TERMS & CONDITIONS
YOUR BOOKING WITH NORTH COAST EXPLORER
GENERAL
The Mey House Partnership trading as ‘North Coast Explorer’ (‘us’, ‘we’ or the ‘Company’) accepts your ('the Customer') booking under the following terms and conditions. Within these conditions, ‘you’, ‘your’ and ‘guest’ means all persons named on the booking. By making a booking, the ‘lead passenger’ specified in the booking will be deemed to have accepted these conditions on behalf of all passengers.
We endeavour to ensure that the information and prices in our published material and on our website are accurate; however occasionally changes and errors occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You should check the current price and all other details relating to the arrangements that you wish to book before your booking request is made. All tours are sold subject to availability.
North Coast Explorer is a professional private tour service that is exclusive to your group only. We do not add other groups to your tour, nor do we accept bookings for individuals joining together to make up numbers. Your tour is at risk of cancellation by us if we suspect that this is the case.
None of these terms and conditions are intended to contravene or contradict the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and your statutory rights under the legislation are not affected.
THE BOOKING PROCESS
Your chosen tour and tour date shall be reserved upon receipt of a deposit equating to £100 for every day of your tour (see DEPOSITS AND PRE-PAYMENTS).
Your tour is not confirmed until we have issued you with a booking confirmation. At that point a binding contract will be entered into between us (see BALANCE OF MONIES OUTSTANDING).
PRICING
North Coast Explorer offers a standard tariff for up to 4 people (excluding SPECIAL REQUESTS, MEAL ARRANGEMENTS or THIRD PARTY CHARGES).
THIRD PARTY CHARGES
Admission fees or guided tours of third party suppliers are not included in the tour price unless expressly stated in the tour description.
DEPOSITS AND PREPAYMENTS
A deposit amounting to £100 for every day of your tour is required to reserve your chosen tour and date. We accept payment by cash, debit and credit cards (excluding American Express).
In the event of cancellation, payment will be taken in accordance with our cancellation terms (see CANCELLATIONS for details).
BALANCE OF MONIES OUTSTANDING
The full price of your tour (less any prepayments) is payable 28 days prior to your confirmed tour date. We accept payment by cash, debit and credit cards (excluding American Express).
In the event of cancellation, payment will be taken in accordance with our cancellation terms (see CANCELLATIONS for details).
CHANGES TO THE CONFIRMED BOOKING
Changes by You
If you wish to change any part of your confirmed booking, you should inform us in writing as soon as possible. This should be done by the lead passenger named on the booking. We will do our best to accommodate your change request but we cannot guarantee this.
Where we can meet a change request made by you, you will be required to meet any extra costs incurred by us (and any costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers) in making the requested change. Where we are unable to meet your change request and you no longer wish to travel on the basis of the original booking, this will be treated as a cancellation of your booking and cancellation charges may be payable by you.
Changes by Us
Please be aware that the nature of travel involves risks and unpredictable weather and road conditions and we cannot, therefore, guarantee to deliver all aspects of your tour. In the unlikely event that we are required to significantly alter a material part of your tour, we will notify you of this as quickly as possible to enable you to decide how you wish to proceed.
While we shall do everything reasonably possible to provide your tour itinerary and details as planned, North Coast Explorer reserves the right to alter itineraries and transport if required to do so.
YOUR TIME AS OUR GUESTS
GUESTS WITH IMPAIRED MOBILITY OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS
We will try to accommodate any mobility and medical problems where we can but please be aware that many of our tours may not be suitable. If you or any member of your party has any mobility or medical problems which may affect their ability to travel on our tour then please provide us with full details at the time of making your booking enquiry, so that we can advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. If we are not informed of any disabilities or medical problems in this way then we cannot be held responsible for any cost or inconvenience incurred if we are unable to accommodate you or any member of your party.
If, acting reasonably, we are unable to accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned then we will not confirm your booking or (if you did not give us details of the disability or medical problem at the time of making the booking request) we shall be entitled to cancel your booking and to levy the relevant cancellation charges.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS
We regret that we do not carry young people under the age of 15 on our tours.
SUITABLE OUTDOOR CLOTHING
Guests should be aware that weather conditions in Scotland can be severe and hence MUST be attired appropriately. We recommend that at the very minimum guests should have a waterproof outdoor coat and sturdy waterproof footwear.
LUGGAGE AND CARRY-ON ITEMS
On single day tours luggage is restricted to one small backpack/bag per person.
On multi day tours a maximum of four suitcases weighing no more than 25kg each and four small backpacks/bags are permitted in total (due to load carrying space and maximum permissible vehicle weights). Oversize baggage (eg golf bags, dive or surf equipment) are not permitted.
All luggage and carry-on items are carried at the passenger’s own risk and we will not be responsible for any loss or damage to personal property. It is the guest’s responsibility to ensure that luggage is fit for travel, sturdy and waterproof.
