Frequently asked questions

Independent trips:

People of all ages, from babies in backpacks to 80-year-olds, couples, small groups of friends, and families from all over the world enjoy our independent trips. If you are active, have an inquiring mind and enjoy a wide spectrum of interests, you have a taste for (mild) adventure, and want to return from your trip feeling fitter and healthier – you will enjoy an independent walking or cycling holiday. Our independent programme provides all this and more – glorious countryside, days filled with a range of interests – flowers, birds, historic villages, art and architecture. Add to this comfortable accommodation, with your luggage waiting for you in your room, good food and wine…and you will join the 99% of ATG travellers who rate their overall enjoyment as ‘excellent/good.’

Escorted trips:

ATG trips are renowned for the compatibility of their groups. This is not simply fortuitous!

Our website, with its full and accurate descriptions of each trip, ensures that people know exactly what to expect and so choose the trip that suits them. By describing the specific features of a particular trip – whether flowers, art, architecture, or food and wine – ATG attracts people who share similar tastes and interests. ATG is completely focused on quality, relying entirely on repeat bookings and on clients telling their friends. Groups are small – never more than 16 people. 60% of our clients are British. The other 40% come principally from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Our clients are generally well-travelled, discerning professionals with a wide range of interests. But there is no ‘average group’. The combinations are endless – single, married, young and old, and from many different walks of life. Yet because these trips are, by nature, exclusive, and designed around specific areas of interest, they tend to attract like-minded people who like each other.

Whatever their grade, our routes are selected for the quality of walking and for outstanding places of interest on route, in some of the most beautiful areas in the world. Please see the ‘what kind of walking/cycling can I expect?’ FAQ on each trip page for walking details specific to that trip.

Independent trips: You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

Escorted trips: You don’t have to! You can either get a lift with the Tour Manager to the lunch location or the next hotel, or we can suggest options to allow you to walk for part of the day. If the itinerary does not involve a hotel change on a given day, you can simply stay in the town and explore, and join (or not join) the group for lunch. The Tour Leader will discuss the next day’s options with the group every evening.

Independent trips: All the hotels we use are conveniently situated along the route.. On most routes you can choose Standard or Superior accommodation.

Superior accommodation includes upgraded hotels where available. Where there is no upgrade available, you will be accommodated in the standard hotel in a standard double/twin room (unless otherwise stated). See trip itineraries for details of accommodation.

Accommodation is arranged on a Room Only (RO), Bed & Breakfast(B), or Half-Board with breakfast and dinner included (BD) basis, as specified. Where there are several restaurants nearby, staying in B&B accommodation allows you choice and flexibility, so you can choose evening meals to suit your taste and budget. Where hotels are relatively remote we negotiate a Half-Board (breakfast and evening meal) arrangement for you. ATG provides total transparency with regard to hotels used. Publishing hotel names, locations, star ratings and pictures, gives integrity to the ATG itineraries. It also enables clients who require more information to check hotels on the internet.

Escorted trips: ATG selects only the best and most characteristic hotels, conveniently situated for travellers on foot

Whether an atmospheric palazzo in the heart of a medieval city, or an idyllically situated mountain hotel…if that’s where you arrive in the afternoon, then that’s where you stay! ATG does not ‘bus people off’ to distant ‘standard’ hotels. You should expect successive hotels to differ in character – part of the adventure of travel. Because groups are small (maximum 16 clients) ATG is accepted by many exclusive hotels that do not usually work with travel companies. Accommodation on our escorted trips ranges from 5-star ‘palace’ hotels to luxury tented camps, simple mountain hotels… to converted historic monuments, family-run B&Bs and world-famous city hotels.

ATG provides total transparency with regard to hotels used. Publishing hotel names, locations, star ratings and pictures, gives integrity to the ATG itineraries. It also enables clients who require more information to check hotels on the internet.

Yes! All our itineraries are carefully designed to allow you sufficient time to enjoy everything offered in the itinerary and/or described in the trip ‘features’. If you want more time to explore a certain highlight, you can ‘opt out’ of the day’s walking (see ‘what if I don’t want to walk?’).

Independent trips: Yes. The itineraries are designed such that even on trips with full days of walking, as long as you set off by 0930 you should arrive at your hotel with plenty of time to relax before dinner. And remember you can catch a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel if you would like a day off to relax and enjoy the hotel.

Escorted trips: Yes. Even on trips with full days of walking we aim to get you to your hotel in time to allow you a few hours to relax before dinner. We also build ‘free time’ in to each itinerary, which is important to maximise enjoyment. And remember, you can always opt out of part of (or all of) a day’s activities if you would prefer to relax at the hotel.

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘contenental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are…

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

…and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘contenental’ affair – e.g bread, croissant, juice, coffee. If a breakfast requires ‘topping up’ to meet the needs of those with a full morning of walking ahead, the Tour Manager will ensure this happens.

Celebrated ATG picnic lunches

ATG picnic lunches in Europe are renowned! ‘Happening upon’ an ATG picnic in an idyllic location punctuates each day’s walk. Picnics are colourful, varied and nutritious. Buffet-style, there is a choice of meats, cheeses, salads, breads, fruits – and pudding. Many salads are ‘exclusive’ to ATG and some of these original recipes are in the ATG ‘Table of Moveable Feasts’.

