frequently asked questions.

What’s the catch?

Is there a catch?
No, there is no catch.
This is such a superb offer that we often hear people asking this, you really do stay for free. All you need to do is buy your evening meal and breakfast for each evening you stay at the hotel and your accommodation is free.

Is this a scam?
No, this is not a scam.
We have hundreds of satisfied guests who confidently renew their dine and stay pack year after year. Many very happy dine and stay guests are staying for free at hotels all over Ireland as we speak.
Also, all the hotels have signed contracts with us stating their participation in the dine and stay club.
The dine and stay club is run by Hotel Support ltd., a well established and reputable company within the tourism industry.
Please note that the dine and stay club has an ordinary land-line telephone number and not a premium rate line or a link to an anonymous call centre. Our friendly and efficient staff are always happy to answer any queries you may have. Contact us.

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How can you really stay in hotels for FREE?
You can, with the dine and stay club. Let us explain.
Hotels are rarely full all the year round.
Here is an example: a hotel might have 60 rooms and only 30 of those rooms are occupied. This leaves 30 empty rooms. The hotel is still paying kitchen staff, housekeeping staff, reception staff, restaurant staff etc. So, giving an empty room to us ‘for free’ helps to fill their restaurants and bars because dine and stay guests have agreed to buy their evening meals and breakfasts each night they stay. I hear you ask, ‘why do the hotels not offer this deal to everyone, without having to buy this pack’? If they offered this deal to everyone, there would not be any full paying guests, thus they would be losing money rather than attracting extra revenue. The number of dine and stay information packs sold is limited, thus controlling the number of guests staying for free. Once you purchase your pack you can use it for a full year.

Why is membership so cheap?
I am sure you would agree that this is a very valuable product. Our policy has always been to offer maximum value for money to as many people as possible. We keep the price very low rather than just selling to a few people at a much higher price. Also, just think, you will probably save the cost of the pack the first night that you stay at one of our hotels and you can use it as often as you like for 12 months.

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How do I book?
This couldn’t be simpler. Once you receive your dine and stay pack, simply choose a hotel and telephone them directly. Inform them that you are a dine and stay club member, quote you membership number, make your reservation and confirm all details for the free accommodation offer.
(Subject to availability)

Do I have to book months in advance?
No. Generally, last minute bookings are preferred.
(Subject to availability)

Can I book last minute?
Yes. Although just a couple of the hotels may need a little more notice from time to time.
(Subject to availability)

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Can I arrive at the hotel without booking?
Yes, this would be ok. Inform them that you are a dine and stay club member, produce your membership card, confirm all details for the free accommodation offer and make your reservation.
Hotel booking is, of course, subject to availability and some exclusion dates may apply. We would always advise booking before you arrive.

What if I forget to bring my card with me to the hotel?
You must have your card with you or a full hotel bill will apply.

What if I damage or lose (inc. theft) my card or the list of hotels?
Please keep your information pack and card in a safe place as we regret that
the dine and stay club cannot be liable for the loss/theft of, or damage to, the dine and stay information pack or member card, under such circumstances no replacements (by mail or email) or refunds can be given.

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Can I get a list of the hotels before purchasing the pack?
Unfortunately no. The list of hotels is part of the information pack and is only available to those who purchase it. Also, we have an agreement with the hotels not to publish their details before guests purchase the pack for a number of reasons including the following:

· This would jeopardise their full paying trade.

· Hotels would receive a very high number of general dine and stay enquiries and questions, which they are not equipped to deal with on a daily basis. That is where we come in, we are very happy to deal with all general enquiries about the dine and stay club. As soon as you receive your pack you can then telephone the hotels directly to check for availability and make your reservations.

· There have been fraudulent attempts by the public asking for the dine and stay offer without a member card with their unique membership number. This is a criminal offence, which hotels would rather not have to deal with. Attempting to obtain the dine and stay offer without ownership of a valid member card will result in a full hotel bill, including all accommodation costs and an imposed fine.

Currently, there are approximately 100 participating hotels listed throughout Ireland. We have hotels in the north, south, east and west. Please view the locations page for the counties covered.

Can I check for hotel availability before I purchase my pack?
Unfortunately no. You can only check for availability when you receive your pack and then you can contact the hotels directly for reservations. But remember, there are approximately 100 participating hotels listed throughout Ireland - north, south, east and west and 12 months to use it as often as you like, your chances of getting availability are very high.

