Choosing Your Accommodation

Rooms described as superior, suites, junior suites, apartments etc, offer a variety of facilities and room configurations. As these descriptions vary considerably from country to country it is not possible for us to provide a standard description which will adequately cover all the variations. Therefore, please make specific enquiries when booking to ensure the accommodation meets your requirements, particularly for suites and apartments.

Accommodation Abbreviations

The following abbreviations have been used in the price panels of this brochure:

BOARD BASIS: SC = Self-Catering; CA = Catered Chalet Board; FB = Full Board; HB = Half Board; BB = Bed and Breakfast; RO = Room Only.

ACCOMMODATION: PB = Private Bath; PS = Private Shower; WC = Toilet; BL = Balcony; TR = Terrace; SF = South-facing View; LV = Lake View; SLV = Side Lake View; RES LV = Restricted Lake View VV = Village View; MV = Mountain View; VIV = Village View; VAV = Valley View; RF = Resort Facing

ROOMS: SGL = Single; TW = Twin; DBL = Double Room; TPL = Triple Room; STD: Standard Room; QUAD: bedroom for 4.

Properties on this website have been carefully chosen and are considered to offer suitable accommodation for the cost shown. In the case of EU countries, the star rating shown is that of the relevant national tourist authority but, as other countries apply widely varying criteria, we have featured our own ‘diamond ratings’ to help you choose from the various properties on offer and to compare from one country to another. To avoid confusion, many properties featured are described as hotels as, in our view, terms such as Pension, Haus, Gasthof and the like do not always reflect the quality of the properties and are usually an official grading for tax purposes.

for tax purposes.

Annexe Accommodation may be part of the main hotel or in a separate building, which is guaranteed to be within walking distance. It should be borne in mind that chalet/annexe accommodation, though it may give access to facilities at the property through which it is sold, may not offer rooms to the same star level as the associated property where your main meal may be provided. This is reflected in the cost reduction.

Prices are based on accommodation in standard twin/double-bedded rooms unless otherwise stated.

Check-in/Check-out: Rooms may not always be ready when you arrive, especially if you have arrived early. For some European areas, your flight will leave the UK early in the morning and arrive in resort before midday, so your room may not be ready when you arrive. On the last day of your holiday, you may have to leave your room by mid-morning or noon so it can be prepared for the next guests. There will be somewhere to store your luggage free of charge, where you can leave your bags until departure time, though this area may not always be locked.

Noise

In early and late summer, resorts are less busy and, consequently, quieter. Italy, for example, is not an excessively noisy country, but traffic and other sounds can present problems in most places of the world today, particularly in cities. Also, as many lakeside resorts are serviced by a perimeter road around the lake, at busy times some traffic congestion and noise is inevitable. Make sure you read the resort and hotel descriptions carefully to help you identify those which are stated to be in quieter locations and those which may not be (eg hotels in or close to town centres, or near main railway lines or roads).

Room Descriptions

Single rooms may not always offer the same facilities or location as twin rooms and the payment of a supplement does not necessarily mean that a twin room will be provided for sole use. Often single rooms are purpose built and intended for sole use only. “Single Savers” refers to waiver of the single room supplements, however, an appropriate room facility supplement will still apply.

Cabin rooms are sometimes featured in chalets/apartments and are small internal rooms which may not necessarily have natural light, sometimes with restricted head room.

Eaves rooms are so described because they have sloping roofs and beams, sometimes with skylight windows and reduced headroom.

Triple rooms are usually based on a standard twin room for two persons with an additional couch/put-up bed added for the third person that may restrict space. Purpose- built triple rooms are rarely available.

Four-bedded rooms are sometimes available and may be based on two twin beds or a double bed with additional couch/put-up beds. Such rooms normally comprise a standard twin/double room with additional couch/put up beds being added for third & fourth occupants. These arrangements may restrict space. Please refer to brochure description for type of beds provided - invoices will always show room and then bed type.

Twin-bedded rooms - PLEASE NOTE: In Austria, Germany, Switzerland and some parts of Italy and Slovenia twin-bedded rooms may have two single mattresses made up separately but within one frame; these are also known as 'Austrian Twins' and are regarded as two beds. In some countries twin-bedded rooms have beds in a head-to-head position.

Sea & Lake View/Balconies: Your view may be partly obscured by trees - this applies to both public and guest rooms. Please note that paying a ‘balcony’ supplement does not necessarily guarantee a specific view. Balconies may, on occasion, be shared.

Facilities: Leisure facilities, saunas, whirlpools and other facilities advertised as available at a hotel, unless specifically stated as being “FREE” will carry a charge payable to the hotelier. Children may not always be allowed in hotel bars, even when accompanied by their parents. In some cases swimming trunks not shorts and swimming hats may be compulsory.

Late Night Entry: Please ensure you always check the arrangements for late night entry in the event your hotel closes the main door at a specified time.

Car Parking: This is not always available at hotels and therefore if you require this facility please check at the time of booking or call the hotel direct.

