SECTION A – APPLICABLE TO ALL BOOKINGS
This section applies to all bookings made with us. Please read this section in conjunction with the relevant section below which is applicable to your booking.
1 Booking & Paying For Your Arrangements
Bookings can be made through our website at www.rabbies.com, by telephone, in person at our booking office or by contacting us by email at tours@rabbies.com
In some circumstances, we may require a deposit at the time of booking and full payment at a later date, however for scheduled tours (single day tours, tours of more than one day, with a specific itinerary, which are available for booking on scheduled dates from scheduled departure points), full payment will be required at the time of booking. Either case, we will advise and provide you amounts and due dates at the time of booking.
Upon receiving payment, we will issue you a booking confirmation which will confirm the details of your booking. Upon issuing the confirmation invoice, a binding contract between you and us will then come into existence. If your booking confirmation or any other document are wrong, you must advise us immediately as changes can not be made later and it may harm your rights if we are not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within ten days of our sending it out.
Where a deposit is initially made (rather than full payment at the time of booking) the balance of the cost of your arrangements (including any applicable surcharge) is due not less than 60 days (unless notified otherwise at the time of your booking) prior to scheduled departure when you make a booking with us. If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you and in which case the cancellation charges set out in Section A, will become payable.
2 Accuracy
We endeavour to ensure that all the information and prices both on our website and in our brochures are accurate, however occasionally changes and errors occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You must check the current price and all other details relating to the arrangements that you wish to book before you make your booking.
3 Insurance
Adequate travel insurance is a condition of your contract with us. You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.
4 Force Majeure
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by “Force Majeure”. For the purposes of these Booking Conditions, Force Majeure means any event beyond our or our supplier’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), civil strife, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, labour strikes, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) control.
5 Changes by Us
We shall do everything reasonably possible to provide your tour and/or services as planned.
We reserve the right to alter all routes, schedules, itineraries, attractions, accommodation, services and modes of transport where required to do so. The majority of any such alterations will be minor and we will try to advise you of them at the earliest possible date and will endeavour to provide alternatives of a similar standard, nature and/or value.
In the unlikely event that we are required to significantly alter a material part of your tour, we will notify you as soon as possible in order to enable you to decide how you wish to proceed. In any such event you will be entitled to:
take an alternative tour of equivalent or superior quality, if we are able to offer that, or
take a substitute tour of lower quality if we are able to offer that (in which event the difference in price between the original and the substitute tour will be refunded to you); or
cancel your booking and obtain a full refund of all monies paid by you.
6 Changes by You
If you wish to change any part of your confirmed booking, you should inform us in writing as soon as possible. This should be done by the lead passenger named on the booking. Whilst we will do our best to assist you, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your request.
Where we can meet a change request made by you, any changes made may be subject to an administration fee In addition, you may also be required to meet any extra costs incurred by us (and any costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers) in making the requested change. Where we are unable to meet your change request and you no longer wish to travel on the basis of the original booking, this will be treated as a cancellation of your booking and cancellation charges may be payable by you, as outlined in these terms.
If, once your booking is confirmed, you are unable to travel for any reason then we will allow you to transfer your booking to someone else (introduced by you, and who satisfies all of the conditions applicable to the booking) provided that:-
we are notified of this in writing at least 7 days prior to departure;
an administration fee per person transferring (as advised by the Company) is paid;
you and/or the transferee make payment of any costs and charges incurred by us and/or imposed by our accommodation providers or other suppliers, and
the transferee agrees to these conditions and all other terms of the contract between us.
For the avoidance of doubt, no transfer requests or changes will be finally confirmed until full payment of all applicable charges referred to above have been received by the Company.
7 Cancellation by Us
We will only cancel tours due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances which are out of our control or which might jeopardise your safety. If we cancel your tour then we will notify you as soon as possible and we will always refund you, in full, for all sums paid by you.
8 If You Cancel Your Package & Our No Show Policy
If you wish to cancel your booking after our booking confirmation has been issued, you should inform us in writing as soon as possible - the effective date of cancellation will be the date upon which we receive such written notification. In the event of cancellation by you, cancellation charges will differ depending upon what you have booked with us.
