Got a query? We’re all ears! Find the answers to some of your most-asked questions below!
When you book with us, your money is tucked away safely in a 100% secure Trust Account, giving you full financial protection.
Read MoreIf you have any questions about a holiday or would like to make a booking, drop a message to our Reservations team here with your needs and how they can contact you. Or you can give us a buzz on 01709 289 792 to chat with a member of our team.
Yes, it’s simple! You can use our availability and booking engines to find and book your holiday. Once you’ve chosen your perfect match, click on the departure dates tab and select ‘book now’. Then all you have to do is follow the instructions to then make your booking – easy peasy!
Yes, you can! Either pop in or telephone their office with your holiday must-haves and they’ll take it from there.
We accept payment by credit card or debit card, or if you like to do things old-school, you can also send us a cheque by post, made payable to Shearings.
While we don’t accept PayPoint, we do accept payment online at any time with a debit or credit card via your MyBooking account. Or you can make a bank transfer to the account shown on your confirmation invoice. If you’re paying by bank transfer, please make sure to include your booking ID and surname in the payment reference – otherwise there may be delays in allocating your payment!
You can find the date that your balance is payable on your confirmation invoice – but don’t worry, we will send you a gentle nudge by email to remind you.
We’ll automatically collect your balance on the due date shown on your confirmation invoice, using the card you used for your last payment. This will be the same card as your deposit payment, unless you've paid with a different card since. Don’t worry, we’ll send you friendly reminders before the due date!
If the last card you used is due to expire before your balance is collected, it’s no problem! You can settle your balance in other ways. Simply log in to your MyBooking account and pay online anytime with another debit or credit card or make a bank transfer to the account details on your confirmation invoice – it’s super easy! If you choose bank transfer, don’t forget to include your booking ID and surname in the payment reference so we can process your payment smoothly.
We have lots of joining points to choose from! Find your closest by clicking here.
Our UK tours run on an alternate departure schedule, split between the north and south. This helps us ensure everything runs smoothly, no matter where you’re starting from. Don’t worry, we’ll always offer alternate dates that are as close together as possible to fit your plans!
Most of our excursions are included in the price of your holiday, but if you’d prefer to head off on your own adventure, that’s totally fine! Just a heads-up, though – if you decide to skip an included excursion, we won’t be able to offer a refund.
This depends on the tour you choose. You’ll find the prices listed with the tour itinerary, and they’ll also be included in your Travel Documents, sent out 5 days before departure. If you’d like an idea of approximate prices in advance, just give our friendly Customer Service team a call at 01709 222 549 – they’ll be happy to help!
You can book optional excursions with your coach driver or Tour Manager on a first-come-first-served basis, so availability will depend on demand. Some of the more popular tours can be pre-booked when you when making your reservation. Just a heads-up – there is a chance the running order of excursions may be altered without prior notice.
We only accept payment in the local currency (don’t worry, we’ll send you all the details on prices and currency in your travel documents, which will arrive 5 days before you depart).
In short, yes! In long, you will receive one with your travel documents, which will arrive 5 days before you depart.
Sadly, single supplement prices are out of our hands as they’re set by each individual hotel. But we always try to find accommodation with low or no single room supplements wherever we can!
We sure do! You can look through our full collection of Self-Drive Breaks by clicking here.
We think our holidays are best suited for kids 6 and up (or 8 and up for our European tours), but we’re always open to considering special requests on application. Just a heads-up – if you’re traveling with anyone under 18, they’ll need to be accompanied by an adult, parent, or guardian who's over 18.
Your furry friends are allowed on a selection of our self-drive holidays, specifically at former Coast & Country hotels, where well-behaved pups are allowed throughout the building. Just a note – only assistance dogs are allowed on our coaches.
For Event Getaways, please note that event dates can change. If the event is cancelled beyond our control, we may need to adjust the date or run the holiday without the event.
Most events are outdoors, so to make the most of your break, we recommend wearing weather-appropriate clothes and comfy footwear for a full day outside!
If you’re a British citizen heading on a UK holiday, then you don’t have to worry about travel insurance. If you’re a non-British citizen taking a UK holiday, then you will need to have travel insurance or return a signed indemnity form to us before departure.
