Sports Travel International, Traveling, and the Coronavirus Outbreak
Update: 08/02/2021
Whatever your next adventure, you can book with confidence.
As vaccination roll-outs gather speed across the world, we feel that we can tentatively start looking forward to travelling again at some point in the not too distant future. We continue to see a lot of interest in our tours and holidays, but we are aware that there is still a lot of uncertainty when considering future travel.
We would like to provide you with a further update at this point, regarding how the ongoing situation may affect your future booking with us. In the below Q&A page you may find useful information that will hopefully answer your questions. Before contacting us, please read this page. If after reading the Q&A page you still feel the need to contact us, please do so by email or call us on + 353 1 963 0310 and we will respond to your queries as soon as possible.
Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, triathlete or a sports fan, when you’re ready for your next adventure, book your travel package with confidence knowing that the experienced Sports Travel International team have been taking athletes to amazing events for over 30 years.
Here’s what we’re doing to give you that all important peace of mind.
8th February 2021
To all of our Customers at Sports Travel International,
After a busy and exciting start to the year, for all the right reasons, with lots of events coming BRAND NEW to Sports Travel on our calendar, new developments in our cycling and triathlon programmes, and lots of interest in our tours and holidays generally; we now find ourselves in an unprecedented period of uncertainty caused by the ever-evolving situation that is the global COVID-19 outbreak.
Sports Travel International is one of Our Ireland’s most reputable sports tour operators. We are licensed and bonded with CAR, the Commission for Aviation Regulation. In Ireland, all travel organisers selling travel packages originating in Ireland to destinations overseas are required to be licensed and bonded with the CAR, The aim of this is to provide consumer protection for refund and, if necessary, repatriation.
Things are developing at an incredible rate, and we will keep you updated as best we can, as things unfold. Now, I’d like to provide you with an update about how this ongoing situation may currently affect your future booking with us. We’ve created a new Q&A page which you may find useful, where we can hopefully answer your questions. Before contacting us, please read this page if you have any concerns or questions. If, after reading the Q&A page, you still feel the need to contact us, please do so by email and we will reply to you as soon as possible. Please allow for longer than usual response times in this busy period.
What is Sports Travel International’s position on Coronavirus?
Our team is continually monitoring any travel guidance updates, in relation to the current Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). We are taking our information from official sources such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA), UK’s Foreign Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the WHO, and the local health authorities both in Ireland and in the countries where our events are taking place.
If any advice is given by the DFA or FCO against all but essential travel to your event destination,or if event organisers decide or are forced to cancel their events, we will respond promptly. Once we have confirmation that we will no longer be able to provide your holiday or the event that you are travelling for; we will contact you as soon as possible.
Will my holiday be going ahead as normal?
In cases where official travel restrictions are in place, or if events are cancelled completely; we will work closely with customers who are due to travel imminently and aim to find a satisfactory solution swiftly. Please find further details below.
What happens if my event is cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
If the event is cancelled then we will get in touch with you, as far in advance of your departure date as possible, and discuss your alternative travel options with you. The options presented to you may include;
- the option to postpone your trip and rearrange for a later date
- transferring your booking to another tour with us
- to receive a refund of your travel package
What if my destination is not subject to official travel restrictions and my event is still going ahead?
We can only refund, or present you with alternative travel options, if your event has been cancelled or if there are official travel restrictions in place. If no travel restrictions do exist and the event is set to run as planned, and you make the decision to refrain from travel and to cancel your holiday yourself, your cancellation will be subject to our usual terms and conditions – please look HERE for full details. If we are able to cancel your entry, hotel and other elements and obtain a refund then we may be able to give you a refund but this can’t be guaranteed.
Will I get a refund of my entry fee or hospitality ticket if my event gets cancelled?
We will only refund your event entry or hospitality ticket if we have been refunded by the event organisers. In some cases the event organiser have it in their terms and conditions that the entry fee will not be refunded under any circumstances. We will do our best to obtain a refund and pass it on to you but we may not always be able to do so. In some cases a refund is not possible but a roll-over to the next edition event is offered. An admin charge maybe levied by the event organisers for this.
Will I be covered by travel insurance if I decide to cancel myself?
This depends on what is stated in your travel insurance policy and the policy terms and conditions. In certain cases, it could be worth contacting your travel insurance provider directly, to discuss your eligibility to make a claim.
I haven’t paid the balance for my holiday yet. Can I pay later, and wait to see what happens?
We ask that you pay the remaining balance for your holiday as normal unless we tell you otherwise. This can be done safe in the knowledge that, if for any reason we have to cancel your holiday, we will provide you with a full refund on your travel package. In many cases, we have to make payments to suppliers and hoteliers, before your trip commences. We need to have received your payments in advance to be able to do this. We will send you a balance reminder, if we have not received payment for your full tour on time. We also reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled; if we are still yet to receive your remaining payment 7 days after this reminder has been sent. In this case, our usual cancellation charges apply (including the full cost of any flights we have booked on your behalf).
Where can I check for up-to-date travel and health information for my destination?
Advice for travellers from the UK & Ireland:
- UK health authorities are providing detailed advice for specific destinations and locations which is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
- The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA) is providing detailed advice for travellers coming in and out of Ireland
- Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice for the country they are travelling to. Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries provides specific country-by-country travel health advice
- The NHS website has useful information about how to take preventative measures against Coronavirus at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
- ABTA also has updated advice and FAQs for travellers at www.abta.com/coronavirus
- Public Health Ireland has put together advice for Irish citizens, regarding the current coronavirus outbreak.
- HSE Ireland is also offering detailed advice for anyone with concerns over the coronavirus outbreak – you can find the dedicated area of their website HERE.
Travelling from outside the UK? Here are some websites you may like to consult:
- USA: State Department Travel Advisory
- Canada: Travel Advice & Advisories
- Australia: Smart Traveller information service
- New Zealand: SafeTravel
Financial security of your booking with us
Sports Travel International is Ireland’s largest independent sports tour operator. We have been in business for over 30 years, and because we are firm believers in putting our customers first, and in doing business responsibly, we are members of leading tourism industry organisations such as the CARSscheme. All the monies paid by our customers to us for their travel packages are protected by our licence. Before you book your holiday we advise you to look out for indication that your travel provider has membership for these organisations, so you know you are dealing with a reputable company.
Please be assured that our brilliant people in Manchester, Dublin and Senlis, France are doing everything they can and cooperating with our partners worldwide to minimise any disruption to your events and holidays. Our number one priority is and will always be the health and safety of our team and our customers.
We are proud of how we handled this crisis and how, throughout 2020 and into 2021, we’ve put our customers first.
We look forward to running, cycling, and enjoying iconic events with you, at one of our events or sports holidays, soon.
Best regards,
Chris Bird
CEO
