close PREPARING TO TRAVEL
At last, vaccine-free USA holidays are back! After three years of travel restrictions, the covid vaccine requirement for foreign air arrivals in the US came to an end on 11th May 2023, beginning a fresh wave of stateside holidays where the whole family can be invited. And when it’s your turn to uncover America, we can ensure your holiday was worth the wait. Learn all you need to know to make your holiday as simple as book, pack, go, below.
GENERAL INFORMATION
If you wish to make any amendments to your reservation, we will do our best to assist you. We can amend any element of your arrangements, including the date of departure, however, only one date change is permitted. Any amendments to your reservation are also subject to availability and charge. If you would like to discuss updating your travel dates, please submit a request via Manage My Booking.
Failure to pay your deposit in full will result in your holiday being cancelled and you may be liable for any unpaid deposit payments. If we move your holiday to a future date, you will be able to keep any deposit money paid so far towards your new booking with us.
Failure to pay the balance of your holiday risks losing your deposit under the terms of our suppliers. If you are unable to pay the balance of an upcoming trip you may benefit from moving your holiday to a new date. That way, you can use any deposit money paid on the new booking.
BEFORE TRAVELLING
Under the Visa Waiver Program, UK Travellers can apply for travel authorisation via an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
An ESTA can let you visit the USA for tourism for up to 90 days, however, it's essential to note that having an ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States, and a customs and border protection officer will make the final determination on your eligibility for admission.
Applications must be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. You are encouraged to apply early, and please note there is a charge of approximately $21 per person. If you are staying at a villa property, when completing your ESTA please state the address of our Ocean Florida Welcome Centre, 8320 Champions Gate Blvd, Davenport, FL 33896.
To complete an ESTA please go to: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
Applying for an ESTA can also be done from your mobile, using the free downloadable ESTA Mobile app from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play Store (Android).
Please be aware that not all UK citizens are permitted to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver scheme, this includes (but is not limited to) UK citizens that have a criminal conviction. For further information please visit: https://help.cbp.gov/
Ocean Holidays cannot be held liable for any passenger that is not permitted to enter the United States.
To pre-book your seats you will need to contact Ocean Holidays on 0203 814 2198 to obtain your airline locator number and then you will need to contact the airline directly to reserve your seats. The process for pre-booking seats varies depending on the airline you are travelling with.
Please note that some airlines do charge for pre-booking seats. If you are not able to pre-book your seats you will be allocated seats upon your arrival to the airport. Please note that if you are travelling on a ‘group booking’ you will not be able to view your flight reservation online, pre-book your seats or check-in online.
For further information about pre-booking seats please visit the website of the airline you are travelling with:
Cancellation requests must be made by the lead passenger via email or telephone. If you are cancelling more than 12 weeks before your departure date you will lose only the deposit you have paid. If you are cancelling within 12 weeks of your departure date, you could lose up to 100% of your holiday cost. Please see more details below relating to the notification period and cancellation charge:
12 weeks or more - Loss of deposit
12 - 8 weeks - 70% of holiday price or deposit if more
8 - 4 weeks - 90% of holiday price or deposit if more
Less than 4 weeks - 100% of holiday price or deposit if more
We recommend that all travellers in your party have adequate travel insurance in place.
We do not currently sell travel insurance; however, we can recommend two providers. See more details on our Travel Insurance Page
Advance Passenger Information (API)
All airlines now require passengers to provide Advance Passenger Information (API). The procedures for providing this information will vary depending upon the airline you are travelling with, in most circumstances, you will be required to provide this information directly to the airline.
Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD)
UK Citizens travelling to the United States are required to provide the airline they are travelling on with Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD). As your travel provider, we shall pass your SFPD information directly to your airline so you don’t have to do this.
Please check with your airline for the most up-to-date information ahead of travelling. Some useful links are below:
For full information about your baggage allowance please visit the website of the airline you are travelling with:
Regarding hand luggage, please ensure any liquids are in containers of less than 100ml including alcohol gel. If you wish to add additional baggage to your booking, such as extra check-in luggage, golf clubs, buggies or car seats you will need to contact your airline directly.
