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Traveler's Version: St. Catherine's Performance Tour Ireland (Shannon) & Scotland | April 2022

St. Catherine’s Episcopal Choir

Traveler Version

Performance Tour of Ireland & Scotland

April 23-May 2, 2022


Perform in Ireland & Scotland with your choir!

A journey to Ireland is a journey through history that will afford a wonderful opportunity for exploration and discovery. Irish traditional music has influenced several forms of modern music, including country and roots music in the United States, which in turn influenced modern rock music. Ireland has not only produced incredibly talented musicians but is also a hub for artists from all over the world. The world premiere of George Frideric Händel’s Messiah took place in Dublin on April 13, 1742, and each year, musicians, actors, dancers, and visual artists flock to Ireland for the many festivals held here each summer.

Continue to Scotland and explore magnificent castles and historic churches amidst breathtaking natural beauty. Scotland is internationally renowned for its traditional music, steeped in lore and often featuring instruments such as the fiddle, bagpipes, harp, and guitar. World-renowned acts of many genres have emerged from the Scottish music scenes, and Edinburgh explodes each summer during the Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. On this performance tour, you will have the opportunity to perform your repertoire in spectacular, historic venues that have hosted generations of talented performers.


PROPOSED TOUR ITINERARY

updated on 3.31.2021

DAY 1 | Saturday, April 23

DEPART FROM ATLANTA

Depart from Atlanta on an overnight flight bound for Shannon, Ireland.

Select meals, snacks, and refreshments will be served on board the flight. Be sure to read through the great tips and travel information in your Music Contact International tour handbook!


DAY 2 | Sunday, April 24

WELCOME TO IRELAND!

Upon arrival this morning in Shannon, your Music Contact International tour manager will be waiting to greet you in the Arrivals Hall.  Together board your private motor coach and enjoy first impressions of Ireland! 

Your Irish visit begins with a drive through the beautiful landscape of County Clare, where you’ll visit Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, an open-air museum set on 26-acres with interactive exhibits. Once the lavish home of medieval nobility, Bunratty now functions as a “living” reproduction of a 19th-century village.

After visiting the park, walk to Bunratty Castle, one of the most complete and authentically restored medieval castles in Ireland. Built-in 1425 and plundered on many occasions, it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendor with furnishings and tapestries capturing the times' mood and style.

Proceed to the hotel to check in and refresh before dinner.  Rehearsal can be arranged upon request.

Celebrate the kick-off of the St. Catherine’s Choir tour with a welcome dinner at Bunratty Medieval Banquet.  This festive occasion includes a delicious meal and entertainment, including a selection of Irish medieval and traditional songs and instrumental music by eleven entertainers.  Later, settle in for a good night’s rest at the hotel. 


DAY 3 | Monday, April 25

SIGHTSEEING IN COUNTY CLARE AND GALWAY

Wake up to your first day in Ireland!  Enjoy breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Today, you’ll travel through the Burren Region. This unique setting is a Karst limestone region and national park, where you will see rare flora and picturesque villages that were abandoned during the famine period. 

Stop and explore the Burren’s most famous site, the spectacular and majestic Cliffs of Moher. Here you’ll have a chance to walk along the scenic paths that line the upper rim of the cliffs. Take in the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean that lies, at the cliff’s highest point, 702 feet below! Tour the on-site museum and enjoy a snack at the café.

Following your visit, continue on to Galway City to enjoy free time for lunch and personal exploration.

Galway is a delight with its narrow streets, old stone and wooden shop fronts, lively restaurants, and busy pubs. The city has attracted a bohemian crowd of musicians and artists, which add much to this exciting town’s character. Stroll the quaint, narrow streets lined with stone and wooden storefronts—which carefully preserve the charming atmosphere of old-world Ireland

A group dinner accompanied by live Irish music is planned for this evening in Galway.  Catchy tunes, cheerful dancing, and hearty sing-a-longs are guaranteed!

At the end of this exciting day of sightseeing, return to the hotel. 


DAY 4 | Tuesday, April 26

SHANNON TO BELFAST | SING MASS*

After breakfast, check out of your Shannon hotel and depart on your motorcoach, traveling north towards Belfast.

