Terms & Conditions

1. Making a booking

(a) All bookings are made with Midland Travel (MT) with is part of Bernie Travel Ltd, registered at No. 1 The Mall, William St, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

(b) If the client is booking through a travel agent, it will be subject to the MT terms and conditions

(c) It is a compulsory requirement that an original, properly completed, signed Booking Form accompanied by the relevant payment and Travel Insurance payment (where applicable) per person including minors is received by MT prior to departure. In the absence of same, MT reserves the right to refuse to carry any persons named on that booking and all monies paid to MT will be forfeited without question.

(d) No additions, deletions, changes, or promises may be made relating to these conditions save by a Director of MT, in writing and signed by said Director.

(e) It is the responsibility of the person or Travel Agency making the booking with MT to ensure that all relevant information relating to the trip/event/excursion is provided to the person(s) actually travelling and to furnish them with the relevant documentation supplied by MT.

(f) Due to the nature of football and sports tours MT do not accommodate children under 8 years old on our tours. 

2. Obligations of the client/consumer

The client/consumer shall check all travel documentation immediately it is furnished to him. If the consumer/client considers any document is incorrect or has a query in relation to its contents he shall notify the Retailer or Organiser of his concern and they shall respond as soon as possible. It is the sole responsibility of the Consumer/client to ensure that all travel documents, i.e. passports / visa (where relevant) etc. are in order.

3. Travel Insurance

We recommend that everybody travelling has Travel Insurance cover. This may be purchased from Midland Travel or any other source provided the level of cover is of equal to or greater than that available from MT. If anybody chooses to travel without any insurance cover, they MUST complete and sign the relevant section on the front of this form. In the absence of this waiver, MT reserves the right to refuse to carry persons without Travel Insurance and the person(s) will forfeit all monies paid. The Consumer's/client's attention is drawn to the exclusion clauses and excess in the insurance policy arranged by the Organiser. It is the responsibility of the consumer/client to read their insurance policy before they travel and check that the insurance scheme provides the Consumer/client with his desired level of cover. In so arranging insurance cover for the Consumer/client the Organiser is acting as the agent of the relevant insurer and shall not be responsible to the Consumer/client for any default by the insurer under that policy. All claims made against the insurance policy shall be made directly to the insurer. The Consumer/client shall be responsible for making any special or increased insurance arrangements which he deems necessary.

4. Payment

(a) The person who signs the Booking Form is responsible for all payments being made in full. Final payment must be received no later than 6 (six) weeks prior to departure of the excursion unless otherwise specified. Bookings including flights must be paid in full 10 (ten) weeks prior to departure unless otherwise stated.

(b) If MT does not receive the full amount outstanding by the due date, MT reserves the right at any subsequent time before departure to cancel the booking and charge cancellation charges in accordance with the scale set out in Condition 6.

(c) All first deposits are non-refundable except in the circumstances outlined in Condition 6(c).

(d) Bookings made within 6 (six) weeks of departure date must be paid in full at the time of booking unless otherwise specified.

5. Prices

Our prices are based on costs and exchange rates as at 14/06/2019. MT reserves the right to pass on any increases due to fluctuation in currency exchange rates, increases imposed by suppliers or any increases due to Government action. By Government action, we mean events such as the imposition of a new tax in the Republic of Ireland or abroad, or an increase in an existing tax or levy, or a catastrophe such as war which causes major disruption to oil supplies. MT reserves the right to surcharge you for any increase in fuel or other costs at any time up to 30 days before your departure. Alterations in currency exchange rates must also be taken into consideration.

6. Cancellation

(a) You should advise us of cancellation by recorded letter, email or fax as soon as possible. Cancellation of a booking is effective only when received in writing by MT from the person signing the booking form. Deposits are non-refundable. Any upgrades are also non-refundable i.e. ticket upgrades, room upgrades, additional tours or excursions that were added. If a cancellation takes place at any time up to six weeks prior to departure, no monies will be refunded.

