Classic Collection Holidays CaribbeanIslands Mexico & Bermuda

January – December 2020

Personalised luxury from the leading specialist holiday company

Caribbean Islands

Mexico & Bermuda

price promise 100% financial protection private transfers scheduled and charter flights from your local airport

CONTENTS Our luxury service Your journey Barbados Antigua St Lucia Grenada Mexico NEW Bermuda New York stopover Booking conditions & holiday information

Maroma Beach, Riviera Maya, Mexico

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Personalised luxury all year round I’ve always enjoyed the Caribbean with

Although not part of the Caribbean, also

its fabulous climate, glorious beaches,

included in this brochure is Bermuda, a

flamboyant locals, tasty food and spicy

crescent-shaped chain of delightfully

rums; all combined with hints of British

pretty islets boasting pink fringed

heritage. This year, we’ve also included

beaches, sophisticated hospitality and

Mexico’s Caribbean coast which adds the

an extremely stylish colonial charm.

sounds and colours and flavours of Latin America to a fantastically rich Mayan history. We think you’ll love it!

Bermuda’s high season is during our own UK summer whilst the Caribbean is perfect for winter sunshine; simply

Our featured Caribbean islands of

decide where you’d like to visit and let

Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and Grenada

us help you plan your trip.

are, of course, hugely popular and, if you’re wanting to travel at peak times, make sure you contact us well in advance so that you’ll be able to book exactly the holiday you want.

Matt Rice, Deputy MD

Our luxury service

Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Bermuda

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We tailor-make all our holidays so that you are free to choose your departure airport, the airline with which you’d like to fly, the length of your holiday and your preferred type of room, suite or private villa. Our customers expect excellence, and from the moment that you contact us, you’ll know that we offer a professional and flexible service. We have been arranging holidays for 30 years and we know and love our chosen resorts and hotels so if there’s any additional detail you need, we’ll simply contact our hotel partners to ensure that you are booking your perfect holiday.

Adults only pool at Hodges Bay, Antigua

Price promise In the unlikely event that you find a more competitive price at the time of booking, we guarantee to match the price. See page 96 or contact us for further details.

Prices include Our Caribbean prices include complimentary lounge passes at your UK departure airport, fast track through customs on arrival (Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia), private airport transfers in resort, a booklet map or guide book, and resort services by renowned St James Travel & Tours.

For Mexico and Bermuda, prices include complimentary lounge passes at your UK departure airport, a booklet map and resort services by Destination Services in Mexico and Destination Bermuda. This brochure covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2020 and 7 night guide prices shown are an indication of prices in 2020. For up to date prices including peak Christmas periods, alternative durations, accommodation and board basis upgrades and children’s prices, please call our reservations team. Please note that not all facilities mentioned on hotel pages are complimentary and some may be subject to seasonal demand.

Pitons, St Lucia

Complimentary champagne

Classic loyalty

If you have already travelled with us and, on your recommendation, your

To reward loyal customers, we’re pleased to offer a reduction of £40 per

friends or family book a holiday with us, simply contact us giving both

booking on your next holiday, or where hotels participate in our hotel

your own and your family or friends’ booking details, and as a thank you

loyalty scheme, you’ll be rewarded with an £80 per booking reduction

for being a Classic Ambassador we’ll send you both a complimentary

when you travel to the same Classic hotel within a year. Simply let your

bottle of champagne, either directly or via your travel agent.

travel agent or our reservations team have the details of your previous Classic holiday when you book.

New York stopovers & two centre holidays In addition to British Airways’ direct flights from Gatwick, there are

Classic concierge

scheduled services from a range of UK airports via The States providing

To help you make the most of your holiday take advantage of our

a great opportunity to spend a couple of nights in New York before

Classic concierge, a complimentary service for all our customers. Call us

flying on to Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, St Lucia, Mexico or Bermuda.

on freephone 0800 008 7289 and we can research details of specific

There are also flights between St Lucia and Barbados and Antigua;

events, and book tickets for concerts, sporting events and restaurants

perfect for island hopping!

before you travel. Please note that event tickets must be paid for in full,

Weddings & honeymoons

and normally will be non-refundable.

Our resort service Classic customers tend to be well-seasoned travellers and, because we know that you prefer to exercise your independence, our resort management services, provided by St James Travel & Tours in the Caribbean, Destination Services in Mexico and Destination Bermuda in Bermuda, are always discreet and unobtrusive. They will be delighted to share their considerable knowledge of each island with you and will generally contact you at the beginning of your stay to ensure that everything is to your liking and will be delighted to give advice on places to visit, sights to see as well as local restaurants, shopping and

Owing to the spectacular location and exclusive nature of many of our properties they are perfect for a wedding or honeymoon. Alternatively, choose to hold your service on the beach, in a restored plantation house, in a submarine or even in a subterranean cave! Call 0800 294 9329 to speak to our wedding experts.

