We have compiled this information using our experience as market leaders in Worldwide Escorted Tours over the last ten years. We hope you find it beneficial.
How do I book?
You can book any of our holidays by telephone or via our web site. Simply log onto our web site www.thetraveldepartment.ie or call us on 01 637 1600. A non refundable/non transferable deposit of €200 per person secures the holiday of your choice (€300 per person for long haul destinations). Deposits are accepted by most major credit cards and debit cards. There is no extra credit card charge on deposits. If you wish to book a holiday within 10 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. After booking we send your booking confirmation invoice to the address provided.
What happens next?
- Please check your invoice carefully and make sure it reflects exactly what you intended to book.
- Ensure the names are spelt correctly as these will ultimately appear on your airline ticket and may not be possible or may be expensive to change. If there is a discrepancy you must contact us immediately and we will send you a new invoice reflecting the amendments.
- Any special requests must be made to us in writing (special meals, dietary requirements). These with be passed on to our suppliers but cannot be guaranteed.
- Your holiday must be paid for by the due date. This date is printed on your invoice and is 10 weeks prior to your departure. Failure to comply may result in your holiday being cancelled. Balances can be paid by cheque, bank draft, bank transfer, laser or credit card. A 2% surcharge applies to balance payments made by credit card.
- Your travel documents will be posted to the address given at the time of booking approximately 10 days prior to your departure.
- Please ensure in good time that you have a valid passport / visa for travel.
What's included in the holiday?
All items that are included are clearly stated in the offer. If you are unsure please ask our sales team and they will answer any queries you may have. Add ons such as tax, insurance and single room supplements are mentioned separately. In some cases (however rarely) you may have to pay a local departure tax or local transport cost. Our local guides will assist you with these. Tipping is not always included in your holiday price and information regarding tipping will be included with your travel documents.
Any tours bought locally are NOT endorsed by The Travel Department and such contracts are made between the customer and the vendor. The Travel Department does not have any liability whatsoever where "paid locally" or “optional” excursions are concerned and will not enter into any correspondence with a client concerning these.
Passports & Visas
If you hold an EU passport and are an Irish Citizen you do not need a visa to travel within the EU. You must however have a valid passport. For travel to other continents you may require a visa. It is the responsibility of each traveller to ensure they have the correct documents for each destination. A visa is required for India and China. For travel to China, The Travel Department has a unique arrangement with the Chinese embassy for handling visa applications. We cannot be liable for declined visas and normal cancellation charges will be levied. Each country has different requirements with regard to the period for which your passport must be valid following your arrival into, or departure from, that country. Please check with our reservations staff for advice if your passport is due to expire soon. As a rule of thumb, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended date of departure from the country to which you are travelling.
Currency
For many destinations, the introduction of the Euro has made this part of your holiday preparation very straightforward. The vast majority of banks abroad allow you to use their ATM facilities to withdraw local currency. However, you should confirm with your local bank that your ATM card is enabled for this. We do not recommend that you carry large amounts of cash on holiday. We do recommend that you always use the safe facilities at the hotel (either in your room or at reception).
For some countries, local currency can only be purchased on arrival and it may not be taken out of the country when returning to Ireland. Our reservations staff will be happy to provide you with further information on currencies, as required.
Travel Insurance
All customers travelling with The Travel Department must have adequate travel insurance. The Travel Department sell a comprehensive policy that provides both medical and cancellation cover and we suggest you avail of this. You must make the insurance company aware of any existing or past conditions/illnesses - failure to do so may result in your insurance being void. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to ensure they have adequate insurance. If you have any queries please feel free to contact us.
"Trust in Allah, but tie your camel." - Old Muslim Proverb
Transport
AIR
All flight times and transport times are given in local time. All flight times are given in 24 hour clock. It is important to arrive in good time for your flight particularly during peak season when airports can be congested. After check-in we suggest you proceed immediately to the departure gate and watch the monitors for your boarding instructions. On arrival at your overseas destination please proceed immediately to the arrivals area after you have collected your luggage. If you have a problem with luggage it is essential that you get word to our representative in the arrivals area as soon as possible. If you are travelling alone please ask a fellow passenger to relay the message. Neither The Travel Department nor our representative have access to airline fight manifests and therefore can not confirm either way if a passenger actually travelled on the flight from Ireland. Most airlines charge for catering – airline food is not included in the price of your holiday. It is now possible to use the 'Automated Check-In' facility at Dublin airport for all Aer Lingus flights.
