Frequently asked questions

Excellent en-suite accommodation, most meals (including wine).  Each of our holidays are slightly different regarding exactly what is included,  so please look at the individual holiday pages  "What's Included" panel on the website or in the brochure for full details.  .

Flights to holiday location on most holidays. However, flights are included for Tuscany and Morocco in 2008. Transport, lunch or dinner on free day. Travel insurance.  Please note on photography holidays we do not include lunches.

We chose the best months of year for walking, painting or other activities.
Also, for those with internet access you can view 10-day forecasts at: http://uk.weather.yahoo.com and browse to find location.

We welcome non-participating partners or friends and offer a discount from the partner or friend's holiday cost.
For 7 nights  - £100, for 6 nights £85, 4 nights £50 and for 2 nights £25.

Our groups include a significant number of single people who are able to enjoy the holiday with people who have similar interests. The prospect of travelling alone can be daunting but we find very quickly everyone has long forgotten this feeling and many new strong friendships are formed on our holidays. Dinner is taken in a group which can vary in size from 10 to 28 when there is another activity group sharing the hotel. This gives you the opportunity to get to know everyone in the group over the length of the holiday over a friendly relaxed dinner in the evenings.

We are delighted to tell you that all 2008 dates in Montsant or Subbética are supplement free. Additionally some of the Isles of Scilly weeks have supplement-free rooms. On our other holidays there is inevitably a single supplement charge which varies between £17 and £60 per night, but for this you are given a twin-bedroom with en-suite facilities. You can indicate you are willing to share a twin but we cannot guarantee this possibility at the time of booking and would ask you to pay a single supplement at the time of booking.

Our groups are small. A typical group size would be 11.

For overseas holidays without flight the holiday begins when we meet you at the destination airport.   Therefore it is possible for you to travel to your location in advance of your holiday, or, remain there after. We ask you to let us know your travel plans so we know where are meeting us. Unless you are staying on, at the end of the holiday you are transferred back to the destination airport and you are therefore able to continue independently rather than taking a flight home.

For overseas holidays with an inclusive flight please telephone our office for further details.

For UK holidays, the holiday begins when we meet you at the local hotel.  It is therefore possible for you to extend your stay at the beginning or end of the holiday.  We can help with booking extra nights accommodation for you.

Yes, any monies you pay is fully protected. Please see full details on financial protection on our webpage "Financial Protection" under General Information.

Not very much!  You will only need extra money for:  personal phone calls, the occasional meal that’ isn’t included, extra drinks in evenings or during the day, any optional excursion on free day and souvenir gifts. Please refer to your individual holiday details for information on exactly what is included. 

The groups are always mixed ability and there are usually two or three complete beginners on each week, seven or eight with some experience and one or two very proficient. Our tutors are very experienced and able to take care of everyone’s individual requirements. We do now offer some Introduction to Painting courses in the UK however. All the equipment and materials needed are provided. If you would like to talk direct with a tutor prior to making a booking just let us know and we will give you their number.

Prior to your holiday we’ll send you a full equipment list of what to bring and you can also discuss this in detail with your tutor in advance of the holiday. We provide lightweight folding chairs and wooden painting boards except for Ithaca.  We do not supply easels. If you have any queries about equipment, please give us a call.  For Introduction to Painting short courses in the UK, when we provide all the art equipment and materials required.

We structure the painting itinerary so that you only need to walk short distances. Help is available from the tutor’s assistant at all times whether it is to carry your equipment or chair. We use a mini-bus to transport you to locations, even within the village.

Our 6 or 7-night holidays are suitable for all levels as the tutor will tailor this to individual needs.  There will be time set aside for group tutorials and also for one-to-one advisory sessions with your tutor.

The only holiday not suitable for beginners is the Intermediate Level Digital Photography short course.

Any type of camera is fine, as the composition of a photograph is a large part of the holiday, but to progress and get the best out of the holiday/course you should ideally have a camera which has manual control of shutter speed, aperature and exposure.  We are very happy to talk with you further about your camera and its suitability for any of our holidays, so please do contact us.

Prior to your holiday we’ll send you a full equipment list and you can also discuss this in detail with your tutor in advance of the holiday. If you have any queries about equipment, you can contact your tutor through our office.  For the Introduction to Photoshop course, you do need to bring a laptop computer.  For other courses/holidays if you have a laptop that you use for reviewing and storing photographs please feel free to bring this along.  A tripod is helpful but not essential.

You do need to be reasonably fit and wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring locations.  Depending upon individual locations, there can be steep villages and stony paths and tracks to explore. Please see individual holiday details for specific walking conditions.

All our leaders are first-aid qualified and carry first-aid kits and mobile phones.

Prior to your holiday we’ll send you a full equipment list of what to bring. We recommend that you wear walking boots. You will also need a small day sack for your picnic and water and although we have to mention it, waterproofs. If you have any queries about equipment, please give us a call.

We have a variety of walking grades so there is something for everyone. We grade our walks from 1 to 4+ (see Walking Grades) and we are always happy to talk through the options to help you decide which is the best location for you.