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Ireland Booking Conditions

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY. WHEN YOU MAKE A RESERVATION REQUEST WITH US (WHETHER BY EMAIL, TELEPHONE OR POST), THESE CONDITIONS ARE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY YOU.


1. DEFINITIONS

1.1) "Additional Fees" means any fees payable by the Holidaymaker other than the Rental Charge and Booking Fee, including (but not limited to) transport costs, card handling fees, insurance costs, heating supplements, pet charges and linen charges.

1.2) "Agent" means Sykes Cottages (Company Number 4469189) whose registered office is at Lime Tree House, Hoole Lane, Chester CH2 3EG.

1.3) "Booking" means the reservation of the Property by the Holidaymaker.

1.4) "Booking Conditions" means these terms and conditions.

1.5) "Booking Fee" means the booking fee payable by the Holidaymaker to the Agent, being £39 per Property per week or £39 per Property per Short Break (as appropriate).

1.6) "Deposit" means:

(a) payment required to confirm a booking, normally £64; or

(b) if the holiday is due to commence within six weeks of the date of a Reservation Request, 100% of the Rental Charge

1.7) "Holidaymaker" means the person or persons making the Booking.

1.8) "Holiday Confirmation" means the confirmation of the Booking issued by the Agent to the Holidaymaker (by email and/or post) once the Initial Payment has been processed.

1.9) "Initial Payment" means the payment of the Booking Fee, the Deposit and any applicable Additional Fees.

1.10) "Property" means the accommodation for which a Booking is made.

1.11) "Property Owner" means the owner of the Property.

1.12) "Rental Charge" means the total rental charge payable in respect of the Booking.

1.13) "Reservation Request" means a request to make a Booking in the form of a completed holiday booking form (whether submitted via the post, email, website or otherwise) or a telephone booking.

1.14) "Short Break" means a holiday for a duration of less than seven nights.

1.15) "Transport Costs" means the costs payable by the Holidaymaker to the Agent in respect of transport arranged by the Agent.

1.16) "Transport Request" means a request for the Agent to arrange transport services in relation to the Booking.

2. ROLE OF AGENT

2.1) The Agent acts as agent for the Property Owner to take and arrange Bookings. The Agent does not own or manage the Property but reserves the right to refuse any Booking. The Agent may also act as agent for the providers of transport and other ancillary services.

2.2) Once the Initial Payment has been made and a Holiday Confirmation has been issued by the Agent, a legally binding contract shall exist between the Holidaymaker and the Property Owner pursuant to which the Property Owner will make the Property available for the period set out in the Booking. For the avoidance of doubt, the Agent shall not be a party to such contract but may have rights pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

2.3) The contract shall be subject to these Booking Conditions and any other special conditions made known to the Holidaymaker at the time of the Booking.

2.4) The Agent accepts no liability for any defects or unavailability of the Property or any other problems with the holiday. The Holidaymaker's right of action (if any) shall be against the Property Owner and not the Agent.

3. BOOKINGS AND PAYMENT

3.1) Following receipt of a Reservation Request the Agent shall check the availability of the Property. If the Property is available for the Holiday, the Agent shall reserve the Property.

3.2) If a Transport Request has been made (whether at the time of the Reservation Request or otherwise), clause 4 shall apply.

3.3) If the Reservation Request is for a period outside the current letting period, the Agent is unable to make a Booking. In such an event, the Agent may offer the Holidaymaker the opportunity to make a provisional reservation; the cost of which is £35 and is fully refundable. The effect of a provisional reservation is that the Agent will notify the Holidaymaker if and when the Property becomes available for Bookings and the Agent shall not make a Booking for the Property for the relevant period without first offering the opportunity to the Holidaymaker (such offer will be on the then current terms meaning the price may have increased from the time the provisional reservation was made). The Holidaymaker may cancel a provisional reservation at any time and upon doing so the £35 will be refunded. If the Owner withdraws the Property or the Holidaymaker does not make a booking when offered the opportunity to do so, the provisional reservation shall be deemed to be cancelled and the £35 shall be refunded.

3.4) Upon receipt of the Initial Payment, the Agent will issue a Holiday Confirmation to complete the Booking.

3.5) The balance of the Rental Charge (if any) must be paid by the Holidaymaker to the Agent no later than six (6) weeks prior to the commencement of the holiday (the Agent shall endeavour to inform the Holidaymaker of the due date at the time of the Booking).

3.6) Where the Agent has not received the balance by the due date, an overdue reminder letter will be issued to the Holidaymaker and a charge of £10 will be added to the balance due. If the balance is not received within four (4) days of that reminder, the Agent reserves the right to treat the Booking as cancelled by the Holidaymaker and clause 6 shall apply and the Holidaymaker shall have no claim against the Agent or the Property Owner for compensation or reimbursement whatsoever.

