Search Holidays FAQs

Book online at any time, or call us free:

• For European holidays: 0800 9885 886
• For long haul holidays: 0800 9885 886

To book you'll need these details for everyone who’s travelling:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Contact number
• Passport number
• Emergency contact details

If you're taking out the optional Saga Holidays Travel Insurance, which is tailored for the over 50s, we’ll also need your medical history to check your eligibility. It’s underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited.

You can look at itineraries on our website. We'll send you a full itinerary once you've booked, around 10 weeks before your departure.

If you aren’t sure, have a look at our accessibility and support section. Or get in touch and we’ll help you decide.

You can message one of our live chat team using the blue ‘chat now’ button on the right of the screen, when available.

You can read our brochures online or order a copies by post. If you’d like them posted, just choose which you’d like us to send and they’ll appear on the top left of the page. Then enter your address and we’ll post them out.

Of course. The best way to do this is to update your communication preferences at MySaga Or call us free on 0800 092 3665.

Please note it might take up to six weeks for us to stop mailing you.

Yes. You can change up to 75 days before you depart for your holiday. There'll be a small fee for the changes and if your new holiday is more expensive, you'll need to pay the difference. If it's less than 75 days before your holiday, the cost will be calculated based on your booking. Just get in touch:

• For European holidays: 0800 9885 886
• For long haul holidays: 0800 9885 886

Either use Manage my booking or get in touch and we'll update them for you.

You can do this in Manage my booking. Or get in touch and we'll update them for you.

You are welcome to cancel or change your booking - just get in touch.

You’ll be charged our normal cancellation or amendment fees. You’ll find these in our booking conditions.

Our highest priority is always the well being and safety of customers. For this reason, we've made the decision to introduce a policy that requires all customers travelling with Saga Holidays until 31 December 2022 to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This requirement adds an extra layer to Saga's Reassurance Promise, created to make sure you feel safe during every part of your journey with us. There are different options available to demonstrate your vaccination status.

The proof (printed or via the NHS App) must be dated after 1 November 2021 and are only valid for 20 days and then you will require a new version downloaded or issued. You will need to have your proof with you throughout your holiday, ready to present when required.

Take a look at our NHS COVID Pass section for more details.

All UK Government testing requirements have been removed. However, a pre-departure test by the destination to be visited may still be required.

The latest information can be found on the Entry Requirements page of the UK Government Travel Advice website for the country you are visiting.

Please remember to pack the following documents in your hand luggage:

• A valid 10-year passport with at least six months validity remaining.
• A valid NHS COVID Pass as proof of your vaccination status. If you already have one, please ensure the barcodes are still valid for your holiday as these expire after six months. Please check the individual guidance for the country you are visiting as some destinations have specific information on what they will accept as proof.
• If you have arranged your own insurance, please ensure that it covers you for COVID-19 and remember to bring your policy documents with you.

It is no longer a requirement to complete a passenger locator form ahead of travelling back to the UK.

• Ensure you can receive and open emails whilst abroad. Some countries require you to fill in a health declaration before you enter the country. This can be filled in online and will be emailed to you to show when you enter. You’ll also receive any pre-departure test results (if required) via email and will need to show this too.
• Check the entry requirements for the country you’re travelling to by checking the FCDO travel website. This will have the most up-to-date information on what you need to do to be able to gain entry to the country. It’s worth checking this often as requirements can change quite quickly. We will let you know what you need to do when we send your pre-departure documents.

Mask wearing is no longer mandatory in the UK, but some overseas destinations may still need a face covering so ensure that you have some with you.

It is no longer a requirement to wear a face covering whilst at your UK departure airport. Check with your airline via their website for the most up to date guidance on mask wearing during your flight.

Masks may be required on coaches when transferring to your hotel or on excursions.

The health and safety of all our guests is of paramount importance.

All suppliers, including hotels, coach companies and excursion providers, have agreed to enhanced hygiene standards, as well as local requirements for cleanliness and any social distancing measures.

If you become unwell due to any illness, your Tour Manager or resort staff will be on hand to help you and liaise with our 24-hour Duty Officers if necessary.

• We will not knowingly operate any holidays where there is a local requirement for you to quarantine.
• We cannot guarantee that everything will be open in the areas you are visiting. This will depend on local guidelines. 
• Food arrangements may vary whilst you are on your holiday. This will depend on the destination and local guidelines.
• We will let you know prior to departure if any of your hotel’s facilities are unavailable.
• If some elements of your holiday cannot go ahead or have changes due to COVID-19, we will endeavour to let you know before you travel. In some circumstances changes may occur that we are not made aware of, should that be the case our Tour Managers or resort staff will let you know as soon as possible.