PETS
We are sorry but we are unable to accommodate or transport pets on any of our tours. Guide or Assistance dogs are, of course, most welcome though we request that you inform us of this at the time of booking.
SMOKING
North Coast Explorer tours are Non-Smoking. For the comfort and convenience of other guests smoking is not permitted on or around our tour vehicle. We shall make frequent stops en route for passengers who wish to smoke.
MEAL ARRANGEMENTS
The standard tour price does not include the provision of food. There are various catering options available to you and these will be discussed with you at the time of your booking. Should you have special dietary requirements, please inform us of these at the time of your booking.
GUEST INSURANCE
North Coast Explorer strongly recommends that passengers arrange suitable insurance from a reputable insurer to protect yourself against cancellation penalties and also to cover death, personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, loss of or damage to luggage and contents, and loss or theft of money and personal belongings.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Whilst every effort is made to fulfil any particular requests which you may make in relation to your tour with us, please note that these requests do not form part of our contract and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet any particular requests. We regret that we cannot accept bookings which are conditional on any special request being met.
REFUSAL OF TRAVEL
We reserve the right to refuse to carry any person whose conduct or manner is likely to cause offence or upset. We also reserve the right to refuse travel to any person who is experiencing medical symptoms likely to cause ill health to others. It is therefore vital that you ensure that you are fit to travel on the departure date.
In either of the cases mentioned above, full cancellation charges shall be applied by North Coast Explorer and the Company shall have no further liability to that passenger or to any person travelling with them.
FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS
We actively welcome your feedback, both in respect of our own services and those provided by other suppliers. In the event that you have any complaint during the course of your tour then please bring this to the attention of your guide as soon as possible. Guests wishing to lodge a complaint after the tour has ended should write to the company within 28 days of the tour end providing full and comprehensive details.
WHEN IT DOESN’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation by you
If you have to cancel a reservation it is in your interest to notify us immediately by telephone or email (the effective date of cancellation will be the date upon which we receive such notification). In the event of cancellation by you, cancellation charges may be payable, as set out below.
* cancellation more than 28 days before the tour date: you will be charged 25% of the price paid of the tour;
* cancellation between 28 days and 15 days before the tour date: you will be charged 50% of the price of the tour;
* cancellations of 14 days or less will be charged the full price of the tour and no refund shall be issued;
Please note: It is advisable to take out travel insurance to cover any costs that you may incur in the event of a cancellation (see GUEST INSURANCE).
Cancellation by us
We will only cancel tours due to unforeseeable circumstances which are outwith our control or which might jeopardise your safety. If we cancel your tour then we will always refund you, in full, for all sums paid by you and you will have no further claim against The Mey House Partnership. See ‘Force Majeur’ below, for further information.
OUR LIABILITY AND ACTIONS OF SUPPLIERS
Some aspects of your tour may be provided by independent suppliers, who provide such products and services on the basis of their own terms and conditions.
We will not accept or have any liability for any acts or omissions (whether negligent or otherwise) of any supplier or person providing services in connection with any tour unless such a person is employed by or under the direct control of North Coast Explorer.
If we or our suppliers are in breach of contract and/or negligently perform or arrange the services which we are obliged to provide for you under our contract with you (as detailed in your booking confirmation) then we may be obliged to pay you reasonable compensation, which will be calculated taking into account all relevant factors (such as, but not limited to, the extent to which this affected the overall enjoyment of your tour). Please note that it is your responsibility to show that we or our suppliers have breached the contract or been negligent.
If we are found liable to pay you compensation under the above provision, then (subject to the following paragraphs) the maximum amount which we will be liable to pay to you in respect of any claim shall be limited to twice the price paid by the affected person, (per person price calculated as total tour price divided by number of guests). This maximum amount will only be payable where you or your party have received no benefit from your booking. This limitation shall not apply to any claims relating to death or personal injury or fraud (or any other type of claim that cannot be excluded or limited at law). You must notify us of any potential claims under this provision at the earliest opportunity.
We will not be responsible for, nor will we be liable to pay compensation for, any loss, cost, damage or claim to the extent that it results from:
* any act and/or omission by you;
* the act or omission of any third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable;
* unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our (or our suppliers’) control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been taken; or
* any event which either we or our suppliers could not, even with all due care, have foreseen or forestalled.
PRIVACY POLICY
The Mey House Partnership operates a privacy policy and you are requested to read this policy as a term of your contract with us. By agreeing to our terms and conditions you are also agreeing to our privacy policy.
FORCE MAJEUR
North Coast Explorer shall not be responsible for any loss or damage which you may suffer arising out of events beyond its control or the control of its suppliers (including, without limitation, fire, failure of electrical or other power supplies, strikes, industrial action, terrorist activity, technical problems with transport, and bad weather), nor any other consequences which arise as a result of such events.
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Scots law and any matter or claim arising from them shall be dealt with only by the Scottish courts.
The Mey House Partnership (Trading as North Coast Explorer), Mey House, East Mey, By Thurso, Caithness, KW14 8XL, Scotland