(b) Please remember that many risks for cancellation (other than disinclination to travel) are covered by Travel Insurance generally. You are advised to clarify these particulars with your Insurance company. For policies purchased through MT, full insurance details are available on request.

(c) In the unlikely event of MT having to cancel an excursion for any reason whatsoever (lack of numbers is deemed to be a valid reason), a full refund of all monies paid (not including travel insurance) will be made. However, where available, you may opt to transfer monies paid to an alternative excursion.

7. Name changes

(a) For packages where travel is by coach and ferry, deposits and other payments of any member cancelling may be transferred to a replacement person up to 72 hours prior to departure. Name changes will be subject to a fee (max €50.00 per change) and must be notified in writing. Note that Travel Insurance cannot be transferred to another person and a new policy for the replacement person(s) will be required.

(b) For packages involving flight travel, see 19(b).

8. If a match/event is transferred, postponed, or cancelled

(a) For events by coach and ferry travel, where, prior to departure, an event/fixture is changed, transferred, or postponed for any reason whatsoever, it is agreed that all monies will be transferred to the new date without question. Refunds are not available in these circumstances. Name substitution may be subject to Condition 7(a) above. If departure has occurred prior to notification of such changes outlined herein, the tour will proceed as a leisure break and a refund of entrance fees will be provided on return.

(b) For events involving air travel, where an event/fixture is changed, transferred, or postponed for any reason whatsoever, the tour will proceed as a leisure break unless the airline can provide flights without any increase in costs or imposition of penalties for the new dates involved.

(c) For events where MT provides match ticket and hotel accommodation only, should there be changes, cancellations, postponements or transfers of matches, the costs of accommodation are not refundable. MT will endeavour to obtain refunds on the match ticket element, but this is subject to such refunds being made available to MT initially.

9. Cancellation of ferries

If ferries are cancelled prior to departure, MT will do everything in its power to get you or your party to the said destination by arranging alternative ferry routes or sailings. MT cannot be held responsible for late arrival at or missing an event. Refunds will not be given unless MT receives refunds from suppliers.

10. If there is a change of plan

(a) While MT will at all times endeavour to satisfy clients' requirements, nevertheless, because of changing circumstances, MT must reserve the right to make alterations to any booking made. If, for any reason, the details of your tour/excursion have to be changed before departure, MT will inform you as soon as possible.

(b) If any changes would substantially alter your tour/excursion and you do not wish to accept it, MT will offer you the alternative of accepting services or accommodation of comparable standard to those originally booked or a full refund of all monies paid (except in the circumstances outlined in Conditions 8 and 9).

11. Events beyond MT's control

War, or the threat of war, terrorist activity, political unrest, riots, civil strife, industrial disputes, natural disaster, closure of airports or ports, roadworks, technical problems with or accidents involving aircraft or other transport (including traffic accidents/delays), fire, bad weather, force majeure (including breach of contract by any supplier of MT) can affect the planned excursion arrangements. If any such event occurs before departure and you decline to accept alternative arrangements MT may offer, MT will be entitled to retain reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the original booking.

12. If you have a complaint

Should you have a complaint, please inform the MT representative at the earliest opportunity. MT will do everything possible to help you. If the matter cannot be put right on the spot, please follow it up with a letter to MT within 28 days of returning from your excursion as MT will not accept liability for claims received outside this period. MT normally manages to agree an amicable settlement of the few complaints received. In the unlikely event that an agreed settlement cannot be reached, you can take advantage of the special Arbitration scheme outlined in Condition 13.

13. Arbitration

If any question of difference shall arise between the customer and MT regarding this contract or by the construction thereof, the same shall be referred to the award and final determination of an Arbitrator to be agreed upon by the customer and a panel of not less than ten practicing solicitors of more than seven years standing, nominated by MT's Legal Advisors, such arbitrators to have all the powers of Arbitration arising under the provisions of the Arbitration Acts. Such Arbitration must take place prior to any legal proceeding issued unless the right to Arbitrate is waived by MT. The venue for such Arbitration shall be Dublin and appropriate law shall be Irish Law. At any such Arbitration, the customer shall admit into evidence the written statement of any Agent, Representative, Courier, Hotelier, or other like person for the purpose of proving matters of fact. This clause is specifically intended to minimise the cost of Arbitration.

