Booking Terms & Conditions
Last updated: August 2026
These Booking Terms & Conditions, together with your Booking Confirmation, agreed itinerary, applicable pre-contract information and any other documents expressly incorporated into your booking, form the basis of your agreement with Irish Routes ("Irish Routes", "we", "us" or "our").
Please read these Terms carefully before confirming your booking.
Where you make a booking on behalf of other travellers, you confirm that you have authority to accept these Terms on their behalf and that you will ensure that all members of your party are made aware of the information relevant to their booking.
Nothing in these Terms is intended to restrict any rights you have under applicable consumer or package travel law.
1. About Irish Routes
Irish Routes is an independent tailor-made travel company based in Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland.
We design and arrange bespoke journeys throughout Ireland, combining carefully selected accommodation, transport, local experiences and personalised itinerary planning.
Where the combination of travel services arranged by Irish Routes constitutes a "package" within the meaning of applicable Irish package travel legislation, Irish Routes acts as the organiser of that package and accepts the responsibilities placed upon an organiser by law.
2. Our Services
Every Irish Routes journey is individually designed. Depending on your booking, your itinerary may include:
bespoke itinerary design;
accommodation;
private driver-guide services;
car hire;
experiences, activities and guiding;
restaurant recommendations and reservations where applicable;
practical travel guidance;
pre-departure documentation;
and on-trip support where applicable.
Your Booking Confirmation and final itinerary will specify the services included in your package. Unless expressly stated as included, our services do not include:
international or domestic flights;
travel insurance;
passport or visa arrangements;
meals not specified in your itinerary;
gratuities;
personal expenses;
or any other service not expressly identified as included.
3. Journey Design Fee
Every journey begins with a complimentary Discovery Call. If you choose to proceed to the itinerary design stage, a Journey Design Fee of €250 is payable before Irish Routes begins creating your bespoke proposal.
The Journey Design Fee covers our professional time, expertise and research in developing your personalised itinerary. If you subsequently confirm the proposed journey with Irish Routes, the €250 Journey Design Fee will be credited against the final balance of your booking.
If you decide not to proceed with the proposed journey after the itinerary design service has commenced, the Journey Design Fee will not ordinarily be refundable, subject always to any rights you may have under applicable consumer law. Payment of the Journey Design Fee does not itself confirm a travel booking or reserve accommodation, experiences or other travel services.
4. Before You Book
Before you are bound by a package travel contract, Irish Routes will provide the information required by applicable package travel legislation.
This will include, where relevant to your journey:
the principal characteristics of the travel services;
the total price of the package and payment arrangements;
applicable passport and visa information;
information concerning cancellation;
any minimum number of travellers required for the package;
information regarding travel insurance; and
the statutory information relating to your rights as a package traveller.
Please review this information carefully before confirming your booking and let us know if anything is unclear or incorrect.
5. Booking & Contract Formation
A package travel booking will be confirmed when:
your itinerary and included services have been agreed;
the relevant supplier availability has been confirmed;
you have received the applicable pre-contract information and these Booking Terms & Conditions;
you have accepted the proposed booking;
we have received the required deposit or other payment advised to you; and
Irish Routes has issued your Booking Confirmation.
Your Booking Confirmation will set out the principal details of the package and will form part of your contract with Irish Routes.
Please check your Booking Confirmation and accompanying documents carefully and notify us promptly if anything is incorrect
6. Payment
Unless otherwise stated in your booking proposal, a deposit of 25% of the total package price is payable at confirmation.
Certain accommodation providers, transport providers, experiences or other suppliers may require a larger deposit, full prepayment or impose their own non-refundable charges. Where additional payments or specific supplier conditions apply to your booking, we will inform you before you confirm the booking. The remaining balance is normally payable 60 days before the start of your journey.
Bookings confirmed within 60 days of departure will normally require payment in full at the time of booking. If payment is not received by the stated due date, we may, after appropriate notice, treat the booking as cancelled by you. The cancellation provisions in Section 11 will then apply.
7. Prices
Unless otherwise stated, all Irish Routes prices are quoted in Euros (€). Your proposal is based upon supplier rates and availability at the time it is prepared. Until your booking is confirmed, prices and availability may change.
Once your package travel contract has been concluded, the price may only be increased where permitted by applicable package travel legislation and where the increase results directly from changes in:
the price of passenger transport resulting from the cost of fuel or other power sources;
taxes or fees imposed by third parties not directly involved in performing the package;
or exchange rates relevant to the package.
Where Irish Routes reserves the right to increase the price for these reasons, you will also be entitled to any corresponding price reduction resulting from a decrease in those same costs after your contract has been concluded and before the start of your journey, subject to any permitted administrative expenses. Any permitted price increase will be communicated clearly, together with the reason and calculation, no later than 20 days before the start of your package. If a proposed price increase exceeds 8% of the total package price, you will have the rights provided by applicable package travel legislation, including the right to terminate the contract without paying a termination fee.
8. Changes Requested by You
If you wish to change your booking after confirmation, please contact us as soon as possible.
