Refund policy

At Best of Ireland Tours, we create personalised private tours and scheduled small-group tours of Ireland, designed to help our customers experience the very best of the country. We want every customer to feel confident when booking with us, so our payment, cancellation and refund terms are set out clearly below.

This policy applies to the following services offered by Best of Ireland Tours:

• Private day tours.
• Private multi-day driver-guide tours.
• Private all-inclusive multi-day tours.
• Scheduled small-group package tours with set departure dates and itineraries.

By confirming a booking, customers acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to review these terms. Nothing in this policy limits any rights customers have under applicable consumer protection or package travel legislation.

1. Payment Terms

1.1 Private Day Tours

50% of the payment is required at the time of booking to confirm a private day tour.

The remaining 50% of your booking is required 24 hours before tour day.

Your booking is confirmed once payment has been received and Best of Ireland Tours has provided written confirmation.

1.2 Private Multi-Day Driver-Guide Tours

These tours include a private driver-guide and a customised itinerary. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, customers are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodation, meals, activities, entrance fees and other personal expenses.

The following payment schedule applies:

• Initial deposit: A 25% deposit of the total agreed tour price is required to confirm your booking.
• Final balance: The remaining 75% is due 60 days before the scheduled start date of your tour.
• Bookings made within 60 days of departure: Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit or full payment has been received and written confirmation has been issued.

1.3 Private All-Inclusive Multi-Day Tours

These tours include a customised itinerary, a private driver-guide, and the accommodation and experiences arranged by Best of Ireland Tours, as specified in your agreed quotation.

The following payment schedule applies:

• Initial deposit: A 25% deposit of the total agreed tour price is required to confirm your booking.
• Final balance: The remaining 75% is due 60 days before the scheduled start date of your tour.
• Bookings made within 60 days of departure: Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Earlier supplier payment requirements

Some accommodation providers and experience operators require deposits or full payment before the standard 60-day balance deadline. Where this applies, Best of Ireland Tours will inform you in writing of the relevant amount, payment deadline and applicable supplier cancellation conditions before you commit to the affected reservation.

Any payment collected towards your agreed tour price will be accounted for as part of that price and will not be charged again as an additional fee.

If an exceptional supplier requirement materially changes the agreed payment arrangements or cancellation exposure, we will explain this before proceeding and obtain your agreement where required.

1.4 Scheduled Small-Group Package Tours

Scheduled small-group tours operate on set departure dates with a published itinerary and a place reserved for each traveller. The tour price includes the services and inclusions specified in the relevant tour description and booking confirmation.

The following payment schedule applies:

• Initial deposit: A 25% deposit of the total tour price per person is required to secure a place.
• Final balance: The remaining 75% is due 60 days before departure.
• Bookings made within 60 days of departure: Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Your place is confirmed once the required deposit or full payment has been received and written confirmation has been issued.

The tour description and booking confirmation will identify the included and excluded services, accommodation arrangements and any other important details relevant to the departure.

Where special supplier payment conditions materially affect a booking, these will be disclosed before the customer commits to the relevant arrangement.

1.5 Late or Missed Payments

Customers are responsible for ensuring that payments are received by the applicable deadlines.

If a payment is overdue, Best of Ireland Tours will contact the customer to request payment and, where appropriate, allow a reasonable opportunity to resolve the issue. If the outstanding amount remains unpaid, we may suspend arrangements or cancel the booking in accordance with the booking terms and applicable law.

Any cancellation charge arising from a customer's failure to pay will be subject to the applicable cancellation terms and legal requirements. We will not automatically retain payments or impose charges where doing so would be unlawful or unfair.

2. Customer Cancellations and Refunds

We understand that travel plans can change. If you need to cancel a booking, please notify Best of Ireland Tours in writing by email as soon as possible.

The date and time at which we receive your written cancellation notice will generally determine the applicable cancellation period. We will confirm receipt and explain any cancellation charge and refund due.

Cancellation charges are calculated against the total agreed tour price, rather than simply the amount paid to date. Any payments already received will be credited towards the applicable cancellation charge. Where the amount paid exceeds the charge, the difference will be refunded. Where the amount paid is less than the applicable charge, any additional amount claimed will remain subject to the booking terms and applicable law.

