How can we help you today?
Here's a list of frequently asked questions about Secret Escapes, from our
deals and policies to your membership account. You can also chat to us by
clicking on the ‘Chat now’ button on the bottom right of your screen - we have
24/7 chatbot assistance, with live agents that will be happy to help.
Alternatively, give us a call on +44 (0) 203 608 0135 (Monday-Friday
9am-5.30pm), or visit our
contact us
page, where our team will aim to get back to you within 48 hours.
How do I know who is responsible for my trip and for looking after me?
Secret Escapes does not own its own hotels, so it acts as an intermediary
between its members and carefully selected travel partners. Secret Escapes
only works with reputable operators and it quality checks them regularly,
using member feedback.
If you have booked a:
-
'Refundable' hotel-only stay: the contract is between the
customer and the hotel.
-
'Refundable' stay but you've purchased flights through Secret
Escapes: the contract is between the customer and the hotel, and the customer
and the airline, but Secret Escapes is your tour operator.
-
'Non-refundable' hotel-only stay: the contract is between the
customer and the hotel.
-
Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday: the contract is between the
customer and Secret Escapes and Secret Escapes is your tour operator.
-
Trusted Partner Flexible Holiday: the contract is between the
customer and the relevant supplier.
You can find your travel provider on your booking confirmation. In the
event of your trip being disrupted you will be contacted by either Secret
Escapes or the operator of your trip.
If you purchased your trip through Secret Escapes, we will do whatever we
can to help you. However, the operator of your trip (be it Secret Escapes
or a partner) will always have the most up to date information.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Cancellation & Rebooking Policy
HOTELS
How do I cancel?
If you have made a booking that enables you to cancel or change your dates
prior to travel (as specified in the offer), you can cancel your booking
up to 8 or 30 days before your check-in date to receive a refund of your
hotel cost (depending on the hotel you've booked).
If you have added flights to this category of hotel offer, please click
here.
You are now able to cancel upcoming bookings on refundable deals yourself.
If you would like to do so, simply head to your
account
and find the relevant reservation under My Bookings - alongside it, you
will see the option to cancel it.
If for any reason you are
not able to make a cancellation, please visit our
contact us
page, scroll to the bottom and select ‘Cancellation Request’.
For hotel bookings, how can I tell if I have an 8 or 30-day cancellation
period?
To find out the cancellation terms of your refundable booking, please
check your booking confirmation. This can be found in your emails, or on
your
account
on the Secret Escapes site.
For hotel bookings, can I cancel within 8 or 30 days of check-in?
For hotel bookings, if you are within 8 days or 30 days of check-in and
therefore outside the cancellation policy, you will not be able to cancel
your hotel booking. Please contact your insurance provider to discuss your
options.
We understand that you may need to cancel your trip at short notice for
other unforeseen reasons, including family tragedy. If these circumstances
apply, please contact us using this
form
and we will aim to get back to you as quickly as possible.
How do I change the date of my hotel only booking?
If you have made a booking enabling you to cancel or change dates prior to
travel (as specified in an offer) and you wish to change your booking
within the relevant cancellation period - more than 8 or 30 days away
(depending on the cancellation policy of the hotel you have booked), you
are able to change the dates of your booking yourself. To do this, simply
sign in to your
account
and find the relevant reservation under ‘Bookings'. Here, you will see the
option to change your dates.
Please note, changing the dates of your booking is subject to availability
and may not always be possible. If the hotel you originally booked has now
ended and is therefore not bookable, you'll be able to cancel your booking
to receive a refund in Secret Escapes credit, which you can use to book a
different hotel.
If your hotel booking is outside the relevant
cancellation period - less than 8 or 30 days away (depending on the
cancellation policy of the hotel you have booked), you will be unable to
cancel or change the date of your hotel only booking.
If you have added flights to this category of hotel offer, please click
here
How will I receive my credit refund for my hotel only booking?
If you have booked a hotel-only offer which enables you to cancel or
change your dates prior to travel (as specified in an offer) and no longer
wish to travel, you are able to cancel upcoming bookings yourself within
your relevant cancellation period and receive a refund to Secret Escapes
credit (minus the applicable cancellation fee), so that you can book for a
later stage or pick another deal. If you would like to do so, simply head
to your
account
and find the relevant reservation under My Bookings - alongside it, you
will see the option to cancel it.
How long do I have to use my refunded credit?
Refunded credits are valid for 12 months from the date they entered your account.
HOTELS WITH ADDED FLIGHTS
How do I cancel my hotel booking with an added flight?
For hotel bookings which enable you to cancel or change dates prior to
travel (as specified in the offer) plus an added flight, you can still
cancel the hotel element of your booking up to 8 or 30 days before your
check-in date to receive a refund for your hotel cost to Secret Escapes
credit (depending on the sale you've booked and minus the applicable
cancellation fee). Please note that you will only be refunded in this way
for the accommodation - flights are non-refundable.
If your booking is outside the cancellation period mentioned above, you will be
unable to cancel or change the date of your hotel.
However, if Secret Escapes have to cancel your booking due to unforeseen reasons, you
can still receive a full refund. Bookings with flights benefit from ATOL
protection on the full amount paid.
