Terms & Conditions – Private Tours – Group Organiser

1. Parties
A. Agreement between the Group Organiser and Irish Tourism Limited t/a The Irish Tourism Group which includes KnittingTours.com, Irish Tourism.com and Discovering Ireland Vacations, herein referred to as ‘we’ and ‘us.’
B. The named Group Organiser accepts these Terms and Conditions on behalf of all group participants and will be the sole point of contact for all correspondence in relation to this tour, herein referred to as ‘you’.
C. Once we receive your acceptance, a contract is made between us based upon the terms and conditions in this document and the final agreed quotation.

2. Tour Description
A. This contract is in conjunction with the agreed final quotation.
B. This tour includes accommodation and services as agreed in the final quotation.
C. Additional items which are not included in the quotation such as alcohol, menu supplements, room service, upgrades, gratuities, etc. are the direct responsibility of both you and individual group participants in relation to cost and settlement.
D. This tour does not include flights, travel to start point of tour, additional pre or post nights or transfers not outlined or agreed with us.
E. Hotels, attractions and activities detailed in the quotation may be altered subject to availability or a change in circumstances beyond our control.

3. Price of Tour
A. Currency – Prices are in Euro/GBP and all payments will be taken in Euro/GBP.
B. Prices are given on a per person sharing basis with a single supplement where applicable, based on the minimum number of paying participants selected by you.
C. All prices are inclusive of local government taxes. Pricing may be subject to change in line with any tax fluctuations imposed by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland or HM Revenue and Customs in the UK.

4. Payment Terms
A. Your initial deposit to secure your group booking is due 7 business days from issue of this contract and is non-refundable in the event of cancellation or not reaching sufficient numbers. All payment terms and amounts are based on reaching the minimum numbers required to run the tour. Please refer to Section 6 and 7.
B. Final payment is on the date specified. Failure to pay final balance by this date may result in cancellation of the tour.
C. Acceptable payment methods are by Bank Transfer or Credit/Debit Card. All payments received by bank transfer must be for the full amount required with your sender’s banking fees payable by you.

5. Cancellation Terms
A. Cancellation of your booking must be in writing or by email to The Irish Tourism Group.
B. Tours already booked cannot be cancelled and re-booked where special offers are made available.
C. Cancellation Penalties:
• Cancellation 60 days or more prior to itinerary start date – Full deposit is forfeit.
• Cancellation 60 days – 49 days prior to itinerary start date – 50% of total paid is forfeit
• Cancellation 48 days – 31 days prior to itinerary start date – 75% of total net cost is forfeit
• Cancellation 30 days or less – 100% of total net cost is forfeit
Note: Day one of the tour is the start date of the tour. Cancellation charges will also apply to any extra services pre and post tour.
6. Failure to Meet Minimum Agreed Participants to Run the Tour
A. The contracted tour price is based on the minimum number of paying participants. If the number of participants falls below this number, we reserve the right to adjust the price in accordance with the agreed pricing bands in your final quotation, based on the actual number of participants.
B. In the event that you are unable to meet the minimum agreed number of paying participants and you fail to pay additional monies due, the tour may be cancelled and cancellation terms will apply (see section 5.) Please note that the selling of places for the tour and any related advertising are your responsibility and we are unable to advertise or market your tour on your behalf.

7. Review Dates
A. Your initial review date will be agreed between all parties and on this date we will review the numbers of participants on the tour.
B. Your interim review date will be agreed between all parties and on this date there will be an assessment of bookings to date and pricing. Any tour amendments will be addressed and agreed or declined including price changes at this date.
C. Your final review date will be agreed between all parties but will take place before your final payment due date. On this date there will be an assessment of final number of paying participants (see Section 6).

8. Group Organiser Responsibilities
A. You must ensure that all participants on this tour are advised of the relevant terms and conditions in relation to this tour and contract. (Should there be a part b for group organiser to send on to tour members??
B. You agree all decisions with us and you have the final say as to who is eligible to join the tour. Any changes to the agreed itinerary cannot be made by individual participants and requests must come from you.
C. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of dates booked upon receipt of travel documents.
D. It is your responsibility to ensure that we have the relevant email address details to ensure travel information is delivered on time. All documentation will be sent by email.
E. You are responsible for the full cost of the reservation and managing payments on agreed dates. You are also responsible for advising individual participants of payment due dates in order to participate in the tour.
F. You are expected to have emergency contact details for all group participants and be aware of any allergies, dietary requirements etc. in relation to your group participants and to ensure that we are informed of any such requirements prior to travel.
G. You must advise your participants of the importance of taking out adequate travel insurance for their vacation in the event of trip cancellation, personal accident, medical expenses, emergency evacuation, loss of monies, etc. We would recommend ‘cancel for any reason’ insurance.
H. It is your responsibility to ensure all group participants have all necessary visas, passports, permits and certificates required for your selected itinerary as well as any necessary vaccinations and to comply with all applicable laws.
I. It is your responsibility to remind participants to ensure their flights arrive into the airport on or before the tour start date. You must advise us of all client flight arrival details in advance of travel.
J. When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you or any group participant. Full payment for any such damage or loss must be paid at the time direct to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If you fail to do so, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of such actions.
K. Group participants are obliged to respect the right of residents living close to our hotels used by us during your tour, to live free from noise, vandalism or any other source of annoyance, especially at night time. Any group participant who contravenes this policy may be reported to the local authorities.
L. It is the responsibility of the group organiser to advise us in writing of any special requests. The granting of requests is subject to availability and increased costs where applicable.

