Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a list of questions that we have often been asked by agents which you too may be thinking. Please choose an area:

• General
• FIT's
• Groups
• Accounts

General

Question: Access into Ireland?
Answer: Most International carriers operate services to Dublin or Shannon. Charter/low cost airlines also operate into Cork, Kerry, Knock and Belfast.

Internal Air Travel - Aer Arann Express, Aer Lingus & Ryanair operate domestic services from Dublin to locations within Ireland.

Ferry Travel: Irish Ferries, Stena Line, Swansea Cork Ferries, Merchant Ferries, P&O Irish Sea, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company all operate ferry routes into Ireland.

Question: Is it possible to have more than two people in a room?
Answer: Most hotels can accommodate a third person sharing in a room in either a special triple room or with an extra bed added. Some hotels have family rooms and cots can be provided.

Question: Where is Dublin Airport in relation to the city centre?
Answer: It is 10 kilometres north of the city centre. There are frequent buses and taxis to the city centre and hotels from right outside the Arrivals Hall.

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FIT's
Question: Is Breakfast included?
Answer: Yes we always book Bed and Full Irish Breakfast unless otherwise stated.

Question: What happens if clients are late arrivals?
Answer: We ask you to advise us if the clients will be arriving later than 1800 hours so that we can notify the relevant accommodation. Otherwise the clients should contact the accommodation directly. However, please note that rooms are guaranteed and hotels should not release them unless we advise them to.

Question: Can you issue the vouchers?
Answer: Yes, we send them to the first nights accommodation once advised. The Tour Operator or Agent can also issue vouchers.

Question: Are all supplements included on vouchers?
Answer: Yes. The only instance when this is not the case is when the vouchers are open Go As You Please where any special category supplements are paid directly. However the Single Room Supplement must always be included on the voucher whether the accommodation is prebooked or open.

Question: What happens if our first choice accommodation is not available?
Answer: We will offer you the nearest possible alternative.

Question: Can you book a hotel that is not featured on this web site?
Answer: Yes. We have rates with almost all hotels in Ireland and would be happy to deal with any of your requests.

Question: What extras are included with car hire?
Answer: VAT, 3rd party insurance, CDW and unlimited mileage are always included. It is also possible to include theft protection.

Question: Are pets allowed?
Answer: In the majority of accommodation we offer pets are not usually allowed with the exception of guide dogs. However there are a few country hotels that allow pets, those in our Go As You Please programme that do so are stated in the brochure.

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Groups
Question: Does an overseas tour operator have to issue group vouchers?
Answer: No. All group vouchers are issued in our office and delivered to the local guide or, if no local guide, to the first hotel in advance of the tour. Some clients like to issue their vouchers to reassure their groups but this is work duplication as our vouchers are the only ones that our suppliers recognise.

Question: What is the single room policy on groups?
Answer: As hotels generally use twins or doubles for single rooms, they can only allocate one single room to every four or five twins booked. If this ration is exceeded hotels reserve the right to impose an additional single room supplement.

Question: How long can an option on a group booking be held at hotels?
Answer: Each group request is different. If it is a group request looking to travel at short notice it is very different to a group option booked a year or so in advance. Tell us at the time of booking how long you realistically need to keep an option and we will do our best for you. All options are given an expiry date and, on this date if the group is not confirmed, rooms are automatically released back to the hotels. Remember to contact us in time if you need to extend your option!

Question: To where and when are vouchers sent out? Can they be posted overseas?
Answer: A document pack with vouchers, copy programme, rooming lists and contact details is prepared for each group and sent out three working days before the group's arrival either to the local guide or, if no local guide, to the first hotel, marked for the attention of the tour leader. There are so many late changes to passenger lists on groups that it is better to issue the vouchers as close as possible to the arrival date as they are more accurate. We do not post them overseas.

Question: Can we also reserve access transport?
Answer: We can advise you on what is best for your group depending on the place they are traveling from. Generally we find that our overseas clients tend to get the best deals on price when they book from their own country.

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Accounts
Question: What method of payment does Irish Welcome Tours accept?
Answer: Our preferred method of payment is by Swift Bank Transfer. We also accept bank drafts payable in Euros, drawn on an Irish bank.

Question: What are Irish Welcome Tours payment terms?
Answer: Standard terms are as follows:

Group Tours- payment is due 14 days prior to travel.
Individual Tours- payment is due 5 days prior to travel.
Agents may apply to the Sales Director for credit terms by completing a credit application form but standard terms apply until such an application is approved.

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