We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate requested changes, but changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
You will be responsible for any additional supplier costs or reasonable administrative costs arising directly from the requested change. We will provide details of such costs where applicable.
9. Transfer of Your Booking
You may transfer your package travel contract to another person who satisfies any conditions applicable to the booking, provided you give Irish Routes reasonable notice before the start of the package.
Notice given at least fourteen days before the start of the package will be considered reasonable.
You and the person to whom the booking is transferred may be jointly responsible for any outstanding balance and for reasonable costs actually incurred as a result of the transfer.
We will provide evidence of those additional costs where required.
10. Changes Made by Irish Routes Before Departure
Occasionally it may be necessary for Irish Routes to make changes to your booking before departure.
Where a change is insignificant and we have reserved the right to make such changes, we will notify you clearly.
If we are required to make a significant change to an essential element of your package, or cannot fulfil an agreed special requirement, we will inform you without undue delay and explain your options.
Depending on the circumstances, you may choose to:
accept the proposed change;
accept a suitable replacement package where one is available; or
terminate the package travel contract without paying a termination fee.
Where a replacement package is of lower quality or cost, you will be entitled to an appropriate reduction in price.
Where you terminate the contract and are entitled to a refund, Irish Routes will provide that refund within the period required by applicable law.
11. Cancellation by You
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed, including appropriate cancellation cover.
You may terminate your package travel contract at any time before the start of your journey by notifying Irish Routes in writing.
Where you cancel for reasons other than those giving you a statutory right to cancel without charge, an appropriate and justifiable cancellation charge may apply.
Subject to the specific circumstances of your booking and any non-refundable supplier commitments disclosed to you, our standard cancellation charges are:
60 days or more before departure: 25% of the total package price
43–59 days before departure: up to 50%
31–42 days before departure: up to 75%
30 days or less before departure: up to 100%
These standard charges are intended to reflect the timing of cancellation, costs already incurred, anticipated cost savings and the possibility of the relevant travel services being used or resold.
Certain services — including particular accommodation rates, private-use properties, tickets, special events or experiences — may carry stricter cancellation conditions or become non-refundable once booked. Any material conditions affecting your particular booking will be disclosed before confirmation.
Where appropriate, the cancellation charge may be lower than the standard percentage where the actual loss resulting from cancellation is lower.
Upon request, Irish Routes will provide a justification for the amount of the termination fee.
Cancellation Due to Unavoidable and Extraordinary Circumstances
You may terminate your package before departure without paying a termination fee where unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur at your destination or its immediate vicinity and significantly affect the performance of the package or, where applicable, the carriage of passengers to the destination.
Where this statutory right applies, you will be entitled to a full refund of payments made for the package, but not additional compensation.
This provision does not apply simply because personal circumstances prevent you from travelling. Where you cancel because of illness, injury, family circumstances or other personal reasons, our normal cancellation provisions may apply. We therefore strongly recommend appropriate travel insurance with cancellation cover.
Nothing in this section limits any cancellation or refund rights you have under applicable law.
12. Cancellation by Irish Routes
Irish Routes may terminate your package travel contract before the start of the package where permitted by applicable law, including where we are prevented from performing the contract because of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.
Where Irish Routes terminates the package and you are entitled to a refund, we will refund the relevant payments within the period required by applicable law.
Where applicable, you may also be offered a suitable alternative arrangement.
Irish Routes may also treat your booking as cancelled where you fail to make required payments after appropriate notice. In that situation, the cancellation provisions in Section 11 may apply.
13. Performance of Your Package
Irish Routes is responsible for the proper performance of the travel services included in your package, regardless of whether those services are performed directly by Irish Routes or by accommodation providers, guides, transport providers, experience operators or other suppliers.
If any travel service included in your package is not performed in accordance with the contract, please notify Irish Routes without undue delay so that we have the opportunity to address the issue.
Where required by law, we will remedy a lack of conformity unless doing so is impossible or would entail disproportionate cost, taking account of the circumstances and value of the affected travel service.
Where a significant proportion of the agreed travel services cannot be provided, we will, where required, offer suitable alternative arrangements at no additional cost to you.
Where the alternative arrangements result in a package of lower quality than originally agreed, you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction.
Your statutory rights to a price reduction and/or compensation where applicable are unaffected.
14. Assistance During Your Journey
If you experience difficulty during your journey, please contact Irish Routes as soon as possible using the contact information provided in your travel documentation.
Where required by applicable package travel law, Irish Routes will provide appropriate assistance without undue delay.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
providing information regarding health services, local authorities or consular assistance;
helping you communicate at a distance; and
assisting you in finding alternative travel arrangements.
We may charge a reasonable fee for such assistance where the difficulty has been caused intentionally by the traveller or through the traveller's negligence. Any fee will not exceed the actual costs incurred by us.
15. Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that every traveller obtains comprehensive travel insurance appropriate to their individual circumstances as soon as their booking is confirmed.
Your policy should, where appropriate, include cover for:
cancellation and curtailment;
medical treatment and repatriation;
personal belongings;
travel disruption and delay; and
activities you intend to undertake during your journey.
