Payment & Cancellation Policies
and other administration FAQs for the Ireland Trip summer 2018
PAYMENT STRUCTURE:
(All prices are in Canadian Dollars and include all applicable taxes)
To reserve your spot in the 2018 Inkslingers’ Writing, Yoga and Exploration Retreat in Ireland (July 28 to August 5, 2018) register here and pay the non-refundable $500 deposit.
The balance of your payment may be made in full at any time. An Early Bird Discount is available until February 28, 2018. The schedules and dates are described below.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT:
(If you register and pay the deposit now, and pay 50% of the total cost by February 28th), the total cost is $2,950. Payments may be made via e-transfer, cheque or cash. The balance owing will be due no later than May 28th, 2018.
Early Bird Payment Schedule (double occupancy):
Deposit: $500
Supplementary payment due by February 28th: $975
Final payment due by May 28th: $1,475
Total: $2,950
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REGULAR PRICE: (Effective March 1st, 2018): $3,450
Starting March 1st, participants must pay at least half of the regular price at registration and the other half by May 28th, 2018.
Register and pay Deposit: $1,725.
Final payment due by May 28th: $1,725.
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PLEASE NOTE: all prices listed above are based on double occupancy.
THERE ARE FOUR SINGLE ROOMS AVAILABLE for an additional charge of $750 CDN.
These FOUR rooms are offered on a first come, first served basis, and sell out quickly.
CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION and PAYMENTS: May 28th, 2018.
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YOUR PAYMENT INCLUDES:
- 8 x nights bed/Irish breakfast – all rooms Ensuite. Double Occupancy. (A limited number of single occupancy rooms are available for an added fee.)
- 4 Star hotel accommodation. (The hotels listed have been booked for the retreat, but in the event of circumstances beyond the control of Royal Irish Tours, a substitution of similar quality may occur.)
- 8 x morning yoga sessions led by Kate Marshall Flaherty
- 8 x morning writing workshops led by Sue Reynolds with assist by James Dewar and/or Kate Marshall Flaherty as needed.
- 3 x evening meals in hotels – 1 each in Dublin, Ennis and Malahide.
- Transfers / sightseeing by modern touring coach with experienced driver/guide. (Please note: Royal Irish Tours has provided a bus and driver/guide for our exclusive use outside Dublin. We will not be sharing a bus with anyone else.)
- Admission fees to events/locations identified as included on the ITINERARY.
- Porterage charges at hotels; Service changes and local taxes.
- A fun evening of reading on the final night of the retreat to celebrate together and encourage each participant to share a short piece of writing. Hosted by James Dewar, this annual event provides the opportunity for writers to claim an international reading performance credit for their resumes. Performance is, as always, completely voluntary.
Please see the itinerary page – We are still finalizing some of the low-cost daily events. More information will be available here shortly.
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PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:
| Travel Documents | All passengers must travel with a valid passport. It is the passenger(s) responsibility to obtain at the passenger(s) own expense all documentation required by all relevant government authorities. We suggest that prior to departure, the passenger(s) ascertain(s) the documentation required. In the event the passenger does not possess the proper documentation required, be aware that the carrier(s) reserve(s) the right to refuse the passenger(s) and no refund will be permitted. |
| Travel Arrangements | to and from the retreat, including airfare. Many participants will be travelling on the same flights to and from Toronto. In this scenario we will arrange for group taxis at participant’s expense. |
| Travel Insurance | Inkslingers and Royal Irish Tours strongly recommend that you purchase Travel Insurance. Unexpected emergencies or illness can cause you to cancel or interrupt your vacation resulting in financial loss. For full details on insurance options please contact Royal Irish Tours. |
| Accessibility | We cannot guarantee that destination airports, transfer vehicles and accommodations will be wheelchair accessible. Services for wheelchair confined passengers are not included in the prices. Some of the sightseeing locations may be difficult for the physically challenged. |
| Some Meal Costs | All breakfasts and 3 of the dinners are included in the cost of the retreat. Participants are responsible for all lunches and 5 of the dinners. |
| Self-Guided Excursions | not included in the prepaid plan. (See the itinerary on the website for the list of planned activities that we have included in the fee. If participants decide not to join the group on any planned activity on any given day, they are free to make alternate arrangements at their own expense.) |
| Special Requests | If you have any special requests, including dietary restrictions, you must ensure it is clearly advised to us of at the time of booking. However, we cannot guarantee that any special requests will be met by our providers in Ireland and failure to do so will not be a breach of contract on our part. |
| Living Standards | Participants are asked to bear in mind and accept that living standards, local customs, as well as the provision of utilities, services and accommodations may vary from those with which they are familiar with in Canada. |
| Extras | local taxes, gratuities or other fees |
| Royal Irish Tours | does not assume responsibility for any claims, losses, damages, cost or expenses arising out of personal injury or death, loss of employment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental resulting from any of the following:
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CANCELLATION and SUBSTITUTION POLICY:
Acceptance of new participants will be closed on May 28th (or earlier if the maximum number of participants is reached before that date.)