Local Functions: Nowadays, even small hotels can be used as venues for weddings, local celebrations & conventions. Hotels will always try to ensure that guests are not inconvenienced but some disturbances may occur.

Fitness Rooms/Health Suites facilities will vary and we cannot guarantee the range or type of equipment provided will be as extensive as in a purpose built gym.

Baths may not always be full size and showers may not always have a shower tray or curtain.

Soap is not always provided in rooms.

Free Drinks will be given at the discretion of the hotel owner and is normally limited to one drink per person during evening meals. “Unlimited” free drinks refers to drinks between starter & dessert. This is usually a choice of house wine, beer or soft drinks and will not include spirits, etc.

Packed Lunches may sometimes be made up by guests from the breakfast buffet where applicable.

Smoking Restrictions: In some countries smoking is increasingly prohibited in public places - e.g. hotels, restaurants, bars etc. It is your responsibility to obtain information from the relevant tourist offices before you book if such restrictions would affect your holiday enjoyment.

Cots: Should be requested at the time of booking. Any additional payment for food/cot hire must be paid directly to hotels, for which we have no control over the cost, and cot linen is usually provided (not duvets). Please note we cannot guarantee that cots will meet British Safety standards. The inclusion of a cot may restrict room space.

N.B. Some rooms, particularly those described as small or with restricted headroom, may not be large enough to accommodate a cot. Please contact our Reservations Department for further information.

Meal Arrangements in Hotels

Full and half board customers: A table d’hote menu is usually offered to all customers who book meal arrangements, sometimes with limited or no choice of menu, unless specifically stated. Meals usually start with dinner on the first day of your arrival in resort and finish with breakfast on your day of departure. If you arrive after 8pm it is likely that a cold platter will be provided and if you have an early morning departure hotels may not be able to provide a full breakfast. Sometimes hotels may allocate tables on a shared basis and in some countries, particularly Italy, it is common for individual napkins to be re-used if clean and re-presented in a personalised envelope.

Vegetarian/Special Diets: Vegetarianism is still relatively uncommon in most areas of Europe, particularly in Italy and Eastern Europe, so customers requesting such meals may find choice limited in some hotels. Similarly, it may be difficult for some hotels to cater for the needs of customers with strict special diets.

Please note that cuisine varies from country to country; for example, in Italy, few fresh vegetables are served, but a generous salad buffet is frequently offered.

Dress code: Please note that most hotels and apartments require gentlemen to wear long trousers and shoes for dinner.

Thomson-run hotels

Meals are offered on a half board basis and taken communally at a set time. Afternoon tea is laid out and available on a first come, first served basis. Early children’s supper and special children’s menus may not be available.

Wine is restricted to one quarter litre of wine (2 normal glasses) per person per night.

Underoccupancy supplements: These will apply when rooms are not used to maximum capacity, provided you book the minimum number required. They are based on 2 people sharing. Supplements per person per night:

2 in 3 bed room                           £4          3 in a 4 bed room                         £3

2 in a 4, 5 or 6 bed room            £8          4 in a 5 or 6 bed room                  £5

3 in a 5 or 6 bed room                  £6         

Smoking is permitted in designated areas of the bar.

Shoes off! Please bring some slippers or indoor shoes with you. Wet floors are slippery and uncomfortable for everyone so you will be asked to leave your outdoor shoes by the front door.

Bed linen/towels: All Thomson-run hotels include bed linen and one bath towel and one hand towel per person along with a mid week change.

Check in/out: Accommodation is normally available from 4pm on the day of arrival and you should anticipate checking out before 10am on the day of departure.

 Thomson-run hotel staff: Service is relaxed, friendly and run entirely by Thomson Lakes & Mountains staff as outlined on the “At Your Service” page and Thomson-run hotels will rarely provide the same facilities or levels of service found in hotels.

Cots: Please request at time of booking if you require this facility, for which a £5 charge will be made.

Thomson-run hotel bars: All of our hotels have their own great value bars. N.B. Local licensing laws prohibit the consumption of both duty-free and alcohol brought in from outside in public rooms. Restaurant/dining rooms in certain Thomson run hotels are open to non-residents - see property descriptions for details.

Many of our hotels no longer feature in local Tourist Office publications and are not subject to official classification as they are leased by us for the entire season and generally run exclusively for our guests. If you need contact numbers or directions please call Pre-departure Services on 0870 166 4975

Other Guests

Hotels: We do not have details of other bookings taken by hoteliers/accommodation owners and are unable, therefore, to provide any information in this respect. Neither are we advised of any conference/convention bookings, schools or wedding groups.

Thomson-run hotels: We are not privy to personal details of individuals booked and, in any event, would not be at liberty to divulge such information. Whilst we will make every effort to ensure that our representatives assist wherever possible if any guests’ behaviour is considered anti-social or discourteous, you will appreciate that we have no control over the behaviour of any guests.

Smoking: If, despite our best efforts, guests smoke in a non-smoking chalet, we cannot accept liability for any discomfort.