For all European tours, everyone will need to have travel insurance or return a signed indemnity form to us before departure.
Need an indemnity form? Just give our Customer Service team a buzz on 01709 222 549 and they’ll sort you out!
Of course you can! All we’ll need is the name, policy number and details of the emergency and medical repatriation telephone within 14 days of booking.
Sorry, our insurance is for United Kingdom residents only!
You are not required to declare your medical conditions. However, to be covered for any medical conditions you have or have had, you must be able to answer NO to questions 1. to 4. and YES to questions 5. and 6. a) and b) below:
If you are travelling outside of the United Kingdom:
You must telephone the Towergate Medical Line on 0344 892 1698 if anyone to be covered by this policy, or any person upon whose health the trip depends:
The Towergate Medical Line office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays. PLEASE NOTE - You must also notify the Towergate Medical Line immediately of any changes in medical circumstances arising between the date the policy is issued and the time of departure for the trip. You may have to pay an additional premium to cover your medical conditions. This applies to all destinations including trips solely within the United Kingdom (being defined as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isles of Scilly).
Good news! There’s no age limit on the insurance you can take out through Shearings.
The cost of insurance depends on which tour you choose to book, with prices starting from £29pp (including Insurance Premium Tax, aka IPT). For the exact price for your tour, simply give our Customer Service team a buzz on 01709 249 686 – they’ll be happy to help!
For all UK tours, front row seats can be reserved for £20pp and second row seats for £15pp.
For European tours, front row seats can be reserved for £15pp (on up to 6 days duration), £25pp (7 or 8 days), £30pp (9 to 11 days) or £35pp (12 days or more).
Second row seats for European tours can be reserved for £8pp (on up to 6 days duration), £15pp (7 or 8 days), £18pp (9 to 11 days) or £22pp (12 days or more).
On both our European and UK tours, you can pre-book central view seats at no extra cost! This offer is available for groups of two or four people and is subject to availability, so be sure to book early to secure your spot.
Just a heads-up – guaranteed front or second-row seats aren’t available on transfer journeys to or from the interchange. Sometimes, these seats might be offered on a request-only basis, but it’s not a guarantee.
For safety reasons, children under 15 aren’t allowed to sit in the front seats of any coach.
One some coaches, the legroom for front, central view and seats in front of the washroom might be tighter due to a modesty board in front.
If your tour gets cancelled or merged and the front or second-row seats, central view seats, or table seats you booked aren’t available, we’ll refund any supplement you paid. No other compensation will be offered.
If you have a seating preference, just let us know when you book! While we can’t guarantee specific seats, but we’ll do our best. Your seat numbers will be confirmed in your travel documents that arrive around 5 days before your holiday.
On your main tour coach, yes, you will! However, please note that seats on the transfer coaches to and from the interchange do not have allocated seats.
Transfer coach routes are usually sorted about 2-3 weeks before departure, depending on where passengers are heading from. If you’re curious about the route to the port, just give our Customer Service team a call on 01709 249 686 two weeks before you travel. As for the main tour coach, the driver calls the shots on the route!
All our main tour coaches come with on-board toilets for your comfort. Just a heads-up – there is a chance that transfer vehicles to and from the interchange might not have them.
All our coaches come with air-conditioning to keep things nice and cool. If the AC decides to take a break for over 12 hours, we’ll offer up to £10pp in compensation – just our way of keeping you comfy!
We’re a smoke-free zone! All our coaches and transfer vehicles have a strict no-smoking-on-board policy, and that includes electronic cigarettes.
Yes, but to keep things comfortable for everyone, please leave the hot food and ice cream at home.
For everyone’s comfort, we ask that you leave your own alcohol at home.
Depending on where you're being picked up, you might hop on a coach (not necessarily the one you'll be touring on), a minibus, taxi, or even a National Express or Megabus service. There is also the chance you will be taken to another centralised pick-up location or service station. We operate passenger interchanges, where you will meet the tour coach you are holidaying on and then continue on with your journey. On the way home, you might also switch transfer vehicles again before heading to your final drop-off point.
For our UK tours, we’ll bring you to one of four interchanges: Lymm Services, Cobham Services, Skelton Lake Services, or Rugby Services.