After being greeted with mineral water, followed by wine and an abundant lunch of local organic produce and specialities, there’s usually time for a siesta! Where there is a particularly spectacular or remote picnic spot we may occasionally carry packed lunches. Outside Europe the location of lunches may vary, from picnics to meals in restaurants or private houses.

Dinner

Dinner is usually at about 8.00pm (later in Spain). We tend to eat in the best and most interesting restaurants available, which serve traditional local dishes as well as regional classics and excellent regional wines. To ensure that we enjoy the best that the area has tooffer, the Tour Manager, with his/her specialist knowledge and experience, will have worked closely with the chef in advance, selecting the most interesting and characteristic menu possible.This not only ensures that we eat far better than people who ‘come in off the street’, but enables us to enjoy a very wide range of local specialities during the trip, and also to cater imaginatively for those with special dietary needs. At the start of dinner each evening, it is ATG ‘style’ to tell you about the menus and wines for that evening. If there’s anything different that you would prefer, you have only to ask.

Walking to eat

One of the greatest pleasures of travelling is enjoying a range of different regional cuisines. Part of the ATG experience is discovering the diversity of local ingredients and culinary traditions of the particular methods of cooking, and styles of restaurant. ATG trips include a wide range of different restaurants, with some of the finest and most famous in the world. Each has been carefully selected. Others are more traditional, providing excellent local cuisine, using recipes that have often become established ‘classics’ of regional cooking. Which is better? It is thrilling to eat at great restaurants – each course a revelation of sensation, aroma, texture, taste, colour and decorative design, with a superb selection of wines to match. It is also a delight to find a small restaurant specialising in authentic local cuisine using fresh, organically grown local produce, and accompanied by the best regional wines.

At ATG, whose founder/MD ‘travels to eat’ – food matters!

Independent trips: When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

Escorted trips: When you book, let us know about any restrictions. This will give the Tour Manager the opportunity to shop and prepare menus
accordingly prior to your trip. At the start of the trip the Tour Manager will meet with you to discuss in more detail your requirements.

Independent trips:

You will be provided with a detailed route book that will tell you everything you need to know to enjoy your holiday, including:

• Walking route with measurements (measurements with a surveyor’s wheel)
• Marked maps of the route
• GPS coordinates for those who wish to use satellite navigation (walking routes).
• Town plans marked with walking route and location of hotels
• Historical notes and notes on geology, flora and fauna, regional cuisine etc.
• Places of interest with notes and opening/closing times, entrance costs
• Restaurants with notes and price guides
• Shops to buy picnic lunches (and other items!)
• Locations and opening times for banks, post offices, pharmacies etc.
• In addition, the Route Manager is also available by phone at any time during your trip provide you with support and advice.

Escorted trips: On trips with such a wide spectrum of high-quality interests, being kept standing around for a succession of long ‘lectures’ is clearly inappropriate. A synopsis will allow you to decide if you want to know more. The Tour Leader will therefore supply two-minute ‘sound bites’ from time to time to keep you informed and entertained. If you want to know more please ask the Tour Leader, who will be delighted to respond. In this way you get to know as much (or as little) as you like.

On each route there is an ATG Route Manager, who is there to take care of all the practicalities and ensure the success of your trip. Route Managers have all been ATG-trained, speak English and the language of the country fluently, and live in the local area. Your Route Manager will:

• Welcome you at your first hotel, usually between 9.00-9.30, the morning after your arrival. If you would like to meet the Route Manager at a different time please contact the office prior to departure.
• Check through your chosen itinerary with you, and confirm all your arrangements
• Provide you with up-to-date information about events in the area, such as festivals or exhibitions
• Make reservations for you at restaurants en route, if required
• Advise you on local transport services, as required
• Answer any questions you may have
• Transport your luggage on the route
• Give you telephone numbers where they can be contacted 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency
• Contact you at the end of your trip for any feedback you may have
• Do everything possible to ensure that you derive maximum enjoyment from your holiday.

For more information about our Tour Consultants, click here: People & Quality

Escorted European trips are accompanied by two of ATG’s fully trained Tour Consultants, from the moment they welcome you at the airport, through to the end-of trip airport transfer. The Tour Manager looks after the practical side of the trip – luggage transport, hotels, food and drink. The Tour Leader will lead each day’s walk, and after dinner each evening will tell you about the following day’s itinerary. Both Tour Consultants will explain their role, and how the trip will run, on the first evening at dinner. Non-European trips are accompanied by an ATG Tour Leader as well as a trained guide native to the country visited, to impart local and specialist knowledge.

