Terms & Conditions
Last updated: 8th October, 2020
Guaranteed Departures
All small-group journeys are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of four (4) people unless noted on the itinerary. Guaranteed departures will operate except only in cases of an uncontrollable event, which could include any major world event negatively affecting international travel, The Irish government advising AWE to stop operating our journeys or other circumstances beyond Atlantic Way Experience’s control.
Included In Journeys
Accommodation
Hotel bookings on our Pre-arranged Journeys (Authentic Irish Journeys & Signature Journeys) are provided as noted in the itinerary. All hotels Taxes are included as well as complimentary wifi, where available in hotels (we can’t guarantee the speed or service levels).
Atlantic Way Experience reserves the right to replace hotels for accommodations in similar categories.
Transport
Group Airport transfers to and from hotel in the first and last published city in the itinerary. Transfers will only be included on the day of arrival and departure of the journey. If arriving earlier or extending the trip AWE could assist you with organising transfers to anywhere in Ireland.
Our journey participation is limited to the maximum of participants stated in the journey description. For Luxury tours of max 8 passengers, Atlantic Way Experience normally uses a 7-9 seater luxury minivan Mercedes Viano or similar vehicle. For our tours of max 16 passengers, Atlantic Way Experience normally uses a 19-24 seater minivan depending on numbers. When passenger numbers are lower than this, a smaller but equally luxurious coach may be used such as sedans, 7 seaters, 9 seaters, 12 seaters, 14 seaters etc.
Driver-Tour Director (Same Person)
All our Pre-arranged Journeys ( Authentic Irish Journeys & Signature Journeys) are conducted by a friendly and professional Driver-Tour Director (one person).
The knowledgeable Driver-Tour Director (one person) is both the driver & The Tour Director.
Private journeys could be conducted by a chauffeur and a separate Tour Director upon request. Please ask AWE for information and prices.
Meals
All meals as noted in the itinerary.
Coffee/tea/soft drinks/water at included meals. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the journey.
Attractions & Sightseeing
Fully guided sightseeing (including National parks and entrance fees) as noted in the itinerary.
AWE Tour reserves the right to replace visits/attractions when establishments are closed or cannot be visited for reasons beyond our control such as religious holidays, national celebrations, weather or due to COVID-19.
Itineraries
AWE reserves the right to modify itineraries, including pre-arranged attractions & sightseeing and substitute accommodations, at any time due to unpredicted circumstances like weather or circumstances beyond AWE control. Reasonable efforts will be made to run itineraries as planned, but amendments may occur after the final itinerary has been issued.
Not Included In Journeys
International flights to and from Ireland, costs associated with attaining passports or entry required visas; reciprocity and other border fees; airport departure taxes, excess baggage fees; travel insurance, gratuities/tips to the driver-Tour Director and any meals other than those specified in the itinerary booked; room service at hotels; beverages other than those noted in inclusions above; attractions & sightseeing not included in the confirmed itinerary; and personal expenses such as laundry, telephone charges and optional activities (which are always subject to availability at time of request).
Hotel Check-In
Most hotels check-in are during the afternoon at 3-4 pm. If you wish to have a guaranteed room ready for your check-in upon arrival, before that time, it requires the room to be pre-book from the previous night or a guaranteed paid early check-in ( which depending on the arrival time, is normally cheaper than to prebook the previous night). Please ask AWE for details and prices. Requests for complimentary early check-in are based on hotel availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Room Upgrades/Special Requests
Upgrades are typically available on request at individual hotels for an additional cost. Please ask AWE for more information and prices. Specific requests such as interconnecting rooms, special bedding configuration requests, smoking rooms and special dietary requirements should be advised to AWE at time of booking. Please note that reasonable efforts will be made to secure special requests; however, they cannot be guaranteed.
Baggage
AWE provides porterage of up to one (1) piece of baggage per person. Please note should your journey include internal/domestic or charter flights, your luggage allowance may be different and weight/size restrictions and additional costs may apply.
Details will be provided in your Pre-Travel Documentation. Baggage and personal effects such as coats, cell phones, umbrellas and cameras are at the owner’s risk throughout the travel program, and AWE assumes no liability for lost or damaged baggage. Please check with your international carrier for other baggage restrictions and fees applicable to your international flights.
Prices
All quoted journeys by AWE prices are per person on double occupancy (2 people) except where indicated. Although not expected, published prices may be modified due to unforeseen significant external factors not forecasted at the time of printing. AWE is under no obligation to give a breakdown in costs of any published journey. Pre- and Post-Tour Extensions are available to guests booked on any of our pre-arranged group journeys. Amendment of program content to serve a smaller group size will not affect the published itinerary price.
Single Occupancy Supplement Rates
All single occupancy supplement will incur in extra fees as noted in each itinerary.
Child Policy
There’s no minimum age to participate in our pre-arranged journeys unless noted on the itinerary. All children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. AWE reserves the right to marginally exceed the published maximum group size on Family Journeys to accommodate a family. Please note that most accommodations require that children below a certain age share a room with an adult.
