HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL NORTHERN IRELAND TERMS AND CONDITIONS Youth Hostel Association of Northern Ireland Ltd. trading as HINI whose registered office is at 22-32 Donegall Road, Belfast BT12 5JN (Registered number NI 001147). GENERAL “HINI”, “we”, “us” and “The Association” means Hostelling International Northern Ireland. In these Terms and Conditions customer means any customer who makes or is making a booking with H.I.N.I.. “Group” means a group of 6 or more people staying at a youth hostel. “Hire-a-Hostel” means the rental of an entire youth hostel by one group. H.I.N.I. is part of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF). “Writing” means letter, fax or email. The contract for the supply by us of accommodation and (where applicable) other related services (contract) will be formed when we accept your order and we receive from you the appropriate cleared funds. Making a Booking All bookings are made subject to these Terms and Conditions and the person placing the booking warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons they are making the booking for and confirms that all persons are aware of these Terms and Conditions. Before your booking is confirmed and the contract comes into force HINI reserves the right to increase or decrease prices providing that we notify you in writing in good time prior to delivery of such price increases/decreases. Membership discount only applies to bookings made in person, by phone, e-mail or via hini.org. All bookings are subject to availability and HINI reserves the right to decline any booking at its discretion. If you make a booking and fail to appear at the hostel without cancelling (i.e. you are a “no show”) three times in a 24 month period then HINI reserves the right to decline all future bookings / stays from you regardless of whether we have been able to successfully charge your debit / credit card or not. The same applies to those making, and cancelling, multiple reservations. HOSTELS HINI has a range of youth hostels in a variety of locations. Some are open all year, some have restricted opening during the winter and some are available out of season under the Hire-a-Hostel programme. Most hostels are able to provide catering for groups or individuals. Private rooms are available at some youth hostels, subject to availability and subject to an additional charge and can be requested at time of booking. Our brochures, leaflets and website detail the facilities available at each youth hostel. Further information can be gained upon request to the Head Office (028) 9032 4733 or can be obtained directly from the youth hostel. All standard bookings are for bed reservations only; they do not ensure room bookings. Room requirements should be requested at time of booking. We will endeavour to assist with all room requests; however we cannot guarantee specific room types for any member of the party. Room requests are subject to required hostel availability and may incur an additional charge. HINI reserves the right to amend rooming lists until the time of arrival. Some youth hostels are open all day although access to bedrooms/dormitories may not be possible until 17.00 hours. Other hostels are open from 17.00 hours and customers are expected to check out by 11.00 hours. Bed linen is provided at all hostels. Accuracy of Information HINI exerts all due care and diligence when producing electronic and printed materials on youth hostel facilities and local attractions. However, we reserve the right to revise, update or make obsolete some or all of the contents without obligation to notify any person of such changes. Despite every report to the contrary, errors, omissions or discrepancies may occur in the promotional and informational documents (electronic and printed) and HINI assumes no liability for loss or damages incurred in part or in whole to such errors. All maps and photographs displayed in HINI, printed and electronic materials are for information purposes only. Hostel Grading There is no youth hostel grading system currently in Northern Ireland although our youth hostels are inspected and certified annually by The Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Affiliated Hostels We do from time to time promote affiliate hostels. These hostels are not owned or run by HINI and are not governed by these Terms and Conditions. We are not responsible for the quality or the customer experience in these hostels. Any complaints or comments regarding a stay in these hostels should in the first instance be directed to the manager/owner and copied to the Head Office of HINI. Meals Self-catering facilities are available at all youth hostels. In some hostels, because of the limited size of the self-catering kitchen or dining room, larger groups will be asked to take catering meals provided at an additional cost. Occasionally, these meals will usually be provided by a third party. Parking Parking facilities vary at each hostel. HINI does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to vehicles parked within hostel grounds. All vehicles are parked and left at owner’s risk. Parking spaces cannot be pre-booked and are not guaranteed. They are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Personal Possessions Whilst every effort is made to ensure excellent security at our premises, HINI are not responsible for visitors property, which includes luggage stored in luggage room or bicycles stored in cycle racks or cycle sheds. Some hostels have lockers available for customers use. Use of Alcohol, Smoking, Drugs The consumption of alcohol is only permitted in the self-catering dining rooms together with a meal at the discretion of the hostel manager. Guests are requested to consider the collective needs and comforts of others in the hostel. HINI hostels are non smoking buildings and under Northern Ireland law it is an offence to smoke anywhere within any of the hostels. Smoking is permitted only in designated areas outside the hostels. The use of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited in and around any HINI hostel at any time. If the hostel manager / staff member suspects that a person is in possession of or using drugs he or she will contact the local police. Guests found to be contravening the above policy may be requested to leave the hostel without refund and possibly fined. Hazardous Items The use of candles and camping stoves within any hostel is strictly prohibited at any time. The use of barbecues and the lighting of fires in and around the hostel grounds is strictly prohibited. Membership HINI is a membership organisation. Current membership card should be shown on arrival at the hostel. A membership card is not valid unless signed. As a member, you must agree to abide by the Youth Hostel regulations of the country in which you are travelling. HINI / Hostelling International members are entitled to a discount of 10% on the quoted prices on our website on validation of their membership number - this cannot be used in conjunction with any other special offers or agent / third party rates. Customers arriving at a hostel without a valid membership card can purchase full membership or pay an additional charge per person per night. Membership of HINI gives membership access to all associated IYHF hostels worldwide. It is not necessary for a HINI member to take out an additional membership for any other country visited if staying in IYHF hostels. Membership Categories Life membership: - £100 (Available to any named individual with no age limit - available Head Office only.) Individual membership: Under 25 - 1 year - £10 Under 25 - 2 years - £16.50 Under 25 - 3 years - £21 Over 25 - 1 year - £15 Family membership: 2 parents & children - £30 1 parent & children - £15 International Membership: Membership of another IYHF Association provides member access to HINI hostels without the need for HINI specific membership. If a current IYHF card is shown on arrival at the hostel there is no requirement to pay the additional cost for any overnight. Membership Benefits Certain discounts or other benefits may be available to HINI members by third party suppliers. Such benefits will only be available and will only be applicable to the named card holder. Details of current membership benefits can be found at www.hini.org.uk or Head Office. Membership cards must be shown in order to obtain membership benefits. If a member loses his/her card, a duplicate card can be obtained from HINI head office at a cost of £1 plus postage. Communication with Members Life members and valid shorter term members receive an invitation to HINI’s AGM each year. This letter also provides details of how to obtain our Annual Report online. Information relative to members will be posted on the Association’s website www.hini.org.uk Members are responsible for advising HINI of any change in their contact details. If any member prefers not to receive information (including by email) from HINI they should notify the Head Office in writing. Hostel Guests Guests with disability, medical problems or special needs – Please notify the hostel if you or any of your party have any disability, medical problems or special needs which may require specific facilities. We will endeavour to meet your requirements where possible, but special needs facilities vary by hostel. Please check before booking. It is the responsibility of the lead person to ensure that all special needs requirements are identified and communicated to HINI staff. Equality of Access Northern Ireland youth hostels are open to all. No customers will be discriminated against on the basis of race, nationality, gender, age, status, occupation, religion etc.