En route, stop in Armagh, the county town of County Armagh, and a city in Northern Ireland. The city is noted primarily as the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland—the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All Ireland for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. Here, sing for mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral before taking some time to stroll through the town.

Continue on to Belfast, transfer to your centrally-located hotel. Start your stay in Belfast with a visit to the Titanic Exhibition of Belfast, a monument to Belfast’s maritime heritage located on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in the city’s Titanic Quarter, where the RMS Titanic was built. The Experience takes you through nine galleries, using innovative and interactive techniques to tell the story of the Titanic, from her conception in the early 1900s through her construction and launch to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end.

Enjoy a free evening for dinner on your own in Belfast tonight—enjoy this opportunity to experience Belfast’s rising food scene, which is being bolstered by the abundance of world-class local artisanal produce, grass-fed beef, and fresh seafood pulled from the clean, pure local waters.

This evening enjoy a spooky guided tour of Crumlin Road Gaol—colloquially referred to as the Crum—a former prison known as Europe’s Alcatraz. Built between 1843 and 1845, the Crum was one of the most advanced prisons of its day at the time of its construction. Originally built to hold between 500 and 550 prisoners, it was the first prison in Ireland to be built according to “The Separate System,” intended to separate prisoners from each other with no communication between them. The first inmates arrived in chains in 1846 and included men, women, and children.



DAY 5 | Wednesday, April 27

BELFAST TO EDINBURGH

This morning, travel across the North Channel by ferry to Cairnryan, Scotland. After approximately two hours on the ship, arrive in Scotland, and transfer to Edinburgh, the capital city.

Your first order of business upon arrival in Edinburgh will be to tour the famous Edinburgh Castle. This historic fortress dominates the skyline of Scotland’s capital city. Archeologists have determined that the rock on which the castle is set (known as Castle Rock) was inhabited as early as 1000 BC. Over the centuries, the castle has been held by Scots and Englishmen, Catholics and Protestants, soldiers and royalty. View the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Scone, used to crown the Scottish kings before the Royal Families were merged in the 1600s. See the Citadel on the highest point surrounded by cannons and The National War Memorial honoring Scottish regiments who served in World War 1. The oldest surviving part of the complex is tiny St. Margaret's Chapel; the only building spared when the castle was razed in 1313 by Scots determined not to surrender it to English foes.

Descend from Castle Rock into the city and check in to your hotel. Dinner tonight will be served to the group at the Spirit of Scotland, where you’ll enjoy a great selection of quality Scottish food and a lively presentation of traditional Scottish song and dance.



DAY 6 | Thursday, April 28

SIGHTSEEING & SINGING IN EDINBURGH | CONCERT*

After breakfast, head to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, located at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, opposite Edinburgh Castle. Since the 16th century, Holyrood has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland, and it now remains the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland. Tour the Palace, where you’ll see the 16th-century apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the State Apartments, still used for official and state entertaining. As you explore the palace together, your guide will reveal details of the history of the palace itself, whose walls embrace the history of the Scottish church and state; the royal family, including Mary Queen of Scots; and Scotland's rich military legacy.

After your morning visit, perform a lunchtime concert in beautiful St. Giles Cathedral*. St. Giles has a long history as a church of music as well as a fantastic organ. Following your performance, enjoy a final free afternoon and evening in Edinburgh.



DAY 7 | Friday, April 29

EDINBURGH TO INVERNESS | FRIENDSHIP CONCERT

After breakfast in the hotel, check out and load your luggage onto the motor coach—travel northbound for Inverness, the Scottish Highlands' largest city and cultural capital. Stop en route in Perth, located on the banks of the River Tay. Stretch your legs in this early capital city, where the royal Scottish court was once located.

Follow the river north until you arrive in Inverness, a compact, cosmopolitan city with a beautifully preserved Old Town. You’ll discover the 19th-century Inverness Cathedral and an indoor Victorian Market, a lovely destination to shop for food, clothing, and crafts.

Check in to your hotel before meeting with a choir to prepare for this evening’s Friendship Concert. Share the stage with these local musicians, and be sure to get their recommendations for restaurants for dinner tonight. Perhaps some of your hosts will even join you for dinner on your own.