The parent or guardian travelling alone with a child is recommended to bring documentation that confirms their relationship to the child (e.g. the child’s birth certificate) and proof that they have permission to travel with the child (e.g., consent letter). Guests travelling with children who are not related are suggested to carry documentation which provides evidence they have permission to travel with the child. Guests are recommended to check with the relevant government authority to establish the mandatory documents required for travel with children. AWE cannot be held responsible should the guest, child or any member of the travelling party be denied entry to the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland due to non-compliance with a country’s requirements.
Smoking Policy
Smoking is strictly prohibited on all the vehicles allocated to your journey. However several stops are made throughout each day. Smoking Rooms are available in some hotels but the request for such a room must be made at the time of booking and a smoking room cannot be guaranteed. (Please note some hotels have non-smoking rooms policies and charges may apply should you smoke inside their rooms)
Travel Insurance
Atlantic Way Experience does not sell Travel Insurance but we can recommend our partner Agency products if required. AWE requires that all guests have comprehensive travel insurance that will cover all aspects of the trip.
Active Elements & Conduct
A minimum level of fitness is required to enjoy the journeys as planned. AWE will require prior notice if any passenger has any physical or other condition or disability that would stop them from participating in activities throughout the journey and/or could jeopardize himself or herself or other members of the group. AWE will endeavour to accommodate a disability-related request for accommodation. However, if AWE, in its sole judgement, is unable to adequately accommodate the need of the person(s) concerned or believes that health and safety may be compromised, AWE reserves the right to refuse participation in the AWE journey. The guest represents that neither he nor she nor anyone travelling with him or her has any physical or other condition or disability that could jeopardize himself or herself or any other members in the touring party. AWE also reserves the right to withdraw from the trip, at the guest’s own expense, any participant whose physical condition or conduct negatively impacts the diversion of the other participants or disrupts the tour.
Passports And Visas
It is the participant’s sole responsibility to obtain and have available when necessary the relevant valid travel documents. All passengers are advised to check with the appropriate government body to determine the mandatory documents required for their travel. Passports must be valid for six (6) months after completion of your journey and should also have enough blank visa pages for entry and exit stamps. You may be declined to board or disembark from a plane, vessel or train without liability for refund, payment, compensation, or credit of any kind if you do not have the necessary documentation, and you will be subject to any fine or other costs incurred by AWE which result from improper documentation or noncompliance with applicable regulations. AWE shall not be responsible should any guest be refused entry to a country due to non-compliance with these requirements.
Reservation And Payment Schedule
Any payments made to AWE comprise your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out herein and in your Pre-Travel Documentation.
AWE accepts all major credit cards.
Deposit per Person Required at Time of Booking
Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. If your reservation is made within 60 days of departure, the entire cost of the trip must be paid at the time of the request to secure confirmation.
Cancellation Charges
Cancellations will be effective on the date of receipt by AWE whether by phone or email. Cancellations received by AWE are subject to the following:
Cancellation Fees Per Person
Luxury Small Group Journeys & Signature Journeys
60 days prior to departure or more: €500 (deposit)- *€1000 (deposit) for 14 days Journeys
59-30 days prior to departure: 50% of program price
29-14 days prior to departure: 75% of program price
14 days prior to departure or less: 100% of the program price
Cancellations must be received in writing. Additional terms and fees apply for extra Services and Partial Room cancellations.
The guest agrees the sums cited in the cancellation provisions above are not a penalty and represent a reasonable effort on behalf of AWE to establish its loss prospectively and represent liquidated damages. These include amongst other costs but not limited to fees charged by hotels, transport and travel suppliers to AWE for cancelled bookings.
Partial Room Cancellation
If a guest cancels or departs early from an AWE journey and a roommate remains, an additional supplement may apply to the price for the remaining guest.
Cancellation Charges For Extra Services
Additional hotel nights and other extra services booked in conjunction with AWE journeys are subject to specific cancellation terms. These will be provided at the time of booking and noted on the invoice and travel documents. Penalties will apply for late cancellation for extra services.
Covid-19 Acknowledgement
Participants must sign an acknowledgement attesting to their fitness to travel and agreeing to adhere with all health protocols as directed by AWE staff and local regulations before their journey commences. Guest may not be able to travel if they test positive for COVID-19 during the 14 days prior to departure; standard cancellation terms will apply. Guest must maintain appropriate physical distancing and regularly wash and sanitize hands during their journey. Masks are required in vehicles, indoor spaces, any outdoor spaces where physical distancing is not possible and in accordance with the Irish Government regulations. Noncompliance with these measures will result in not being able to continue on the journey. Participants voluntarily assume all risks and related expenses in the event that they or any member of their travelling party require testing, quarantine or become infected with COVID-19.
Unforeseen Circumstances
Unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond AWE’S control or the control of our local suppliers, the consequence of which neither AWE, nor its suppliers, could avoid even with all due care, including, but not limited to, war or threat of war; riot; civil strife; terrorist activity (actual or threatened); industrial dispute; technical problems with transport, machinery or equipment; outages or power failures; natural or nuclear disaster; fire, flood, drought or adverse weather conditions; pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks of illness; and ice conditions in oceans and level of water in rivers.