3.7) The prices stated on the Agent's website and in the Agent's brochure are cash prices in pounds sterling. The Agent incurs charges from credit card companies when the Holidaymaker pays by credit card, and therefore a £7.50 charge will be made for each credit card transaction. Any charges raised against the Agent by its bank for handling dishonoured cheques, bank transfers or any other payments, must be reimbursed by the Holidaymaker to the Agent within seven (7) days of the Agent's request to do so.

3.8) All payments must be made in pounds sterling.

3.9) The Agent reserves the right to correct any error in advertised and/or confirmed prices.

3.10) Following the issue of a Holiday Confirmation, the Agent will not increase any charges which are under its control but reserves the right to pass on to the Holidaymaker any increases in charges by third parties (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any fuel surcharges or rates of taxation) by way of a surcharge in accordance with clause 3.12.

3.11) Rental Charges in respect of Properties outside the UK are based on exchange rates at the date on which they are set. If changes in exchange rates result in an effective increase in excess of 2% of the Rental Charge the Agent reserves the right to charge a surcharge, for which an invoice shall be issued to the Holidaymaker. The surcharge must be paid with the balance of the Rental Charge or within fourteen (14) days of the date of the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later.

3.12 In respect of any surcharge, an invoice shall be issued to the Holidaymaker. The surcharge must be paid with the balance of the Rental Charge or within fourteen (14) days of the date of the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later.

3.13) A surcharge will not be levied within fourteen (14) days of the commencement of the holiday.

3.14 Please note some Property Owners may charge a Good Housekeeping bond (as mentioned in the individual Property details). The Owner shall liaise directly with the Holidaymaker to collect and (if appropriate) return this bond. The Agent has no control over any Good Housekeeping bond that may be collected.

4. TRANSPORT REQUESTS

4.1 All Transport Requests shall contain the following information:

(a) The name, gender and age category of all persons travelling;

(b) The dates of travel and preferred times;

(c) The preferred mode of transport; and

(d) Where applicable, the details of the vehicle(s) of the Holidaymaker

4.2 Upon receipt of a Transport Request, the Agent shall use its reasonable endeavours to find suitable travel arrangements for the Holidaymaker.

4.3 Confirmation of transport arrangements will be included in the Holiday Confirmation. If a Transport Request is made after a Holiday Confirmation has been issued (and/or payment of Travel Costs is made after such date) a revised Holiday Confirmation will be issued.

4.4 Transport arrangements are made by the Agent with independent third party service providers and are subject to such third parties' terms and conditions, copies of which are available on request.

5. BOOKING DETAILS

5.1 When making a Reservation Request, the Holidaymaker should give full details of any medical problems or disabilities of any member of the Holidaymaker's party which may affect the suitability of the Property or travel arrangements.

5.2 The Agent will use its reasonable endeavours to accommodate any particular needs but gives no warranty that the Booking will be suitable and a failure to accommodate any particular needs will not be a breach of contract.

5.3 Immediately upon receipt of the Holiday Confirmation from the Agent, the Holidaymaker should check the details and notify the Agent of any mistakes/ errors made by the Agent as soon as possible and in any event within seven (7) days; no changes can be made to the Booking after this time. The Agent reserves the right to charge a holiday booking amendment fee to administer/ correct any error by the Holidaymaker.

6. CANCELLATION BY THE HOLIDAYMAKER

6.1) The Holidaymaker should notify the Agent immediately in writing if he/she wishes to cancel the Booking. The cancellation only takes effect when the Agent has received written confirmation from the Holidaymaker. If the Booking is cancelled after the balance of the Rental Charge becomes payable, such balance shall remain payable notwithstanding cancellation.

6.2) No refunds will be given on the cancellation of a Booking by the Holidaymaker.

6.3) This agreement shall be binding on, and enure to the benefit of, the parties to this agreement and their respective personal representatives and successors, and references to any party shall include that party's personal representatives and successors.

7. OTHER CANCELLATIONS

7.1) In the event of the Agent being unable to arrange the holiday accommodation requested by the Holidaymaker, or if the Property becomes unavailable for whatever reason, the Agent will endeavour to arrange alternative accommodation for the Holidaymaker of an equivalent type and standard in a similar location.

7.2) If the Holidaymaker has paid any money in respect of a Property and that Property subsequently becomes unavailable, the Agent shall use its reasonable endeavours to obtain a refund from the Property Owner to the Holidaymaker of all monies paid by the Holidaymaker.

7.3) The Agent is not liable for any costs associated with alternative accommodation, which must be paid by the Holidaymaker.

7.4) Save as set out above, the Agent shall have no liability for the cancellation or alteration of a Booking.

8. BROCHURE ACCURACY

8.1) To the best of the Agent's knowledge the details relating to any Property described in the Agent's brochure were correct at the time of printing.

