Full Booking Terms & Conditions
Please read these with care. When you book a holiday through us you are entering into a binding contract.
1.Note especially that; (i) Country House Tours and Havens & Hideaways are brand names of Adams & Butler. ("the Company") and arranges bookings of holiday accommodation as agents only on behalf of the owner of the accommodation ("the Owner"). We also act as agents for the other Service Providers mentioned in this website and brochure, with whom you will also have a contract (ii) references to 'we' in these Terms and Conditions relate to Adams & Butler, acting as agent for "the Owner" and references to 'you' or 'your' relate to the person making the booking and all members of the holiday party (iii) when we issue a written Holiday Confirmation Form to you, the Owner enters into a contract with you, which is subject to these Booking Terms and Conditions.
2. Your Booking
We shall negotiate bookings only upon payment of a deposit. You must be over 18 years of age at the time of making your booking - You can book accommodation and take up offers shown in this website or brochure, or advertised elsewhere, if the accommodation or offer is still available - Your booking is made as a consumer and you accept that we will not be liable for any business losses you may incur - Receipt and banking of any deposit monies will not constitute acceptance of a booking. We can refuse any booking before we have issued a written Holiday Confirmation Form, and we will promptly return any monies you have paid and be under no other liability - As soon as you receive a written Holiday Confirmation Form, you must check it carefully. If there are any errors you must tell us immediately.
3. Payment
After you have paid the deposit, the balance of your holiday cost must be paid not later than 8 weeks before its start date. The date your balance monies are due is clearly stated on the Holiday Confirmation Form. We do not send out final reminders. This saves paper and administration costs, reflected in our prices. Non payment of your balance monies, when they become due, will constitute cancellation of the holiday and forfeiture of the deposit payment. If we do not hear to the contrary the balance will automatically be charged to the same credit card as that with which the original deposit was made 8 weeks before arrival - If you book your holiday less than 8 weeks from its start, the full holiday cost must be paid before we can issue the written Holiday Confirmation Form. You must pay for such a booking by credit card unless we have specifically agreed to an alternative method of full payment - The website and brochure prices are cash prices. We incur charges from credit card companies when you pay by credit card, and therefore a 3% charge will be made for each payment made this way
4. Cancellation or Changes by You
If you have to cancel your holiday, for whatever reason, you must immediately write, fax or e-mail us at the address below (also on your Holiday Confirmation Form) to tell us why, marking the envelope; 'cancellation'. Your cancellation only takes effect when we receive written confirmation from you. It can be prudent to purchase holiday cancellation insurance, although we are not allowed to recommend specific policies or insurance companies to you. If you do not have cancellation insurance, and have to cancel your holiday because of death, illness, accident, jury service, qualifying redundancy or cancellation of leave by armed forces or police of any member of the holiday party or their partner, child or parent, which prevents the holiday taking place, then the following Cancellation Charges are payable. Cancellation incurs administration costs and carries the risk that it may not be possible for the holiday to be resold.
Number of Days Before Start of Holiday That Written Notice of Cancellation is Received Amount of Cancellation Charge Shown as a Percentage of the Holiday Price
More than 90 days (13 weeks) Deposit is returned less €200 administration charge per property booked.
56 to 90 days (8 to 13 weeks) 50% or first weeks rental per property, whichever is less, unless the property or properties is/are successfully re-let, in which case your deposit and balance will be returned less €200 administration charge per property.
Less than 56 days (8 weeks) 100% unless the property or properties is/are successfully re-let, in which case your deposit and balance will be returned less €200 administration charge per property.
If the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of an insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges, less any excess - Where there is no qualifying reason for cancellation, as detailed above, any monies paid up to and including the date of cancellation will not be refunded - Changes - If it is possible to accommodate changes you want to make to your booking (before you have paid the final balance) we charge an administration fee of €200 per property, and will issue a revised Holiday Confirmation Form. If you have already paid your final balance, we cannot consider any requests for changes to the booking. Should you then wish to cancel the booking, this action will be regarded as having no qualifying reason for cancellation as detailed above. Service Providers - include car hire, cooks, cleaners, drivers etc and we act only as their agents. Once a booking has been accepted by a Service Provider it is considered to be a firm booking and any subsequent changes and cancellations will incur a minimum administration charge of €200 per service provider. We also reserve the right to pass on any additional charge from the Service Provider.