In the event of a journey cancellation or material alteration to the journey as a result of the occurrences as described in this clause, AWE may in its sole and absolute discretion:
Offer the guest(s) alternative travel arrangements or products of comparable standard for a different date ( Future credit) as may be appropriate in the circumstances.
Alternatively If guest(s) would like to cancel instead of transferring their booking to the future AWE can provide a refund of the remaining balance if it has been paid that in advance. The deposit is non-refundable.
AWE cannot assume responsibility for any other travel-related costs included but not limited to flights, insurance, visas and other travel arrangements, etc.
Notes On Transferring To A Future Tour
When transferring the journey to the future, guest(s) can pick any tour that starts in 2021. It does not have to be the same journey guest(s) were originally booked in.
Guest(s) do not have to pick the date and journey straight away, they can cancel then re-book in the future. The journey price, dates, offers, and itinerary may be different from the tour that Guest(s) had originally booked, and is subject to availability at time of booking.
Claims and Refunds
AWE will not accept any liability for any claims and will not provide refunds except as may be specifically allowed herein.
Photography During Travel
AWE reserves the right to take photographs and video of participants during any journey to use, re-use, publish, and republish their image, identity likeness, name, voice, interview, statements, video clips and sound recordings, and/or photographic portraits or pictures in which guest(s) may be included (an “Image”), for promotional purposes during the trip and thereafter. By booking a program with AWE guests acknowledge that AWE is the owner of the photographs and video and consent to allow their Image to be used in such photographs and videos, which may thereafter, be used by AWE.
Guests who prefer that their images not be used must (1) identify themselves to AWE staff at the time of booking and or their Tour Director at the beginning of their Journey; and (2) notify their AWE Travel Consultant by email, not later than thirty (30) days following the end of the guest’s trip. In the event the guest fails to comply with both obligations stated above, the guest shall not be exempt from this section. If such written notice is not timely provided, the guests, individually and on behalf of any minor child travelling with them, have granted unrestricted rights and permission for AWE to use the Images.
Responsibility
Neither AWE nor any of their respective employees, directors, owns or operates any entity which provides goods or services for your trip. AWE purchases transportation (coach, train, or otherwise), hotel and other lodging accommodations, restaurant, ground handling and other activities and services from various local independent suppliers. All the above people and entities are independent contractors. As a result, the AWE Parties are not liable for any negligent or willful act of any such person or entity or of any third person.
In addition and without limitation AWE is not responsible for any injury, financial or physical loss, death, inconvenience, delay or damage to personal property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from but not limited to acts of God, acts of war, criminal or terrorist activities, civil unrest, disease, illness, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or another type of failure in the transportation or for failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time.
There are many inherent risks in adventure travel of the type involved here, which can result in injury, illness, or even death. Guest assumes all such risks associated with participating in these trips.
If guest(s) decide to participate in any activities (included as part of your itinerary or as an optional activity) but not limited to, any excursions involving animals, riding on animals, helicopter flights, ziplining, high altitude treks, climbing, quad biking, parasailing, parachuting, kayaking, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, hot air ballooning, jet boat rides, snowmobiling, shooting, primate tracking and any other activity which AWE considers to carry imminent risk of serious injury, illness, or even death (“Activities”), then you fully understand and acknowledge that these activities carry with them several inherent risks, including serious illness, injury or death and you take full responsibility for your own health and safety and agree to assume all risks of injury, illness or death, whether foreseen or unforeseen, that may befall you as a result of participating in any Activities and agree to release the AWE Parties from any liability whatsoever related thereto.
Further, as consideration for being permitted to participate in the Activities; you release the AWE, Parties from, and agree not to sue or make claim against the AWE Parties for, property damage, cancellation of any Activities for any reason, illness, negligent rescue operations or procedures, personal injury, or death arising out of your participation in the Activities, regardless of whether such property damage, illness, personal injury, or death results from the negligence of the AWE Parties. You further agree to indemnify and hold the AWE Parties harmless for any claim made against AWE by anyone else which (a) related to your participation in any trip or any Activities, or (b) which would be subject to the above release and covenant not to sue if you had made the claim directly yourself. Upon receipt of notice of the assertion of a claim, the AWE Parties reserve the right to approve or withdraw approval of, counsel, in its sole discretion.
Travel Advisories/Warnings
It is the responsibility of the guest to become informed about the most current travel advisories and warnings by referring to their respective government authorities. In the event of a government agency Travel Warning against travel to the Republic of Ireland and or Northern Ireland, should the guest still decide to travel, notwithstanding any travel advisory, the guest assumes all risk of personal injury, death or property damage that may arise out of the events like those advised or warned against.
Law
The participation contract with Atlantic Way Experience is subject exclusively to Irish Law and the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland’s courts.
Amendments
AWE reserves the right to amend any errors or omissions in its published materials and to correct these Terms and Conditions at any time as the result of any material changes to legislation or regulation in the Republic of Ireland. All amended Terms and Conditions shall automatically be effective upon being posted by AWE to the website atlanticwayexperience.com Accordingly, guests should check the website atlanticwayexperience.com to travel in order to ensure they are aware of any changes.