All cancellation charges are subject to mandatory consumer protection and package travel rights.

2.1 Private Day Tours

All payments made towards private day tours are non-refundable in the event of customer cancellation, subject to applicable statutory rights.

If a customer cancels their booking, any payments already made will not be refunded. Any outstanding balance will remain payable where permitted by applicable law and the agreed booking terms.

If a particular tour includes third-party arrangements with different cancellation conditions, any material exceptions will be disclosed before the booking is confirmed.

2.2 Private Multi-Day Driver-Guide Tours

The following cancellation schedule applies to private multi-day driver-guide tours:

The cancellation charge is calculated as a percentage of the total agreed tour price, not just the deposit.

For example, if a tour costs €8,000 and the customer cancels at least 60 days before departure, the standard cancellation charge would be €2,000 and the refund would be €6,000, subject to applicable law and any required adjustments.

The cancellation schedule reflects the time reserved for the private driver-guide, itinerary preparation, administration and the potential loss of an opportunity to accept another booking. All charges remain subject to applicable consumer protection law.

2.3 Private All-Inclusive Multi-Day Tours

The following standard cancellation schedule applies to private all-inclusive multi-day tours:

The cancellation charge is calculated against the total agreed tour price, including the driver-guide service, accommodation and experiences included in the confirmed quotation.

Accommodation and experience bookings

Some hotels and experience providers impose their own cancellation charges or make deposits non-refundable. Where specific supplier terms apply to your itinerary, Best of Ireland Tours will disclose those conditions before the relevant booking is confirmed.

Where a customer cancels, we will take account of supplier refunds, credits, costs avoided and amounts recoverable, as applicable. A supplier charge will not automatically be added on top of the standard cancellation charge if this would result in double recovery or an unfair or unlawful charge.

Where a specific supplier commitment means that a different cancellation arrangement is necessary, the applicable terms will be explained clearly and agreed before the customer commits to that arrangement. All cancellation charges remain subject to applicable law.

2.4 Scheduled Small-Group Package Tours

The following proposed cancellation schedule applies to scheduled small-group package tours:

The cancellation charge is calculated against the total agreed tour price per person, not just the deposit. Any amount already paid will be credited towards the applicable cancellation charge. If the amount paid exceeds that charge, the difference will be refunded. If the amount paid is less than the charge, any additional amount claimed will remain subject to applicable law and the booking terms.

Scheduled group tours may involve advance commitments to accommodation providers, transport operators, guides and activity providers. We will take account of supplier refunds, credits, recoverable amounts and costs avoided where applicable. We will not seek double recovery or impose a charge that is unfair or unlawful.

Any special supplier cancellation conditions that materially affect a customer's booking will be disclosed before the customer commits to the relevant arrangement, where applicable.

This cancellation schedule does not override any mandatory statutory rights, including rights that apply under package travel legislation or in circumstances involving unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.

2.5 How Refunds Are Calculated

Where a refund is due, Best of Ireland Tours will calculate it by reference to the total amount paid, the applicable cancellation terms and any adjustments required by law.

Refunds will be processed within the applicable legal timeframe and returned using the original payment method unless otherwise agreed or required by law.

Where supplier refunds or credits are outstanding, we will keep the customer informed and explain any relevant delay. Nothing in this section limits a customer's statutory right to a refund within a mandatory legal deadline.

3. Changes and Rescheduling

If you wish to change your tour dates, itinerary or other booking details, please contact Best of Ireland Tours in writing as early as possible.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate requests, subject to availability and the terms of any third-party suppliers involved.

• Private tour date changes: Changes are subject to availability and may involve additional costs, including reasonable supplier charges that cannot be avoided or recovered.
• Itinerary changes: Requests to add, remove or substitute accommodation, experiences or other services may affect the total tour price.
• Amendments close to departure: Changes requested shortly before departure may not be possible, particularly where suppliers have strict booking conditions.
• Scheduled group tour transfers: Requests to transfer a place to another departure date or another traveller are subject to availability, the tour's booking conditions and any reasonable, disclosed supplier or administration costs. Transfers may not be possible close to departure.
• Changes that amount to a cancellation: If a requested change cannot be accommodated and the customer chooses to cancel, the applicable cancellation policy will apply, subject to statutory rights.