DAY 8 | Saturday, April 30

SIGHTSEEING IN THE HIGHLANDS

After breakfast, depart Inverness for a full-day excursion into the wild, beautiful Scottish Highlands.

Visit Cawdor Castle, set amid gardens and built around a 15th-century tower house. Although the name of Cawdor connects the castle to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in which three witches foretell that the titular lord, Thane of Glamis, would become Thane of Cawdor and King hereafter. However, Cawdor Castle didn’t exist during Macbeth or Duncan's lifetimes, who were alive in the 11th-century.

Continue to Loch Ness, where you’ll take a cruise on this large, deep freshwater lake, located 53 feet above sea level. Most famous as the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster's possible home, Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area but the largest by volume in the British Isles due to its great depth. Enjoy a relaxing trip amongst breath-taking vistas encompassing both the highlands' natural beauty and the striking Fort Augustus Abbey.

Return to Inverness and enjoy dinner arranged for the group at a local pub.


DAY 9 | Sunday, May 1

INVERNESS TO GLASGOW

After breakfast in the hotel dining room, depart Inverness traveling south on your motorcoach bound for the city of Glasgow.

En route, stop to visit Loch Lomond, located in the Trossachs National Park. The Loch's eastern shore is crisscrossed with footpaths and cycle trails that traverse craggy Ben Lomond mountain and the smaller Conic Hill. You’ll stop on the West Bank, however, and stretch your legs on the Luss Heritage Path, a gentle trail that will afford beautiful views of the Loch and lead you to the village of Luss, with its pretty stone cottages and a lakeside pier. Enjoy some time to explore this charming village, have some lunch, and take plenty of photos before continuing on to Glasgow.

Located on the River Clyde, the city of Glasgow is famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture. Check in to your hotel upon arrival and explore the city with your tour manager prior to gathering for a festive farewell dinner, which will allow you to share favorite memories of your tour with your fellow travelers.


DAY 10 | Monday, May 2

FLY HOME

St. Catherine's performance tour of Ireland and Scotland ends with a flight from Glasgow back to Atlanta.  Heartfelt goodbyes are exchanged at the airport and your group is sent off with a fond “Thank you for connecting our world through your music. Until we meet again……!”

*All performance opportunities and venues proposed in this itinerary are pending final confirmation and availability at time of booking.  Your group's final program will be determined by confirmed times and locations for concerts, workshops, entrances and other activities.  Although your ensemble's exact itinerary will vary to accommodate performance schedules, the same type of singing experiences, activities and caliber of venue will be included in your final concert tour program.







Scotland awaits...


Your Tour INCLUDES:

FLIGHTS - professionally managed with group airfare 

  • Round trip airfare on regularly scheduled flights from Atlanta to Shannon and from Glasgow to Atlanta (may include one or more layovers in each direction).
  • Please note that schedules and fares for your dates of travel will become available in June 2021. The estimates in this proposal are currently based on available group flight fares, and historical data for your dates of travel and are included for planning purposes only. Once schedules and fares have been released by the airlines, we will work to secure the best possible flight arrangements for your group.

Our flight team handles custom flight requests and upgrades.

ACCOMMODATIONS - thoughtfully selected to match group needs

Eight nights double occupancy accommodations in centrally-located, upper-middle-class hotels (at least 3-star superior), including all hotel service charges and taxes:

  • Two nights Shannon
  • One night Belfast
  • Two nights Edinburgh
  • Two nights Inverness
  • One night Glasgow

MEALS - varied, flavorful, and highlighting local cuisine

Breakfast daily at your hotel

Five multi-course dinners:

  • Dinner and entertainment at Bunratty Medieval Banquet, Bunratty
  • Group dinner at a pub with live music, Galway
  • Dinner at Spirit of Scotland, Edinburgh
  • Dinner at a pub in Inverness
  • Festive Farewell Dinner in Glasgow

Additional meals can be arranged upon request. 

PERFORMANCES AND EXCHANGES - customized, unique, and inspiring

Music is the heart of this tour, and the suggestions made here reflect the type of performances, venues, musical exchanges, and experiences we will arrange for your ensemble. Impromptu singing on tour is encouraged!

