Heatherlea 'Pre-flight' Experience
start your holiday early!
Heatherlea gives you more! We want you to arrive at the departure gate already relaxed, and ready for your holiday, so your overseas birding holiday includes:
- Pre-flight hotel INCLUDED always close to your departure point
- VIP Airport Lounge INCLUDED for your comfort and enjoyment
- Birding Guide Book INCLUDED whet your appetite for world-class birding
We also help with airport parking, travel advice, flight upgrades and anything else you need, with no added admin fee. Let us take the strain!
Our friendly, knowledgeable team are here to help and advise, so please call Emma, Fleur, Jolene or Sarah.
That's why we say ... 'DO IT THE HEATHERLEA WAY!
MORE DETAIL
Heatherlea have relationships with lots of top brands at airports including Premier Inn, Hilton, No 1 Lounge and Virgin Lounges, to give you a great service.
PRE-FLIGHT HOTEL
Heatherlea select your hotel from our shortlist. All offer a good standard of accommodation with evening meals, readily available car parking and transfers to the airport terminal. Arrangements are confirmed in your Final Information Pack, issued prior to departure.
If you don't need an airport hotel, please contact us before your balance-due date, and a reduction will be made. On some holidays, where we fly late in the afternoon or evening, you can take your complimentary hotel stay on the return leg of your holiday.
LONDON GATWICK
Many of our trips feature the Premier Inn at Gatwick North Terminal. This is a good hotel in a great location, just two minutes walk from the check-in desks, and very handy for the monorail if we need to use South Terminal. Rooms are well appointed and quiet, there is a good restaurant and bar, and our clients love it! We can’t always guarantee this hotel, not surprisingly it fills quickly, but at the moment it’s our favourite at Gatwick.
Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal
LONDON HEATHROW
We use the Premier Inn, Bath Road, for a number of reasons. The hotel has good parking facilities, and is close to the airport. Also this hotel has more than one ‘Hoppa’ service, running directly to all the terminals, which helps minimise transfer time. With a regular service starting early (0430 hrs) and finishing late (2330 hrs), the ‘Hoppa’ buses are particularly good here.
Premier Inn Heathrow Bath Road
Airport hotel detail can change without notice, and availability is variable, so let Heatherlea worry about the detail, while you just check in and relax!
YOUR HEATHERLEA GUIDE and CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
Most holidays have a Heatherlea Guide in attendance to help with your journey through the airport, and you are scheduled to meet at check-in, not at the departure gate. If you need it, we help you through procedures at security, immigration and baggage drop off and collection. Once everyone is safely checked-in, your Guide will move through to join you for a chat in your VIP Lounge.
PRE-FLIGHT AIRPORT LOUNGE
We include a Airport Lounge in your holiday price so you can relax before you fly; a busy airport terminal is hardly the ideal place! By the time you've bought food, drinks and a magazine to pass the time, airports can become expensive too.
We prefer the comfort and choice of a Lounge, where you can relax for up to three hours before you fly. If you've never used an airport Lounge before, you don't know what you're missing; the only concern is you might get too comfortable and forget to catch your flight!
NEW! You can stay for longer than three hours for a small charge, just let us know before you travel.
Most of our Lounges offer unlimited free drinks and snacks, complimentary magazines and newspapers, WIFI, TV and comfortable seating amid quiet surroundings. Your Heatherlea guide may join you after everyone has checked-in, and you can get to know your fellow travellers or just sink into a comfortable armchair – the choice and comfort are yours!
We confirm arrangements for your Lounge and issue admission tickets in your Final Information Pack. If our point of departure does not offer airport lounge services, you will be credited with an appropriate amount from the holiday balance payable.
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AIRPORT PARKING
Driving to the airport? We offer good value airport parking services and do all the organising, including the most convenient options and any shuttle transfers needed. It’s really easy with Heatherlea!
Staying the night before?
If you are staying overnight pre-flight, parking is either at your hotel or a nearby long-stay car park. Make a leisurely journey to the hotel and enjoy a good night's sleep in the knowledge your vehicle is secure.
Driving to the airport on the day of your flight?
