Family Day to Alton Towers

Are the kids off school and stuck at home bored? One of the main struggles as a parent, is keeping the kids occupied. In the age of the screen, televisions, Ipods, Iphones kids don’t seem to get out much these days. Theme parks are an ideal way to get the children and family out of the house and enjoying themselves. Alton Towers is the ultimate in family days out. Opened as a Theme park in 1980, Alton towers has gone from a country estate, to the leading theme park in the UK. Situated in the heart of Staffordshire, Bristol Travel offer minibus to take parties there for the day from all over the southwest. If you are travelling by car, the post code for Alton towers is ST10 4DB.

The park is divided into ten separate themed areas, from the post-apocalyptic ‘forbidden valley’, home to the Nemesis roller coaster. A roller coaster that is sure to scare the life out of you, it is one of the fastest and most popular roller coasters in the UK. To the pirate themed, mutiny bay, where you are sure to have a great time on one of the many water rides. If you are planning on riding the ‘Battle Galleons’ Make sure you come prepared to get soaked! As you sit on a boat attacking your friends and other guests with big water cannons.

For food and drink, there are numerous outlets you can choose from. Explorers restaurant offer Pizza and Pasta meals at a reasonable price, there are also burger bars, and even a jacket potato stall if you fancy something slightly healthier. If there is a big group of you and you are looking to save some money, you could always take a rucksack and bring your own refreshments from home to cut costs and spend more time on the rides.

Out of season, the park also hosts other events such as Scarefest, which is the largest annual event that takes place every Halloween. You can celebrate your Halloween at Alton towers, where the park is opened with spooky themed lighting and Halloween themed costumed characters running amok throughout. The park also holds a number of terror themed maze rides, where the guest must complete the maze whilst being pursued by the unknown.

If fast paced, white knuckled terror isn’t your thing, then Alton towers has much more to offer. The park is full of attractions and rides to cater for all the needs in your party. There are shops, stalls, 3D Cinema attractions, you name it, Alton towers has got it. The day starts early and it is best to get there at opening times to make sure you get a full day. The park is open 10:00AM till 16:00PM on weekdays and open till 18:00PM on weekends. We do advise that guests arrive around 09:00AM to avoid queues. You and your party can meet back at the coach area and be picked up there for the return. Bristol Travel cater for minibuses with driver from 6-16 size minibuses so no group is too small or too big! We pick up from anywhere in the Southwest to Alton towers and to all UK theme parks.

COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Risk Assessment

Bristol Travel Ltd has always put safety as its number one priority and right now, this is more important than ever.

Things may be a little different but ensuring safety and well-being always comes first and we want customers to be confident to travel with Bristol Travel Ltd and colleagues to have peace of mind when at work.

This article provides a summary assessment of our approach to reducing the risk to our customers, colleagues and others affected by our operations of contracting Covid-19 when travelling or working with Bristol Travel Ltd.

In determining appropriate control measures, we have followed relevant Government guidance and will continue to review these measures as this develops. 

Consultation

We have consulted and taken feedback from:

• Government bodies including the Department for Transport, Public Health England.

• Trade and industry bodies including CPT (Confederation for Passenger Transport UK)

• Our partner operators

• Suppliers and contractors

This has assisted us in designing and implementing the controls which are summarised below.

Risk controls

We have implemented a number of key risk controls across our vehicle fleet as follows…

Social distancing

• Signage, posters to control social distancing

• Limiting the maximum capacity of all Minibuses. Passengers travelling alone will be asked to sit in window seats. People travelling together as part of the same household or in a social bubble (as defined by the Government) may, on certain selected routes and at our discretion, be able to sit together. This means the aisle seat may be occupied but on one side of the vehicle only.

Cleaning and personal hygiene

• Enhanced cleaning regimes and increased frequency of cleaning of touch points

• The introduction of regular aerosol based disinfection with a high performance antiviral solution –  sometimes called ‘fogging’ – on our vehicles

• Mandatory requirement for customers to wear a face covering when in our vehicles

• Hand sanitiser available for customers at entrance to vehicles

• Disposable face masks available to all customers. 

Managing customers, colleagues and partners

• Management structures allow oversight and regular supervision of these control measures

• Management teams who are briefed and or trained on the relevant guidelines

• Monitoring programme to ensure compliance with risk controls

• Communication via briefings, posters.

• Guidance to only use Designated pickup points if travelling and limiting arrival time to manage capacity at pickup points.

• Staggered work patterns, including meal and break times

Risk evaluation and results

Based on our evaluation of the current controls, the risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) are reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable within our vehicles.

Terms & Conditions

These are the conditions of hire of Bristol Travel Ltd, (hereinafter called “the company”). They form the basis of the contract under which the company agrees to hire its vehicles to the customer (hereinafter called “the hirer”).

1. Breakdown and Delays

The company gives its advice on journey time in good faith. However, as a result of breakdown or traffic congestion, or other events beyond the reasonable control of the company, journeys may take longer than predicted and in those circumstances, the company will not be liable for any loss or inconvenience suffered by the hirer as a result.