If you have booked a hotel with added flight, you may have the right to cancel your booking without
paying any cancellation charge in the event of unavoidable and
extraordinary circumstances occurring at the place of destination or its
immediate vicinity, so long as we have confirmed to you that they will
significantly affect your holiday. If you need to cancel in this
circumstance, please visit our contact us page. We can provide you with a
full refund (without a cancellation fee) and, here, you'll be able to
choose from a refund in the form of Secret Escapes credit, so that you can
book for a later stage or pick another deal, or, you can opt to have a
cash refund processed to the payment method used when you placed your
original booking. Please note that you will not be entitled to additional
compensation.
How do I change the date of my hotel only booking?
Date changes for bookings (which enable you to cancel or change the dates
of your hotel booking), but with added flights, are not possible. If your
booking is still within the cancellation policy period, you can cancel
your booking and place a new booking for different dates. Please note,
flights are non-refundable and you may not be able to change these without
a fee or at all, depending on the relevant airline’s ticket restrictions.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
NON-REFUNDABLE HOTELS
Why should I book a non-refundable hotel stay?
By booking one of our non-refundable hotel stays, you could secure even
better rates and availability in destinations across the globe.
Can I cancel or change my non-refundable hotel booking?
For non-refundable hotel bookings, cancellations and date changes are not
possible once the booking has been made, unless otherwise stated in the
offer Ts&Cs.
However, if you do wish to cancel or make a change
to your booking, Secret Escapes may, at our discretion, assist you in your
endeavour to liaise directly with the hotel to arrange this. We can give
no guarantee that the attempts will be successful. The hotel may charge a
cancellation or amendment fee (as shown in their T&Cs), which may be as
much as 100% of the cost of stay.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
FLEXIBLE HOLIDAYS
We have two types of Flexible Holidays on the site; 'Secret Escapes
Flexible Holidays' supplied by us, and 'Trusted Partner Flexible
Holidays', supplied by a third party supplier.
TRUSTED PARTNER FLEXIBLE HOLIDAYS
What is a 'Trusted Partner Flexible Holiday'?
Our 'Trusted Partner Flexible Holiday' deals are provided by a third party
supplier. Secret Escapes only works with reputable operators and we
quality checks them regularly, using member feedback.
After you have placed your booking, the tour operator will reach out to
you on the email address registered with at Secret Escapes, usually within
a couple of days, and provide you with all relevant travel documentation,
information on due dates, payment policies and available payment methods,
before any payment is due. The tour operator will provide you with an ATOL
certificate after you have made payment.
When is the payment due?
The exact due dates vary from supplier to supplier, and payment may either
be split into a deposit first and the remainder later closer to departure,
or be required upfront in full. For more information on the specific terms
of your holiday, please refer to the supplier’s terms and conditions
before placing your booking. The supplier link can be found in the sale's
'Offer details' and 'Good to know' section. If in doubt, please contact
Secret Escapes directly.
Please note that this is not a guaranteed deferred payment method, since
depending on the tour operator’s payment terms, payment may be due shortly
after placing your booking on Secret Escapes.
How do I find out the cancellation or amendment policy for these offers?
To find out more about the cancellation and amendment policy for these
offers, please check the deal's 'Offer details' or 'Good to know' section.
Here, you'll find a link and/or phone number for the supplier's own
website, where you'll find the terms and conditions.
Can I use credit or a promotional code to book a 'Trusted Partner Flexible Holiday'?
No, credit or promotional codes cannot be used to book a Trusted Partner package deal.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
SECRET ESCAPES FLEXIBLE HOLIDAYS
What is a 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday'?
Secret Escapes Flexible Holidays' are provided by Secret Escapes. With
these offers, you'll be able to change the dates of your trip up to 7 or
14 days before departure (depending on which deal you've booked). Fees may
apply for date changes.
What is the cancellation policy for 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday'
deals?
'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' deals are partially refundable up until
a certain point before your departure date. This date will differ
depending on the offer you’re booking. To find out more, please click on
the ‘The Secret Escapes Cancellation Terms and Conditions’ link under the
‘Additional information’ section for the offer you’re interested in
booking.
Please note that for 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' bookings, only the
lead booker can ask us to cancel the trip or to remove one of the named
customers from the booking.
If you wish to change your dates of travel, instead of cancelling the trip
all together, this can be done up to 7 days before departure using our
contact us
form.
How do I cancel my 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' booking?
To cancel your 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' booking, please log in to
your Secret Escapes
account, click on your name in the top right hand corner of the site and click
on 'My Bookings'. Select your 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' to enter
'Your trip view'. From here, click on 'Cancel booking'. You'll then be
able to see how much we can refund you based on the terms and conditions
laid out above. If you still wish to proceed, please tick 'I agree with
the cancellation' and we will then process this for you.
Can I change my 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' booking?
To amend your 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' booking, please submit a
contact us
form and we will look into it as soon as possible. Please note, we are
unable to guarantee that requested changes will be possible, however we
will keep you updated you via email with our progress. Fees may apply for
changes.
If your departure date is less than 7 days away, unfortunately, we will
not able to amend your booking.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
About Secret Escapes
How does Secret Escapes work?
At Secret Escapes, we think booking a holiday should be an enjoyable and
stress-free experience. So we created a website where we hand-pick high
quality hotels and holidays with added inclusions and curate unique offers
which are available only to our members. Every day we add new inspiring
travel ideas to the site and to make it even easier for you to find the
perfect getaway, we'll email you with properties we think you'll love.