Relax & travel A lovely way to start your holiday is to be driven to the airport by our award-winning partners at Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services. Or, if you prefer to drive, we can book airport hotels and car parks through our travel partners, FHR.

the best beaches. You'll also be given a 24-hour local contact number in case you need additional assistance.

www.classic-collection.co.uk I freephone 0800 294 9329

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At the airport

Accessibility

Via Lounge Pass, we can book airport lounges because, as you know,

We have a specialist team experienced in helping with specific holiday

enjoying complimentary refreshments in a comfortable lounge is a

needs whether due to restricted mobility or a hidden disability. The

great way to relax once airside. Additionally, we can book a personalised

team are available for advice and guidance and are happy to contact

VIP meet and greet service with Ace Handling for any outbound,

our overseas managers and hoteliers with regards to professional pool

inbound or transit journey; a fantastic service to book especially if you’re

equipment, accessibility requirements and the overall suitability of

travelling with small children.

resorts and hotels. Do also let us know if you need travel assistance at

Fast track & private transfers Included within your holiday is a fantastic complimentary arrival service

airports or with resort transfers so that we can do our utmost to ensure your journey, as well as your holiday, can run as seamlessly as possible.

which means that you’re met and helped through immigration, assisted

Holiday vouchers

with luggage collection and fast tracked (excluding Bermuda, Grenada

For honeymoons or weddings abroad, holiday vouchers make the

and Mexico) through Customs to meet your representative who will

perfect gift; call our customer relations team for details.

direct you to your private transfer which, although may occasionally be operated by public taxi or minibus, will always be arranged for your

Travel awards

private use.

Since 2005 we’ve been the lucky recipients of most major travel industry

Car hire You might like to hire a car (excluding Bermuda) for some local sightseeing and your hire car can be delivered to your hotel, or if you prefer you can collect your pre-booked car on arrival at the airport.

Hotel only

accolades including three prestigious Travel Weekly Globes, top spots in acclaimed British Travel Awards and Outstanding Service accolades from AITO travel agents and awards from trade partners.

Family friendly Many of our hotels are suitable for discerning families and offer interconnecting rooms, suites and residences with kitchen facilities,

If you prefer to organise your own flights, we are happy to book hotel

babysitting services (payable locally), sports facilities, paddling pools

accommodation for you and we can easily include private transfers for

and hotel run children’s clubs with a range of activities for certain age

your arrival and departure.

groups (payable locally). Most hotels welcome children of all ages

When to travel Some of the resorts in this brochure feature hotels which provide yearround holidays, but you may find that in some areas there are fewer facilities and attractions available during the quieter holiday months.

although some have lower age limits between certain dates. Some hotels impose age restrictions in their dining rooms and lounges; offering earlier eating options for families with younger children. Our reservations team will be pleased to discuss specific details with you.

The choice of restaurants in some hotels may be limited during quieter

Complimentary child seats

periods and some activities may be restricted by seasonal demand. If a

For youngsters between 2 and 11 years, we offer complimentary

particular hotel facility or a specific feature or attraction is important to

inflatable booster seats for you to take on holiday, and keep! Once

the enjoyment of your holiday, please discuss this with us at the time

you’ve booked, we’ll put you in touch with Bubblebum who will send

that you book.

the seat/s to you or your travel agent.

Last minute bookings Due to the individual character, popularity and limited capacity of many of our properties most tend to get booked well in advance and, whilst we will make every effort to secure last minute bookings, we advise you to book as early as possible. If, however, you are looking for a last minute holiday, please contact us for details of special offers and late availability holidays on 0800 294 9329.

Classic offers We visit each of our destinations and are in contact regularly to negotiate the best possible terms with our hoteliers. Because of these personal relationships, we are able to include special exclusive offers which are promoted by our reservations staff.

Flexible dining, dine around & all inclusive Flexible dining encourages you to alternate between your hotel and local restaurants. You can book and pay for as many, or as few, hotel evening meals as you wish; simply decide on specific nights when you arrive. Additionally, some hotels offer a dine around concept where guests can choose between dining in their hotel or in a different hotel on some nights. Some hotels offer all inclusive packages which normally include all meals and drinks plus children’s clubs and nonmotorised sports although, as all inclusive options vary, it’s wise to check with us beforehand as to what’s actually included.

Adult only properties Please note that although adults only hotels do not promote themselves as family properties, or offer child reductions, they may have accepted a family booking and we cannot guarantee a total absence of youngsters.

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Silversands, Grenada

Your journey Year-round direct flights from the UK take around 8½ hours to Barbados and Antigua and 8 hours to St Lucia. Flights to Grenada take around 10½ hours with a brief touchdown in St Lucia, and Bermuda can be reached in around 7 hours. All the islands are 4 hours (5 hours in summer) behind GMT. Mexico’s Riviera Maya is 5 hours behind UK time and flights take around 10½ hours.