If driving to the airport on the day of departure, we arrange a secure car park close to the airport, with transfers to and from the terminal.
For extra convenience, you might consider;
Valet parking: Drive to a dedicated arrivals/departures area. Your car will be parked for you, and will be waiting when you return.
Meet and greet parking: No need to park your car! Drive to the terminal, meet your driver, and they will park it for you. On your return, make a call when you have your luggage, and your car will be driven outside the terminal, so you can be on your way.
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MORE SERVICES
Should you wish anything else, we will be very pleased to help. A few examples!
VISA APPLICATIONS/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
We have experience of visa application procedures in most countries, and will happily talk you through the detail to make it easy.
BOARDING PASSES
Some airlines no longer provide check-in facilities at the airport, and require you to check-in online and print your boarding pass. Where there is no airport check-in facility, Heatherlea do this for you online, and include your boarding pass inside your Final Information Pack so you don't have to worry.
HEALTH ADVICE
We will give you up to date advice so you know whether or not you need malarials, vaccinations etc.
CLIMATE/DIET/CLOTHING/WHAT TO BRING
With Heatherlea, you will be very well informed!
BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Regulations are changing all the time, and we keep on top of the detail and advise you so you can keep valuables safe. Most overseas tours include a minimum hold-baggage allowance of 20kg, although additional capacity can be booked on request, please contact us for details.
FOREIGN CURRENCY
We recommend you obtain foreign currency before you travel. We can help get a guaranteed rate in advance, and arrange collection at the airport.
REGIONAL DEPARTURES/CONNECTIONS
Prefer to fly from your local airport? Some holidays depart from regional airports, and others allow you to join the rest of the group in your destination country rather than in London. We are happy to arrange regional departures and will tailor options to your requirements.
FLIGHT UPGRADES
Heatherlea can offer great deals for Premium Economy and Business Class passengers with many airlines, all bookable instantly over the phone. We also book extra legroom or a reclining seat where available, and special in-flight meal requests are also part of our service.
TAILOR MADE EXTENSIONS
Many of you plan other activity before or after your wildlife holiday, so why not let us arrange travel services for you? It’s quicker and easier than doing it yourself, and you will benefit from ATOL protection. Heatherlea can arrange extensions to all our overseas tours, including flights, hotels and transfers - let us know your requirements and we will do the rest!
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... and on your return ...
NEW! AIRPORT TERMINAL HOTELS
Whether you arrive on a late flight, depart early in the morning, or just want a few hours rest during the day, we can book a hotel room for you within the terminal. Comfort is the watchword, with good quality beds and bedding, hi-tech TV and free Wi-Fi.
POST HOLIDAY CONTACT
We produce a Trip Report wherever a Heatherlea Guide is in attendance, and you can have a copy by email or by post, whichever you prefer. We also frequently call guests by telephone, to get your personal feedback.
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QUALITY ASSURANCE – WHY CHOOSE HEATHERLEA?
Heatherlea have been organising holidays since 1991, and we have a highly experienced and capable team. All package elements are sold under our ATOL licence (ATOL 6113), and our specialist knowledge will help you get exactly the right services, at the best price. We offer all your airport needs with just one call, so to save time and money choose Heatherlea, your complete holiday provider.
All flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on this Certificate.
Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate.
* A credit of £40 is available per holiday room booked. This means that two passengers sharing a room on the holiday will be credited with a total of £40. Each passenger in a single room will be credited with £40. This reflects the booking system at major airports, where charges are made per room, not per occupant.
NB This airport hotel offer does not include breakfast, dinner or other hotel services, nor does it include transfers between your hotel and the airport or car parking. Offer does not apply where flights are not part of the holiday, or where we offer a price for voyage only. Please remember that you are responsible for your arrival at the airport in good time, and you should check transfer arrangements from the hotel on arrival.
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DISCLAIMER
Please note that while airport hotel and lounge services are booked for you in good faith, Heatherlea can make no guarantee of any services beyond our control. If you prefer to make your own arrangements, Heatherlea will offer credit subject to the conditions above, but will not be liable for any other refund or compensation. If you have dietary, access or other needs relating to these services, or have any other concern, we recommend you make arrangements in person.
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