It's worth noting that the availability of our lowest advertised rates may
be limited, so don't miss out. By carefully selecting hotels and holidays
for members, Secret Escapes acts as an agent for the suppliers, tour
operators and hotels featured on the site, except for 'Secret Escapes
Flexible Holiday' deals.
Why book with us?
Our ethos from day one has been to offer incredible value on luxury hotels
and holidays, at home and abroad.
As a member of Secret Escapes, you can rest assured that all our luxury
properties are specially selected for discerning travellers. This means
that you don't have to scroll through endless average hotels to find a
nice one you like. Our rates are only visible to our members, which means
hotels give us great prices and added inclusions. This way you always get
great rates on great travel and you don't need to shop around to find your
perfect getaway. We also try to make sure that all of our members see the
value of booking with us. All of our offers are hand-picked by our team of
travel experts, and we always try and secure little extras, like room
upgrades, spa treatments or discounts, welcome gifts or even evening meals
and cream teas - anything to make your stay extra special.
What is my relationship as a customer with Secret Escapes once I’ve
booked?
Here at Secret Escapes, we act as a travel agent and, for certain deals,
as a tour operator to select and showcase unbeatable hotel offers and
holidays around the world. Once you've made a hotel only booking on our
website, your agreement is directly with the hotel: we sell their product,
but it is ultimately up to them to ensure you get what you've paid for.
This is also the case for package bookings with our partners, your
agreement is with the supplier.
For 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' deals, your agreement will be with
Secret Escapes. You can find your supplier information on your booking
confirmation.
Where do you get your star ratings from?
Each hotel's star rating is set by an independent organisation, to reflect
and classify its standard of hospitality in its own country; in the UK,
these organisations are The AA, Visit Britain, Visit Scotland and Visit
Wales. We carefully hand-pick the properties you see on our site, and
while a five-star hotel in London may differ from a five-star hotel
elsewhere in the world, we analyse reviews and feedback to ensure each
property continues to meet our own high standards - and exceeds yours.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Your Account
Where can I find my account?
To log in to your
account, simply visit
www.secretescapes.com
and enter your email address to access the full site. To access your
account, click on your email address or name in the top right-hand corner
of the site and input your password.
What can I do in my account?
In your account, you'll be able to find and amend your
personal details,
mail preferences,
your favourites,
upcoming and past bookings,
account credit,
bookings,
gift vouchers
and
country membership.
Who can join?
Everyone, we love you all.
What do I get when I join?
We offer our members discounts on hand-picked boutique hotels and
unforgettable holidays – luxury travel for less.
How often will you send me emails?
Normally, we send members a daily round-up of incredible deals. You can
opt out of any Secret Escapes emails at any time – there's also a
preferences selector, so you can take a break from our daily emails and
just receive our weekly summary.
How can I change my mail preferences?
We understand that you may not want to hear from us all the time,
especially if you have just been away. To change your mail preferences or
to unsubscribe, simply log in to the site, click on your name in the top
right-hand corner and select
Mail preferences
from the drop-down menu. From here, you can choose how often you hear from
us and what we send you - you can always change these back if you change
your mind.
How can I change my email address?
To change your email address, log in as normal, then please click on your
name in the top right-hand corner of the site and select
Personal Details
from the drop-down list. At the bottom of this page, you can replace your
current email address with your new one before clicking 'Confirm'.
How can I change my password?
To change your password, access the site using your email address only.
Once you're on the site, click your name in the top right-hand corner of
the page, and click on 'Forgot your password', followed by 'Reset my
password'. You'll then be sent an email to your registered email address
with steps to reset it.
How can I access my booking confirmation?
Once you have made your booking, we will send a booking confirmation to
your registered email address. If you happen to misplace your email or,
for some reason, you didn't receive one, you can access your confirmation
by logging in to your
account, clicking on your name in the right-hand corner of the site and
selecting
Bookings
from the drop-down list. From here, you can either request for your
booking confirmation to be resent, or print your details.
How can I add favourites to my account?
To 'favourite' a sale, simply make sure you're logged in to the site and
click on the small heart in the right-hand corner of each sale card on our
current sales
page. To see all your favourite properties, click on
My favourites
in the right-hand corner of the site, just under your name.
How can I delete my account?
To delete your
account
and completely unsubscribe from our emails, please log in to the website,
click on your name in the top right-hand corner, and select
Personal Details
from the drop down menu. At the bottom of this page, please click on
'Delete my account'. We'll be sad to see you go.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Gift Vouchers & Credit
VOUCHERS
How can I buy a gift voucher?
To treat a globetrotting loved one to the gift of travel, head over to our
gift voucher page
, select the amount you wish to purchase and choose which format you'd
like to buy it in; either a sleek, physical gift card, or for last-minute
panics, an online e-voucher.
How can I add a gift voucher to my account?
To redeem your gift voucher, sign in to the site, click on your name in
the top right-hand corner, and select 'Gift Vouchers' from the drop-down
menu. You will be able to enter the code displayed on your gift card or
e-voucher into the box, before clicking on 'Redeem voucher'. Your redeemed
voucher will then appear below and the credit will automatically be added
to your
account.
