Important Information

Travel & Transfers

General Information

Checking in at the airport

Airlines request that passengers report at the relevant airport check in desk 3 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of their flight. You may be able to pre-book seats on some flights if you wish to ensure that you are seated with the rest of your party. This must be done directly with the airline; unfortunately Longwood Holidays cannot guarantee any seating requests made.

Please note that passengers arriving late for check in may not be allowed to board.

The security regulations relating to hand luggage are liable to change from time to time; please make sure that you are aware of the current restrictions before flying. Up to date information can be found on the Department for Transport website at www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/airtravel/airportsecurity

Please adhere to the baggage allowance printed on your ticket - this may vary from airline to airline. Some airlines operate a zero tolerance policy for baggage over the permitted limit and additional charges or denial of carriage may be imposed.

Passports and Visas

A full ten year British passport is required for travel to Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Morocco. Please ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months beyond your return date to the UK. For security reasons your first (given) name and last name (surname) on your tickets must match your passport exactly. Middle names are not required.

Visas are not required for British Nationals travelling to Israel or Morocco. They are required for those travelling to most of Jordan and most of Egypt, and these can be pre-purchased from the relevant embassy or on arrival at the overseas airport. Nationals of other countries should contact the relevant embassy to establish visa requirements that apply to them.

Insurance

Please ensure you take with you your travel insurance certificate / policy as proof that you have adequate cover for your travel arrangements and for any activities that you may take part in during your holiday.

Egypt

Visas

A visa is required for travel to Egypt, excluding those visitors arriving at Sharm el Sheikh or Taba airports who stay for no longer that 14 nights and do not leave the Sinai during that time (the visa waiver is a concession for visitors to the South Sinai area, which includes the resorts of Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba Heights and Taba).

If you are arriving at Sharm el Sheikh or Taba airports and are planning to visit Cairo, Luxor, Thistlegorm or the Ras Mohamed National Park, you will need to purchase a visa. Staff (of our local partner) will assist you with this in the arrivals hall before you proceed to passport control.

Visas can be purchased on arrival at all Egyptian airports for approximately US$17.

Transfers

Passengers arriving at Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam or Taba airports will be met by Longwood Holidays representatives as well as staff of Highway Travel, our local partner in Egypt. Our resort staff will transfer you to your accommodation and will be available during your stay. They will advise you of your departure arrangements.

Passengers arriving at Cairo, Aswan or Luxor airports will be met by Highway Travel staff. They will arrange your transfer to your accommodation and any onward transfer to other hotels/resorts (for multi centre itineraries) and will be available during your stay. They will advise you of your departure transfer.

Transfers are operated by bus or minibus at our discretion.

If you have booked a liveaboard diving holiday, please see the separate information supplied with your tickets regarding transfers.

Unless pre-booked, transfers are not included for any passengers who purchase a flight only or accommodation only from us without any other arrangements.

Military Convoys

Transfers from one resort/city to another are often escorted by a military convoy. Departure times and duration of these transfers are beyond our control and subject to local conditions. In order to transfer you to your departure airport within good time, it may be necessary to depart from your final accommodation early.

Egyptian Embassy in the UK: 020 7235 9777

Israel

Visas

A visa is not required by a British passport holders for travel to Israel. The names on your passport must match the names on your tickets, including the spelling of names.

Transfers

EILAT AND OVDA AIRPORTS

Passengers on an international flight arriving at Ovda Airport or Eilat Central Airport on a package holiday will be met outside the airport terminal by a representative of Ophir Tours - our agent in Israel - and transfers will be arranged to your accommodation. Resort staff will be available in Eilat and you will be advised of your departure arrangements during your stay.

Transfers are operated by bus or minibus unless you have pre-booked private transfers. Passengers who have pre-booked a private transfer should see the Ophir Tours representative, outside the airport terminal, who will direct you to your driver.

Passengers on a domestic flight arriving at or departing from Eilat Central Airport will not be met or transferred, as most hotels provide a shuttle service and for those that do not, there are taxis available for the short ride to/from the hotel.

All passengers arriving at Ovda Airport (for Eilat, and on occasion for the Dead Sea) on a package holiday will be met by Longwood Holidays staff at the airport and transfers will be arranged to your accommodation. Our resort staff will be available in Eilat during your stay and will advise you of your departure arrangements.

