Spain and Morocco: from Andalucia to Marrakech with Atlas Mountains Mini Tour Extension

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

It is your responsibility to check your passport validity. Spain follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must: • have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago • have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Spain, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist. Make sure you get your passport stamped on entry and exit.

To enter Morocco, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive. Make sure your passport is not damaged. The Moroccan authorities have denied entry to some travellers with damaged passports. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen You can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism.

Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. You will not receive an E-ticket, all you need to do is present your passport and online check-in boarding pass to the staff at the desk. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing steep stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

The currency in Spain is the Euro (EUR). We recommend that you exchange currency before you leave the UK, however cash machines are available in most towns and cities to withdraw money in the local currency.

The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (DH) and it is a closed currency. This means it is not possible to buy Moroccan money in the UK before you travel. It is important to budget carefully as you should not take any Dirham out of Morocco when you depart. There are foreign exchange offices and cash machines available in most places during your tour. Your tour guide will assist you at the start of your tour with currency exchange.

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. We recommend you take a minimum of GBP £400 - £500 per person. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.

Tipping

In Spain, we would recommend tipping your guide and driver approximately €5 per person per day. It is customary to tip your guides/ drivers at the end of your time with them. Tipping for restaurants and the porters at your hotels will be at your discretion and done on-site. This totals the tipping in Spain at approximately €70 (£60).

In Morocco, we would recommend tipping your guide approximately 250 DH per person and the driver approximately 200 DH per person. It is customary to tip your guides/ drivers at the end of your time with them. Tipping for restaurants (recommended 10 DH) and the porters at your hotels will be at your discretion and done on-site. This totals the tipping at approximately 600 DH (£50).

Even though tipping is customary it is entirely at your discretion, and the following is intended as a general guideline rather than a fixed amount. Tips are accepted in the local currency.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 15, and the maximum will be 30. If in the unlikely event there are less than 15 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

This is a fully escorted tour meaning that you will be met by a local guide in each of the cities that you visit, ensuring that you always have first-hand knowledge.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

Atlas Mountains Mini Tour

This is an escorted mini tour meaning that you will be met by a local guide in each of the places that you visit, ensuring that you have firsthand knowledge at all times.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner on your tour (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.

Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

Ramadan is the most important month in the Muslim Calendar, and it is a time for people to be with their loved ones, self-reflect and renew their faith. During this time Muslims fast from dawn until dusk and abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum. If you are a tourist visiting, you will not be expected to fast. While eating, drinking and smoking is strictly prohibited in public places, hotels will offer meals and non-alcoholic drinks at many of their restaurants and bars. If you wish to consume alcohol during your trip, you may do so in your hotel room during the day, and some bars will be open as normal after sunset. Your guide during your tour will be on hand to give you any additional information that you require. When packing for your trip, it’s important you include a couple of different outfit options, so you’re prepared for all the activities you wish to take part in. When you’re relaxing by the hotel pool or sunbathing on the resort beach it’s fine to wear swim wear and beach clothes. However, when out in public during the day, it is advisable to be more covered up to show respect to the local customs. We would recommend that women cover their shoulders and knees and men should wear knee length shorts or trousers when out in public areas

On your arrival in Malaga, you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Autentik, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Autentik representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

On your arrival in Tangier, you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Sahara Tours, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Sahara Tours representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

Morocco

If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:

Sahara Tours: 27-29 Complexe Agador, Boulevard 20 Août, Agadir, Morocco

Contact number: 00212 528 840421 / 528 840611 Email ihsane.stirak@gmail.com or reservation@stimaroc.com

Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Sahara Tours: Mobile: 00212 661 38 08 82 Email: ihsane.stirak@gmail.com or reservation@stimaroc.com