The NHS COVID Pass is an official document that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status. It is required to board our ships and to gain entry to certain ports and countries. It includes a square 2D barcode (also known as a QR code) for each dose you have received.

These barcodes expire after six months, so it is important to check that they are valid for the duration of your cruise or holiday and to renew your pass if required. Your NHS COVID Pass must include valid 2D barcodes to be accepted.

You must obtain your NHS COVID pass before leaving home. You will need your NHS number to hand when applying. Please ensure the first and last names on your COVID Pass match what is shown on your passport. You will need to ask your GP to update their records if this is not the case.

Electronically

You can then either:

• Print a copy and bring it with you
• Save it to your smartphone or tablet device to show at the port

England – Download your pass or access it via the NHS App (not the NHS COVID App).

Wales – Download your pass

Scotland – Download your pass or access it via the NHS Scotland COVID Status App.

Northern Ireland – Download your pass or access it via the COVIDCert NI App.

By Post

Please allow enough time for it to arrive and remember to pack it in your hand luggage.

England – Call 119 or request one online. Please allow up to seven working days for it to arrive.

Wales – Call 0300 303 5667. Please allow up to 10 working days for it to arrive.

Scotland – Call 0808 196 8565 or request one online. Allow at least 14 days for it to arrive.

Northern Ireland – Call 0300 200 7814. You will need to verify your identity in person by presenting documents at an appointed time and location. Once identity checks have been completed it may take up to 10 working days for the printed certificate to arrive.

You will need to get official proof from the country in which you were vaccinated to show that you have been fully vaccinated and received a first booster dose using a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the UK Medical and Healthcare Regulatory Authority.

To check if your vaccine is eligible, please visit the NHS website.

There are several variations of the NHS COVID Pass and the layout will differ depending on where and how it was issued.

However, for it to be accepted, it must contain the following details for each dose received:

1. A square 2D barcode – each barcode has an expiry date beneath or next to it. Please check that your barcodes are valid for the duration of your cruise. If not, you will need to renew your pass.
2. Your name and date of birth – please ensure that your first name, surname and date of birth match that shown on your passport. If any of the details are incorrect, your GP surgery will need to update them.
3. Details of what vaccine you received, when you received it and where.

If you’re travelling anywhere that needs them, we’ll tell you when you book. And we’ll remind you in your confirmation documents.

You can also check the latest advice on the NHS Fit for Travel website. If you need any jabs we recommend speaking to your doctor at least 12 weeks before you leave.

We publish the latest information on our travel updates page. If we need to make any changes because of global events we’ll get in touch to talk them over.

It’s a good idea to bring foreign currency for any excursions you’re going to take. You can also pay by card in plenty of places – though you might want to check fees and let your card provider know you’ll be travelling.

Just go to the UK government foreign travel advice website.

You'll need to arrange your ESTA yourself if you're travelling to the US on an Escorted Tour.

If you need a visa for your Europe hotel holiday, we’ll send you the form about eight weeks before you leave. If it hasn't arrived by then, please get in touch or email us at reservations@saga.co.uk.

If you need a visa for your Escorted Tour, you'll need to arrange this yourself. Find advice on what to do at CIBT and the FCDO. Generally, you should apply for your visa around 10-12 weeks before your tour.

Yes, you can. You can book some excursions in advance and others on your tour or at your hotel.

They’re a great way to see more of the places you visit. Most excursions have an experienced guide who’ll answer questions and tell you lots of fascinating facts and stories about the place you’re visiting.

We recommend comfortable, low-heeled shoes.

If you’re visiting churches, cathedrals or other holy places, please dress modestly – so no shorts or bare arms.

Please also bear in mind that some places – especially museums – don’t let you carry bags and cameras. You might need to pay to check them into a locker or safety deposit box.

We don’t include them in the price. You absolutely don’t have to tip your guide or driver, but they’ll always appreciate it if they’ve made a difference to your day. We'll leave the amount up to you.

No. You’ll need to buy refreshments unless we say otherwise when you book.

Yes. A host or tour manager will join you on your tour.

You can smoke or vape where it’s allowed in public places, but not when you’re on our coaches.

By debit or credit card, or by cheque.

Please make cheques payable to Saga Holidays with your name, address and booking reference written on the back. Then post them to Saga PLC, 3 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG.