Barbados from London, Manchester & Birmingham British Airways operates direct flights from Gatwick up to twice daily during winter season (Nov-Mar). Normally during low season there’s a once-daily flight. British Airways offers a choice of cabins with regional connecting flights from Jersey, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

From Heathrow they offer flights to Barbados connecting through Miami and Charlotte in the US. Virgin Atlantic operates a year-round direct daily service from Gatwick and a departure from Heathrow operates twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays in winter. From Manchester, there’s a twice weekly flight.

There is a choice of cabins on all flights.

TUI offers weekly Thursday and Sunday flights during winter months from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham and on selected dates from Stansted, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster, East Midlands, Newcastle and Glasgow.

There’s normally a choice between economy and premium cabin.

Thomas Cook operates during winter months from Gatwick on Saturdays and from Manchester on Monday, Wednesday or Sunday with a touchdown in either Antigua, St Lucia or Tobago on the outbound journey. There’s normally a choice between economy and premium cabin.

Antigua from London & Manchester British Airways operates direct daily flights from Gatwick during peak winter season (six days a week in low season). There is a choice of cabins and regional connecting flights are available from Jersey, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Also, under a codeshare agreement, flights connecting through New York or Miami with American Airlines are available from Heathrow.

Virgin Atlantic operates a year-round direct service from Gatwick every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday with an additional Friday flight during winter season (Nov-Mar).

Thomas Cook operates from Manchester on Wednesdays during winter months with a touchdown in Barbados on the homebound journey. There’s normally a choice between economy and premium cabin.

St Lucia from London & Manchester British Airways operates a year-round daily direct service from Gatwick to St Lucia with regional connecting flights available from Jersey, Edinburgh and Glasgow. They also have a daily service from Heathrow which connects through Miami, Philadelphia or Chicago.

Virgin Atlantic flies year-round from Gatwick up to five days a week.

TUI flies to St Lucia year-round from Gatwick weekly on Tuesdays.

Thomas Cook flies from Manchester weekly on Mondays during winter months.

Grenada from London British Airways offers a year-round service from Gatwick to Grenada on Saturdays and Wednesdays (normally with a brief touchdown in St Lucia). There is a choice of cabins and regional connecting flights from Jersey, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Additionally, under a codeshare agreement, flights connecting through Miami with American Airlines are available from Heathrow.

Virgin Atlantic operates a year-round service from Gatwick on Mondays and Fridays (normally with a brief touchdown in St Lucia).

Bermuda from London British Airways offers a year-round service to Bermuda from Gatwick daily from April to October and five times a week during November to March. There is a choice of cabins and regional connecting flights are available from Jersey, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Under a codeshare agreement with American Airlines, flights connecting through New York and Miami are available from Heathrow.

Cancun from London & Manchester British Airways operates direct flights from Gatwick five times a week during winter and four times a week during summer. There’s a choice of cabins and regional connecting flights through Gatwick are available from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Jersey or connecting through New York, Miami or other US connection from Heathrow, Manchester and Dublin.

TUI flies from Gatwick and Manchester five times a week in the summer and three times a week in winter. They also have flights from Birmingham year-round and from Doncaster, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin during summer.

Thomas Cook fly year-round from Manchester (6-7 times weekly) and Gatwick (twice weekly).

British Airways Upgrades & check-in Our brochure guide prices include seats in the World Traveller cabin although many Classic customers choose to upgrade to World Traveller Plus for wider seats and additional legroom. In Club World a spacious seat converts into a fully flat bed and this service also includes dedicated check-in and priority boarding, whilst First offers all this and more. If your flight departs from Gatwick before 1pm, you can check your luggage in and collect your boarding pass between 4pm-10pm the previous day.

Virgin Atlantic Upgrades & check-in A choice of Economy class includes Economy Light, Classic and Economy Delight. We recommend Delight which offers a little more legroom, Premium Check In and priority boarding or for extra comfort, upgrade to Premium Economy cabin for additional benefits such as a larger seat, even more legroom, extra baggage allowance, and pre-flight bubbly. Upper Class includes a four course restaurant-style menu, on board bar and luxurious, private suites.

Virgin Atlantic offers a Twilight check-in service at Gatwick and Manchester between noon and 9pm so that you can check in your luggage and collect boarding passes the day before travel.

Cabin choice With both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic you can travel in different class cabins on your outbound and return journey; simply let us know so that we can book your preferred cabin for each flight.

Fly from your local airport When flying with British Airways, there are connecting flights available from a limited number of regional airports; this means that you will travel on a single ticket and your luggage can be checked through to your final destination.

Additionally, we can book any no frills or other scheduled domestic flight which gets you to the relevant departure airport for your transatlantic flight.

Private transfers Transfers in resort are offered based on party size and include a luggage allowance of one suitcase and one piece of hand baggage per person (excl. infants). Customers flying in a higher cabin than standard economy wishing to take additional luggage (subject to cabin allowance) will be required to book and pay for an additional transfer.

www.classic-collection.co.uk I freephone 0800 294 9329

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