5. Ownership of the Holiday Accommodation
We do not own or operate your holiday accommodation, which we book only on your behalf. Its use is subject to the terms and conditions of each Owner. You will be advised verbally of these at the point of booking, and on the Holiday Confirmation Form, where applicable. Please note that the Owner/Caretaker is entitled to ask you to leave the holiday property, without refund of monies paid or any other liability to you, if in their reasonable opinion your behaviour is unacceptable (see Condition 12)
6. Website & Brochure Accuracy
We do everything we can to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in our brochure and website. However, the holidays we offer are often planned many months in advance, and some of the information and prices shown may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday - and at the time of printing and uploading errors unfortunately can happen. It is important that you make sure you check all details of your chosen holiday, including the price, at the time of making your booking. We also do everything we can to make sure the information provided by the Owner and Service Providers is repeated accurately in the brochure or our adverts. Because we, the Owners and our Service Providers are always trying to improve services and facilities, sometimes there may be small differences between the holiday accommodation/other services and the description given. Additionally for a number of reasons outside our control - weather conditions, repairs and maintenance etc. - some facilities or services may become unavailable. As soon as we become aware of any such situation, we will always tell you as soon as possible, if we believe your holiday is likely to be affected. However, we cannot accept responsibility for changes to or closures of local amenities/facilities and attractions etc., referred to in the brochure and website, which clearly are not under our control. All distances are approximate.
7. Cancellation or Changes by Us
Once we have issued you with a Holiday Confirmation Form we will do our very best not to make any changes to your booking or to cancel it. Sometimes though changes do occur before and after bookings have been confirmed, and occasionally confirmed bookings have to be cancelled. We promise to do all we can to avoid changes and cancellations but must reserve the right to do so on behalf of Owners and/or Service Providers. We promise we will only cancel confirmed bookings less than 8 weeks before departure where you have failed to make all payments due in full or on time, or where we are forced to do so as a result of circumstances outside out control. Most changes are minor. On rare occasions some are significant by which, for the purposes of these Booking Conditions, we mean; a change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or a change of area . All other changes are treated as 'minor' changes. If the change is significant or we have to cancel - we will offer you the following choices; (i) accepting the significant change (ii) purchasing alternative arrangements from us of a similar type and standard, in a similar location and at a similar time of year as your original booking, if available. If this alternative is less expensive than the original, we will refund the price difference - if it is more expensive, we will ask you to pay the price difference (iii) cancelling or accepting the cancellation whereupon you will receive a full and speedy refund of all monies you have paid to us. You must tell us as quickly as possible which of the above options you wish to take. Please note these options are not available in respect of minor changes. If we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care our liability is also limited to refunding any reasonable, foreseeable receipted sums that you may have reasonably spent in connection with your holiday booking, and which you cannot recover. No other compensation will be payable.
No. of Days Before Departure that a Significant Change or Cancellation is Notified to You Compensation Per Party
More than 56 days (8.1 weeks) Nil
43 to 56 days (6.1 to 8 weeks) €30
29 to 42 days (4.1 to 6 weeks) €45
15 to 28 days (2.1 to 4 weeks) €90
less than 14 days (2 weeks) €110
Please note - if we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care, compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the choices mentioned above can be accepted - Compensation is not payable for minor changes or significant changes or cancellations more than 8 weeks before departure - Compensation in General - in all cases not specifically covered by the above, where we are liable to pay compensation to you, we limit our liability to a maximum of the cost of the holiday.
8. Force Majeure - compensation payments do not apply where the performance of our obligations, or those of property owners or service providers, is prevented or affected by 'force majeure'. For the purpose of these booking conditions this means any event which we or the Owner/Service Provider could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Examples are; riots, war or threat of war, terrorist activity, civil strife, natural or nuclear disaster, industrial dispute, adverse weather conditions, fire, epidemic or health risk, technical problems to transport; port or airport closures and similar events beyond our control.
