Guidelink acts as a booking-agent for Blue-Badge Guides, registered with the British Guide of Tourist Guides. As such, our Terms and Conditions are based on their guidelines.

FEES

Guides are self-employed and set their own rates. The fees negotiated may vary from client to client and from guide to guide. 

Higher rates may be requested, for example, for customised tours, or tours that require a good deal of preparation or specialist knowledge, due to a client’s or tour operator’s specific requirements.

Unless prior standardised rates/fees have been set and agreed between The Client and Guidelink, a price/fee will be provided in writing and must be agreed by both The Client and Guidelink prior to acceptance and confirmation of each Guided Tour booking.

Fees are subject to change should passenger numbers reduce or increase, requiring the need for an additional Guide or cancellation of an additional Guide; or a significant change to the original itinerary.

HOURS

Morning tours will normally need to finish by 13:00

Afternoon tours should normally start after 13:30. 

‘Full Day’ Tours are for a maximum of 8 hours.

‘Half Day Tours’ are for a maximum of 4 hours

Additional fees will normally be charged if the hours of work exceed 8 hours in a day or 4 hours in a half day; or start very early/end very late.

Clients should expect to pay the same level of daily remuneration for extended tours as for single days which require a maximum of 8 hours a day guiding. 

SPECIALIST MUSEUM/GALLERY GUIDING SERVICES 

Where guides undertake specialist half-day museum or gallery visits it is usual for a full-day fee to be payable. 

BOOKINGS / ITINERARIES

All Itineraries are subject to change depending on weather and/or traffic conditions

Itineraries may from time to time be subject to change depending on emergency/late notice closures of places of interest/tourist attractions.

Any amendment to bookings needs to be notified by the Client to Guidelink at least 5 days prior to tour date & are subject to availability

Amendments to arrangements on the day of booking must be communicated to The Guide as soon as possible prior to the commencement of The Tour.

INSURANCE

All registered Blue-Badge Guides hold Full Public liability insurance.

Guidelink make bookings as an agent for The Guide and do not accept any liability in connection with these bookings.

Guidelink strongly recommends that Tour Operators and all Passengers arrange for themselves suitable travel, medical, and cancellation insurance.

EXPENSES

Full Day Tours: On those lasting more than 8 hours, a supplementary payment for each additional hour may be payable. A lunch allowance is also payable.

Half Day Tours: On those lasting more than 4 hours, or ending after 13.00hrs, a supplementary payment for each additional hour may be payable.

Extended Tours: Lunch, dinner, bed & breakfast to be provided. Overtime work and expenses to be negotiated prior to departure.

Travelling expenses: To be negotiated, e.g. to a pick-up point or from drop-off point. In the interests of their personal safety, if guides are required to be in place to start a tour at very early times / finish late (e.g. outside of 07:00 or after 23:00) and travel by public or personal transport is not suitable, The Guide will expect to be reimbursed the cost of taxi fares.

Disbursements: All vouchers, or cash, to cover all disbursements The Guide is required to make during The Tour should be provided to The Guide before the start of The Tour by The Tour Operator/Client. 

CANCELLATIONS

If The Tour is cancelled 10-5 days prior to the tour scheduled date/time, 50% of the negotiated fee is payable. 

If The Tour is cancelled within 4 days (96 hours) of the scheduled start, then the full (100%) fee is payable. 

A standard BOOKING Fee of £25 applies to all bookings received/confirmed  and is included in the tour fee HOWEVER, this is NOT refundable on cancellations at any point prior to the original tour date and will be invoiced to The Client.

For extended tours (a tour lasting more than 1 day), if cancelled with less than one month’s notice, The Guide is entitled to claim 50% of the daily touring rate if alternative work on the same dates is not offered. Cancellation terms are as above for extended tours cancelled within a week of start date.

Where a group fails to turn up at the agreed meeting point/time, the full fee will be charged unless prior warning and alternative arrangements have been agreed between the tour leader and guide.

Where a Guide has to cancel a tour at short notice, it is incumbent on that Guide to find a suitable replacement with the same professional qualification to carry out the tour on their behalf. 

These rates apply equally to The Guide/Guidelink – when a guide has to cancel and a suitable replacement guide cannot be provided.

In exceptional circumstance, Guidelink may agree to waive cancellation charges.

SURCHARGES

Guides will normally charge a 50% surcharge for tours taking place on the English public holidays of:

Good Friday

Easter Sunday

Easter Monday

Boxing Day

New Year’s Day

Tours taking place on Christmas Day usually attract an increase of 100%.

Additional increments of 50% may be requested for tours involving Double Decker Coaches and for coaches with more than 55 passengers. 

PASSENGERS/GROUP NUMBERS

In the interests of safety, a single guide should not be expected to conduct visits to sites or carry out walking tours if the group to be guided exceeds 25 (in such cases, a 2nd Guide should be engaged).  

Often individual sites will restrict the number of visitors they permit to enter their premises in a group, similarly some sites impose restrictions on where guides may talk to clients.  If the proposed programme is fully discussed in advance with the guide concerned, they should be able to provide advice on where such restrictions may be an issue requiring additional guides or alternative solutions

COACHES

On a coach tour there must be a seat provided for the guide, with a safety belt, and a working microphone and PA system.  If there is no working microphone / PA system provided, the operator will be informed as soon as possible by The Guide.  If the tour continues without a working microphone the norms for the industry indicate the guide is entitled to be paid an increment of 100% of the original fee until the omission is rectified. The appointed guide also reserves the right to cancel the tour and full cancellation fees will apply.

Coach Tours with larger groups exceeding 55 passengers / double decker coaches will incur a 50% surcharge.

CHILDREN

All children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

PAYMENT

Properly presented invoices should be submitted by The Guide, to Guidelink, at the conclusion of each Tour or on a monthly basis.  Invoices should separate fees from claims for disbursements, which must be properly itemised and have receipts attached where appropriate.  Full settlement is to be made within 28 days of the invoice being submitted, unless otherwise agreed.

Guidelink issue invoices to Clients either on a monthly basis (for repeat clients with a previously agreed credit-agreement) or on completion of The Tour. Payment should be made by Bank Transfer as detailed on the invoice and payment is expected within 28 days or the invoice being submitted.

Non-payment of an invoice within 28 days of the tour date, Any sums which remain unpaid after the expiry of this period shall incur interest at the rate of 8% per annum above the base lending rate of The Bank of England from time to time.  Interest shall accrue on a daily basis from the due date for payment until the actual date of payment of the overdue sum, whether before or after judgment.  Any interest due shall be payable when paying an overdue sum.

All the prices are in GB pounds sterling and inclusive of any taxes unless otherwise stated.

From time to time, Guides/Clients may agree additional Terms & Conditions with Guidelink. These will be communicated to the relevant parties at the time of booking.

Additional Terms & Conditions for Blue Badge Driver-Guides can be found at:

https://www.driver-guides.org.uk/terms.htme