9. Group Organiser Remuneration
Any Group Organiser remuneration is to be agreed by all parties in advance of this contract (please refer to your final quotation) and is subject to changes in the itinerary, number of participants and any other relevant circumstances.

10. Insurance
We take no responsibility for any injuries or loss incurred by you or any group participant taking part in the tour. We strongly recommend any group participant takes out adequate travel insurance for their vacation in the event of personal accident, medical expenses, emergency evacuation and loss of monies (Cancel for Any Reason Cover). You are responsible for advising group participants of this recommendation. We do not take any responsibility for failure to secure adequate coverage. We may be able to suggest an insurance provider to you, please ask for further information.

11. Refunds
Any refund request must be made in writing and approved by us. Any refund may only be made to the bank account or credit card of the payer. The onus is on the person being refunded to provide credit card or bank account details as required.

12. Changes by Us
A. We reserve the right to change our itineraries at any time and at our discretion. We will of course endeavour to avoid this. However, if this is necessary we will substitute alternative arrangements of comparable monetary and experiential value.
B. Once your booking has been confirmed we will make every effort to provide you with the booked arrangements but reserve the right to alter or cancel the whole or part of the tour in the event of events outside our control. Reasons for doing so may include, but shall not be limited to, unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances such as changes in schedules or mode of transport by ferry companies, airlines, bus or train operators, extreme adverse local weather conditions or weather warnings, natural disasters, civil strikes or conflict, terrorist activity, fire, flood conditions, epidemic/pandemic or other health related crisis and similar. No refunds will be paid for cancellations due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. If we have made changes to a tour as a result of unavoidable or extraordinary circumstances, we will allow participants to postpone to another tour, free of any additional administration or booking fees. You will have the option of rescheduling your tour or can use the payment as a credit against any tour in future years. Price differences for hotel accommodation or specialist services due to seasonal variances will be borne by you.
C. We reserve the right to decrease or increase the price of our tours at any time. However, we will honour the price of your tour once the deposit has been paid.

13. Travelling
A. You and your group participants must obey the laws of the country in which you are located whilst travelling on one of our tours. We would ask you to show respect for the many diverse customs that exist in the country you are travelling in. If you do not do so, your tour may be cancelled without any refund. We will decide on cancelling your tour or not and our decision will be final.
B. While on tour, your appointed tour guide or our representative may need to make a decision in the interests of safety. It is a condition of bookings that you and your group participants comply with the authority and decisions of our appointed representative. If there is no compliance, we reserve the right to refuse to allow the tour to continue. In such a case we will not be liable for any refund, compensation or any additional costs incurred by you or your group participants. We cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others on your tour nor if any facilities are curtailed as a result of their actions.
C. It is your responsibility to ensure your group participants meet your tour at arranged points and times as per your travel documents or your tour guide’s or our representative’s directions. Because of the nature of the service, we will not be liable for third party delays or cancellations. We will endeavour to ensure that departure and arrival times are met.