Please note that on our last visit to Ireland in 2016, Inkslingers in Ireland SOLD OUT before the Early Bird Deadline date.
All deposits must be finalized on or before May 28th, 2018.
TRANSFER/SUBSTITUTION:
If participants withdraw from the retreat for any reason between May 29th and June 30th, they may transfer their registration to another person for an administration fee of $150. However, deposits cannot be refunded.
LAST DAY FOR CHANGES:
No changes or transfers/substitutions are permitted after June 30th, 2018.
Inkslingers in Ireland – Summer 2018 Itinerary
July 28th to August 5th, 2018
July 28th (Saturday)
INKSLINGERS in IRELAND 2018 officially kicks off at the beautiful Cambden Court Hotel in Central Dublin at 6:00 p.m. We will all gather for a delicious welcome meal (provided by hotel) and get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere.
After dinner we will gather in the writing room for a short meet and greet where Sue Reynolds will share the names of the Irish authors and poets we will be enjoying throughout the week, and lead the group in our first writing session of the trip.
At 9:30 you are free to retire for the night or explore Dublin as you wish.
July 29th (Sunday)
Every morning in Ireland, participants are welcome to join the gentle morning yoga class, led by the compassionate and joyous Kate Marshall Flaherty. Every day she will inform the yoga practice with inspiration from the Irish authors and poets we’ll be reading and learning about all week long. (a different writer each day)
The yoga is followed by a complimentary hearty Irish breakfast. At 9:00 a.m. everyone gathers for the group writing workshops which finish at 11:30.
Today we will be travelling together to visit the beautiful library at Trinity College and view the incredible Book of Kells. Along the way we will stop at one of Dublin’s wonderful eateries for lunch. Next we will visit the new Seamus Heaney exhibition that opens in the summer of 2018 at the Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre, College Green.
For those who wish to explore other options during the afternoon, there are many museums and interesting sites within walking distance of where we will be located.
Later in the afternoon we will gather together for the world famous Dublin Literary Pub Crawl. Enjoy a sip of Irish beer in the watering holes of Ireland’s great writers and hear actors performing these writer’s best known pieces.
The facilitators will select a favourite Dublin eatery this evening, but you are welcome to seek out any place that fancies you, or explore the beautiful city before and after dining. Dinner is at your own expense.
We return to the Cambden Court Hotel for our second night in Dublin.
July 30th (Monday)
Enjoy morning yoga, a complimentary hearty breakfast and writing workshop until 11:30.
Today we board the Royal Irish Tours coach and head south into the Wicklow Mountain area, (with a stop for lunch along the way) to visit Glendalough, home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and developed into a ‘Monastic City’ and university that flourished until the Vikings finally found this idyllic location in its beautiful hidden valley. It covers an extensive area. The walk up the old road to Lake Glendalough is particularly invigorating and inspiring.
Afterwards we will visit Avoca Mills, Ireland’s oldest weaving mill, only a few minutes away, and then our amiable driver/guide will deliver us back to the Cambden Court Hotel in Dublin.
This is our last evening in Dublin. You can choose a wish-list location for dinner and head off for a memorable evening with your fellow travelers, or stay close to the hotel and enjoy local dishes and a few singalongs in one of the many Dublin pubs. (The Irish LOVE to have a good time, so singing along with skilled musicians and singers is welcomed and so much fun.)
July 31st (Tuesday)
After enjoying morning yoga, a complimentary hearty breakfast and the writing workshop until 11:30, we pack our bags and board the coach for a trip across central Ireland towards the beautiful west coast. We will enjoy lunch at a lovely spot selected by our coach driver, arriving in late afternoon at the Woodstock Hotel in the gorgeous town of Ennis, where we will be staying for the next three nights.
PLEASE NOTE: We will be stopping by a famous and/or beautiful spot at some point on this drive. Royal Irish Tours has made suggestions, which we are considering and will finalize very soon. It is included in the price of the adventure.)
