Terms and conditions

Dzogchen Beara is a registered charity: CHY9368. Our terms and conditions are in place to support our legal duty for responsible and sustainable financial management.

Updated January 2024

Cancellation Policy

This policy applies both to canceling a booking or to making changes to an existing booking.

Onsite Events and/or Accommodation/ Group Bookings Cancellation Policy

The following cancellation fees apply if you are canceling or rescheduling your booking for an event or accommodation or both.

Accommodation bookings refer to the Spiritual Care Centre, Cottages and Hostel.

  • Less than 2 working days before check-in or event start-date there is no refund offered.
  • Between 3 to 10 working days before check-in to accommodation or event start-date a 50% cancellation fee (based on total amount due) is applicable.
  • Between 10 to 15 working days before check-in to accommodation or event start-date monies can be held on account for a future retreat and/or accommodation minus a €25 administration fee, or a 75% refund can be offered.
  • More than 15 working days before an accommodation check-in or event start-date a €25 cancellation fee is applicable. (Please note, there is only a 10% cancellation fee of total payment up to a max of €25 if you are staying in a hostel dormitory outside an event).

COVID Cancellation Policy for On-Site Events and Accommodation

This policy is for those forced to cancel because they have a positive PCR or antigen test, or are a HSE-identified close contact.

We have relaxed our cancellation policy because of the necessity to self-isolate due to COVID. As a non-profit charity with a legal responsibility to manage our finances prudently we need to ask people forced to cancel to share the burden of cost. We are under financial pressure already due to the restrictions on numbers coming to retreats and lost income during lockdown.

Late Cancellation due to COVID (within 2 days):

  • We will keep €25 to cover administration.
    • If we can fill your event place/accommodation (a) we will refund the rest of the fee or (b) you can leave it on credit.
    • If we cannot fill your event place/accommodation we will refund 50% of the total fee or you can leave the full fee (minus administration fee of €25) on credit.

Cancellation due to COVID (between 3 to 15 working days):

  • We will refund 50% of the total fee or you can leave the full fee (minus administration fee) on credit.

Events (one day or half day) Cancellation Policy

The following cancellation fees apply if you are canceling or rescheduling your booking.

  • Less than 2 working days before check-in or event start-date there is no refund offered.
  • 15 working days before an event start-date a €5 cancellation fee is applicable.

Online Cancellation Policy

A 10% cancellation fee applies to the cancellations to online retreats in order to cover bank fees and administration costs.

Events must be cancelled before the start of the booked event.

Severe Weather Cancellation Policy

In case your travel plans are affected by a Red Warning Alert from Met Eireann, we are happy to transfer your booking to alternative accommodation dates within a 12-month period. In this situation, depending on seasonal prices for the new dates, you may have to pay an additional amount.

Dzogchen Beara Gift Vouchers

There is no expiry date on our gift vouchers. Dzogchen Beara gift vouchers are redeemable against any of our onsite accommodation or online/onsite events and can be used more than once. Gift vouchers are not redeemable in our Cafe and Bookshop. Gift Vouchers are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash in part or in full.

Lunch Cancellation Policy

Reservations for lunch need to be made before 10.30am on the day or can be booked and paid with your online accommodation reservation.  Lunch is not refundable after 10.30am on the day nor can lunch payments be transferred to pay any outstanding balances.

Meditation and Mental Health

Meditation is not intended as a substitute for psychotherapy, psychiatric treatment or medication of any kind. If you are planning to visit and are currently following a treatment and/or are taking medication, we ask you to first consult your doctor or therapist for advice before coming to Dzogchen Beara before you come.

We ask you to not interrupt any current treatment and/or medication. Dzogchen Beara does not accept any responsibility in this regard. We reserve the right to ask those who are a serious threat to others or to themselves to leave Dzogchen Beara and seek professional help elsewhere.

Children and Accommodation

Families with children are welcome to stay in the cottages and the Family Room in the hostel.

Under-18s Policy

We have an age restriction on most of our events. Most of our retreats and events are designed for adults, aged 18 years and older. Keeping this age limit ensures that participants have a common level of maturity, so they can share their experience as peers, in a mutually supportive and respectful atmosphere. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in preserving the unique and enriching environment we aim to cultivate during our retreats.

Under-18s are welcome to attend our guided meditations, guided loving kindness practices, Temple visits, selected teaching retreats and some other events, provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check before booking.

For the purposes of safeguarding, under-18s are not permitted to stay in our hostel dormitories and must always sleep in a private room under the supervision of a parent or guardian and be under their general supervision at all times.

Since the purpose of our Spiritual Care Centre is to provide a healing environment for people who are going through difficulties, children are only allowed to stay there in consultation with our hospitality coordinator on a case by case basis.

Pets

No pets allowed in any Dzogchen Beara accommodation.

Smoking/Vaping

Dzogchen Beara is strictly a non-smoking site, you may only smoke/vape in the main car park in the designated area.

Drones Policy

The use of drones is not permitted on or over Dzogchen Beara without prior permission from the Management.

Concession fees during retreats

Concession fees are available for students and the unwaged and pensioners on the state scheme and apply to event fees (including food), not accommodation.

Event Dates

The dates stated at the time of booking are current. We reserve the right to change event dates if required.

Unfortunately there is no discount on the retreat fee in case you are arriving late.

We do not offer a non-catering option for our retreats.

These Terms and Conditions are subject to change.

Dzogchen Beara Management