14. Mobility and Health
A. Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs/scooters on our scheduled escorted tours, as our coaches are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. Also, many of the locations and workshops visited will not be accessible to those with mobility issues and it should be noted that a reasonable walking pace is required in order that the tour is able to stay on schedule.
B. We reserve the right to deny any group participant permission to travel or participate in any aspect of a tour at any time and at their own risk and expense where it is determined that their physical or mental condition renders them unfit for travel or if they represent a danger to themselves or others.
C. A certain amount of walking is inevitable on all tours. All group participants must be able to board the coach unaided and where tours include ferry transportation, group participants will need to be able to board the ferry by gangway or pontoon and be able to walk unaided at a reasonable pace from coach to hotel and coach to visitor attractions. It is not always possible for the coach to park directly outside an attraction or activity. Group participants who do not wish to visit a particular attraction will not be able to stay on the coach. Group participants must be able to climb stairs of more than 25 steps and be able to walk more than 1 mile unaided at a reasonable pace. The terrain at some attractions and locations may be rough and uneven and not suitable for someone with mobility issues. Our drivers and guides cannot provide individualized help for walking, getting on and off motor coaches, ferries or other personal needs.
D. You are responsible for assessing whether a tour is suitable for your group participant. If they are in doubt, you should advise them to consult their physician to confirm their fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. We do not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the tour based on the circumstances, limitations, fitness level, and medical requirements of each group participant.
E. You must advise us of any group participant requiring special attention at the time of booking. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate group participants with specific needs but we are not responsible for denial of services by any of our suppliers.
F. In the event that a group participant with mobility or health issues has such an effect so as to create difficulties with the touring schedule, we will unfortunately be left with no alternative but to remove this person from the tour with no refund of fees paid regardless of the stage of the tour. While on tour it is our representative who will decide to cancel a group participant place or not and their decision will be final.

15. Special Diets/Allergies
For safety reasons it is very important that all dietary requirements, food allergies, textile allergies etc. are communicated to us in advance of travel, so that group participants may not be presented with items which may cause allergic reaction. Please note however, that we cannot be held responsible if a hotel or other supplier neglects to exclude allergens once we have provided them with the information. In addition, it is your responsibility and the responsibility of the individual participant to check that items presented are suitable and to ask for alternatives if necessary. While we will do our best, we cannot guarantee all food or allergen requests.

16. Luggage
Where available, luggage porterage is included for one standard airline sized checked-in piece of luggage per person. Please limit yourself to one large bag or suitcase. Porterage starts and finishes in hotel reception. The individual participant is responsible for taking their own luggage to and from their room where no porterage is available and always responsible for the transfer of their luggage from the coach to the hotel reception. Our drivers and guides cannot provide individualized help with luggage. We are not liable for loss of or damage to luggage, or any other article or purchase while traveling.

17. Accommodation
Accommodation is provided as either twin (two beds) or double (one king, queen or standard double bed) or single (one single, queen or standard double bed). Single supplements may apply to sole occupancy of a room. We will request and confirm the room preference required on the booking. However, we cannot be held responsible if the bedding arrangement requested and confirmed by us is not available on arrival at the accommodation. Bed size relates to standard bed sizes in Ireland and the UK. Unless otherwise specified in your itinerary, room type will be standard. All rooms will be en-suite with either a bath or shower or both unless otherwise specified.

18. Transportation
D. All vehicles conform to European standards. All are fitted with seat belts and most are air-conditioned. We ensure that you are provided with a coach that is suitable for the size of your group and that there is sufficient room for luggage. Some coaches may have Wi-Fi internet connection available but we cannot guarantee this. There may also be a charge for this facility. There is no guarantee of bathroom facilities on board and any coach with such a facility usually has restrictions for use. There will be suitable rest stops provided during your tour.
E. Drivers are always available to offer advice and assistance to you and members of your group. They will want you to experience as much as is possible during your stay. Please note however, that the porterage service is for one main item of luggage to be ported from the hotel reception to your room. While in some instances the driver may help with luggage being unloaded from the coach and into reception, this is goodwill and entirely subject to time constraints and numbers and is not to be expected as part of the service.
F. Drivers are restricted with the number of hours in a day they can drive and consecutive days they can drive. They also have a minimum number of hours’ rest required between driving stints. Your itinerary has taken this into account, including relief drivers where necessary. As a consequence, any permitted changes to previously agreed activities, hours of travel and locations may result in additional costs and a relief driver where necessary.

19. Complaints
Should you wish to make a formal complaint against us please inform us immediately. If the matter cannot be resolved during your trip after the representative’s best endeavours to do so, your complaint should be made in writing to us as soon as is reasonably possible after the holiday, but within 30 days thereof so that your complaint can be investigated. We will not consider any complaint after the 30-day period. You will be assured of respect and courtesy while your complaint is being dealt with.

20. Weather Conditions
Under no circumstances can we be held responsible for weather conditions. No tour can be cancelled or amended by you at any time on the basis of weather conditions. We accept no responsibility for weather conditions that may affect the delivery and implementation of our itinerary.

21. General
A. The booking conditions detailed herein contain the entire contract between all parties stated. No representation, term, warranty or condition can be expressed or implied by reference to any other writing, advertisement or conversation. This contract may only be varied in writing by us.
B. This contract and all matters arising out of it are governed by Irish law. Any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your holiday will be dealt with by the Courts of the Republic of Ireland only. Changes to these Booking Conditions will only be valid if agreed by us in writing.
C. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our brochures and other media at time of going to print, however we cannot be held responsible for printing and typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances.