Booking Conditions

These conditions are the basis upon which Cottages in Ireland Limited (Cottages in Ireland hereafter) accept bookings described in this brochure, on our website and on all advertising and promotional channels. Please read these conditions carefully as they represent the terms of a contract between us. Your acceptance of the booking confirms that you have read and understood the information provided.

1. Booking

The party leader must be 18 years or older at time of booking. When Cottages in Ireland issue written confirmation of booking to you, this signifies the start of your binding contract that is subject to these booking conditions. Written confirmation will be provided by either post or email. It is your responsibility to check your emails regularly, and inform us of any change to your email address. Please check the details of your written confirmation carefully, and inform us immediately of any errors.

2. Payment

When you make your booking you should pay the amount due by debit/credit card, sterling cheque or bank transfer. The full balance is due eight weeks before the commencement date of your booking. If booking is made within eight weeks of the commencement date, full payment is due at time of booking, and should be paid by debit/credit card, or bank transfer. If the balance is not received by the due date, we are entitled to treat the booking as cancelled by you, and cancellation charges will be payable (see paragraph 3a).

3a. Cancellation by you

If you wish to cancel your booking, the party leader must telephone us as soon as possible, and follow up with written confirmation sent by recorded delivery or verifiable email to Cottages in Ireland. Cancellation takes effect from the date we receive written confirmation of cancellation. Any cancellation is subject to the following cancellation charges:

If you have not paid the total cost of your holiday at time of cancellation, you may be required to make a further payment in accordance with the charges above.

3b. Cancellation by us

It is unlikely that it will be necessary for us to cancel a booking. However, we reserve the right to do so under any circumstances up to your booking start date. In such an event, we will offer another property of an equivalent standard (subject to availability) or offer a full refund. We reserve the right to make non-significant changes without any liability.

4. Your liability

The property should not be occupied before 1600 hours on the rental start date, and should be vacated by 1100 hours on the morning of departure unless otherwise stated at time of booking or as arranged with the Host. If your arrival is going to be delayed, you should inform the Host as soon as you are able. If you fail to do so and are unable to gain access to the property as a result, you will be fully responsible for all costs incurred (including temporary accommodation) until you can gain access to the property. You agree to keep the property clean and tidy, and to leave it in a similar condition as you found it. You are responsible for any breakages or damages to the cottage or its contents and these must be notified to your Host immediately. The Host can require payment from you for the actual costs of any breakage or damage in or to the property – along with any additional costs that may result – caused by you or any member of your party. The Host is entitled at their sole discretion to refuse to hand over to you, or to repossess the property if they reasonably believe damage is likely to be caused, has been caused, or is being caused by you or any member of your party. This will be treated as a cancellation by you. You must allow the Host or any representative of the Host (including workmen) access to the property at any reasonable time during your stay. In cases of emergency or where a problem needs rectifying quickly and you cannot be contacted in time, the Cottage Host is allowed to enter the property at any time without giving prior notice.

5. Party Size

Under no circumstances should the total number in the party exceed the number stated in the brochure or on the website unless prior consent has been given. The Host reserves the right to terminate the booking without notice if this is not observed, and this will be treated as a cancellation by you. Neither the Host nor Cottages in Ireland will have any liability to you as a result of this situation (e.g. any costs incurred as a result of not being able to occupy the property), nor will they be under any obligation to find alternative accommodation.

6. Pets

Pets are only allowed at properties where stated within the brochure or on our website, or where agreed at time of booking with Cottages in Ireland staff. Please note normally only one pet is allowable into a cottage. If you intend to bring a pet, you must inform Cottages in Ireland at time of booking. If you take a pet to a property that does not allow them, or you exceed the agreed number of pets, the Cottage Host reserves the right to terminate the rental without notice. Pets are not allowed in bedrooms, on furniture, in bathrooms or in any communal facilities and you should provide bedding or a throw for their use. Pets should not be left unattended at any time in the property. Dogs must be kept on a lead within the boundaries of the property (including garden). It is your responsibility to clean up after your pet. You are responsible for any damage, loss or additional cleaning caused by your pet.

7. Our Liability

If you or any member of your party suffers death, illness, injury, loss or damage as a result of any proven failure to perform or proven improper performance of any part of our contract with you, we accept responsibility. Please note, however, that we accept no responsibility where the death, illness, injury, loss or damage is attributable:

(i) to you;

(ii) to the acts of a third party not connected with the provision of the holiday and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable;

(iii) to unusual and/or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even if all due care had

been exercised;

(iv) to an event which we or the supplier of any of the services which make up your holiday could not, even after all due care, have foreseen or forestalled.

As Cottages in Ireland act solely as an agent, we have no liability for any acts or omissions of the Cottage Host or any person(s) representing or employed by them. Our liability to you (except in the case of damages for personal injury or death) is limited to twice the price of booking paid by you.

8. Complaints

If you are not entirely satisfied with the property you should contact the Host and Cottages in Ireland immediately. If you feel the problem is not resolved, you must put your complaint in writing to Cottages in Ireland within 14 days of the end of your stay. Your right to compensation may otherwise be affected or lost if you do not follow this complaints procedure.

9. Insurance

Holiday insurance is not included in the cost of your booking. We strongly recommend that you take out appropriate personal travel insurance.

10. Brochure

Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this brochure is accurate. We cannot accept responsibility for any changes or closures to amenities or attractions listed in this brochure. If any changes are likely to significantly affect your booking, we will inform you as soon as possible. All distances are approximate. This brochure was compiled in November 2009 and the prices and booking conditions it contains supersede all previous editions. Prices and booking conditions may be superseded by subsequent editions. For the most up to date information, visit our website, www.cottagesinireland.com

11. Data Protection

For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, Cottages in Ireland are the sole data controller of all personal data provided by us to customers and prospective customers. In order to make your booking we must collect certain personal details (for example names and addresses of party members) which we need to pass onto Cottage Hosts and other third parties in order to provide your booking. We will not pass your details onto any third parties for marketing purposes. We would like to retain your details for the purposes of future marketing we may wish to send you. If you do not wish to receive further marketing at any time, please advise Cottages in Ireland.

12. Financial Protection

All monies paid in relation to cottage holidays including cottage and activities and/or cottages and ferries will be held in trust by Cottages in Ireland on behalf of Cottages in Ireland clients until the provision of such services have been fulfilled in line with our booking conditions.