Buying holidays and vouchers

Please note that these guides do not constitute legal advice and any information provided in the guides should not be construed as legal advice or legal interpretation. We do not accept any liability for any loss caused by your reliance on this guide.

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The DoneDeal guide to buying holidays and vouchers

Vouchers for accommodation

  • Hotels and B&Bs print their own vouchers, so terms and conditions vary by venue.
  • Before purchasing a voucher, ring the hotel and check its validity.
  • Ask about their terms and conditions.

Expiry date

  • Most vouchers have an expiry date. Always check to see if it’s in date
  • If the voucher is nearing its expiry, ring the hotel to see if they can extend it
  • Hotels and B&Bs have no obligation to extend expiry dates or transfer vouchers, but many will. Ring and ask.

Common sense

  • 80% of hotels and guest houses are affiliated to the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF). Keith Browning of IHF advises people to use common sense when buying vouchers from a third party.
  • There are no standard terms and conditions for vouchers across the industry, so it’s advisable to check with the individual hotel, guest house or  B&B before buying.

E vouchers

  • E vouchers can be printed out several times, so be careful to ensure that your voucher has not already been sold to someone else.
  • Ask the seller if they have a printed voucher from the hotel or B&B
  • Ring the hotel and check if the voucher has already been used
  • Meet the buyer, preferably at their home, so at least you know where they live if a problem arises

Booking a room

  • If you fancy booking a stay in one of the hotels and guest houses that advertise on DoneDeal, do a quick check to see their spec.
  • Many guesthouses and hotels are reviewed and rated on the Irelandhotels.com guide, which is commissioned by the Irish Hotels Federation.
  • Fáilte Ireland carries out checks and gives each venue a rating.

Buying airline tickets

  • Each airline has their own individual terms and conditions.
  • All tickets are different. Some are not transferable at all.
  • Ask to see the terms and conditions before you buy.
  • Read the small print.

 Name changes

  • Buying a travel ticket from a third party will, most definitely, require a name change.
  • Check if this is allowed.
  • Most airlines charge a fee of approximately €100 for a name change.
  • If a date needs to be changed on a ticket the fee can be upwards of €250.
  • Ask if the seller is bearing the cost of the name change in their price.
  • Is it really a bargain?

Thanks to Pat Dawson, CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) for speaking to us for this guide.