This evening, dinner is provided for us by the Woodstock Hotel.
August 1st (Wednesday)
Today we visit INIS MÓR, the largest of the ARAN ISLANDS. We will enjoy our morning yoga and complimentary Irish breakfast, but writing today will not be offered in the morning, but will be offered back at the hotel after dinner. We must depart early this morning for the 10:00 a.m. ferry at Doolin. On the boatride, we will not only see these unique, historical islands, but we’ll also be able to view the famous Cliffs of Moher from the ocean side, a rare perspective for most travelers.
Once we arrive at Inis Mór, most people choose bicycles as their mode of transport. Rentals are readily available, at your own expense, at the pier when we disembark the ferry. If you’re wondering how much bicycling you’d have to do, Inis Mór has an area of 31 square kilometers (or 12 square miles) and has a population of about 840 people.
The island is famous for its strong Irish culture, its loyalty to the Irish language, and a wealth of Pre-Christian and Christian ancient sites including Dún Aengus, described as “the most magnificent barbaric monument in Europe” by George Petrie.
Following our return to land, we will return to the Woodstock Hotel where we may enjoy dinner there, or in Ennis, at participant’s expense. The writing workshop will be offered after dinner tonight, so it would be preferable if we all stayed together at dinnertime. The writing portion will end around 9:30.
August 2nd (Thursday)
NOTE: TODAY IS OUR MIDWEEK FREE DAY!
Enjoy morning yoga, a complimentary hearty breakfast and writing until 11:30. After that, you’re free to do whatever you like. Write in your room or walk about the town. Write anywhere you want, actually, the Irish love writers! Ennis is a lovely town with many shops and historic buildings.
Since we have the services of our knowledgeable driver and the Royal Irish Tours coach, we are planning an afternoon drive over tohistoric Galway, and taking a tour of the local countryside in the process. It is not that far away, and the shopping is said to be fabulous. The town is one of the most beautiful in Ireland.
Tonight we spend our last night at the Woodstock Hotel in Ennis. Dinner is at participant’s expense.
August 3rd (Friday)
Enjoy morning yoga, a complimentary hearty breakfast and writing until 11:30, and then we pack our bags again and board the Royal Irish Tours’ coach to drive northeast of Dublin.
We’ll stop for lunch along the way, and then visit the incredible Clonmacnoise early monastic site, south of Athlone, and another beautiful location to be announced shortly.
In the late afternoon we will arrive at The Malahide Hotel, a sumptuous, spacious jewel on the Irish east coast. We will be spending our final two nights here.
Dinner will be at participant’s expense.
SPECIAL NOTE: We selected Malahide because it’s a beautiful hotel, offers fabulous food, and is surrounded by the sand dunes of the East coast. But we also chose it because it is ideally located for those who just can’t get enough of Dublin! The train station is a short walk from the hotel, and regular, reliable service is easily available both this evening and tomorrow when we visit the Boyne valley for the day.
August 4th (Saturday)
Following our last full morning of yoga, complimentary hearty breakfast and writing until 11:30, we will board the R.I.T. coach to spend the day visiting a selection of outstanding megalithic tombs, important monastic sites and castles in the historic Boyne valley. (With a stop along the way for lunch, of course!)
Today we will explore a number of Boyne valley sites, the most prominent being the early Christian settlement at Monasterboice, the Old Mellifont Abbey, and the Hill of Tara, the historic centre of ancient Irish kings and queens. They say you can see all of Ireland from there!
Tonight is our last dinner together and we always plan something special.
Tonight we celebrate the trip with a rowdy and emotional farewell dinner provided by the hotel. Everyone is invited to read a short piece written on the trip. Reading is not mandatory, of course, but it will be hard to resist the nudge-nudge of your attentive fellow travelers who hope to hear everyone’s voice one more time.
August 5th (Sunday)
All good things come to an end, and this morning will be that time.
Depending on the outbound flight schedules, yoga and/or writing may be offered this morning, but on past international excursions we’ve noticed that most participants will need to head off to the airport around 9:00 a.m. to catch early afternoon flights back to North America.
We will arrange for group taxis, to greatly reduce the cost, to drive everyone safely to the airport.
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In the summer of 2013 I was invited to do a TEDtalk on “Shining the light on our Changing Communities”. I talked about the therapeutic writing program I do with incarcerated women. You can view the talk here.
