Tangney Tours - Travel Information
Introduction
Tangney Tours is bonded and licensed to charter planes, trains
and coaches all over Europe and beyond. Where appropriate
Tangney Tours will also use schedules services to get you to your
destination. We can book these for you and arrange a transfer to
join your pilgrimage.
Tangney Tours operates the only direct flights from the southern half of the UK to Lourdes during the main pilgrimage season. Flights are normally chartered with Titan Airways from London Stansted airport direct to Lourdes airport virtually every Monday and Friday from April to October. The flying time is approximately 90 minutes and our staff are always at Stansted and Lourdes airports to receive arrivals and oversee departures. Throughout the year, Tangney Tours also operates ad hoc charter flights with Titan Airways and other charter airlines to Lourdes from airports all over the UK from as far south as Jersey all the way north to Edinburgh.
Should you prefer to travel to your destination by executive coach or even by train, our staff are on hand to help. We regularly use the same coach companies which gives us an excellent network all over Europe and we frequently charter complete trains for specific pilgrimages.
Passports
Passports are required for all overseas travel. Please ensure all
members of your group have a valid passport when they travel. We
are always surprised how frequently passengers arrive at a UK
departure point without a valid passport and sometimes without a
passport at all! Please also ensure that your passport is valid
for at least 6 months after the date of return.
Most non EU Passport holders require a Visa. If you do not hold an EU passport please ensure that you contact the necessary consulates for the relevant information. Please allow up to 2 months to obtain a Visa for non EU Passport holders. We will endeavour to assist with visa applications, so please ask us if you require assistance. It is the responsibility of the pilgrim to gain the appropriate visa and no visa means no travel and no refund.
Travel Insurance
Our policy is that all pilgrims who travel with Tangney Tours
must be insured. We offer a very comprehensive insurance package
at a competitive rate geared for the needs and requirements of
our customers. If however any traveller has a valid insurance
policy, all we ask is that they provide details of their policy
and fill in one of our insurance indemnity forms.
EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)
Please obtain one of these from your local post office or online.
The EHIC can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due
to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area
(EEA). The EHIC entitles the holder to state-provided medical
treatment within the country they are visiting. However, this is
not travel insurance and you may still have to pay a certain
percentage of costs.
Medical Issues
Please ensure that anyone undergoing any medical treatment has
been classed as fit to travel and, where appropriate, has completed
the medical declaration form which our office will provide for
insurance purposes. Any sharp instruments should be packed in suitcases.
Any sharp instruments required for the journey need to be accompanied
with a doctor’s letter stating why they are required. You will also
need to follow any other regulations that are enforced at the time
of travel.
Special Diets
The hotels we use will try and cater for most diets. We suggest
that those with specific dietary requirements (other than vegetarian)
provide some guidance as to what they can eat. We have found that the
hotel catering staff find this most helpful.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchair pilgrims: Please advise us of all passengers who are travelling with their own wheelchair. This will allow us to ensure they are properly catered for at the airport terminals, check-in, boarding and the accommodation.
Pilgrims requiring wheelchairs: Distances at most airports are quite short. If a pilgrim does not normally use a wheelchair they will not require one at the airport (depends on the airline). We do need to know in advance if a pilgrim requires a wheelchair to be provided at a terminal. Airports and airlines carry a limited number and we would not wish any of our passengers to go without.
Loose parts on any wheelchair should be marked and/or removed before boarding. Some electric wheelchairs are not suitable for air travel. Please check with us at the time of booking.
Ensure special chairs are suitably insured – insurance coverage can be limited. Weight is restricted by the airport authorities around Europe to 32kg per item or 60kg per wheelchair; this is an international health and safety issue.
Certain destinations that we offer are not 100% suitable for passengers of reduced mobility, so please contact us for further information.
Lourdes