If you book an excursion in resort, you can pay by any Visa or Mastercard credit card. Local currency may also be used but it'll depend on where you're going.

You can change to another excursion up to 72 hours before the day your holiday starts.

If you cancel completely or make a change within 72 hours, you’ll still need to pay the full excursion cost (unless you have a medical certificate to show why you’re cancelling so late).

The price includes all entry fees for sites and attractions unless we say otherwise. Our prices are right when we publish them. They might go up though – especially if you’re booking while aboard.

We’ll give you approximate times. So please check the Saga noticeboard or ask your Saga host for exact timings.

Your booking will cover you on our excursions for loss or damage during (or to do with) an excursion up to twice its cost. This excludes death or personal injury caused by our negligence.

You can read through the excursion details or ask one of our team. We’ll be happy to give you advice about whether a particular excursion is right for you – for example if you have walking difficulties or an impairment.

It’s your decision, ultimately. (Unless we’re worried you won’t be safe or could cause problems for other people on the trip.)

Yes, they can. We do everything we can to give you accurate information, but sometimes details can change.

We’ll of course try to let you know about any changes to excursions before you go. But sometimes something might even change during the trip. If there’s a major change you’ll be able to cancel with no charge.

Sometimes, very unusually, we might cancel an excursion if we think it’ll be unsafe or for some reason outside our control. Excursions also have minimum and maximum numbers and are covered by our booking conditions.

You check in online.

You’ll see the details after you’ve checked in online. You can see when check-in opens and find out about where you’re sitting, and about assistance and support.

You can take small amounts of liquid but there are tight restrictions. Please check hand luggage restrictions at UK airports for full details.

If your airline needs extra details for the Advanced Passenger Information system, we’ll let you know when you book. It’s also a good idea to keep your details up to date in Manage my booking.

These are the hand luggage restrictions at UK airports.

• European flights: at least two hours before your flight.
• Long haul flights: at least three hours before your flight.
• UK domestic flights: at least one hour before your flight.

Don’t worry though: we’ll include these details in your final travel documents.

We’ll let you know in your final travel documents, which you’ll get around two weeks before you leave.

If you are want to book an airport hotel, lounge or parking, we recommend talking to our partners at Holiday Extras. They can find out your terminal details from your flight numbers (which are on your confirmation invoice and in Manage my booking).

To book with Holiday Extras, either go through their website or call them for free on 0800 093 5431.

Whilst we don’t have airport representatives at UK airports for all of our overseas holidays, we do have Duty Officers at the end of the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you need any assistance.

Their telephone number is 01303 771999.

This will depend on local guidelines, as your Tour Manager may not be allowed in the terminal building. However, they will make sure they are positioned outside in a space where you will be able to find them easily.

Each airline has their own set of requirements for travel. Please follow the link to your chosen airline where you will find all of the important information you will need to bear in mind ahead of your flight.

• Air Canada
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Easyjet
• Emirates
• Eurostar
• JET2
• KLM
• Lufthansa
• LATAM
• Norwegian
• QANTAS
• Ryanair
• Uzbekistan Airways
• Virgin

We’ll send them with your holiday confirmation. And you can also see them in the documents section of Manage my booking . If you haven’t booked yet, you can check our booking conditions.

Our holidays are exclusively for over-50s. You can travel with a companion who is over 40 though.

No, it’s fine. It normally just means there aren’t any spaces left. If there are any issues with your booking, we’ll get in touch to let you know.

You can message one of our live chat team with the blue ‘chat now’ button on the right of the screen, when available.

Please refer to your policy booklet for details of what activities are covered.

To travel on a Saga holiday with our optional travel insurance the lead booker must be over the age of 50, while additional travellers can be aged 40 or over.

There is no upper age limit.

Unfortunately, this is not possible as our optional travel insurance is a set price for all travellers, subject to a medical screening.

Yes. You’ll need comprehensive travel insurance covering your holiday.

We include optional Saga Holidays Travel Insurance with all our overseas holidays. It’s underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Ltd and includes extra cancellation rights. You’ll need to answer some questions about your health before you take it out. See what's covered.

If you don’t want our optional Saga Holidays Travel Insurance, we’ll take it off your price and you can arrange your own cover.

Yes, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is not a substitute for travel insurance – It is complementary to it.

An EHIC or GHIC does not cover you for all the medical costs that you can incur or for repatriation, lost baggage, or cancellations.

You may cancel your Saga optional travel insurance policy at any time prior to your departure date and receive the relevant discount.