How do I pay with a voucher?
Once you have added your gift voucher to your
account, it will appear in your
Credits
section. These credits will be automatically applied to your booking when
you check out. Vouchers and credit can only be redeemed on payments made
directly through the Secret Escapes site at the time of booking. Where
payment is taken on the supplier's own website, Secret Escapes credit
cannot be applied.
To use credit on our ''Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' deals, please
contact our customer services team using our
contact us form.
How do I send a voucher to someone as a present?
When purchasing a
gift voucher, you'll have the choice to either send it as a 'Presentation gift card',
or for last-minute purchases, as an e-voucher. You'll be asked to either
add a home address for the gift card or an email address for the
e-voucher. Please allow five working days for the gift card to arrive.
Can I spend more than the value of my voucher?
Of course! If the total cost of your holiday is greater than the value of
the gift card, the remaining balance can be paid via another payment
method.
My gift voucher has expired - what shall I do?
Most of our vouchers have a year validity. If your gift voucher has
expired, you will unfortunately no longer be able to use it as a valid
payment option. However, if you feel you have extenuating circumstances,
please contact our customer services team using our contact us
form.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
CREDIT
Where can I find my credit?
To find your credit, simply log in to your
account, click on your name in the top right-hand corner of the page and select
Credits
from the drop-down menu. Please note, to use your credit on a 'Secret
Escapes Flexible Holiday' package, please use the contact us
form
so that our customer services team can help you with this.
My credit has disappeared - where has it gone?
Most of our vouchers have a year validity - if your voucher was added over
a year ago, your credit has now expired.
How do I share Secret Escapes with my friends?
We love it when our members share their inspiring trips with family and
friends - so much so that we offer booking credit for any successful
referral (that is, when your referral link is used to sign up to Secret
Escapes). You'll receive £5 credit when five people join, £25 credit when
25 join, and £50 credit when 50 join. We'll even gift you £25 credit for
each initial purchase your friends make with us. To find your unique
referral link, simply log in to the site, and click on
Invite friends
in the top right hand corner of the site.
What happens if more than one person recommends Secret Escapes to someone,
who gets the £25 credit?
The person eligible for the £25 credit is the one whose email and referral
link were used by a new member to sign up with us.
Will there be a cash alternative to £25 credit for recommending a friend?
No - the £25 credit can only be used towards purchases on Secret Escapes,
and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Can I use credit or a promotional code to book a 'Trusted Partner Flexible Holiday'?
No, credit or promotional codes cannot be used to book a Trusted Partner package deal.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Our Deals
What are the deals on the website?
We have a range of different deals on the site. Each deal type can be
identified by a coloured icon on the site:
New deal: These deals are new to Secret Escapes and haven't been featured on the
site before.
Exclusive deal: These deals are bespoke and exclusive to Secret Escapes.
Time-limited: These deals are available on our site for a special price, for a limited
time only.
Flash deal: These deals are available for a special price, for 72 hours only.
Price drop: These deals are available for a reduced rate, for a limited time only.
Free upgrade:These deals include a free room or board upgrade for 72 hours only.
How do you calculate the price and the discounts?
All of our sales are sold at members-only rates. The top rate advertised
is the highest possible saving you can achieve with a particular offer and
usually represents the lowest price you could pay. The 'up to' price
reductions are valid when the sale goes live.
We advertise the price after checking and re-checking our rates numerous
times before a sale goes 'live'. When a sale begins, we always ensure that
our 'lead-in' rate - the price advertised at the top of the offer page -
constitutes a significant proportion of our total number of available
dates for that sale.
Naturally, this leading 'best' rate advertised is usually the most
popular, and often sells out before the remaining dates. Therefore, you
may notice that a few days after the sale goes live, we're advertising a
slightly higher 'lead' rate. This is only when the original rates have
sold out. Full details on how our prices are calculated are available in
the 'Offer details' section of each individual offer.
You should note that packages - offers that include travel - are priced
per person, not per room.
Please note that prices for hotels, flights, and other travel services are live prices and can change dynamically and in real time. This means that the price you see when you start browsing the website may increase or decrease before you complete your booking.
What are ‘Exclusive extras’, and how is the value calculated?
A lot of our deals include 'Exclusive extras', which are added perks to
make your Secret Escapes stay even more special - if they’re included in
your selected deal, you’ll see them in the bullet points of the offer
card. The value of these ‘Exclusive extras’ is provided by our hotel
partners. This is then vetted by our expert internal teams to make sure
our members have a clear understanding of the benefits provided to them
when booking one of these deals via Secret Escapes.
What does 'Best-price guarantee' mean?
At Secret Escapes, we negotiate exclusive rates for luxury hand-picked
hotels in the UK and abroad, at up to 60% off the price you'd pay by
booking anywhere else. For access to our members-only rates, all you have
to do is sign up to Secret Escapes with your email address. It doesn't
cost a penny, and it never will. In return, we'll give you access to
package holidays, and rates for hotel-only stays that you'll struggle to
find anywhere else, and if you do, we'll match their price - that's a
guarantee. Please note that our 'Best-price guarantee' is only applicable
for hotel only bookings and does not apply to package holidays, hotel +
flights offers, or any deals that include travel.