3 performance & singing opportunities*:

  • Participation in Mass Service at St Patrick’s, Armagh
  • Midday concert at St Giles, Edinburgh
  • Friendship concert in Inverness

*These arrangements are pending confirmation. Confirming concerts is a process, which requires registration of your ensemble for this tour along with your current biography, sound samples, photos, and repertoire. In some cases, additional separate applications must also be submitted. Organizers, venues, and hosts need to then approve each proposed concert.  Music Contact International manages this process and is excited to share updates as performances confirm.

ACTIVITIES + TOURS + ENTRANCES - handpicked for your travelers 

Experience fabulous sightseeing with our entertaining and informative guides:  

  • Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
  • Excursion to Galway
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Titanic Exhibition Belfast
  • Guided tour of Crumlin Road Gaol (alternatively a guided city tour)
  • Edinburgh Castle Tour
  • Palace of Holyrood House
  • Guided Highlands Excursion
  • Cawdor Castle
  • Loch Ness Cruise

TOUR MANAGER to handle on-the-road logistics 

A full-time tour manager to accompany your group every step of the way from arrival through departure. Our beloved tour managers assist with:

  • Greeting and gathering the group upon arrival
  • Expediting hotel check-ins and check-outs
  • Liaising with reception desks, coach drivers, and guides 
  • Facilitating concerts and rehearsals
  • Directing on-site entrances and activities, handling tickets and vouchers
  • Keeping each day well-paced 
  • Sharing cultural content and interpreting local customs
  • Sending everyone home with fond memories & hopes to travel together again soon! 

TRANSPORTATION in a private, modern, climate-controlled motor coach with a professional driver 

For all services specified in your itinerary, additionally, a ferry service from Belfast to Cairnryan, Scotland, is included in your package price.

INSURANCE that covers our commitment to you

Music Contact International, Inc. holds $5,000,000.00 of Travel Agent and Tour operators Professional Liability Insurance.  

TOUR ENHANCEMENT MATERIALS to help plan, promote, and prepare for your tour

  • A custom Traveler’s Resource (TR) website:  We build this site specifically for your tour as a resource for travelers to engage in from the start.  The TR Site is where travelers view the itinerary and watch it develop. There are maps, pictures, packing lists, recommendations for destination-based books and movies, collections of FAQs, and helpful travel links. We’ll build your site when your group is registered for this tour!
  • A customized Tour Handbook with hourly itinerary, packing tips and lists, practical “Things to Know,” destination background, and other fun content. This printed booklet is provided for each traveler about a month before departure.  
  • A luggage tag, passport/document holder, and outlet adaptor for each traveler are also included. 

MUSIC CONTACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES go beyond logistics 

  • A unique opportunity to make lifelong friends through music and pilgrimage!  When we bring groups together, friendships develop that frequently extend to years of heartfelt reunions on tours we plan around the world.   
  • You are in good hands! We’ve got 30+ years of experience arranging custom cultural and special interest tours, performance tours, and festivals for choirs, bands, and orchestras.
  • Our MCI team is the best in the business! We are musicians, teachers, event planners, parents, performers, volunteers, travelers, linguists, athletes, and more, from many countries, sharing our expertise at producing great tour experiences.
  • We are right there with you!  Often, a person who works on your tour escorts it.  This means your tour manager’s expectations for a great program and activities are as high as yours!
  • Details are our specialty!  Group leaders appreciate our well-organized, user-friendly systems and tools for handling group logistics, payments, and diverse traveler needs.
  • You’ll love our flexibility!  Do some of your travelers need individual flights?  Adjoining rooms?  Gluten-free meals?  We are always glad to help.
  • No matter where you live, consider us local!  We will travel to meet your group, present the tour, and help you promote and plan for it. We also Zoom, Skype, and video chat. 

CONVENIENT ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM - tour accounting has never been easier!

MCI has a secure, password-protected, online payment site where tour members register and pay for their tour in increments. Reminders and statements are sent electronically.  