If you have booked a One Day, Half Day or, Extended Tours (two to nine days or 10+ days), in the Republic of Ireland, your cancellation terms can be found in section B or section D, depending on whether your booking will be a single service (Section D) or whether your booking may amount to a Linked Travel Arrangement (Section B).
If you have booked and paid a single price for a tour and accommodation, this will be a package and your cancellation terms can be found in Section C.
However all cancellations (whether a One Day, Half Day or, Extended Tours (two to nine days or 10+ days, either in UK or Europe) are subject to the following terms:
Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.
If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.
Insurance premiums and amendments charges are not refundable in any circumstances.
Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.
It is your responsibility to reach the departure point and board the vehicle (as applicable) prior to the noted departure time detailed on your itinerary. If you and your party are not present at the noted departure time, this will be understood as a ‘no show’ and in such circumstances, this will be a cancellation by you and such charge will be 100% of the travel arrangement cost.
9 Special Requests
Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of booking e.g. seat allocations, diet, room location, a particular facility at a hotel etc. You should then confirm your requests in writing. Whilst every effort will be made by us to try and arrange your reasonable special requests, we cannot guarantee that they will be fulfilled. The fact that a special request has been noted on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation or that it has been passed on to the supplier is not confirmation that the request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part unless the request has been specifically confirmed by us. We do not accept bookings that are conditional upon any special request being met.
10 Conditions of Suppliers
Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier's liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from us or the supplier concerned.
11Cutting your holiday short
If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any travel arrangements you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed, or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.
12 Complaints
We make every effort to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly but if you do have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. your hotelier) immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please contact feedback@rabbies.com
If the problem cannot be resolved and you wish to complain further, you must send an email of your complaint to feedback@rabbies.com, ideally within 28 days of the end of your stay, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you. Failure to follow the procedure set out in this condition may affect ours and the applicable supplier’s ability to investigate your complaint, and will affect your rights under this contract.
13 Disabilities and Medical Problems
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit to travel on the departure date. We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements you may have. If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your booking, please provide us with full details before you make your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that you are fit to participate. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking or if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will cancel it and impose applicable cancellation charges when we become aware of these details.
14 Your Behaviour
All our customers are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and acceptable manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others. If in our opinion, or in the opinion of any hotel manager or any other person in authority, your behaviour or that of any member of your party is causing or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to any other customers or any third party, or damage to property, or to cause a delay or diversion to transportation, we reserve the right to terminate your booking with us immediately.
In the event of such termination, our liability to you and/or your party will cease and you and/or your party will be required to leave your accommodation or other arrangements immediately. We will not have any further obligations to you and/or your party. No refunds for lost accommodation or any other arrangements will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of termination. You and/or your party may also be required to pay for loss and/or damage caused by your actions and we will hold you and each member of your party jointly and individually liable for any damage or losses caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or losses must be paid directly to the hotel manager or other supplier prior to departure. If you fail to make payment, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of your actions together with all costs we incur in pursuing any claim against you.
We cannot be held responsible for the actions or behaviour of other guests or individuals who have no connection with your booking arrangements or with us.
15 Refusal of Travel
We, along with our suppliers or our supplier’s staff, reserve the right to refuse to carry any person if we find it appropriate to do so. If you have any concerns regarding other travellers during your holiday, please contact your Rabbie’s representative immediately. Failure to do this may affect ours and the applicable supplier’s ability to address your concerns.
In either of the cases mentioned above, full cancellation charges shall be applied by us and we shall have no further liability to that passenger or to any person travelling with them.
16 Excursions
Excursions or other arrangements that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your contracted arrangements with us. For any excursion or other arrangement that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or arrangement and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or arrangement or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.
17 Entry Passport, Visa and Immigration Requirements & Health Formalities
Entry requirements vary depending on your nationality, personal circumstances, and the country or countries you will travel to and transit through. It is your responsibility to ensure you have all relevant documentation required for your selected itinerary and that you meet all formal entry requirements before travelling. This includes, but is not limited to:
Ensuring your passport is valid and remains valid for up to six months after the conclusion of your trip, as applicable.
Obtaining all visas, travel permits, and authorisation documents required to visit each destination on your itinerary.
Securing all visas, travel permits, and authorisation documents required to transit through all countries included in your itinerary, regardless of whether you will visit or stay in those destinations.