For more information, please see our
Terms and Conditions.
How does your 'Best-price guarantee' work?
We work hard to contract the best-of-the-best prices for our hand-picked
hotel-only deals. However, if you happen to find the exact same hotel deal
elsewhere within 24 hours after booking with us (this means the same
hotel, same room type, same dates, same inclusions, same occupancy and
same cancellation policy), for a cheaper price, we'll refund the
difference in credit, plus an additional £25 credit, to your Secret
Escapes account so you can put it towards your next getaway with us.
Please note that our 'Best-price guarantee' is only applicable for hotel
only bookings and does not apply to package holidays, hotel + flights
offers, or any deals that include travel.
For more information, please see our
Terms and Conditions.
What shall I do if I see a hotel at a better price on another website?
If you have already made your hotel only booking with us and you see the
same deal at a cheaper price elsewhere (must be for the same hotel, same
room type, same dates, same inclusions, same occupancy and same
cancellation policy), please alert us within 24 hours of making your
booking using this
form.
Please note that our 'Best-price guarantee' is only applicable for hotel
only bookings and does not apply to package holidays, hotel + flights
offers, or any deals that include travel.
For more information, please see our
Terms and Conditions.
Can I book a single room?
Single rates are sometimes available for selected hotels. To find out
whether we offer single occupancy rates on the hotel or holiday you're
interested in booking, click on the 'Offer details' section for the offer
you want to book and navigate to the 'Single Policy' tab. Here, you'll
find out whether we have single occupancy rates for that specific hotel.
All of our deals can also be booked for one traveller.
Does the hotel allow pets?
Some hotels we offer are happy to have furry friends accompany you on your
trip. This information can usually be found in the 'Offer details' or
'Good to know' sections of the hotel sale. You'll either see a sentence
saying 'This hotel is pet-friendly subject to availability', or 'Pets are
not allowed in this hotel.' Regardless, we recommend contacting the hotel
directly before you book, to ensure that your pet will be allowed to stay,
in order to avoid potential disappointment.
Can I bring the whole family?
Sometimes our hotels give you the option to bring the family along with
you, and this information can be found in the 'Capacity Info' section,
under the 'Sleeps how many?' tab. You can also find out quickly by looking at how many people icons are shown on the offer. Often an infant can be brought along free of charge, but children
over a specified age will usually require an additional bed (this may come
at an additional cost) - please be aware that at least one adult is
usually required in the room. Unfortunately, due to occupancy rates, it is
not possible to book adjoining rooms.
Are your hotels and holidays accessible for members with disabilities?
The easiest way to find out if a hotel is accessible, or has provisions
for your particular needs, is to contact the hotel directly. This also
applies to holidays provided by our trusted third party suppliers. In some
situations, a supplier may be able to adapt a tour to your particular
needs, but unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed. If you need
information on whether a 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' package is
accessible, please fill in the
form ,
stating your query in as much detail as possible, and we will do our best
to find a solution for you.
How do I know how much luggage is included?
For Trusted Partner Flexible Holidays, you'll be able to find the included
luggage allowance in the offer bullet points, offer details, and 'Travel
details' for each sale.
For Secret Escapes Flexible Holidays,
you'll be able to find the included luggage allowance in the 'Choose your
flights' section in the booking flow, under 'Luggage'
Can I add on a special request?
We know that many of you are travelling to celebrate a special occasion
and we'd love to help you to add the finishing touches. We recommend
contacting your hotel or holiday supplier directly with your request, as
they are best placed to make the magic happen.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Booking
How can I access my booking confirmation?
Once you have made your booking, we will send a booking confirmation to
your registered email address. If you happen to misplace your email or,
for some reason, you didn't receive one, you can access your confirmation
by logging in to your
account, clicking on your name in the right-hand corner of the site and
selecting
Bookings
from the drop-down list. From here, you can either request for your
booking confirmation to be resent, or print your details.
I can't find my booking confirmation, what can I do?
If you’re unable to find your Secret Escapes booking, please be sure to
try logging in to the site with all possible email addresses that you may
have created a Secret Escapes account with, before completing our
contact us
form with a proof of purchase so we can look in to this for you.
If you
placed your booking via our iOS App or via an Apple device,
then you may have decided to log onto your Secret Escapes App or website
via your Apple ID. For this reason, your booking will only be visible via
your iOS App or on the Secret Escapes site via the Apple device you used
to place your booking (iPhone, MacBook, or iPad).
If you’re still having trouble finding your booking, please check on your
Apple device to see whether you opted to hide your email address when
logging into the Secret Escapes App or site.
To do this, please follow the below steps:
- Go to Settings → click on your name at the top → iCloud → select “Hide
my email”
- When you click on “Hide my email”, you should be able to see the list of
sites where an encrypted Apple ID email address is used
- If Secret Escapes is on the list, you will see an email address that
starts with a string of letters and numbers and has
@privaterelay.appleid.com as a domain
Your Secret Escapes booking will have been placed under this
encrypted email address. If you wish to move your booking to your usual
Secret Escapes account, please complete our
contact us
form, explaining the situation, along with your Secret Escapes booking ID,
the full name and email address used to place your booking, your check-in
and check-out dates, the name of the hotel or holiday package you have
booked, and the correct email address that you would like your booking to
be transferred to.