2. Liability for Injury

The company will not accept any liability for damage, injury or loss for any passenger standing up or walking around the vehicle whilst in motion.

3. Use of the Vehicle

The hirer cannot assume the use of the vehicle between outward and return journeys, nor that will it remain at the destination of the hirer’s use unless this has been agreed with the company in advance.

4. The Use of Other Operators Vehicles

The company reserves the right to substitute other operators’ vehicles in place of its own for any journey or part thereof.

5. Payment Terms

A one third deposit is payable at the time of booking. The balance of the hire charge is payable by seven days prior to the date of hire, unless other payment terms are agreed as stated overleaf. (The company reserves the right to decline to execute any work when the foregoing condition has not been adhered to, in which case the deposit becomes forfeitable by the hirer to the company).

6. Passenger Capacity and Seat Belts

No passenger may be carried in excess of the seating capacity of the vehicle and passengers must wear the seat belts provided at all times.

7. Drivers hours regulations

The hours of operation for the driver are regulated by law and the hirer accepts the responsibility of ensuring the hire keeps to the hours and times agreed by the Company. Neither the hirer nor any passenger shall delay or otherwise interrupt the journey in such a way that the driver is at risk of breaching regulations relating to driving hours and duty time. If any breach is likely to occur, the hirer will be responsible for any additional costs incurred unless it is outside the control of the hirer.

8. Conduct of Passengers

a) The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle at all times and as such may remove any passenger whose behaviour prejudices safety or is in breach of the Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990. These regulations set out certain rights and responsibilities on all parties and full details of these can be obtained from the company on request. The hirer is responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle by any passenger for the duration of the hire.

b) Where the hire is to a sporting event, the hirer should be aware of the legal requirements relating to alcohol, contained in the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985, (as amended) and the conditions of entry to racecourses as laid down by the Race Course Association Ltd. The company will provide details of these restrictions on request.

9. Cancellations

Cancellation by The Hirer

a) For Cancellation more than 5 working days prior to the first day of the hire – the cancellation charge to the hirer is £50 per vehicle per day of hire.

b) For Cancellation less than 5 working days prior to the first day of the hire – the cancellation charge to the hirer is 50% of the total hire charge.

c) For Cancellation on the day prior to, the charge to the hirer is 75% of the total hire charge.

d) For Cancellation on the day the cancellation charge to the hirer is 100% of the total hire charge.

e) Upon cancellation, the hirer will also be liable to pay for any additional items or services that have been bought and paid for on behalf of the hirer in advance of the hire. For example, ferry services, theatre tickets, meals, parking permits, accommodation andguide services etc. Every effort will be made by the company to reduce this liability however all non-retrievable charges will be the responsibility of the hirer.

Cancellation by the Operator

Once a booking is confirmed by the hirer, the Operator will never cancel a hire (as long as payment terms have been adhered to). In cases of extreme weather conditions or exceptional circumstances out of the Operators control, Bristol Travel will liaise with the hirer and make every reasonable effort to make sure the hire is completed.

10. Consumption of Alcohol

The consumption and or carrying of alcohol in the passenger compartment of company vehicles is strictly forbidden unless permission has been obtained from the company.

11. Returnable Additional Deposits

The company reserves the right to insist upon a returnable additional deposit being provided by the hirer in addition to the hire charge. This deposit will be returned to the hirer following completion of the hire provided that non-additional expenses were incurred by the company which were a direct result of the hirers, or his passengers actions.

12. No smoking policy

Hirers should note that this company operates a policy of no smoking on all company vehicles. This policy will be strictly enforced. Would hirers please bring this condition to the attention of all passengers
intending to travel on the coach. 

13. Airport or Ferry Transfers

On collecting passengers from airports, ferry ports, etc., the coach will wait for one hour after the prearranged collection time free of charge. After that additional waiting time will be charged at the discretion of the company. 

14. Acceptance of Our Quotation

Implies acceptance of the above conditions.

15. Complaints

In the event of a complaint about the company’s services, the hirer should endeavour to seek a solution at the time by seeking assistance from the driver, or from the company by calling our support staff on 01454 549 165. If this has not provided a remedy, complaints should be submitted in writing and within 14 days of the termination of the hire. The company shall reply to any complaints within 48 hours of receipt of the same. Please contact our Private Hire Manager by email at info@bristoltravel.co.uk 

Privacy Policy

This privacy policy sets out how Bristol Travel Ltd. uses and protects any information that you give Bristol Travel Ltd. when you use this website.

Bristol Travel Ltd. is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

We also use cookies with Google Analytics, although your identity remains anonymous.

Bristol Travel Ltd. may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 1st December 2019.

What we collect

We may collect the following information:

Name, telephone number and e-mail address

Journey details, which may include your home address

What we do with the information we gather

We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:

To provide you with a quote for our services

To send booking confirmations and payment receipts

To contact you in relation to a booking that you currently have with us

Security

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

How we use cookies

A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer’s hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual.

The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.

We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs.

We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.

Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.

You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website.

Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Controlling your personal information

You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:

Whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposes if you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us by selecting here.

We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so.

You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. A small fee will be payable.

If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible, at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect