Frequently asked questions

1. When do I need to send my deposit ?

Your deposit is required before we confirm your booking. Hotels provide us with an option date and if we don’t confirm your booking before this, then it is cancelled. We can provide you with a Proforma Invoice for your Finance Office if this is required.

2. What amount of deposit do you require ?

Currently we require a £600.00 deposit per coach booked.


3. When will the balance be due ?

The balance for your Study Tour is due 8 weeks prior to your departure date.

4. What passenger information do I need to provide and when is this required ?

We require basic information about each member of your group (including all responsible accompanying adults) such as their full name, DoB, age at time of travel, gender, medical conditions or medication being taken and any special diets. Soon it will be a requirement for us to collect additional information such as passport numbers.

This information must be received by us as soon as you have finalised your group lists and no later that 2 weeks prior to travel. It is only when we have these lists that we can make the appropriate rooming and meal arrangements on your Study Tour. Once Final Tour Details have been sent to you, any further changes to these lists may incur a £25 administration charge.

5. Are my dates available ?

When we receive your request for a provisional booking we will check on the availability of accommodation and ferry crossings that require on-board accommodation. As soon as we have these we will contact you. It is rare that we cannot secure the preferred accommodation or ferry crossing requested, although at peak times we may need to alter departure or arrival times to ensure that your tour itinerary is fulfilled.

6. Where will my group be staying ?

If you have travelled with us before, then you can make a request for your preferred accommodation and we will do our best to secure this for you (subject to availability). If you are certain that you wish to travel with us again then it is advisable to request a re-quote on your return and make your request at this time.

If you are a new client, we will choose accommodation that best suits your needs and is most convenient for your chosen itinerary. We have a wide range of accommodation types in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK and Germany that we use regularly. Our standard accommodation is 2* minimum unless otherwise stated in your quotation. If you require budget accommodation or a higher star rating then please make this request during the enquiry stage so that this can be costed into your quotation.

7. Will the rooms have en-suite facilities ?

All of our 2 * hotel accommodation have en-suite facilities. This also includes accommodation booked on ferries.

8. What is included in my Study Tour price ?

Everything that is included in the tour price we quote to you is itemised in the Quotation Pack.
The price includes all transport costs (coach transport, ferry or Eurotunnel), accommodation, most breakfasts and evening meals (lunches are only included on certain tours – see ‘Meal Arrangements’ section of your quotation).
Some entrance fees are included (see ‘Venues & Excursions’ section of your quotation).
A Study Pack is also included which can be tailored to your exam board’s specification or NC requirements.
Guides are included in the price of all English and Religious Studies Tours but are optional in some of the other subjects (see ‘Tour Guide’ section of your quotation).

9. Can we fly to our destination ?

We are primarily coach specialists as the majority of our itineries do not require flights. If you do wish to fly to your destination we can supply a coach, accommodation, book venues and a guide.

10. What will my coach be like?

All our coaches are executive and have 49 passenger seats. They are equipped with video or DVD, a toilet, seatbelts, a PA system and all have a continental safety door. We do not request larger vehicles as they are rarer and should your vehicle break down while on tour it would be difficult to source another vehicle of the same size.

11. What if my numbers change after I have booked my Study Tour ?

This happens on a regular basis and is not a major problem as long as we are informed immediately. Once we have received written confirmation (by fax or e mail) of a change in numbers, our Finance Manager will re-issue and invoice with your new balance. Please bear in mind that a drop in numbers may mean that the tour price falls into the next price band in your quotation and as a result the cost per student may increase. Please refer to our Booking Conditions for further details concerning refunds. It is therefore advisable to ensure that you request a significant non-returnable deposit from your students when planning your tour.

12. What happens if I have students with allergies or special dietary requirements?

If we are made aware of these in advance and they are written on the student lists completed by you 2-3 weeks prior to travel then these can be sent to the hotel / hostel or restaurants on your itinerary. If Halal food is required then special arrangements will need to be made so a greater period of advanced notice is required (preferably at the time of booking). Please note that few hotels and restaurants are able to offer Halal food and a vegetarian menu will be offered as an alternative.

13. Do you offer overnight coach travel ?

Galina take Risk Assessment very seriously and the decision not to allow our groups to travel overnight on a coach has been taken in the interests of health and safety. In addition to our clients’, the well being of our coach drivers is paramount and we believe that travelling through the night would have a detrimental effect on this.

14. Do you supply emergency contact numbers on Study Tour ?

As part of your Final Tour Details pack we provide the contact numbers of the emergency services for the country / countries in which you are travelling. If you have a Tour Guide then he or she will assist with any issues that may arise.

15. Can we request a driver that we have had before ?

Yes. Once you re-book with us you can make a request for a particular driver (or hotel) and we will endeavour to secure their services for your next Galina Study Tour. This is however, subject to that driver being available and not on holiday on your chosen tour dates.