If you wish for your future bookings to be added to your registered Secret
Escapes account, we would suggest not using the opt in via your Apple ID
option, but to log in via the email address you originally signed up with.
I don't live in the UK, can I make a booking with you?
You can - if you live in one of the other territories in which we operate.
We have sites in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, The
Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. You can also find most of the Secret
Escapes sales on the TravelBird website, which operates in all of these
countries plus Austria and Finland.
Why can't I see your prices?
You need to be logged in to see our prices. Once you are logged in and
have selected the offer that's caught your eye, the price should appear to
the right of the images, with the full details of the offer.
How do I buy?
You can buy just as you would on any other travel website. Simply find
your favourite offer, select your preferred dates and click the 'Book'
button. You'll then be sent to the booking page where you can add your
payment details and purchase the offer.
What payments methods do you have available?
Members can pay for their booking using a credit or debit card (Visa,
Maestro, Mastercard and American Express accepted) or via PayPal.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept bank transfer payments.
I need help to make my booking
If you need a hand with your booking, give us a call on +44 (0) 203 608
0135 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm), and one of our customer services team
will be happy to help.
Can I add someone to my booking?
If you've booked a Refundable hotel-only stay and you're still within your
free cancellation period, we suggest checking the 'Tell me more' -->
'Sleeps how many' section in order to see the occupancy allowance of the
offer you've booked. If the offer allows you to add the number of
travellers you need, and we have the dates available in the calendar, you
can cancel your existing booking, receive credit, and then rebook with the
desired changes.
If you've booked a Refundable hotel-only but are outside the cancellation
period (travelling in less than 8/30 days), or you've booked a
Non-refundable hotel-only stay, your booking cannot be amended. However,
please reach out to us via our
contact us
page and our customer services team will be in touch to let you know if
it's possible to add someone, and to provide a quote and options for you
to proceed.
If you've booked a Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday or a Hotel+Flights
stay, please provide us with more details about your request using the
contact us
page, and our support team will be in touch with more information, and a
quote for additional costs should the changes be possible.
If you've booked a Trusted Partner Flexible Holiday provided by one of our
suppliers, any change request, including adding a traveller, should go
directly to the provider of your package. You can find the relevant
contact details in your booking confirmation.
Will I require a visa to go on holiday?
For up to date information, please visit the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you and all members of your
party are in possession of all necessary travel documentation before
travelling.
Will the EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES) affect my holiday plans?
The EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES) is an automated system that will record the entry and exit of non-EU citizens into EU and Schengen countries, which includes those from the UK. From 10 November 2024, people entering the EU will have to register fingerprints, a photo and passport details. The initial registration will be valid for 3 years, and will need to be validated each time someone crosses any border by land or air and will replace passport stamping. You do not need to do anything different before you travel, however it may take longer to pass through border control the first time you use this, and delays at border control are expected as the system is introduced. For more information on the EU’s EES, please visit the
EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES) website.
Do I need to book travel insurance?
We would always recommend that you book travel insurance whenever you book
a break. We understand that travel insurance is the least glamorous aspect
of buying a holiday, but it is one of the most important steps in ensuring
your holiday is a great success. We recommend that all of our members
purchase adequate travel insurance for the type of trip they book -
whether it's a foreign holiday or a UK break. Depending on your level of
protection (and we'd always recommend a comprehensive plan), travel
insurance covers you against cancellations, healthcare, family emergency,
baggage loss, supplier failure and a whole host of other potential issues.
It’s always best to be on the safe side.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Package Bookings
Am I covered by ATOL?
Secret Escapes is required by law to ensure that we sell packages
(holidays with travel included) that are financially protected. So, if
you've bought a package holiday with us, you are covered. Where you have
purchased a package that includes flights, you will be protected under the
ATOL scheme and you will receive an ATOL certificate with your booking
confirmation. You will find the appropriate ATOL reference number of the
relevant tour operator on your travel documentation, and in the 'Offer
details' section of the holiday you have booked. If you have purchased a
'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' package that does not include a flight,
your money will be protected in a trust account managed by Serenity Travel
Trusts until your holiday is over. If you've booked a hotel-only deal with
us (with no travel included) you are NOT covered by ATOL. You should take
out adequate travel insurance. Many of the flights and flight-inclusive
holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme.
But, ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services
listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply
to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the
booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate
but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not
be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for more information
about financial protection. Read more information about
ATOL certificates.
My holiday includes flights - when do I get my exact flight times?
We always strive to ensure our members have all the information they need
ahead of booking with us, and will display the latest, most accurate
travel times as supplied to us by our tour operator for our partner
packages. However, exact travel times are unfortunately out of our control
and may be subject to change according to the tour operator's terms and
conditions. Once your booking has been confirmed, you will receive updates
about your final travel times from the tour operator directly. If you book
one of our in-house 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' packages, you'll be
able to choose flight times that suit you. For more information, please
see our terms and conditions.
I’m not happy with the flight times I’ve been given - what can I do?
As we're usually acting on behalf of a supplier or tour operator when
offering holidays that include flights, we cannot control the flight times
or offer alternatives ourselves. If you've booked a holiday through us
with one of our trusted partners and are not satisfied with the times of
travel, but these are as was advertised when you made your booking, we are
unfortunately not able to help further. If, however, the flight times have
changed since you placed your booking and do not fall within the suggested
parameters, please contact the supplier or tour operator directly. If you
book one of our in-house 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' packages,
you'll be able to choose flight times that suit you.