Ensuring the name and details on all travel documents match those on your passport.
Completing any required vaccinations.
v. Confirming that your travel insurance includes the necessary health cover, or holding a valid UK GHIC or EHIC health card if applicable.
Please check your itinerary and the relevant entry and travel requirements carefully well in advance of your departure to ensure you have all necessary documentation.
We accept no responsibility if you are unable to travel or incur costs or other losses due to your failure to comply with entry, passport, visa, immigration requirements, or health formalities.
You agree to reimburse us for any fines or other losses we incur as a result of your failure to meet the requirements of any country you are visiting or transiting through.
18 Luggage
Due to limited space on our mini-coaches and legal weight regulations, we have fixed luggage requirements. There is no capacity for additional luggage on a full coach. If you have excess baggage, please make alternative storage arrangements before boarding, as we may not be able to accommodate you if you exceed your allowance.
Unless otherwise stated, each passenger is allowed one medium-sized suitcase or bag, similar to airline standard carry-on luggage. The maximum weight is either 14kg (31lbs) or 20kg (44lbs), depending on your tour. Please refer to your confirmation email for your specific allowance.
As a guideline, luggage should not exceed 55cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 17in x 10in).
You may also bring a small, lightweight bag for personal items to carry with you on the vehicle.
Luggage is carried free of charge but at your own risk. It is your responsibility to ensure your bag is sturdy, waterproof, and suitable for travel. Passengers must be able to lift and carry their own luggage, including to and from their accommodation.
For more details, please refer to our FAQs on luggage and storage
19 Delays, Missed Transport Arrangements and other Travel Information
It is your responsibility to reach the departure point and board the vehicle (as applicable) prior to the noted departure time detailed on your itinerary. If you and your party are not present at the noted departure time, we reserve the right to identify this as a ‘no show’ and apply our cancellation terms outline in condition 26, 31 or 36 as applicable
We do not offer flights and we are not responsible for any flight you may otherwise book. In the event that you make such booking, please read your flight terms and conditions carefully. You may have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from the airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Contact your airlines or the third party you made a flight booking with for more information.
Holidays that include Rail Travel
Please note, once your train ticket has been collected, it is non-amendable and non-refundable unless the service is cancelled or delayed. We recommend arriving 45 minutes prior to your departure to allow enough time to collect your ticket and locate your platform. Please refer to the rail provider’s Terms and Conditions which will apply to your rail booking for further train service details. These will be provided to you upon booking.
If your train is delayed by more than 15 minutes, or is cancelled, please contact us and we will provide assistance in arranging public transport alternatives. Depending on the specific circumstances and availability of transport options, your itinerary may be rearranged to bring you to an alternative meeting point. In this case, or if alternative transport cannot be arranged, we will provide compensation for any missed portion of your holiday.
We are not liable for compensation due to missed train departures. You can contact us for assistance in this case.
20 Advance Passenger Information
A number of Governments are introducing new requirements for air carriers to provide personal information about all travellers on their aircraft to the Authorities before the aircraft leaves departure country.. The data will be collected either at the airport when you check in or in some circumstances when, or after you make your booking. Accordingly, you are advised to allow extra time to check in for your flight.
21 Promotional Codes
We (or third parties on our behalf) may from time to time issue promotional codes for use in booking our holidays, which may provide a discount on the price of your booking. Promotional codes shall be valid only during the dates stated (and for the holidays/departure points stated) and may only be valid for bookings made by you directly through our website and/or by phone. Promotional codes must be applied at the time of booking. Promotional codes are not redeemable for cash and may be withdrawn by us at any time, at our discretion. Promotional codes may not be used in conjunction with any other offer. All holidays are subject to availability.
22 Residents outside of Ireland or Europe (EEA and EU countries)
Certain bookings made with us, (Packages), may be governed by particular regulations which affording certain rights to residents of such countries. Such regulations include:
Please note, where you are not a resident of Ireland or Europe (EEA and EU), such rights may not be afforded to your booking. Please contact us for further information as well as refer to both Section B and Section C below.
23 Department of Foreign Affairs Advice
You are responsible for making yourself aware of Department of Foreign Affairs advice in regard to the safety of the countries and areas in which you will be travelling and to make your decisions accordingly. Advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute a Force Majeure event (see condition 4).