COACH
All our local coaches are modern and comfortable. We operate a non smoking policy on all coaches. In some instances your coach may be fitted with a WC, however in most cases it is not operational due to health and safety concerns. Your guide will make regular stops at conveniences. Don’t be shy, if you need to go to the bathroom the bus will stop! For various reasons it is not always possible for your coach to park in front of your hotel – the driver will endeavour to get as close as possible to the door and will park in a safe place. Therefore, we recommend that you bring luggage that can be easily wheeled. Please be advised that some coach journeys include sections of mountainous roads (Amalfi drive, Italian Lakes etc…). Please note that seats cannot be reserved on coaches and that passengers may sit where they please each time they board the coach.
Luggage
The transport of luggage is the responsibility of each passenger. In some cases porterage is included however it is your sole responsibility to ensure that your luggage travels with you. Please make sure your bags are tagged inside and out and that you always take your own bag and not another one by mistake! In the event of delayed/lost baggage at an airport you should report the loss to the airline or their handling agent. These offices are located in the baggage hall of the airport. You should keep all receipts and documents safe as you may need to rely on them at a later stage and for an insurance claim. For multi centre tours please pack sensibly and ideally bring wheeled luggage. Carry all medicines and important documents in your hand luggage.
Accommodation and Meals
The Travel Department personally inspect all the hotels we use. We also work in conjunction with local agents to ensure the highest quality of all our services at all times. The hotel grading system used is based on local ratings and this can vary considerably from country to country and even region to region. A four star hotel in Italy may vary considerably from a four star hotel in Spain and so on. In some cases, it may be necessary for The Travel Department to substitute one hotel for another of equal standard. This rarely happens and if it does we will advise you at the earliest opportunity.
Single/Triple Rooms
Single/Triple Rooms - If you book a single room at a supplement, you will most likely get a room with a single bed and not a double bed. The additional cost is levied by the hotel as it costs more than half the double occupancy rate to provide a single room. Essentially a single room is usually bigger than half a double room and is more costly to service pro rata. If you specifically require a double room for single use we can of course request a rate for you. A triple room is generally a twin room with an additional (often a fold-away) bed.
Food & Beverages
Food & Beverages - Where meals are included they are generally of a set menu variety. In some cases other groups in the same hotel may have different menus. Many hotels offer inclusive evening meals to The Travel Department at a relatively low additional cost per person. Therefore, we often include some or all evening meals in the price of the tour. The menu offered is consistent with the budget and cost of your holiday. Most hotels offer continental breakfasts which consist of some or all of the following: pastries, breads, cheese, ham and cereals. Generally tea and coffee are not taken at the same temperature we in Ireland might be used to. Tea is generally taken with a slice of lemon and hence water is usually hot rather than boiling. We do try and advise hoteliers of Irish tastes, however when travelling abroad, we must respect the way beverages and food are prepared in different countries.
"I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad." - George Bernard Shaw
Itinerary
We endeavour to keep to the itinerary that you will receive as part of your travel documents. In some instances your tour escort will make alternations to this itinerary for reasons such as weather, traffic, public holidays, local markets, essential maintenance etc... You will be advised locally of any changes. Generally a tour escort will be responsible for transfers and a guide will be responsible for sight seeing tours. Should you need any information while away please approach the escort or guide and they will be pleased to help.
Emergency Procedure
In the event of a medical emergency while away please do as you would at home. Take the appropriate action immediately and never let uncertainty get in the way of dealing with the situation. Your insurance company should be contacted as soon as possible but deal with the emergency first. Your insurer should give you a 24 hour assistance number and your representative should also be contacted as soon as practicable. You can also call our office at any time in the event of a medical emergency.
Difficulties Abroad
In the unlikely event of experiencing any problem, for example with your room, please speak with the front desk of the hotel or your tour escort. In most cases they will be happy to move you to another room subject to availability. We would encourage all of our customers to try to deal with grievances locally so you can get on with enjoying your holiday. Please always advise your tour escort of any shortcomings. They will, as a matter of course, report back to our office. We must be given the opportunity to put matters right at the time of the grievance – this is for your benefit as well as ours.
Flight Delays
The EU provides legislation for all carriers based in the EU and flying within the EU (EC No 261/2004) to compensate passengers in relation to delayed, cancelled flights etc. However, there are exceptions to the rule. Passengers are not entitled to compensation if the following have caused the delay or cancellation of the flight: political instability / bad weather / security risk / unexpected flight risk / strikes. The Travel Department, through their tour escorts and local agents abroad will assist passengers to secure accommodation, meals etc in the event of any of these exceptional circumstances, however The Travel Department will not have any liability financial or otherwise in these cases (above mentioned). We strongly suggest you always have funds available at the end of your holiday to deal with these situations if they arise, however, in our experience it is highly unlikely you will be affected. Do as you would if you were travelling alone – be prepared!
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." - St. Augustine
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