9. Number of Persons Using the Holiday Accommodation: Your holiday group must not exceed the maximum number of persons as detailed on the Holiday Confirmation Form . If it does the Owner/Caretaker can refuse to allow you to take possession of the property or to make you leave the accommodation before the end of the holiday. If this happens we will treat your holiday as having been cancelled by you and you will not be entitled to a refund of your holiday monies or compensation. We will give you the option of making an immediate payment directly to the Owner/Caretaker for occupancy to be permitted up to the maximum number of persons the property sleeps.
10. Pets
Pets are only allowed at properties that state they are allowed in the brochure or website. If you take a pet to a property that does not allow them, or you exceed the stated number/size of pets, the Owner/Caretaker can refuse to allow you to take possession of the property or make you leave the accommodation before the end of the holiday. If this happens we will treat your holiday as having been cancelled by you as detailed in Condition 9 above - You are liable for all damage caused by your pets. You must remove all trace (inside and outside) the property of pet occupation before final departure. If you do not do this, the Owner/Caretaker can make an additional cleaning charge - You must not allow pets on beds or furniture within the property, nor are they allowed in any central facilities like swimming pools and children's play areas - If pets are exercised within the boundaries of the property, including any garden, they must be on a lead at all times. Pets must not be left alone in the property at any time. If you break these conditions the Owner/Caretaker can ask you to desist. If you fail to do so they can take the action described in paragraph one above, and we will treat your holiday as having been cancelled by you, and you will not be entitled to a refund of your holiday monies or compensation - Neither we nor the Owner/Caretaker can accept liability for any claim arising out of Local Authority Bye-Laws/restrictions barring the presence of dogs on beaches and in any other public areas within the locality of the property or otherwise
11. Arrival and Departure. Unless stated otherwise on your Holiday Confirmation Form, the normal time of occupation is after 4.00pm on the holiday start date. You must vacate the property before 10.00 am on the last day . (to give our staff time to clean the houses). In some cases it may be possible to arrange an earlier check in. Please let us know your expected time of arrival at least 7 days before arrival so that we can have someone there to let you in. - Please follow the instructions on how you should confirm your approximate arrival time and for key collection arrangements etc., which will be clearly stipulated on your Holiday Confirmation Form - Please advise the Owner/Caretaker of any arrival delay the moment you become aware of it so that suitable arrangements can be made for later entry to the property - If you cannot make contact with the Owner/Caretaker, you must telephone us on our Customer Care Line which is; +353 (0)86 820 5220. This line is staffed 7 days a week, 8.00am to 8.00pm. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and at all other times, a 24 hour answer machine operates, in which instance you should leave clear details of your name, contact telephone number, booking reference number, and a brief message - If you do not follow the above procedures, and delayed arrival has prevented you from accessing the property, you will be fully responsible for arranging and bearing the cost of any temporary accommodation, or other temporary arrangements made, until you can gain access to the property. You will also be responsible for re-payment of any reasonable costs incurred by the Owner/Caretaker, or their authorised representative, arising out of your delayed arrival - If you are unable to arrive at the property by noon on the day following the holiday start date, you must also follow the above procedures. If you do not we will treat your holiday as having been cancelled by you as detailed in Condition 9 above - We will not accept liability for delayed arrival due to adverse weather or any of the other reasons detailed in Condition 8 above under the heading 'Force Majeure'.