FLYING
If you have a disability and require special assistance, as soon as you arrive at the airport, we can arrange a meet-and-greet team to be on hand. Their assistance includes help with the check-in process and being escorted through security, ensuring you arrive at your gate on time and begin your travels stress-free.
For more information, please visit our dedicated Accessibility Hub.
All airlines no longer issue hard copy tickets. Instead, Ocean Holidays will send you a ‘Travel Itinerary’ which will detail your entire party’s names, flight numbers and your e-ticket number. Your Travel Itinerary will be sent to you 7-10 days prior to your departure date.
When travelling with a child under the age of two, you have the choice of either having the infant seated on your lap, or for the infant to have their own seat.
If the infant is to be seated on your lap you will be charged an infant fare; if the infant has its own seat, you will be charged a child fare. Sky cots are made available by our airline partners on a first come first served basis. For specific information about what infant accessories you are permitted to take on your flights, you will need to contact your airline directly.
Your airline will be carrying out enhanced cleaning before your flight to ensure you have a safe and comfortable onboard experience. When onboard, wearing a face mask is now a matter of personal choice for most airlines. However, we recommend visiting your airline’s website for full details on what to expect.
As of 18th April 2022, travellers to the United States no longer have to wear a mask on US airlines or any other form of American public transport.
As exact policies will vary from airline to airline and are subject to change, we advise you to contact your airline before you travel.
ON HOLIDAY
Our Florida-based Team is just one of the things that make us unique.
Each day, they are ready and waiting to assist the thousands of holidaymakers that we send to the Sunshine State every year. Located just 10 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort in Davenport, they are available via phone or email 24/7 and can help you with everything from directing you to your villa, recommending the best places to shop and dine or helping you choose the perfect attractions to visit.
When travelling outside of Florida, you can still always contact the team if you need any help, advice or support.
It is now commonplace for hotels in the United States to charge a resort fee, which is payable directly to the hotel when you are in resort.
Hotels charge resort fees to cover the costs of services that are available in the hotel such as Wifi in your room and access to the gym. We will endeavour to advise you of any resort fees during the booking process, though they cannot be paid to us directly. Resort fees are subject to change so there is a chance that your hotel may introduce them after your booking has been made or that they increase between the time you make your reservation and your departure date.
For up-to-date information on resort fees, we recommend that you visit the website of the hotel you are staying at.
Our wide range of car hire options can offer you the freedom to explore the US at your own pace. Here are the benefits covered in each of our car hire packages:
Inclusive/Silver
• Unlimited Mileage
• CDW (Collision Damage Waiver)
• $1 Million Liability Cover
• Sales Tax
• State Tax
• Airport Fee’s
• Mechanical Assistance
All Inclusive/Gold
• Unlimited Mileage
• CDW (Collision Damage Waiver)
• $1 Million Liability Cover
• Sales Tax
• State Tax
• Airport Fee’s
• Mechanical Assistance
• Additional Drivers
• Initial Tank of Fuel
To learn more about your vehicle options and to receive a car hire quote, please click here.
At the time of booking, you can add a sat nav to your car hire from just £35 per week. Alternatively, you can buy sat nav locally in the US from $12 per day (plus tax). If you have a UK sat nav, they can be updated with US maps before you travel from approximately £35.
Many customers also choose to use navigation apps on their mobile phones whilst in Florida. Please ensure that you have checked the data costs with your cellular network provider before departing from the UK. Many providers offer data bundles to reduce the cost.
Please note, all children under the age of four must be secured in a federally approved child restraint seat (car seat). Children over four can wear seatbelts. Just like in the UK, it is a legal requirement for adults to wear a seatbelt in Florida. Car seats can also be reserved at the point of booking, prior to departure and in resort. Alternatively, car seats can be purchased at a relatively low price once you are in Florida at outlets such as Target and Walmart.
As safety protocols aboard cruises are subject to change, please see the latest information from your cruise line directly using the links below:
• Celebrity Cruises
• Carnival Cruise
• Royal Caribbean
• Disney Cruise
• Norwegian Cruise Line
RETURNING HOME
From 4am on 18th March 2022, the requirement of completing a passenger locator form before arriving in the United Kingdom has been removed. The end of this final Covid travel measure by the UK means there is no post-travel documentation you need to be aware of other than the regular requirements of a passport and plane ticket.
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