In particular, please ensure that you understand the cancellation protection provided by your policy.
Where you cancel your journey for personal reasons — including illness, injury or other circumstances affecting your ability to travel — the cancellation charges in these Booking Terms & Conditions may apply, and you should seek recovery through your travel insurer where your policy provides appropriate cover.
Travel insurance does not affect any statutory rights you have against Irish Routes.
16. Passports, Visas & Entry Requirements
Before you are bound by the package travel contract, Irish Routes will provide the general passport and visa information required under applicable package travel legislation.
You are responsible for ensuring that you hold valid passports, visas and any other documentation necessary for your individual circumstances and nationality.
You are also responsible for complying with applicable immigration and entry requirements.
17. Health, Mobility, Dietary & Other Requirements
Please tell us before booking about any mobility or accessibility requirements, allergies, dietary requirements or other circumstances that may materially affect the suitability or performance of your journey.
We will make reasonable efforts to establish whether the proposed travel services can accommodate your requirements and to communicate agreed requirements to the relevant suppliers.
Any specific requirement that Irish Routes agrees to fulfil will be recorded as part of your booking.
18. Unavoidable and Extraordinary Circumstances
For the purposes of these Terms, "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" has the meaning given to it under applicable package travel legislation.
Broadly, this means circumstances beyond the control of the party relying upon them, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Depending on their nature and severity, examples may include serious security problems, natural disasters, significant public-health risks, government restrictions or major transport disruption.
The occurrence of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances does not automatically remove the rights or obligations of either Irish Routes or the traveller.
Where your package is affected, we will apply the remedies, refunds, alternative arrangements and assistance required by applicable law.
19. Liability
Irish Routes accepts responsibility as organiser for the performance of the travel services included in your package, including where those services are performed by independent accommodation providers, guides, transport providers, experience operators or other suppliers.
Where a travel service is not performed or is improperly performed, you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction and/or compensation in accordance with applicable package travel legislation.
Irish Routes will not seek to exclude or limit liability where doing so would be prohibited by law.
Where international conventions or applicable legislation limit the conditions under which compensation is payable, or the extent of compensation payable by a supplier providing a travel service included in the package, Irish Routes may rely upon the same limitations to the extent permitted by law.
Any compensation or price reduction granted under applicable package travel legislation and any compensation or price reduction granted under other applicable legislation or international conventions will be deducted from each other where necessary to avoid overcompensation.
Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights.
20. Traveller Conduct
Travellers are expected to behave reasonably and comply with applicable laws, safety instructions and reasonable requirements of accommodation providers, guides, transport providers and other suppliers involved in the journey.
Please respect local communities, environments and the people providing your travel services.
Where a traveller's conduct presents a genuine risk to their own safety, the safety or wellbeing of others, property or the proper performance of the journey, Irish Routes may take reasonable and proportionate action, subject to its obligations under applicable law.
21. Complaints & Problems During Your Journey
If something is not right during your journey, please tell us as soon as reasonably possible.
You should notify both the relevant service provider and Irish Routes where appropriate so that we have an opportunity to resolve the issue while you are travelling.
Irish Routes' contact details for assistance during your journey will be provided in your travel documentation.
If an issue cannot be resolved during your journey, please contact us in writing after your return, providing your booking reference and relevant supporting information.
We encourage you to do so as soon as reasonably possible and ideally within 28 days of the end of your journey.
Failure to contact us within 28 days does not remove any statutory rights that cannot lawfully be restricted.
We will investigate complaints and aim to provide a substantive response within a reasonable period.
22. Insolvency Protection
Irish Routes maintains insolvency protection for applicable package travel bookings in accordance with Irish Package Travel legislation.
[TO COMPLETE BEFORE ACCEPTING PACKAGE BOOKINGS]
Insolvency Protection Provider: [NAME]
Address: [ADDRESS]
Email: [EMAIL]
Telephone: [TELEPHONE]
Policy / Protection Reference: [IF REQUIRED]
Travellers may contact the above provider where travel services included in the package are not performed as a consequence of Irish Routes' insolvency, in accordance with the terms of the applicable protection and legislation.
Irish Routes will provide the applicable statutory Package Travel information and details of the insolvency protection applying to your booking before you are bound by the package travel contract.
23. Privacy
We process your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.
In order to design and provide your journey, we may need to share relevant personal information with accommodation providers, transport providers, guides, experience operators and other suppliers involved in delivering your booking.
Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further information about how we collect, use and protect your personal information.
24. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Booking Terms & Conditions and your contract with Irish Routes are governed by Irish law.
Subject to any mandatory rights available to you under applicable consumer law, disputes arising from or in connection with your booking shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Irish courts.
Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit or exclude any consumer rights that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.
25. Contacting Irish Routes
Irish Routes
Killaloe, County Clare
Email: info@irishroutes.com
Your Booking Confirmation and pre-departure documentation will also provide the telephone number or other contact details to use if you require assistance during your journey.