12. Your Responsibilities
You must look after the property. This means you must keep all furniture, fittings and effects, (inside or outside the property) in the same state of repair and condition as at the start of the holiday - You must leave the property in the same state of cleanliness and general order in which you found it - If you break these conditions the Owner/Caretaker can make an additional cleaning charge and/or make a claim against you for repair or loss as a result of damage caused. You are expected to show due consideration for other people as well. If you abuse the property or display rude, dangerous or offensive behaviour towards the Owner/Caretaker or other third party, the Owner/Caretaker can refuse to allow you possession of the property or ask you to leave the accommodation before the end of the holiday. If this happens we will treat your holiday as having been cancelled by you and you will not be entitled to a refund of your holiday monies or compensation. In the same way if the Owner/Caretaker reasonably believes you are likely to act as above they can proceed as detailed immediately above - For overseas holidays such behaviour can result in refusal to allow you to travel or continue with your journey. If this happens we will treat your holiday has having been cancelled by you as detailed in the above paragraph - If you have special requests or needs you are responsible for telling us at the time of booking, although we cannot guarantee that any special requests will be met, and failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract. It is also your responsibility to satisfy yourself that the property you are booking is completely suitable for your needs. Once you have received the Holiday Confirmation Form you must check it thoroughly (see Condition 2). Please note that if a particular requirement is not specified on the Holiday Confirmation Form, it is not provided. Unfortunately we are unable to accept any bookings that are specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. Such bookings will be treated as 'standard' bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests - If you have a medical problem or disability that may affect your holiday please tell us before you confirm your booking and follow up with details in writing at the time of booking. If we feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we reserve the right to decline/cancel the booking - Any queries about your booking, after you have received your Holiday Confirmation Form, should be made on our Customer Care Line; +353 (0)1 2889355, details of which appear in full in Condition 11 above -
12a Heat, Light, Telephone & Damage Deposits
In all cases we will require a deposit. This will normally be done by getting an authorisation for a charge of up to €500 on the credit card on the day of arrival. However no charge will be actually made at this stage and any charges will only be made after due notification at the end of the rental. In some case the owners actually require a deposit in cash or cheque form. These are noted on the individual web pages. If you do not meet the deposit requirements the owner / caretaker can refuse to allow you possession of the property, proceeding as detailed immediately above and in Condition 9 also above - Access - you must allow the Owner/Caretaker, or anyone representing us (and any workman who needs to carry out repairs or maintenance) access to the property at any reasonable time during your holiday.
13. Dissatisfaction
We work very hard to make sure that every part of your holiday goes well and your holiday enjoyment is important to us. While you are on holiday we cannot help you if we and/or the Owner/Caretaker do not know of any difficulties you may have. We think it is fair that your reasonable holiday expectations should be met. If they are not, it is equally fair that you provide a chance for them to be put right before you come home - We understand that in rare instances you may feel awkward about speaking to the Owner/Caretaker about the property while you are staying in it. In the following Complaints Procedure we have accounted for this. You must follow this Procedure if you have a problem with your holiday; (i) we urge you to raise any concerns directly with the Owner/Caretaker first during your holiday. You will always find their contact details on the Holiday Confirmation Form or you can ask us on our Customer Care Line as detailed in full in point (ii) below. Contacting the Owner/Caretaker is often the quickest and simplest way of solving your problem. Positive communication is very important, and misunderstandings easily occur if nothing is said. It is impossible to investigate problems of a transient nature (property preparation/cleanliness or heating for example) unless you raise them during your holiday. (ii) if you have contacted the Owner/Caretaker and are still unhappy, or there is a genuine reason why you feel unable to approach the Owner/Caretaker in the first instance, then you must contact us. Tell us about your problem and give us a chance to help. You can call our Customer Care Line on + 353 (0)86 820 5220 / + 353 (0)1 2889355. This line is staffed 7 days a week, 9.00am to 9.00pm Sundays to Fridays and 9.00am to 7.00pm on Saturdays. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and at all other times, a 24 hour answer machine operates, in which instance you should leave clear details of your name, contact telephone number, booking reference number and/or your home postcode, and a brief message. (iii) if you have followed either or both of points (i) and (ii) above, and are still dissatisfied, then you must write to us within 28 days of your return home. Address your letter to our Customer Care Section and include your booking reference and all relevant information. Important: If you wait until you get home before telling anyone of your difficulties - i.e. do not follow points (i) and (ii) above, and your claim does not involve personal injury, illness or death, then unfortunately we cannot accept any liability.
14. Prices:
The prices (including any supplements) in this brochure / website are in Euros and are believed to be correct at the time of going to press, and include Value Added Tax as appropriate. We guarantee that the price you pay for your holiday at the time you book and pay your deposit, will not increase within 120 days of departure. Before this period it will not increase other than for any Government action such as an increase in Value Added Tax or any other government imposed taxes which affect the cost of your holiday . We also reserve the right on behalf of ourselves, the Owners and Service Providers to (a) correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices (b) increase or decrease the prices of unsold holidays at any time.
15. Insurance
We believe it is essential that you have adequate travel insurance.
Adams & Butler,
Suite 9,
Baggot Rath House,
Mount Merrion,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4,
Ireland
Tel + 353 (0) 1 2889355 Fax:+ 353 (0) 1 288 9282
Email: info@irishluxury.com