Dowtours Conditions

1. Agreement
  1. Dowtours arranges travel services for persons and/or groups. Groups include businesses, whether tour operators or other companies. The agreement is between Dowtours and the person(s) or group, hereafter "the client" for whom Dowtours is offering a travel service or services.
  2. Dowtours acts as agent for the providers of said services, hereafter "third parties", whose conditions apply in full, in addition to these conditions. Dowtours shall not be liable for services provided by third parties.
  3. All agreements must be confirmed in writing. This may be as a letter or order form, a fax or an e-mail from the client's own domain name. All e-mail communications to Dowtours must be made to the domain "dowtours.com"; e-mails from Dowtours are only valid if sent from the domain "dowtours.com", alternatively from "dowtours@aol.com". Other domains may be used exceptionally, but only if previously announced from the above domains, or otherwise in writing as above.
  4. Receipt of a deposit payment will be taken as confirmation of an agreement and acceptance of these terms, even if not confirmed by the client in writing.

2. Services
  1. The extent of services provided by Dowtours are limited to those confirmed in writing. Any additions or changes must be confirmed in writing.
  2. In the event of prices being unexpectedly raised by any service provider, Dowtours reserves the right to increase prices accordingly. Any changes in the relevant tax rate will be passed on to the client.

3. Dowtours' Obligations
  1. Dowtours shall conscientiously arrange and provide the services as per the agreement.
  2. In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to substitute an arranged service with another one. Dowtours will endeavour to provide an alternative of equal or higher value but shall not be liable if this is not possible.

4. Client's Obligations
  1. All clients must protect their passengers against tour operator failure. This only applies to bookings for 2 or more services, of which at least one is accommodation.
  2. If hotel accommodation is being arranged, the client shall provide Dowtours with a rooming list at least 7 days prior to the group's arrival.
  3. The client undertakes to keep to a minimum any possible losses and/or interruptions in services and to treat the property of the service providers in a responsible manner.
  4. For the purposes of this agreement, the client shall be responsible for the conduct of members of the group and shall be liable for any loss or damage caused by members of the group; this shall include but not be limited to damage to persons or property and losses caused by late arrival at a departure point.
  5. The client is responsible for adherence to all requirements for international travel. This shall include but not be limited to passport, visa, foreign exchange & health requirements, and compliance of temporarily imported motor vehicles with local regulations.

5. Coach (Motorcoach) Hire
  1. Unless otherwise agreed, coaches will not necessarily be equipped to "executive" specification or have air-conditioning.
  2. "Executive" specification normally incorporates hot & cold drinks facility, video player and on-board WC.
  3. Smoking is normally not permitted on coaches hired through Dowtours.
  4. Under English Law, alcohol may not be carried in the passenger area of coaches using British roads. Drivers will take alcoholic drink from anybody trying to carry it onto a coach; it may be carried in a secure place and returned to the passenger when he/she leaves the coach.
  5. In the event of delays to coach travel caused by the client or a member of the group, any additional costs will be passed on to the client.
  6. Statutory regulations on drivers' working hours will be strictly adhered to. Dowtours will not acquiesce to any arrangements which conflict with these regulations which have been drawn up to protect passengers and the public.

6. Guides
  1. Unless specified, all guides will be qualified by the relevant blue or green badge for the region or area in which they are guiding, except that London-based tours may be accompanied by a London blue badge guide on day outings away from London.
  2. If there is a delay of more than 15 minutes meeting a guide, irrespective of the reason, the client must inform the guide by telephoning the number given. This does not apply to the late arrival of a scheduled inbound flight which is being met by a guide.

6a. Canterbury Tours

(a i) Walking tours of Canterbury are charged per person, with a minimum amount for smaller groups. Groups of more than 30 persons (20 persons in the cathedral) will normally be divided into smaller groups at no extra cost.

(a ii) Clients will be charged for the actual number of persons on the tour, but not less than the number of participants given in advance. Final numbers must be given to Dowtours at least 2 working days before the tour.

(a iii) Groups of schoolchildren and/or students will be entitled to 1 free accompanying adult per 20 paying children or students: adults do not count towards this number.

(a iv) Mobile telephones must normally be switched off during walking tours.

(a v) Clients wishing to book a tour of Canterbury Cathedral without a city tour are advised to book directly with the cathedral.  Dowtours may charge a booking fee for such bookings unless they are part of a city tour.

N.B.  Please note that tours of Canterbury are not possible in a coach or any other motor vehicle.

7. Payment
  1. A deposit of 10% of the anticipated cost of all services shall be payable to Dowtours immediately on confirmation of the agreement.
  2. Full payment must be received by Dowtours not less than 15 working days (normally 3 weeks) before commencement of services.
  3. All payments shall normally be in the form of a sterling cheque or banker's draft made payable to "Dowtours, Frank Dowling".   Bank credit transfers will be acceptable on condition that the client pays for all transaction fees incurred by Dowtours.
  4. Any final adjustments will be made after the group's departure and are payable immediately.
  5. Any costs incurred by the client which are not part of the agreement will be payable in full. Clients are responsible for ensuring that all ancillary costs, e.g. minibar or additional meals in the hotel, are paid in full before the group's departure. Dowtours may levy a charge for settling any unpaid bills.
  6. Should the provider of any service require other payment terms, these may take precedence over Dowtours' terms. The client will be informed of the variation in advance.

Please note:  In order to comply with money laundering regulations, Dowtours will not under any circumstances accept "large" cash payments.  Large cash payments are defined as above 15,000 Euros (approximately UK£ 10,000 / US$ 18,000).

8. Complaints

In the event of any complaints or deficiencies, the client shall inform Dowtours immediately, who shall endeavour to get the problems resolved as soon as possible. If the client does not inform Dowtours immediately, no cause for complaint will be judged to have arisen.

9. Liability of Third Parties

Dowtours shall endeavour to provide services from businesses and individuals who are suitably qualified and/or experienced in their field. Dowtours shall not be liable for the event that services are not of the required standard, but they will endeavour to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

10. Cancellation
  1. In the event of cancellation by the client, the following scale of charges will be payable:
  2. From confirmation of the booking to 31 days before departure date, 10% of the price.
  3. From 31 days to 21 days before departure date, 50%
  4. Less than 21 days before departure date, 100%.
  5. The cost of transferring any refunds because of cancellation by the client will be deducted from said refund.
  6. Should a client fail to fulfil his obligations, Dowtours reserves the right to cancel the agreement.

11. Force Majeure

In the event of an agreement being cancelled because of Act of God or other circumstances outside Dowtours' and the client's control, Dowtours will refund all monies received, except that any non-recoverable charges will not be refunded. Dowtours may levy a small charge for the refund.

12. General
  1. Clients outside England should note that English public holidays may differ from those in other parts of the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
  2. Verbal agreements or amendments are not valid unless confirmed in writing.
  3. This agreement is subject to English Law and the jurisdiction of the English courts in Canterbury.

 

Dowtours

March 2004