8.2) Upon becoming aware of any material inaccuracies in any published description of the Property or material changes to the Property, the Agent shall endeavour to correct them in future publications and inform the Holidaymaker. The Agent may, in its sole and absolute discretion, offer the Holidaymaker the option to treat the change as a Cancellation Event and clause 7 shall apply accordingly.

8.3) The Agent cannot accept responsibility for any changes or closures to area amenities or attractions mentioned in the brochure.

9. INSURANCE

9.1 You are strongly advised to take out adequate travel insurance prior to departing for your holiday. It is your responsibility to check that your insurance cover is adequate.

9.2 During the Booking process you may be given the option to purchase holiday insurance cover. The purchase of any insurance products is entirely optional. Sykes Cottages Limited (also t/a Hogans Cottages) is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 313486) and which is permitted to advise on and arrange general insurance contracts. For further information please see our insurance page.

10. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HOLIDAYMAKER

10.1) During the period of the holiday, the Holidaymaker (personally and on behalf of all other people visiting the Property) undertakes (for the benefit of the Property Owner and the Agent) as follows:

10.1.1) that the number of people occupying the Property will not exceed the number stated on the Holiday Confirmation;

10.1.2) that the Property will be used solely for the purpose of a holiday by the Holidaymaker and his party;

10.1.3) to show due consideration for other parties (to include, but not be limited to, refraining from abuses of the Property and/or dangerous, offensive or rude behaviour to the Property Owner, his representative or any third parties such as neighbours);

10.1.4) to allow the Property Owner or his representative access to the Property at any reasonable time during the period of the holiday;

10.1.5) to keep the Property and all furniture, utensils, equipment, fixtures and fittings in or on the Property in the same state of repair and condition as at the commencement of the holiday and to ensure that at the end of the holiday the Property is left in the same state of order and cleanliness in which it was found. The Property Owner reserves the right to levy an additional charge for any extra cleaning required after the Holidaymaker's occupancy and for any consequential loss;

10.1.6) to report as soon as possible to the Property Owner (or his representative) any breakages or damage caused by the Holidaymaker during the holiday and to reimburse the Property Owner with the cost of replacement. The Property Owner reserves the right to make a claim against the Holidaymaker for repair or loss as a result of damage caused;

10.1.7) to arrive after 3 p.m. on the arrival day and to vacate the Property by 10 a.m. on the day of departure unless prior arrangement has been agreed with the Property Owner and/or the Holiday Confirmation states otherwise;

10.1.8) not (without the express permission of the Property Owner) allow any person other than guests booked and staying in the Property for their holiday to use the facilities and amenities of the Property; and

10.1.9) to notify all other members of the Holidaymaker's party of these undertakings.

10.2) In the event of a breach of any of the undertakings set out in clause 10.1 the Property Owner (or his representative) can refuse to allow the Holidaymaker to take possession of the Property or make the Holidaymaker leave the Property before the end of the Holiday. In either case the Holidaymaker shall be deemed to have cancelled the Booking and the Holidaymaker shall have no claim for compensation or reimbursement whatsoever.

11. PETS

11.1) Pets are only allowed at Properties that are advertised as allowing a pet/pets. If a Holidaymaker takes a pet to a Property that does not allow them, or exceeds the stated number/size of pet, the Property Owner (or his representative) can refuse to allow the Holidaymaker to take possession of the Property or make the Holidaymaker leave the Property before the end of the holiday. If this happens the Holidaymaker shall be deemed to have cancelled the Booking and the Holidaymaker shall have no claim for compensation or reimbursement whatsoever.

11.2) The Holidaymaker is liable for all damage caused by his/her pets. The Holidaymaker should remove all traces (inside and out) from the Property of pet occupation before final departure. The Property Owner reserves the right to levy an additional charge for any extra cleaning required after the Holidaymaker's occupancy. The Holidaymaker must not allow pets on beds or furniture within the Property and pets must not be left alone in the Property at any time. If the Holidaymaker breaches this clause the Property Owner (or his representative) may notify the Holidaymaker of the breach and if the Holidaymaker continues to breach this clause the Property Owner (or his representative) may make the Holidaymaker leave the Property before the end of the Holiday. If this happens the Holidaymaker shall be deemed to have cancelled the Booking and the Holidaymaker shall have no claim for compensation or reimbursement whatsoever.

11.3) Without prejudice to clause 11.2 above. Registered assistance dogs are allowed in all properties featured on our website or in our brochure, even where the property description states that pets are not allowed. The Holidaymaker must notify Sykes Cottages of the intended presence of any assistance dogs prior to booking. Customers with allergies should be aware that we cannot guarantee that an assistance dog has not stayed in a chosen property recently. We cannot accept responsibility for any suffering which may occur as a result of such animals having been present.

