel and other elements and obtain a refund then we may be able to give you a refund but this can’t be guaranteed.
Will I get a refund of my entry fee or hospitality ticket if my event has been cancelled?
We will only refund your event entry or hospitality ticket if we have been refunded by the event organisers. In some cases the event organiser have it in their terms and conditions that the entry fee will not be refunded under any circumstances. We will do our best to obtain a refund and pass it on to you but we may not always be able to do so. In some cases a refund is not possible but a roll-over to the next edition event is offered. An admin charge maybe levied by the event organisers for this.
Will I be covered by my travel insurance if I decide to cancel?
This is dependent on your own travel insurance policy and the conditions within it. It might be worth contacting your travel insurance provider directly, to check whether you can make a claim.
I haven’t yet paid the balance for my holiday. Can I pay later, while I wait and see what happens?
We ask that you pay the remaining balance for your holiday as normal unless we tell you otherwise. This can be done safe in the knowledge that, if for any reason we have to cancel your holiday, we will provide you with a full refund on your travel package. In many cases, we have to make payments to suppliers and hoteliers, before your trip commences. We need to have received your payments in advance to be able to do this. We will send you a balance reminder, if we have not received payment for your full tour on time. We also reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled; if we are still yet to receive your remaining payment 7 days after this reminder has been sent. In this case, our usual cancellation charges apply (including the full cost of any flights we have booked on your behalf).
Where can I check for up-to-date travel and health information for my destination?
Advice for UK travellers:
- UK health authorities are providing advice for specific destinations and locations which is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
- Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice for the country they are travelling to. Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries provides country-by-country travel health advice
- The NHS website has useful information about how to take preventative measures against Coronavirus at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
- ABTA also has updated advice and FAQs for travellers at www.abta.com/coronavirus
Essential information to enter the UK (effective 31.10.20)
The United Kingdom is taking steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- To protect your health and others’, everyone must complete an online passenger locator form before arrival in the United Kingdom
- You may be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. Check the exempt countries list immediately before you travel as this list can change at short notice
- It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in the UK
Failure to comply with the above measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. Please visit www.gov.uk/uk-border-control for detailed public health advice and requirements for entering the UK. Full and further information can be found HERE.
Travelling from outside the UK? Here are some websites you may like to consult:
- Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs
- USA: State Department Travel Advisory
- Canada: Travel Advice & Advisories
- Australia: Smart Traveller information service
- New Zealand: SafeTravel
Financial security of your booking with us
Sports Tours International is one of the largest independent sports tour operators. We have been in business for over 45 years, and because we are firm believers in putting our customers first, and in doing business responsibly, we are members of all the leading tourism industry organisations like ABTA, IATA and the CAA’s ATOL scheme. All the monies paid by our customers to us for their travel packages are covered by our ATOL licence or the ABTA’s bonding scheme. Before you book your holiday we advise you to look out for indication that your travel provider has membership for these organisations, so you know you are dealing with a reputable company.
Please be assured that our brilliant people in Manchester, Dublin and Senlis, France are doing everything they can to cooperate with our partners worldwide to minimise any disruption to your events and holidays. Our number one priority is and will always be the health and safety of our team and our customers.
We are proud of how we handled this crisis and throughout 2020 we’ve put our customers first. Please have a read of the fantastic feedback we’ve received from our customers about our Covid response below.
We look forward to show how #OUREXPERIENCEWILLMAKEYOURS on one of our events or sports holidays soon.
Best regards,
Chris Bird
CEO
Sports Tours International Covid response and customer feedback
Update 14/12/2020
Advice for UK traveller
- UK health authorities are providing advice for specific destinations and locations which is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
- Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice for the country they are travelling to. Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries provides country-by-country travel health advice
- The NHS website has useful information about how to take preventative measures against Coronavirus at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
- ABTA also has updated advice and FAQs for travellers at www.abta.com/coronavirus
Essential information to enter the UK (effective 31.10.20)
The United Kingdom is taking steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- To protect your health and others’, everyone must complete an online passenger locator form before arrival in the United Kingdom
- You may be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. Check the exempt countries list immediately before you travel as this list can change at short notice
- It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in the UK
Failure to comply with the above measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. Please visit www.gov.uk/uk-border-control for detailed public health advice and requirements for entering the UK. Full and further information can be found HERE.
Travelling from outside the UK? Here are some websites you may like to consult:
- Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs
- USA: State Department Travel Advisory
- Canada: Travel Advice & Advisories
- Australia: Smart Traveller information service
- New Zealand: SafeTravel
Update: 26/11/2020
The current restrictions in England will come to an end on 2 December 2020. This page will be updated with any further news.
From 5 November to 2 December 2020, travelling away from home, including internationally, is restricted from England except in limited circumstances such as for work or for education. Different rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You must follow all the rules that apply to you.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides guidance on COVID and non-COVID risks overseas. The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to many countries and territories on the basis of COVID risks. You should check the travel advice for your destination.
Travel disruption is possible worldwide. Other countries may bring in new measures with little notice such as border closures, movement restrictions or quarantine rules. Travellers should be prepared to stay overseas longer than planned.
If you need to, please contact us on +44 0161 (0) 703 8161. You can call between: 09.00 – 17.30 (Monday to Friday).
You can visit the FCDO website for the latest Coronavirus travel advice
Visit the ABTA website for their latest travel advice and guidance
Update: 06/11/2020
Whatever your next adventure, you can book with confidence.
It’s been a bit of whirlwind these past few months, with cancellations, postponements, refunds and rollovers which has not been without it’s challenges in the sports travel sector. As we look to the future, we understand that what people need from a tour operator is more important than ever before. So we’ve outlined our promises to you, should you book with us for an event in 2020 or 2021. Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, triathlete or a sports fan, when you’re ready for your next adventure, book your travel package with confidence knowing that the experienced Sports Tours International team have been taking people to amazing events for nearly 50 years.