Your designated leader is emailed a weekly report on group finances and has access to a portal to view payments at any time. We have a system for handling scholarships and monies from fundraisers as well. If for any reason you prefer to collect payments from your travelers and send us a group payment, that’s fine too!


TOUR PACKAGE PRICES you can rely on


Based on a minimum of 40 travelers in double occupancy rooms:

  • $2,734.00 land package price


Based on a minimum of 30 travelers in double occupancy rooms:

  • $2,955.00 land package price


Based on currently available group airfare, and historic data we suggest you plan for an additional $1,450 for your flight package, including airfare and all applicable flight taxes and fuel surcharges.


Please note that schedules and fares for your dates of travel will become available in June 2021. At that time, we will begin searching for the best possible fares and schedules for your tour.


OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL SERVICES:

  • $550.00 per person supplement for a single room



Your tour includes everything above. Here’s what’s not included: 

copy/paste appropriate text here of what's not included from the proposal content template google doc.  Please let us know if you would like any of these items added to your tour.

TRAVEL PROTECTION is recommended!

Music Contact International recommends purchasing a travel protection plan through Travel Insured.  This link is also available online via your Tour Resource site. Please review coverage options very carefully and contact Travel Insured Inc. directly with any insurance-related questions.


Tour NOTES

Exchange Rate 

Music Contact International guarantees that regardless of exchange rate volatility, once your deposit is paid, your tour prices will not change. To lock in your prices, please complete your registration form and send us your initial group deposit as soon as possible. 

Flights

Our dedicated flight team works with all major airlines to research preferred schedules and fares. We provide flight options for you to choose from, and continue to monitor your reservation, watching routing, schedules, availability, and fare updates to ensure the best arrangements for this tour.

Hotels

Music Contact International is committed to using only hotels that are reputable, clean, and safe.  In most cases, we have personally inspected and stayed at the properties we book and although they vary in amenities to accommodate an array of client budgets, we will not compromise on “stay safe” standards.

To give you a better understanding of accommodations: 

  • A five-star property provides flawless guest services, and all amenities you would expect in a top-of-the-line accommodation, such as premium dining options, spas products, and spacious suites.  Locations are top-rate. Examples of five-star hotels in the US similar to those worldwide:  Four Seasons and St. Regis.
  • Four-star hotels offer above-average service, beautiful reception areas, preferred locations, and more.  They are upscale, high-quality, and comfortable, with a variety of amenities.  Examples of four-star hotels in the USA similar to those worldwide: Marriott and Hyatt.
  • Three-star hotels offer quality, style, and comfortable accommodations, yet they’re still considered “affordable”. Though not lavish, they offer a simpler option that won’t break the bank.  Locations vary. Examples of three-star hotels in the USA similar to those worldwide: Holiday Inn and Hilton.
  • Two-star rated hotels offer value and few amenities but are clean and basic. They tend to be family-run and may be close to major intersections and popular attractions. Examples of two-star hotels in the USA similar to those worldwide:  Days Inn and La Quinta. 

Please note that hotels with suites, family-style, and handicap-accessible rooms can be looked into upon request.

Meals

We arrange meals that are delicious, well-balanced, and healthy.  Food allergies and special diets can usually be accommodated if we know about them in advance, and we will ask for food and menu preferences as we plan your tour. With this said, each individual traveler is ultimately responsible for their own dietary needs and making sure they are staying safe while traveling in accordance with any personal sensitivities or allergies they may have.

Please ask us if you would like additional group meals added to this tour. 

Ground Transportation

We encourage you to bring all your musicians and friends on tour, and should you exceed the capacity of the motor coach we’ve included here, we’ll provide alternatives and prices, so please keep us posted on the size of your group.

Also note that extra transfers, changes in itinerary, and additional vehicles can result in added coach fees. We are happy to quote those costs if they arise in the tour planning process. 

Pacing and Mobility

We recommend travelers prepare for walking on tour.  Knowledgeable guides will conduct sightseeing by motor coach as well as on foot, and there is always a fair bit of walking in historic city centers where busses cannot access, and around castles, palaces, and gardens. Please let us know if there are any limitations to mobility within your group.  The more we know, the better we can pace the tour for your comfort.