For more information about our Tour Consultants, click here: People & Quality

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Most Escorted trips tend to include some quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’. On Independent trips you have more flexibility in determining how casual you wish to be. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here: what to bring

Independent trips: You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of each trip. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included and this is indicated on trip pages. For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

City Tax (Italy only)

In March 2011, the Italian legislature passed a decree that created a new tourism tax to be paid by visitors to Italy and collected by the accommodation where they are staying. The purpose is to raise revenue that municipalities can use to maintain local facilities and infrastructure and to help in the preservation of cultural and historical treasures, all of which benefits tourists. The roll-out of the tax has been gradual, with each council determining the way in which it should be implemented. First introduced in the big cities, since 2012 the tax has been introduced by many other town councils. The tax is charged by guest per night, with an upper limit to the number of nights that can be charged. The rate (usually €1-2 Euros per person per night) is determined by the rating of the accommodation. This tax is not included in the price of Independent holidays but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.

Escorted trips: On escorted trips everything is included (per the published itinerary) apart from travel to/from the destination airport, items of a personal nature, snacks and drinks outside of the set meals.

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

ATG does not provide any form of insurance cover. However, it is a condition of booking that you have fully comprehensive insurance cover, including:

• Cancellation/curtailment up to the cost of the holiday (preferably including flights)

• Personal accident

• Medical and other expenses
• Hospital benefit

• Travel delay

• Missed departure

• Personal belongings

• Personal money and travellers cheques

• Loss of passport

• Personal liability

• Legal expenses

Although most credit card companies offer travel insurance as something that is included when paying the balance with the card, it may be advisable to check that the cover offered is what you expect it to be. Very few companies include cancellation and curtailment or medical expenses. Whatever the insurance policy you have taken out, please read the documentation carefully. Please ensure also that you take it with you on your trip and refer to it in the case of any claim or emergency.

HEALTH

UK residents should note that from 1st January 2006 the E111 form, providing for free emergency medical treatment in all EC countries, was replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the E111 is no longer valid. You can apply for an EHIC online at www.ehic.org.uk, by calling 0845 606 2030, or by picking up an application form from a Post Office.

The Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk has information about this and other travel health issues. We also advise clients to check their own vaccination requirements.

Experience has shown that after an enjoyable trip, clients often like to show their appreciation to the Tour Consultant(s). Although in theory we are a ‘no tipping’ organisation, we do not insist on this. A gratuity is therefore not expected, but any such gesture will not cause offence.

On our Escorted long-haul (non-European) trips tips for local guides or support providers (e.g. drivers, sherpas, porters) are included in the cost of your holiday.

Smoking in most European countries is now forbidden by law in indoor public spaces, including restaurants and bars, although these
are still permitted to have discrete rooms for smokers and some do. On all Escorted trips – whether in Europe or otherwise, clients are asked to kindly refrain from smoking at meal times and generally when they are with the group.

Independent trips: On independent trips we recommend you bring a phone, if only in the (unlikely) event of an emergency. On some routes in certain sections, reception can be patchy.

Escorted trips: Whether you bring a phone is entirely your choice. On Escorted trips we ask you not to use your phone during group walks and group activities, including meals.

Please check with your local service provider before leaving home to ensure you know whether you will need to change the settings on your phone in order for it to work abroad. Also beware that many operators charge higher rates for usage abroad. On some routes, due to their remoteness or hilly/mountain terrain, there may be some areas without consistent mobile coverage.

During working hours (9-530 GMT Mon-Fri and 9-4 Sat) they should ring the main office number, (44) 01865 315 678. Outside of working hours ATG operates a 24 hour emergency phone number (44) 01865 315 600

This website covers all of Europe and is very easy to use: European trains

We recommend this website, which provides comprehensive practical information.

Yes. All of our escorted trips can be booked privately, on a date to suit you (subject to availability). In most instances if the group is 13-16 clients we will offer the trip at the published price. For 12 or fewer clients we would provide a bespoke costing.

The trips in our Independent programme make ideal family holidays for those with children who are old enough (and keen enough!) to enjoy a walking/cycling holiday.

Alternative Travel Group (trading as ATG Oxford) is owned outright by a single shareholder, Christopher Whinney, who founded the company in 1979. Christopher is also Managing Director.

Yes!

ATG Oxford is a fully bonded tour operator, with two licenses and two bonds.

As a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT number 5181), Alternative Travel Group Ltd. has provided a bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. In the event of insolvency, protection is provided for non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK and other non-flight packages excluding pre-arranged travel to and from your destination. Please note that packages booked outside the UK are only protected when purchased directly with Alternative Travel Group Ltd. In the above circumstances, if you have not yet travelled you may claim a refund, or if you have already travelled, you may claim repatriation to the starting point of your non-flight package.

We also hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 2618). All the flights and flights-inclusive holidays booked through ATG Oxford are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL certificate confirming your arrangements and your protection under ATOL. Please check it to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. In the unlikely event of our insolvency the CAA will ensure that you are not left stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. The air-inclusive holidays and flights we arrange are ATOL protected providing either the person who pays for the booking is present in the UK when the booking is made; or if the first leg of any flight or flights we arrange for you commences in the UK. 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.

The Oxford office employs 12 staff and there are approximately 40 freelance Tour Consultants who run our escorted trips and/or manage our independent routes. In addition there is a manager, housekeeper, 3 cooks and 2 cleaners who staff our hotel in Tuscany, Pieve a Castello.

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