Financial protection and peace of mind
EC and UK regulations covering the package travel industry state that arrangements must be in place to protect clients' payments. This can be done either by (a) insurance (b) bonding or (c) a trust account. The trust account option chosen by Grape Escapes means that your money cannot be used by Grape Escapes until after the date that you return home from your holiday. So in the unlikely event that Grape Escapes ran into financial problems your money would always be available to ensure that you could complete your holiday and that the hoteliers and cross channel operators from whom we buy your holiday would be paid. All payments received from you are paid directly into our trust account held with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank. Details of this account can be supplied on request. As a tour operator we're legally bound to hold all your holiday money in this independent trust account to ensure that your payment is 100% protected.

No monies can be released from this account to Grape Escapes until the trustee is satisfied your holiday has been completed. The trustee must be independent of Grape Escapes Ltd. The trustee of the Grape Escapes trust account is
Mr Karl Martins, ACA (chartered accountant). The trustee will not sign for the release of funds from the Grape Escapes trust account until Grape Escapes has produced documentary evidence that the holiday in question has been completed. Contact details for Mr Martins will be supplied on request.

	Customer delight – my pledge to you… My objective from the outset has been for our customers to return home delighted with their holidays and not just satisfied. Because I set such high standards, I am always eager to hear from our customers. I personally choose all of our holiday destinations, hotels, restaurants and vineyards and I guide many of the tours. I know from experience that most customers thoroughly enjoy our trips, but don't take my word for it, please see what last year's customers had to say. I hope that you choose to book a Grape Escapes holiday and that you too return home delighted.
	Mark Hallett Managing Director Grape Escapes Ltd.