Please contact us free of charge on 0800 092 6160 to speak to our Insurance Department.

If you have optional Saga Holidays Travel Insurance and your health changes, please tell us as soon as you can. This means we can make sure you stay covered. Just call us for free on:

• For European holidays: 0800 9885 886
• For long haul holidays: 0800 9885 886

If you need to discuss any matters concerning your optional travel insurance, please contact the Holidays Customer Care team by calling free on 0800 092 6160.

If you need to get in touch with us for any other reason, please visit our contact us page.

Non-UK residents can travel with us. However, we are unable to offer our optional travel insurance to non-UK residents. For more information, please refer to our policy booklet.

An excess of £70 will apply to each claim as follows:

• Section 1: Medical and associated expenses
• Section 2: Curtailment
• Section 5: Baggage
• Section 6: Money and documents
• Section 10: Travel delay (other than compensation for each 12-hour period where no excess applies).

At Saga we offer comprehensive cover to suit your needs when joining your Saga Holiday.

To enable us to do this we require details of your medical health so that we can assess whether we can offer insurance to suit your needs.

Yes. If you’re planning on travelling more than once a year our annual travel insurance, arranged by our sister company Saga Services Ltd, may be a better choice.

It gives you up to 120 days of total cover a year or up to 45 days per trip (which you can extend unless you’re travelling to the USA, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean Islands). It also gives you a discount on Saga holidays or cruises. The policy is underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited.

Just call us on 0800 015 8055 or get a quote online to find out more.

If we can’t give you optional Saga Holidays Travel Insurance underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited, we may be able to offer you standalone travel insurance, provided by our sister company Saga Services Ltd. To find out more please call 0800 015 8055 or get a quote online.

Yes, we are. That means we may be able to help cover you if you have a serious medical condition. Find out more about the Money Helper travel insurance directory.

If you would like to receive your documents in a different format (large print, audio or braille), please contact us on 0800 300 600 so we can discuss your needs. 

Losing a loved one is always difficult. We understand that organising the administration of your loved one’s estate can feel like a long and arduous task, so we are committed to providing you with guidance and support during this challenging time.

Please call one of our specialist team members on 0800 092 6160 or email customercare@saga.co.uk.

Our team will ensure any policies and bookings are cancelled, discuss any refund available and stop any future promotional mailings and emails (this can take up to six weeks). We will need confirmation of the executor details to progress with any refunds that may be applicable.

Here are some support services you may also find helpful:

Cruse 
A freephone national helpline staffed by trained bereavement volunteers who offer emotional support to anyone affected by bereavement.

Phone: 0808 808 1677

Marie Curie 
A free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of bereavement.

Phone: 0800 090 2309

If you have an insurance policy or are looking to purchase insurance with us, you can inform us of any additional support you may need.

• You may require additional support if:
• You have a physical disability (either temporary or permanent)
• You’re living with a mental health condition such as dementia
• You’re living with learning difficulties
• English is not your first language
• You have caring responsibilities, or are cared for
• You’ve recently lost a loved one
• You have a long-term illness
• You have a hearing, sight or speech impairment
• You have experienced a significant life event, such as a relationship breakdown or financial loss
• You just require a little bit of extra help.

We're only too happy to help. We understand that insurance can be complicated and it's important that you're comfortable and confident that your insurance meets your needs.

If you would like an explanation about the wording or the policy, please let the person you're talking to know.

Don’t be worried about asking questions:

• Don’t be afraid to ask us to repeat a question
• Please tell us if you need us to slow down or speak up
• If you would prefer us to speak to someone you trust who you would like to make decisions on your behalf, just let us know
• If at any time a call becomes overwhelming, please let the call handler know, and we’ll call you back once you’ve had a break.

It can be worrying after you've received a suspicious phone call, text, letter, or email, or you've been visited by a cold caller who you're not sure is genuine. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in scams since the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve set up the Saga Fraud and Scam Helpline for all Saga customers. This 24-hour helpline is provided by Arc Legal Assistance. It's free and you can call any time of the day or night to talk to a trained adviser in complete confidence.

Simply call 0800 656 9921 and quote 'Saga Scam Helpline'.

Just go to our online Manage my booking service to log in. Or you can find the link at the top of the page on the Saga website. Only the lead passenger can log in. You’ll need your booking number, surname and date of birth.

On Manage my booking you can:

• pay online
• update your details
• book excursions
• book our VIP door-to-door car service
• see your itinerary, room or cabin and flight details.