14. Luggage

MT will not accept responsibility for loss or damage to luggage, except upon proof of negligence of MT staff members (this does not include agents/drivers acting on behalf of MT) and of damage in excess of normal wear and tear. Lack of proper care towards your luggage could result in your claim being turned down. The tour operators are not liable for lost property on the coach or otherwise.

15. The supervision and behaviour of parties

In signing the booking form the Party Leader also accepts responsibility for the good conduct of all participants during the tour/excursion and warrants that at least one responsible adult will be on active duty at all times to ensure that all participants behave well. Furthermore, it is the Party Leader's responsibility specifically to ensure that:-

(a) no participant under 18 years of age consumes alcoholic drinks;

(b) all local laws relating to the consumption of alcohol are at all times obeyed by the participants;

(c) no participant consumes alcohol to excess;

(d) no participant smokes in a hotel/hostel bedroom or in any way causes a fire hazard;

(e) participants act in a responsible fashion during the tour/excursion and do not behave in a way likely to cause damage to property, or damages or causes offence to other people.

A Good Behaviour Bond of €500 per group will be charged initially to each group booking. This Bond will be refunded once the transport supplier(s) and accommodation supplier(s) have advised that no damage or inconvenience has been caused. Should any damage or inconvenience be reported by a supplier then the Bond will be forfeited in full.

16. Conduct and Behaviour

All persons travelling on any coach trip undertake to accept and follow all instructions issued by the coach driver and/or guide. The good conduct and behaviour of all persons is an essential element of the trip and accordingly the coach driver and/or guide have full authority to remove any person(s) who fail to comply with instructions and requests. No refunds will be issued in such circumstances.

17. Liability

MT is pleased to accept full responsibility for arranging with reasonable skill and attention any excursion booked with it. However, it is not possible for MT to be responsible for the day to day running of the various hotels, hostels, youth centres supplied, or the various airlines, ferries, trains and coaches, or any other service not directly under the control of MT. Accordingly, MT wishes to make it quite clear that it will not in any circumstances be responsible for any additional expense, distress, disappointment, loss, damage, injury, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity resulting from or attributable to the act or default of any company, firm or persons in connection with the carrying out of such arrangements or bookings or the conveyance of any client. Every booking is accepted subject to the conditions imposed by the air, shipping, rail, coach, hotel, hostel, camp site, restaurant, insurance and other companies, firms or persons concerned with the excursion or any claim with respect to such matters must be made against the appropriate principal.

18. Driver hours

Please note that your final itinerary will be drawn up taking into account E.U. Drivers (Tachograph) Regulations. We would ask you as organizer to conform to this itinerary and not to request your driver(s) to work beyond the limit as this may render him subject to prosecution.

19. Air travel

(a) In respect of any booking for which air travel forms a part thereof, the Booking Terms and Conditions of the contracting Airline supersede those of MT where applicable.

(b) Where a booking is made by MT on behalf of a client with any Airline, any subsequent name or date change fees, including date changes due to the rescheduling of fixtures shall be the responsibility of the Client.

We are obliged to inform you, at time of booking, of the identity of the operating air carrier(s) which is due to perform, or likely to perform, your flight and if there are any changes to the operating air carrier(s) we are obliged to inform you of any such change(s) as soon as possible. If we don’t know the identity of the operating carrier(s) at time of booking, we must inform you of same as soon as such identity is established. In all cases, we are obliged to inform you of the identity of the operating air carrier at check-in or on boarding, where no check-in is required for a connecting flight.

“This Notice is issued pursuant to the requirements of Article 11 (6) of Regulation 2111/2005 Regulation on the Establishment of a Community List of Air Carriers Subject to an Operating Ban within the Community and on Informing Air Transport Passengers of the Identity of Operating Air Carriers and the repealing of Article 9 of Directive 2004/361E”.

These Terms and Conditions published June 2017 supersede all previous versions.