Transfers are operated by bus or minibus at our discretion, unless you have pre-booked private transfers. Passengers who have pre-booked a private transfer should give their transfer voucher to the Longwood representative, outside the terminal, who will direct you to your driver.

TEL AVIV AIRPORTS

Passengers on an international flight arriving at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) who have a pre-booked transfer from Ben Gurion as part of their holiday arrangements will be met by a representative of “Smile” who will arrange your transfer. The representative will meet you immediately after Passport Control, inside the baggage claim hall and will be holding a sign with your name on. If for any reason you do not make contact with the representative, please go to the Information Desk in the baggage claim area and ask one of the assistants to page the “Smile” representative and wait at the desk. Do not leave the arrival hall and do not clear customs until contact with the representative has been made, as you will not be able to return to this area and will therefore make it impossible for the representative to locate you.

Passengers on a domestic flight arriving at Ben Gurion Airport or Sde Dov Airport (Tel Aviv) who have a pre-booked transfer from Ben Gurion or Sde Dov as part of their holiday arrangements will be met by the driver who will be holding a sign with your name on.

At Ben Gurion, the driver will meet you after you have claimed your luggage outside the airport terminal at the curbside.

At Sde Dov, the driver will meet you after you have claimed your luggage outside the airport terminal.

In emergency, the contact for Ophir Tours - our agent in Israel who arrange all transfers - is Michal Bouganim, who can be reached on 03-5269511 between the hours 09:30-17:00 Sunday to Thursday or 050-6844778 outside of office hours and on Friday/Saturday.

Ophir Tours will be available during your stay and will arrange any other pre-booked transfers, details of which you will receive whilst in resort.

Unless pre-booked, transfers are not included for any passengers who purchase a flight only or accommodation only from us without any other arrangements.

Israeli Embassy in the UK: 020 7957 9500

Jordan

Visas

A visa is required for passengers arriving at Amman Airport, which may be purchased in advance from the Jordanian Embassy or on arrival for 10 Jordanian Dinars (approx £10).

Passengers entering Jordan via Amman Airport who can prove that they are continuing to Aqaba within 48 hours are exempt from visa charges. No Visa is required for passengers arriving at Aqaba Airport, even if you are on a multi-centre holiday or plan to visit other areas in Jordan during your stay.

Please note that you will need to report to the Tourist Police if you are staying longer than 14 nights in Jordan, as indicated on your entry stamp.

Airport Departure Tax

A Jordanian departure tax of JD20 must be paid on departure day at the airport. This cost is included in the fare for Royal Jordanian Airlines and British Midlands flights - however passengers departing from Jordan on a charter flight (such as the Gatwick-Aqaba service) are required to pay the departure tax.

If you are arriving at Ovda airport (Eilat) and travelling directly to Aqaba, you will be required to pay 101 Israeli shekels (approx £18) for Israeli departure tax when crossing the border into Jordan. When returning to Israel for the flight from Ovda to the UK, you will be required to pay 8 Jordanian Dinars (approx £8) for Jordanian departure tax (prices are per person and subject to change).

Transfers

Passengers arriving at Amman or Aqaba airports will be met by our local partner, TTA-Tantash Travel, who will arrange transfers on arrival and departure, and will be available during your stay. Transfers will be provided between hotels/resorts for those on multi-centre holidays who have pre-booked additional transfers.

Passengers for Aqaba arriving at Ovda Airport will be met by Longwood Holidays staff and transferred to the Arava border crossing. Following passport procedures you will be met by the staff of our local partner, TTA-Tantash Travel, for transfer to your accommodation. They will be available to answer any queries you may have during your stay.

Jordanian Embassy in the UK: 020 7937 3685

Morocco

Visas

A visa is not required for British citizens or EU passport holders for stays of up to 3 months.

Transfers

Passengers arriving at Marrakech or Agadir airports will be met by staff of our local partner, Menara Tours. They will transfer you to your accommodation and will be available during your stay. They will also advise you of the departure transfer arrangements.

Transfers are operated by bus or minibus at our discretion. Unless pre-booked, transfers are not included for any passengers who purchase accommodation only or flight only.

Currency

Please note than Moroccan Dirhams can only be obtained or exchanged within Morocco and should be exchanged at banks or an official bureau de change only. It is illegal to enter or exit the country with Moroccan Dirhams in your possession.

Moroccan Embassy in the UK: 020 7581 5001