The best way is to pay online at Manage my booking. We don’t charge for debit or credit cards. (We don’t take American Express.)

You’ll need to pay a deposit for each guest when you book:

• For Escorted Tours - £250 for Short Haul and £395 for Long Haul, or 10% of the holiday cost, whichever is more.
• For Hosted Hotel holidays – £195.

You may need to pay a higher deposit or full payment on some holidays, but we'll let you know when you book.

You can pay by debit or credit card for no extra charge. (We don’t take American Express.)

We process refunds within 28 days of updating your booking. If we’re refunding to a debit or credit card, it can take up to ten days after we've processed your refund for the money to reach you. If it hasn’t arrived by then, please get in touch.

Log in to Manage my booking and go to the ‘payment history’ section. You’ll see what you’ve paid and when, as well as anything left to pay.

Once you’ve booked, write your booking reference number on your voucher and send it to 3 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG.

We only accept vouchers for your final balance – you can’t use them for deposits.

Full details about what's included with our hotel stays, Escorted Tours and UK holidays can be found here here.

The price of your tour won't change within 20 days of your departure (unless you choose to add or change something). If the price of your travel goes up by 2% we'll cover this (except for amendment charges).

You may be charged if it goes up by more than 2%. If it increases by more than 8% you can change to another holiday (if we can offer one) and we'll refund any price difference if the new holiday is cheaper.

You can also choose to cancel and receive a full refund (except for amendment charges).

First of all, find out what we offer on our accessibility and support page. It’ll give you a good idea of how we can help you get the most out of your holiday.

If you’d prefer to talk to someone, get in touch with our guest experience team before you travel.

If you’ve already booked and haven’t asked about assistance yet, please let us know at least 48 hours before you leave.

If you would like support and assistance regarding your connected travel insurance, we offer numerous tools and services to help you. Visit our insurance FAQ pages for more information.

Yes, you can upgrade with most scheduled airlines. To find out more and get prices, either use our online chat or get in touch.

Some of our hotels offer room upgrades. If you’d like to find out more, use Manage my booking or call us:

• For European holidays: 0800 9885 886
• For long haul holidays: 0800 9885 886

If there’s something specific you need or want, just call us for free:

• For European holidays: 0800 9885 886
• For long haul holidays: 0800 9885 886

Our VIP door-to-door car service means a driver will pick you up from home and take you to the airport. Then they’ll be waiting at the airport when you get back, ready to whisk you back home again.

All long-haul tours include our VIP car service. From 2023 it'll be included on all tours. Find out more.

If anything changes (like flight times), we’ll take care of things for you. If you’ve already booked, you can book the car service or get a quote online or get in touch.

We’ll tell you in your final travel documents a couple of weeks before you leave. We plan our journeys carefully so we can’t make any changes to those times.

They’ll be waiting in the arrivals area holding a card with your name. So they should be easy to spot.

Please call us on 01293 450570. The line is open 24/7.

We plan for one large suitcase per person. If you’re going to take more, please let us know so we can make sure the car we send is big enough.

We use executive cars for up to two people and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) for three or more people. We’ll let you know what sort of car we’re sending in your final travel documents, next to your pick-up time.

It depends how far you’re travelling. Your driver will check with you when they pick you up.

You might share the journey with up to three or (very occasionally) five other passengers in one of our larger MPVs. You won’t be cramped though: you’ll always have room to stretch out and stow your luggage.

If your trip is under 100 miles, it might add up to 30 minutes to the journey. If it’s over 100 miles it might be up to an hour.

We’re more than happy to help you track down any new friends you meet. But we can’t share other people’s contact details. We can send them your details so they can get in touch though.

If you’d like us to do that, just email us at customer.relations@saga.co.uk with as many details about them as possible.

We work hard to make sure our holidays go smoothly. And if they don’t, we want to hear about it. So if there’s anything you aren’t happy about, please mention it to your tour manager or Saga Host so they can sort things out.

If you’ve already spoken to them and still aren’t happy, please email us at customer.relations@saga.co.uk.

If you’ve given us your email in Manage my booking, we’ll send you a survey a couple of days before you return from your holiday.

• Flights: if your luggage goes missing at the airport or arrives damaged, you’ll need to report it to the airline or baggage handler. They’ll ask you to fill in a property irregularity report (PIR). They’ll either use this to track your luggage or you can use it to claim for damage with your airline. It’s important to report any damage before you leave the airport.
• Car service: please get in touch as soon as possible so we can track down your luggage quickly and arrange its safe return.