We will confirm any revised itinerary, price or payment requirement in writing before the change is finalised.

4. Cancellations by Best of Ireland Tours

In the unlikely event that Best of Ireland Tours needs to cancel a booking, we will inform the customer as soon as reasonably possible and explain the available options.

Depending on the circumstances and the type of booking, these may include:

• An alternative tour or suitable replacement arrangement.
• Rescheduling to an alternative date, where agreed.
• A refund for services that we are unable to provide.

For scheduled small-group tours, a departure may occasionally be unable to proceed, including where minimum group numbers are not reached or operational circumstances prevent the tour from running. Any minimum group size and applicable cancellation arrangements will be clearly communicated before booking.

Where the booking constitutes a package holiday under applicable legislation, the customer's statutory rights and the organiser's legal obligations will apply. These may include a right to a full refund or an alternative package in specified circumstances.

We will not retain payments for services that we have cancelled where the customer is legally entitled to a refund.

5. Unavoidable and Extraordinary Circumstances

Events such as severe weather, natural disasters, significant safety risks, government restrictions, major transport disruption or other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the parties may affect a tour.

If such circumstances arise, Best of Ireland Tours will assess the situation and communicate with affected customers about available alternatives.

Depending on the circumstances, we may offer rescheduling, an alternative arrangement or a refund where appropriate or legally required.

Where package travel legislation applies, customers retain any cancellation and refund rights provided by that legislation, including rights relating to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances that significantly affect the package or travel to the destination.

Customers are encouraged to obtain suitable travel insurance to cover circumstances that may prevent them from travelling, including illness, personal emergencies, flight disruption and other events not covered by our cancellation terms.

6. Missed Tours and Late Arrival

Customers are responsible for being ready at the agreed collection point and time and for providing accurate contact details.

If a customer does not attend the agreed collection point, cannot be contacted or arrives too late for the tour to proceed, Best of Ireland Tours will make reasonable efforts to contact them where practicable.

Where the customer fails to attend or the tour cannot proceed because of the customer's late arrival, the booking may be treated as a no-show and the applicable cancellation charge may apply, subject to the circumstances and applicable law.

For scheduled group tours, late arrival may mean that the customer misses the group departure. Customers should contact Best of Ireland Tours as soon as possible if they expect to be delayed. We cannot guarantee that the group or itinerary can be adjusted to accommodate late arrivals.

If Best of Ireland Tours is responsible for a delay or failure to provide the agreed service, we will work with the customer to find an appropriate resolution.

7. Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that all customers obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling to Ireland.

Insurance should ideally cover cancellation and curtailment, medical expenses, personal emergencies, travel disruption and other relevant risks.

Travel insurance does not replace any rights customers have under applicable consumer protection or package travel legislation.

8. Customer Responsibilities

Customers are responsible for:

• Reviewing the itinerary, inclusions, exclusions and payment schedule before confirming their booking.
• Ensuring that payments are made by the stated deadlines.
• Providing accurate booking information and contact details.
• Informing Best of Ireland Tours promptly of any requested changes or cancellation.
• Checking passport, visa, entry, health and other travel requirements relevant to their circumstances.
• Arranging appropriate travel insurance.

Any customer responsibilities set out in this section do not remove or restrict obligations that Best of Ireland Tours has under applicable law.

9. Consumer Rights and Applicable Law

Best of Ireland Tours aims to provide clear, fair and transparent booking terms.

This policy operates subject to applicable Irish and European Union law, including consumer protection legislation and, where applicable, package travel legislation.

Nothing in this policy excludes, restricts or replaces any mandatory statutory rights or remedies available to customers.

Where a provision of this policy conflicts with a mandatory legal requirement, the applicable legal requirement will take precedence.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about payment deadlines, cancellations, changes or refunds, please contact Best of Ireland Tours using the contact details provided in your booking confirmation or on our website.

We ask that cancellation and amendment requests be submitted in writing so that we can confirm the date received and keep a clear record of the request.

Thank you for choosing Best of Ireland Tours. We look forward to helping you experience the very best of Ireland.