Register Now

We are excited to begin planning this tour with you!


TERMS & CONDITIONS

Delivery of Services

Music Contact International, Inc. has been engaged to provide certain services to the tour group in which you are participating. Our arrangement is such that we will start providing services the moment these terms and conditions are accepted. Services include (but are not limited to) building customized websites, assigning and engaging an operations team, soliciting quotes, venues and services from third parties, creating and submitting manifests and lists to suppliers. When we use the term “Music Contact” herein, or when we refer to “us” or “we,” it refers to Music Contact International, Inc., and its affiliates, and their respective successors and assigns. When we refer to “you,” the “participant,” “traveler, “or “travelers,” we mean each traveler participating in the travel, whether as a direct participant or as a companion. When we refer to a tour group, we mean the organization or group with whom you are participating on the planned travel and that has engaged Music Contact to provide services.

Cancellation Fees

By accepting the Music Contact International Payment Terms & Conditions, you acknowledge that you understand that you have signed up for a customized group tour based on a number of people traveling together. Therefore, the tour price is dependent on a minimum number of people traveling. If the group drops below the minimum number defined, the tour price will go up. Also, if an individual cancellation from the tour brings the group below the designated minimum number, that individual will incur additional cancellation fees. Please inform Music Contact International of all cancellations in writing. All cancellations should be dated and signed. All payments made, even if made for the benefit of or on behalf of group participants, are subject to such cancellation fees. We recommend travelers purchase travel insurance.

Payments

Music Contact International gives the group leader a choice in collecting funds from the group participants. The group can pay Music Contact either by check/money transfer upon receiving a group invoice or the group leader can choose to use an internet-based payment system that collects payments from the individual members. Before a payment can be made, a payee must agree and accept these terms and conditions; the payment system currently accepts only credit and debit (bank) cards. Each payment into the payment system is final. Refunds of payment must be authorized by Music Contact and will be issued by check or credit to a credit card account. Disputing a Credit Card payment to MCI with a credit card issuer will cause a minimum charge of USD $50.00 per disputed transaction.

Individual Cancellations made:

  • Prior to 120 Days before departure: No penalty will apply if total number of participants remains above the minimum required. Music Contact International will retain this individual’s first land payment if his/her cancellation results in the group falling below the minimum number of required travelers. For details concerning the flight deposit, please consult your group’s flight contract.
  • Between 120 days and 90 days before departure: Flight deposit plus 25% of total program price will be retained by Music Contact International. No refund will be paid if total number of participants falls below the minimum required.
  • Fewer than 90 days prior to departure: all payments are nonrefundable.

If Entire Group Cancels:

  • More than 120 days before departure: the $1,500 deposit is non-refundable.
  • Between 120 - 90 days before departure: Flight deposit plus 25% of total program price will be retained by Music Contact International. No refund will be paid if total number of participants falls below the minimum required.
  • Fewer than 90 days prior to departure: all payments are nonrefundable.

Exclusions

Only the travel services listed in your tour inclusions detailed on the tour’s offer are included in your tour price and all other services are not included. For example, unless noted otherwise, the following are not included in Land Package Price: Flights, all flight taxes and fuel surcharges | Porter service (available upon request) | Drinks with meals | Meals, entrance fees & transportation not listed in the itinerary | Gratuity for tour managers, local guides, and motor coach drivers

Travel Documents

It is the sole responsibility of the participants to obtain and carry a valid passport, visa(s), and any other documents required by applicable government regulations. Most countries require a passport to be valid six months after your return date. Non-U.S. or Canadian residents may require additional travel documents. Check with your local embassy or consulate. It is solely the participant’s responsibility to ensure that all documents needed are completed and current. We will not be held responsible for lack of current and valid entry documents. We will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred as a result of incomplete, missing, lost or stolen passports, visas or other travel documents.

Flights

Flight reservations are subject to the specific booking and cancellation policies set forth by the airline. Please refer to your flight contract for those terms and conditions.

If you book your own flights, or if you book your flights with us but deviate (fly either direction on a different date or airline) from the group, and if the group tour gets delayed or cancelled for any reason, you are responsible (both financially and logistically) for adjusting your travel plans as necessary and any costs associated with that change. No refunds can be given for lost services or you are responsible for any added costs.