What does 'similar accommodation' mean?
In order to give you the best possible holiday, we sometimes offer trips
where you'll be staying at one of a selection of hotels (all with the same
star rating, board basis, room type and location). Mostly, you'll be
staying in the hotel written up in our description, but we're unable to
guarantee the exact accommodation featured on the website every time.
We'll let you know the name of your hotel(s), at least seven days before
departure.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Booking a Secret Escapes package including Ryanair flights
If you select a Ryanair flight for your Secret Escapes package, you will be directed to the Ryanair website to verify your flight details and view and accept Ryanair's terms and conditions. This will happen after you have completed payment of your booking with Secret Escapes, but your Seceret Escapes booking will not be confirmed until you complete this step with Ryanair.
How do I access my Ryanair booking?
If you have booked a Secret Escapes package with Ryanair flights included, simply follow these steps to access and manage your flight details:
1. Visit the Ryanair
website2. Log in or create a 'myRyanair' account using the email address used to complete your Secret Escapes booking – any bookings associated with this email address will appear automatically
3. Once you have retrieved your booking, you can add extras onto your flight, such as additional luggage or in-flight food
4.Depending on how far in advance your flight is, you may also have the option to check-in"
How do I check in for my Ryanair flight?
If you have booked a Secret Escapes package with Ryanair flights included, simply follow these steps to check-in for your flight:
1. Visit the Ryanair
website from 24 hours before your departure
2. Log in or create a 'myRyanair' account using the email address used to complete your Secret Escapes booking – any bookings associated with this email address will appear automatically
3. Select 'Check in' for the relevant flight
4. Follow the instructions on screen to check-in
5. Once you have checked-in, you will need to either print your boarding pass or use the Ryanair app to show your boarding pass when travelling. This applies for your outbound and return flights.
Please note, you can also check-in at the airport, however Ryanair charges for this service.If you’re unable to check in online, please screenshot or print a copy of the error message and present this at the airport check-in desk on your day of departure.
How can I make changes to my Ryanair flight?
If you have booked a Secret Escapes package with Ryanair flights included, you can change elements of your Ryanair flight in your 'myRyanair' account on https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en, including adding baggage, adding a seat and pre-ordering in flight food.
However, please be aware that if you change the time or date of your Ryanair flight without checking with Secret Escapes, we are unable to guarantee that the package you booked will still be available for your new date or time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you notify Secret Escapes before changing your flight, to check that the other components of your package can be rebooked for you.
Who do I contact if I have a question about my Ryanair flight?
For any queries about your flight with Ryanair, including for persons with reduced mobility or family seat requests, please visit their website (https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb), call them or contact the team via their
live chat function.
Customer Services
How can I get in contact with Secret Escapes?
You can get in touch with us by clicking on the ‘Chat now’ button on the
bottom right of your screen - we have 24/7 chatbot assistance, with live
agents that will be happy to help. Alternatively, give us a call on +44
(0) 203 608 0135 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm), or visit our
contact us
page, where our team will aim to get back to you within 48 hours.
How can I leave feedback for you?
We really value our members feedback and we want to hear about your
experience with us, good or bad. To send us your comments, please use our
contact us
page and a member of our customer services team will be in touch as soon
as possible.
Who should I contact in case of problems before, during and after my trip?
If you have any queries or concerns during your trip, please give us a
call on +44 (0) 203 608 0135 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm). You may also
speak to a hotel representative or your tour operator directly. If you
have any concerns about a new booking, feedback about your holiday
experience, or you have a query about a Secret Escapes package, please let
us know by filling in the form on our
contact us
page.
What if I have a complaint while I’m away?
If you're unhappy with any aspect of your hotel or holiday, please take
this issue up with the hotel management, your tour operator or the resort
representative directly. They will be able to address any issue you may
have on site, and we will assist you as much as possible with reaching a
satisfying resolution. In rare cases, you may feel that we did not
accurately advertise a hotel or holiday, and that you did not receive what
you bought. Again, please start by notifying the hotel management, tour
operator or resort representative for a speedy resolution. Of course,
please also contact us with your feedback by giving us a call on +44 (0)
203 608 0135 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm), or clicking on the ‘Chat now’
button on the bottom right of your screen - we're here to provide you with
a truly enjoyable luxury escape, and we need to know if you feel we
haven't done this. If you have an issue with any booked travel, such as
delays or cancellations, please contact the tour operator directly or
Secret Escapes if it's a Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' package; an
emergency contact number will be provided on your booking confirmation.
If I contact Secret Escapes, will I receive acknowledgement, even if there
is not a final resolution?
We understand that it can be frustrating to have to wait for answers
regarding your questions or concerns. If you have an ongoing case with our
Customer Service team, they will endeavour to keep you informed regularly
regarding the progress of your case. The length of time between contact,
and progress towards a final resolution may depend on the complexity of
your query and your departure date. Whatever happens, we will try our
hardest to have your query resolved as soon as we possibly can.
How do I know an email is from Secret Escapes?