For European tours, we’ll bring you to Stop24 Services.
You’re allowed one medium-sized suitcase per person, weighing no more than 20kg when packed. Any larger or heavier cases might not be able to come along. As for hand luggage, please store it in the overhead racks on the coach – nothing should be hiding under your seat!
We use both the ferry and Eurotunnel for our journeys, depending on operational needs. You’ll find out which one you’ll be taking in your travel documents, sent about 5 days before your trip.
Yes, you can!
We do not own the hotels we use for our tours.
If it’s easier, you can hop on the tour directly at the hotel. Depending on your chosen destination, we might need a copy of your passport for identification – just let us know when you book! Please note, there won’t be any reduction in cost if you choose this option.
Every hotel room comes with private bathroom facilities, so you can enjoy some extra comfort!
Some do! If you would like to see if your hotel has tea and coffee making facilities, check the tour page or give our Customer Service team a buzz on 01709 249 686.
Some do! If you would like to see if your hotel has a lift, give our Customer Service team a buzz on 01709 249 686.
Some do! If you would like to see if your hotel has ground floor rooms, give our Customer Service team a buzz on 01709 249 686.
No need to pack towels – your hotel will have them ready in your room!
We can’t always guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary needs. Please note, many European countries may not cater specifically for vegetarians, so your meal could be a meat-free version of what everyone else is having. To help us plan, we recommend you let us know your dietary requests when booking, and also have a quick chat with the receptionist when you arrive.
We cannot guarantee entertainment as it will be up to the hotel, so it may vary depending on where you’re staying!
For most UK tours, British passport holders won’t need to bring their passport, but we’ll let you know in your travel documents if you do. For all other passport holders, you’ll need to bring your passport with you.
Everyone traveling to Europe, including infants and children, will need a full passport. Just a heads-up – British passports can take up to 10 weeks to arrive, so be sure to plan ahead!
If you're not a British citizen, make sure to check the passport and visa requirements with the consulate of the country you're visiting or traveling through. You can also reach out to 'Action Visa' at 0207 939 8100 for more information!
You’ll need local currency for your holiday. Not sure which one? Check with your travel agent, foreign exchange, or bank – or give our Customer Service team a buzz on 01709 249 686!
Hotels may not offer currency exchange, so it’s best to check with your travel agent, foreign exchange or bank beforehand.
Credit cards are widely accepted, but some smaller shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels might not take them. It’s a good idea to carry some local currency, just in case!
We do offer holidays suitable for wheelchair users, but if it’s a coach tour, you’ll need to be able to get on and off the coach. Our coaches aren’t designed for wheelchair-reliant travellers, but we can accommodate folding wheelchairs in the luggage compartment.
We want to make sure everyone has a great trip, but we can’t guarantee assistance for wheelchair users or disabled passengers. To ensure everything goes smoothly, we ask that they travel with an able-bodied companion who can help with their needs.
Our excursions are designed to visit some amazing places and public buildings, but they might not always be suitable for those with walking difficulties or require wheelchair access. Some sightseeing tours could involve walking longer distances or navigating cobbled and uneven surfaces.
The accommodation on our tours might not always have ground floor rooms, and lifts aren’t guaranteed. Sometimes you may need to walk from the coach park to the hotel, and a few hotels may have steps up to the reception.
Before booking your tour, it’s really important to check that it’s the right fit for you.
Our coaches aren’t designed for those who rely on a wheelchair, but we can accommodate folding wheelchairs in the luggage compartment. Just a heads-up – the person using the wheelchair will need to be able to get on and off the coach if booking a coach tour.
We can’t guarantee assistance for wheelchair users or disabled passengers, and please note that space for wheelchairs is limited to 2 per coach.
We can only accept bookings for wheelchair users or disabled passengers if they’re traveling with an able-bodied companion who can assist with their needs.
Please let us know when booking if you’ll be bringing a wheelchair, so we can make sure there’s space for safe storage.
For our Music & Theatre Breaks (part of our Mini-Breaks collection), please let us know when booking if you’ll be bringing a wheelchair or mobility scooter and need an accessible/companion seat. We can only arrange this in advance, so we won’t be able to sort it on the day of the performance.