Here’s what we’re doing to give you that all important peace of mind.
Dear Sports Tours International Customer,
After a busy start of our year for all the good reasons with lots of new events on our calendar and a lot of interest in our tours and holidays, we are now in an unprecedented period of uncertainty with an ever-evolving situation surrounding the global COVID-19 outbreak.
Things are changing rapidly but I’d like to provide you with an update at this point about how this ongoing situation may affect your future booking with us. We’ve created a new Q&A page which you may find useful where we hopefully answer your questions. Before contacting us, I’d like to advise you to read this page if you have any concerns or questions. If after reading the Q&A page you still feel the need to contact us, please do so by email and we will reply to you as soon as possible.
What is Sports Tours International’s position on the Coronavirus situation?
Our team is continually monitoring any travel guidance updates, in relation to the current Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). We are taking our information from official sources such as UK’s Foreign Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA), ABTA, Public Health England, and the local health authorities in the countries where our events are taking place.
If any advice is given by the FCO or DFA, against all but essential travel to your event destination or if event organisers decide or are forced to cancel their events, we will respond promptly. Once we have confirmation that we will no longer be able to provide your holiday or the event that you are travelling for; we will contact you as soon as possible.
Will my holiday be going ahead as normal?
Where destinations are subject to official travel restrictions or if events are cancelled; we are working proactively with customers who are due to travel imminently to quickly find a satisfactory solution. Please see below for further detail.
What happens if my event is cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak?
If the event is cancelled then we will get in touch with you, as far in advance of your departure date as possible, and discuss your alternative travel options with you.
The options presented to you may include;
- the chance to postpone your trip and rearrange for a later date
- transferring your booking to and participation on an alternative tour
- to receive a refund of your travel package
If you would like to postpone or transfer your package booking to a future date or if you would just like more time to explore your options, you will be issued with an ABTA bonded credit note within 14 days of the cancellation or postponement of your trip. These Credit notes will be for the total monies paid to date and will be valid until 31st January 2021.
More information about the ABTA Credit Note scheme can be found here and below
What if my destination is subject to travel restrictions but my event is still going ahead?
If there are travel restrictions in place but the event and all elements of the holiday that you’ve booked with us are going ahead as normal and you make the decision not to travel and opt to cancel your holiday yourself then our usual terms and conditions of cancellation apply – please look HERE for full details. If we are able to cancel your entry, hotel and other elements and obtain a refund then we may be able to give you a refund but this can’t be guaranteed.
Will I get a refund of my entry fee or hospitality ticket if my event has been cancelled?
We will only refund your event entry or hospitality ticket if we have been refunded by the event organisers. In some cases the event organiser have it in their terms and conditions that the entry fee will not be refunded under any circumstances. We will do our best to obtain a refund and pass it on to you but we may not always be able to do so.
Will I be covered by my travel insurance if I decide to cancel?
This is dependent on your own travel insurance policy and the conditions within it. It might be worth contacting your travel insurance provider directly, to check whether you can make a claim.
I haven’t yet paid the balance for my holiday. Can I pay later, while I wait and see what happens?
We ask that you pay the remaining balance for your holiday as normal unless we tell you otherwise. This can be done safe in the knowledge that, if for any reason we have to cancel your holiday, we will provide you with a full refund on your travel package. In many cases, we have to make payments to suppliers and hoteliers, before your trip commences. We need to have received your payments in advance to be able to do this. We will send you a balance reminder, if we have not received payment for your full tour on time. We also reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled; if we are still yet to receive your remaining payment 7 days after this reminder has been sent. In this case, our usual cancellation charges apply (including the full cost of any flights we have booked on your behalf).
Where can I check for up-to-date travel and health information for my destination?
Advice for UK travellers:
- UK health authorities are providing advice for specific destinations and locations which is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
- Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice for the country they are travelling to. Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries provides country-by-country travel health advice
- The NHS website has useful information about how to take preventative measures against Coronavirus at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
- ABTA also has updated advice and FAQs for travellers at www.abta.com/coronavirus
Essential information to enter the UK (effective 31.10.20)
The United Kingdom is taking steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- To protect your health and others’, everyone must complete an online passenger locator form before arrival in the United Kingdom
- You may be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. Check the exempt countries list immediately before you travel as this list can change at short notice
- It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in the UK
Failure to comply with the above measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. Please visit www.gov.uk/uk-border-control for detailed public health advice and requirements for entering the UK. Full and further information can be found HERE.
Travelling from outside the UK? Here are some websites you may like to consult:
- Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs
- USA: State Department Travel Advisory
- Canada: Travel Advice & Advisories
- Australia: Smart Traveller information service
- New Zealand: SafeTravel
Financial security of your booking with us
Sports Tours International is one of the largest independent sports tour operators. We have been in business for over 45 years, and because we are firm believers in putting our customers first, and in doing business responsibly, we are members of all the leading tourism industry organisations like ABTA, IATA and the CAA’s ATOL scheme. All the monies paid by our customers to us for their travel packages are covered by our ATOL licence or the ABTA’s bonding scheme. Before you book your holiday we advise you to look out for indication that your travel provider has membership for these organisations, so you know you are dealing with a reputable company.
Please be assured that our brilliant people in Manchester, Dublin and Montpellier are doing everything they can to cooperate with our partners worldwide to minimise any disruption to your events and holidays. Our number one priority is and will always be the health and safety of our team and our customers.
We look forward to show how #OUREXPERIENCEWILLMAKEYOURS on one of our events or sports holidays soon.
Best regards,
Chris Bird
CEO