12. LIABILITY

12.1) The Holidaymaker's (and all other members of the Holidaymaker's party's) personal belongings and vehicles (together with their contents) are left at the Property entirely at their own risk.

12.2) The Agent shall accept no liability to the Holidaymaker for any loss, damage or injury howsoever caused to the Holidaymaker or to the Holidaymaker's personal property (or to persons in the Holidaymaker's party or their personal property) during their stay at the Property except to the extent such loss, damage or injury is caused by the negligence or wilful default of the Agent.

12.3) No representative, agent or sales person (whether employed by the Agent or not):

12.3.1) has authority to vary, amend or waive any of these Booking Conditions and no amendment or addition to any of these Booking Conditions shall be deemed to have been accepted unless accepted in writing by a senior manager of the Agent; and/or

12.3.2) has authority to make any verbal representations or provide additional information over and above information contained in the Agent's brochures and website. The Agent cannot accept responsibility and give no warranty in respect of information or representations not contained in these Booking Conditions, the Agent's brochures and/or the Agent's website.

13. COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

13.1) For the purpose of the Data Protection Act 1998, all personal and other information and details collected by the Agent in the course of its business, belong to the Agent and will not be disclosed to any third party except to the Property Owner (and/or his representatives) and, where applicable, the providers of transport and/or ancillary services in connection with a Booking.

13.2) Provided the Holidaymaker has not told the Agent otherwise, the Agent may use the Holidaymaker's personal information for marketing the Agent's services.

13.3) If the Holidaymaker or other individual wishes to be removed from the Agent's marketing lists, they should contact the Agent by phone on 01244 500500 or by email at info@sykescottages.co.uk.

13.4) Telephone calls between the Agent and the Holidaymaker may be monitored or recorded by the Agent for training and quality control purposes.

14. COMPLAINTS

14.1) In the unlikely event the Holidaymaker may have cause for dissatisfaction, the Holidaymaker should contact the Property Owner (or his representative ) as soon as possible. The Agent encourages all Property Owners to take complaints from Holidaymakers seriously and to resolve them if at all possible.

14.2) If the Holidaymaker is unhappy with the Property Owner's response, the Holidaymaker should contact the Agent as soon as possible (and in any event within 28 days of the end of the holiday) and provide details of the complaint and the Property Owner's response.

14.3) Without prejudice to clause 2.2, upon receipt of details of a complaint from a Holidaymaker, the Agent may (in its absolute discretion) liaise with the Holidaymaker and the Property Owner and attempt to resolve the outstanding complaint.

14.4) This clause 14 is without prejudice to any cause of action the Holidaymaker may have against the Property Owner.

15. FORCE MAJEURE

No liability can be accepted and no compensation will be paid by the Agent or the Property Owner, where the Holidaymaker or his personal property (and/or any person in the Holidaymaker's party and/or their personal property) suffer any loss, damage, injury, disappointment, inconvenience or otherwise, or where the performance or prompt performance of any obligations by the Agent or the Property Owner are prevented or affected, by any event which the Agent or the Property Owner could not have reasonably foreseen or avoided including war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial action, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions closure of international borders, disease, none availability of transport services, interruption to services/utilities and all similar events outside the control of the Agent or the Property Owner.

16. PASSPORTS AND VISA REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

16.1 UK citizens do not presently require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, but most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph (usually either a passport or driving licence with photo). Visitors are advised to check what form of ID is required with the individual airline, ferry company, tour operator or travel agent before travelling.

16.2 Non UK nationals must have a valid passport or national identity card as appropriate.

16.3 Citizens living within the EU and most other Western countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa do not require visas.

16.4 All other countries should contact their local Irish Embassy/Consulate prior to travelling to the Republic of Ireland, and visitors to Northern Ireland should contact their local British Embassy/High Commission or Consular Office.

17. HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRAVEL TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

17.1 If you are travelling to Ireland from another Member State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you must carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a provisional replacement certificate.

17.2 The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Irish Nationals. It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. All travellers are advised to ensure they have appropriate medical and/or travel insurance.

17.3 British visitors to Northern Ireland require no documentation and will receive treatment as they would in Britain.

18 FINANCIAL PROTECTION

18.1 In accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 1992" all passengers booking with Sykes Cottages Ltd are fully Insured for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Sykes Cottages Ltd.

18.2 A certificate detailing this cover will be given to each and every passenger as evidence of cover. Please ensure that you have been given the appropriate certificate(s) at the time of booking.

18.3 This insurance has been arranged by MGA Cover Services on behalf of Towergate Chapman Stevens through CBL Insurance.

19. LAW AND JURISDICTION

All contractual obligations arising out of these conditions shall be subject to English Law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.


1st March 2016