Travel Insurance

Because cancellation policies are strictly enforced, we strongly recommend that you buy comprehensive travel insurance (covering trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage and accident/life) before traveling. We also recommend that you review your existing personal insurance policies to ensure you have appropriate coverage to meet your needs, particularly for the risks mentioned below. Several travel insurance options are available through Music Contact as well as through your insurance agent and other sources.

Health

By sending a deposit toward your trip purchase and returning your Reservation Form (individually or submitted as part of a group list), you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would create a hazard for you or other travelers. Some of our trips require vaccinations. Please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice. We will not be responsible for vaccinations or providing any medical services to any participant. Travelers Needing Special Assistance

Music Contact will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of tour participants. Such participants, however, should be aware that the Americans with Disabilities Act is inapplicable outside of the United States and facilities outside the United States for disabled individuals are limited. Music Contact does not provide individual assistance to guests for walking, concert performances, dining, or other personal needs. Participants needing such assistance must be accompanied by an able companion to assist them. For travelers with dietary restrictions it is solely their responsibility to ensure their safe consumption of food while on tour.

Baggage Disclaimer

Although every effort is made to handle tour participants’ luggage as carefully as possible, occasionally loss or damage may occur. Music Contact is not responsible for and does not assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage due to breakage, theft or wear and tear or through hotel and group carrier handling. It is recommended for your own self-interest and protection that you have adequate insurance to cover these risks.

Travel with Children

Music Contact welcomes the participation of children travelers on our tours. Please be informed that any minor traveling on a Music Contact tour is the sole responsibility of the parent and/or guardian, hence the accompanying adult must ensure all rules of safety are followed by said minor. By traveling with Music Contact, parents and/or guardians release Music Contact, its suppliers, and its and their respective employees, officers, directors, and agents, and their successors and assigns, of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to, or caused by, the child traveler.

Risks

Music Contact tours may take participants on tours and to festival locations where facilities, infrastructure, and safety and other standards may be different and less sophisticated from those in a participant’s home country. Tours may involve physical activity that can be demanding for some, depending on the condition of the traveler, and involve risk of serious personal injury, including permanent disability and death from accident, illness or the negligence of other persons. In some tour locations, medical facilities and services may not be easily accessible and may not be sophisticated. There are other risks associated with the tours and with traveling in general, such as bankruptcy or insolvency of airlines, hotels, and similar service providers, weather, and theft or loss of or damage to property, and risks inherent in travel by boat, automobile, train, ship, aircraft, or other means of conveyance, and accident or illness in remote places without access to medical facilities, transportation, or means of rapid evacuation and assistance. In addition, some of the services provided in connection with the tour, including lodging, transportation, food service and local tours and activities, are obtained from independent Suppliers over whom Music Contact has no control.

Responsibility

Travelers participating in a Music Contact tour accept these risks and assume full responsibility for any loss, injury, death or damage to them, their family or their dependents or wards arising in connection with their participation, or the participation of their family or wards, in the tours. Travelers must have their own insurance appropriate to their needs and the needs of their family or dependents and wards in respect of such loss, injury, death or damage. In addition, Music Contact cannot be responsible for a traveler’s failure to obtain and carry proper travel documentation. Music Contact is not responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses in time, money, valuables or any other form, caused to any traveler in connection with acts of God or force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading by any supplier, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation, or for the failure of any transportation mechanism or schedule changes to arrive or depart on time, sanitation problems, lack of medical care, local laws, weather, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other cause beyond the direct control of Music Contact.

The cost of all Music Contact tours is based on all travelers (whether direct group participants, their companions or otherwise) agreeing to this Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity. In consideration for participating in the tours, travelers agree not to sue Music Contact in respect of, and forever release Music Contact from, all liability for loss and physical or mental injury, direct or indirect, arising in connection with the tour, including without limitation, permanent disability and death, any emotional distress, any loss of services, financial support, aid, consortium or companionship, and any damage to or loss of property — in each case, even if caused in whole or in part by the conduct, including the negligence, of Music Contact, except where such loss, injury or damage is caused by the reckless or fraudulent conduct on the part of Music Contact or its employees, guides, shareholders, officers or directors, in which case the traveler retains the right to sue only Music Contact in respect of that conduct. No employee, agent or representative of Music Contact has the authority to modify, waive or alter any provision of this Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity.

