1. Your contract

A binding contract between us comes into existence when we receive the deposit or full payment from you. This contract and all matters arising out of it are governed by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your stay will be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only.

* Changes to these Booking Conditions will only be valid if agreed by us in writing.

2. Changes and cancellation by us

We start planning the stays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors in the brochure and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavor to avoid changes and cancellations, we must reserve the right to do so. * However, we promise we will only cancel your confirmed booking 4 weeks or less before departure where you have failed to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) or where we are forced to do so as a result of circumstances outside our control or force majeure. We will not cancel after this date for any other reason.

Force majeure refers to performance failures caused by:

• natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, floods)
• wars, riots or other major upheaval
• performance failures of parties outside the control of the contracting party

* Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a significant change. Significant changes include the following changes when made before departure; a change of accommodation to that of a lower official classification or standard for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of accommodation area for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a significant change of weekend itinerary missing out one or more major adventure activity.

If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:

1. (for significant changes) accepting the changed arrangements or
2. purchasing an alternative package from us, of a similar standard to that originally booked if available (if the chosen alternative is less expensive than your original one, we will refund the difference but if it is more expensive, we will ask you to pay the difference) or
3. canceling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us.

Please note, the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one. The substitution of sporting activities, at least to a similar alternative, will be considered as a minor change.

If we have to make a significant change or cancel four weeks or less before departure, we will pay you reasonable compensation subject to the following exceptions. Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where:

1. we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or
2. we have to cancel because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your stay has not been reached - in this case we will notify you by the deadline specified. No compensation will be payable if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time).

* In all cases, our liability for significant changes and cancellations is limited to offering you the above mentioned options and, where applicable, compensation payments. We regret we cannot pay any expenses, costs or losses incurred by you as a result of any change or cancellation. * No compensation is payable for minor changes or where we make a significant change or cancel more than four weeks before departure.

Very rarely, we may be forced by force majeure to change or terminate your stay after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away. This is extremely unlikely but if this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result.

3. Our Liability to you

1. We promise to make sure that all parts of the stay we have agreed to arrange as part of our contract are provided to a reasonable standard and in accordance with that contract. We also accept responsibility for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do. We will not, however, be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (for example, loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:

1. the fault of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or
2. the fault of a third party not connected with the provision of your stay which we could not have predicted or avoided or
3. an event or circumstances which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not have predicted or avoided even after taking all reasonable care.
4. the fault of anyone who was not carrying out work for us (generally or in particular) at the time.

In addition, we will not be responsible where you do not enjoy your stay or suffer any problems because of a reason you did not tell us about when you booked your stay or where any problems you suffer did not result from any breach of our contract or other fault of ourselves or, where we were responsible for them, our suppliers or agents or where any losses, expenses, costs or other sum you have suffered relate to any business.

Please note, we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services, activities or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services, activities or facilities are not advertised in our brochure and we have not agreed to arrange them.

2. The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK . The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable stay maker to refuse to take the stay in question.

4. Complaints and problems

In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your stay whilst away, you must immediately inform our representative. Any verbal notification must be put in writing and given to our representative as soon as possible. Until we know about a problem or complaint, we cannot begin to resolve it. Most problems can be dealt with quickly. * If you remain dissatisfied, however, you must write to us within 28 days of your return to the your country giving your booking reference and full details of your complaint.

* For all complaints and claims which do not involve death, personal injury or illness, we regret we cannot accept liability if you fail to notify the complaint or claim entirely in accordance with this clause.

5. Behavior and your Health and Fitness

When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or loss must be paid direct at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If you fail to do so, you will be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us (together with our own and the other partys full legal costs) as a result of your actions.

We expect all clients to have consideration for other people. If in our reasonable opinion or in the reasonable opinion of any other person in authority, you or any member of your party behaves in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any third party or damage to property, we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate the stay of the person(s) concerned. In this situation, the person(s) concerned will be required to leave the accommodation or other service. We will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. If the person is a minor we will arrange all his/her return travel to their contry and inform their parents or gaurdians.No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

In order to take part in sporting activities, all persons should be in good health and possess a reasonable basic level of fitness. If you wish to partake in any water sports you must be able to swim at least 25 metres. If you wish to participate in any of our scuba diving programmes please consult your doctor prior to departure with particular regard to medical history, medication and any pre-existing conditions such as perforated ear drums, high blood pressure, asthma etc. You must advise us prior to travel of any disability, medical or behavioral problems experienced by you and any member of your party which may affect that particular person or any other guests on the stay.

6. Course Rules

ELAS has a set of rules which applies to behavior in the schools, during trips and activities, and in accommodation. These rules are necessary to ensure the safety and security of our young learners. By accepting the terms and conditions parents and students accept and support these regulations.

• Students may not leave the school or be absent from meals without permission from the Course Director.
• Attendance at lessons and participation in weekend trips is compulsory.
• Residential students must observe bedtimes, and silence must be maintained in all rooms after lights out at night. ELAS staff will endeavour to prevent students from leaving the dormitory after 11pm. However EALS is not legally responsible for students who leave the premises after 11pm without permission.
• Fire escapes are for emergency use only.
• Mobile phones must be switched off during lessons. ELAS staff have the right to temporarily confiscate mobile phones if these rules are not adhered to.
• School swimming- pool rules must be strictly observed. No student may enter the pool if there is no lifeguard present.
• Students must hand in their airline tickets and passports to the Course Director for safe keeping.
• Students should keep all other valuables safely locked away. ELAS is not responsible for any losses.
• Smoking is not permitted at any time.
• Students are financially liable for any damage, accidental or otherwise they cause to equipment or furniture.
• Any students breaking these rules, or English law, or persisting in serious anti-social behaviour, will be disciplined. In serious cases (for example violence, shop lifting, stealing, behaving in a way seriously disruptive to the smooth running of the course or any immoral behaviour), students may be sent home early with no refund of fees. The cost of this early return will be charged to the client or guardian.
• Students who leave the course early or take some time off by arrangement with ELAS management are not entitled to any form of refund and ELAS will not take responsibility for them may it be financial or otherwise from the day of exit from the course.

In addtition to the above rules there is a student code of conduct which all students are required to adhere to.

7. Special requests and medical problems

If you have any special request, you must advise us at the time of registeration and clearly note it on your registration form. * Although we will endeavour to meet any reasonable requests, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. * Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part. We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfillment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as standard bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests.

If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your stay, please tell us before you confirm your booking. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we must reserve the right to decline their reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details.

8. Brochure Accuracy

Please note, the information shown in our brochure or this website may have changed by the time you come to book your course. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the brochure at the time of printing, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen course with us at the time of booking.

9. Delay

We regret we are not in a position to offer you any assistance in the event of delay at your outward or homeward point of departure. Any airline concerned may however provide refreshments etc.

10. Early Departure

ELAS is not financially or legally responsible for any students who leave the programme venue early. If any student wishes to leave the programme early, they must obtain first permission from their parents or guardians. If permission from the parents granted, ELAS will facilitate return back to the country of origin. However, no refund or discount will be granted. The student will be responsible for any additional expenses incurred by ELAS in arranging an early return.

11. Health Insurance

All students attending any ELAS activity must have health insurance prior to arrival in the UK. This can be purchased from your home country. Alternatively this can be purchased via the ELAS web site.