In this day and age it can be difficult to tell when a communication from
a company is genuine, so here's how you'll know it's us: All
communications from Secret Escapes will come from 'Secret Escapes'. If you
have made a booking, your booking confirmation will come from
service@email.secretescapes.se and will hold your transaction ID. If
you have contacted our Customer Service team, the communication will come
from a @secretescapes.com address for UK-based members.
At the bottom of the communication, you will find the following sentence:
'Secret Escapes Limited is a company registered in England & Wales
(registered number 07026107) whose registered office is at 4th Floor, 120
Holborn, London EC1N 2TD'. Emails from us will often have a Secret Escapes
header. We will never ask you to make a payment via SMS.
Where can I get a VAT invoice?
For hotel bookings, hotel bookings with added flights, and package
bookings with our trusted partners, Secret Escapes acts as an agent
between the customer and the hotel or tour operator for VAT purposes, and
therefore cannot issue an invoice for a sale made by the hotel or tour
operator. Should you require an invoice displaying the VAT paid, this can
only be obtained directly from the hotel, which, legally, is the entity
that provided the service for you. Of course, through our selection of
partners, we always try to ensure that customers receive an invoice at
check-out. However, Secret Escapes is first and foremost a portal for
leisure travellers, which is why individual hotels may not issue an
invoice displaying the VAT for business travel. Unfortunately in this
case, Secret Escapes cannot intervene because of its intermediary role.
For 'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' bookings, we operate VAT under the
Tour Operators Margin Scheme (HMRC VAT Notice 709/5) and can legally only
issue an invoice without VAT. No VAT can be recovered on the value of your
'Secret Escapes Flexible Holiday' package holiday booking. For UK
customers this is still called an invoice, but cannot be called a VAT
invoice. To obtain this, please fill out our contact
form.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
Brexit
What passport validity do I need to travel to the EU?
You should have at least 3 months left on an adult or child passport to
travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). To check if
your passport meets the validity rules, check the 'entry requirements'
section on
FCDO travel advice
for the country you are visiting.
You should allow up to 10 weeks for your new passport when applying from
the UK. Updated processing times for overseas applications will vary. Both
blue and burgundy British passports, including those with “European Union”
on the cover, remain equally acceptable.
Is my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) still valid for travel in the
EU?
Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will still be valid for travel
to the EU until its expiry date. Once your EHIC expires, you can apply for
a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), free of charge, online
here.
EHICs and the new GHIC provide the same access to emergency and necessary
healthcare cover for travel to the EU. You do not need to apply for a GHIC
if you already have a valid EHIC.
If you are visiting Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein, your card may
not be valid. You should get appropriate travel insurance which covers
your health needs. A UK passport can be used to get medically necessary
healthcare in Norway. For more infomation, please visit
gov.uk.
Do I still need travel insurance if I have an EHIC card?
EHICs and GHICs are not an alternative to travel insurance. Full
information on getting the right travel insurance is available
here.
What do I need to know before driving in Europe?
UK Motorists driving their own vehicle to Europe must obtain a motor
insurance Green Card, and may need to display a GB sticker on their
vehicle. Please check
here for
further information on the new documents you will require.
You will require an insurance Green Card for the vehicle you are driving
to EU and EFTA countries. Please contact your insurance provider at least
6 weeks before you travel. You will need to display a GB sticker on the
rear of your vehicle if your number plate has:
- a Euro symbol
- a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
- no flag or identifier at all - numbers and letters only
For Cyprus, Malta or Spain, you'll need to display a GB sticker regardless
of your number plate.
If you have a card driving licence, you do not require an International
Driving Permit (IDP) to drive to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or
Liechtenstein. You may need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and
Norway if you have either:
- a paper driving licence.
-
a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
For more infomation, please check the requirements with the embassy of the
country you will be driving in.
Full information on driving in Europe is available
here.
Can I bring my pet with me to the EU?
Please check the pet policy of the sale you're thinking of booking before
making arrangements to bring your pet with you.
If you have an existing pet passport, this can no longer be used to enter
the EU or Northern Ireland and pet travel requirements have now changed.
You'll now need to have visited the vet at least one month before you
travel and any cats, dogs or ferrets will require a microchip, a valid
rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate.
If you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland,
Norway or Malta, dogs will also require tapeworm treatment.
For more information, please click here
here.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.
3D Secure™
What is 3D Secure™?
3D Secure™ (or 3DS) is a secure online payment service available for Visa
and MasterCard cards. If your card issuer requires additional verification
to authorize the payment, a 3D Secure™ window will open. Your bank will
ask you to verify your identity by entering an authentication code. It’s
an EU wide regulation that’s enforced by each EU and EEA member state's
financial institutions; for Germany, this is BAFIN.
Where the payment value exceeds €500, the completion of 3D Secure™ is
mandatory. For cases where the value is below the maximum threshold, your
bank may require 3D Secure™ to be completed, this is not requested by
Secret Escapes.
You either need to follow the steps laid out in the 3D Secure™ redirection
page or, if you haven’t set your account up with the required information
to do this, you must get in contact with your bank.
Alternatively, you can make payment through one of our alternative
methods, such as PayPal, or (where available) SOFORT, SEPA and Invoice
(RatePay).
Didn't find an answer to your question? Please visit our
contact us
page.