In consideration for participating in the tours, travelers further agree to indemnify and hold Music Contact, its employees, officers, directors and agents, harmless in respect of any claims arising in connection with the tour made by: (i) the traveler’s family members, dependents or heirs, or (ii) third parties, which the traveler, their estate, their family members, dependents or heirs have sued, if damages are recovered from such third parties, to the extent the third party obtains any indemnification from Music Contact; except where the loss, injury, death or damage is caused by the reckless or fraudulent conduct on the part of Music Contact or its employees, officers, directors or agents.

Itinerary Changes

Music Contact will make every reasonable effort to operate all tours as advertised. Travelers should be flexible as situations may arise, voluntarily or involuntarily, that necessitate schedule changes or exceptions to the itinerary. On these occasions, Music Contact reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary and substitute hotels, concert venues and/or travel arrangements as deemed necessary with or without notice, and Music Contact shall not be liable for any loss of any kind as a result of such changes. If any savings are realized by these changes, Music Contact will seek to make proportionate refunds to participants, as Music Contact, in good-faith, deems appropriate. Music Contact is not required to cancel any trip for any reason including without limitation, warnings or advisory notices issued by the United States Department of State, World Health Organization, or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind.

Suppliers

As a tour operator, Music Contact organizes and promotes tour programs consisting of certain travel services, including transportation, sightseeing excursions and hotel accommodations that Music Contact purchases or reserves from various independent suppliers (collectively “Suppliers”). Although Music Contact endeavors to choose appropriate Suppliers to provide services on the tours, Music Contact does not control any of these Suppliers. The Suppliers providing travel services for Music Contact festivals and tours are independent contractors, and are not agents or employees of Music Contact. As such, Music Contact will not be liable for any negligent or willful act or omission of any Supplier or any unrelated third party. The services provided by Suppliers are subject to the laws of the place where the services are provided, and any conditions imposed by those Suppliers. The liability of the Suppliers may be limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, tickets and vouchers and international conventions and agreements. Music Contact shall not be responsible for breach of contract, bankruptcy or any intentional or careless actions or omissions on the part of such Suppliers, which result in any loss, damage, delay, or injury to you or any traveler or group member.

It is the responsibility of each participant to behave in a responsible and safe manner. Music Contact, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to send home any participant at the participant’s expense, including the cost of an escort, if such participant is disruptive of the tour or engages in any illegal activity.

Photography and Video

In further consideration for participating in the tour, travelers agree that Music Contact, or its designee, may use any photographic or film records of the tours or festivals for promotional and/or commercial purposes, without any remuneration to the traveler.

Limitation of Liability

Travelers agree that this Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity, will apply to a participant’s tour with Music Contact, and any transfer of a reservation to another tour, including any pre-trip or post-trip extensions. This Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity is binding upon the traveler participating in the tour, as well as all members of the traveler’s family, dependents, estate, heirs, successors and legal personal representatives. Agreement

Each participant, by participating in a tour or other trip under the arrangements of Music Contact, voluntarily assumes all risks involved in such travel, whether expected or unexpected, and consents to the above terms and conditions, including the Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity. Each traveler, by participating in a Music Contact tour or travel activity, hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts within the State of Vermont, or any federal court sitting in the State of Vermont, and waives any jurisdictional, venue or inconvenient forum objections to such courts.

ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS || By payment of the deposit, whether online or otherwise, including payment through the tour group in which you are participating, the participant certifies that he/she accepts the terms and conditions set forth above on behalf of the group.

Last Updated: 08/2020



MUSIC CONTACT INTERNATIONAL

TOLL FREE 800-624-0166 • TEL 802-862-2200 • FAX 802-862-2251 119 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401 USA www.music-contact.com[email protected] FOLLOW US • FB: @musiccontactinternational | IG: @musiccontact

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