What if there are no hotels on the list covering the specific area I wish to visit?
We endeavour to cover a wide number of areas throughout Ireland, please visit our locations page for an overview.
We cannot guarantee a hotel in the exact location you may choose. But remember, the chances are good that you will be able to find something in the area that you want as we have approximately 100 participating hotels listed throughout Ireland, north, south, east and west and 12 months for you to use it, as often as you like. New hotels join from time to time and members can contact us for an update when planning their trip.
Membership can also be used locally, when you go out for a meal why not enjoy an overnight stay, so there is no need to organise late night taxies?

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What standard of hotels are listed in the information pack?
There are approximately 100 participating hotels listed throughout Ireland (including Northern Ireland). They are very good quality hotels ranging from seaside hotels, country house hotels, city hotels and even castles in the country. In the information pack, each hotel has it’s Bord Failte or NITB star rating printed.

Do the hotels have leisure facilities?
Yes, many have. Just like a full paying guest a dine and stay member is welcome to use any of the hotels leisure facilities.

Will we get an inferior room or inferior service at the hotels?
No, absolutely not. You will be given the same sort of room as full paying guests. You will receive the same welcoming courtesy and excellent standard of service that all guests enjoy. The only difference is that as a dine and stay guest you receive your accommodation for free.

Will other people in the hotel know we are staying for free?
No.

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Is this just for off-peak season use only?
No, you can use it all year round. Naturally, during peak season and busy times it may be more difficult to find availability, the same as it would be for full-paying guests. Some hotels may have exclusion dates for dine and stay members around their peak season and busy times, other hotels have no exclusion dates at all and will give free accommodation even at their busiest times. There are approximately 100 participating hotels listed throughout Ireland and a lot of them differ in what they consider to be their ‘busy’ times. It might be a good idea to be more flexible with your travel plans in terms of location and dates during peak season.

When is peak season for hotels in Ireland?
This is difficult to generalize, hotels differ in what they consider to be their peak season depending on location, time of year or annual special events.
Some inland hotels, for example, do not consider July/August as their peak season.
There are approximately 100 participating hotels listed throughout Ireland (including Northern Ireland) and they each have their own dates they consider to be peak season.

Can I stay at weekends?
Yes, you can stay whenever you like.
Helpful hint: You may find that some hotels have more availability at weekends as they have business trade Mon.-Fri. and are not so busy at weekends. Depending on the time of year, other hotels may exclude some busy weekends and have more availability during the week. Generally, Sunday nights are quiet for all hotels.

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Do hotels exclude certain dates for dine and stay guests?
Some hotels have no exclusion dates at all and will give free accommodation even at their busiest times and some may have exclusion dates for dine and stay members around their peak season and busy times. There are approximately 100 participating hotels listed throughout Ireland (including Northern Ireland) and a lot of them differ in what they consider to be their ‘busy’ times.

Can any of the hotels pull out of this offer throughout the year?
This rarely happens, if at all. Hotels have a contract with the dine and stay club and need to give 6 months notice of withdrawal.

Could there be changes I may not know about?(eg. new hotels joining etc.)
You will receive the most up to date information at the time of purchase. In the unlikely event of any minor changes to the information in the pack throughout the year, we suggest that you check all details with the hotels directly and contact us for information on whether there are any additional hotels before you make your travel plans.

What does M.A.P.P.S. stand for?
This stands for ‘minimum amount per person sharing’ and refers to the amount required for a four course evening meal and a full cooked breakfast. This is set by each hotel and is based on their restaurant prices.
You do not have to spend a penny more than the m.a.p.p.s for meals in order to receive the free accommodation. The m.a.p.p.s has been set so that dine and stay guests can calculate the full cost of their stay in advance of booking.
Please see the locations page for some examples of m.a.p.p.s.

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Can we make up the ‘minimum spend’ with alcohol etc?
Sorry, no. Alcohol and soft drinks are extra.

How much will the evening meals and breakfasts cost?
The costs are based on the hotel restaurant prices. You can see an example of combined evening meals and breakfasts costs (m.a.p.p.s) on the locations page. In the information pack the cost is clearly printed with each hotel.

Are there any hidden costs or supplements?
No. There are no hidden costs whatsoever.
Some hotels may have supplementary charges which are applied to all guests, including dine and stay members such as: single person supplement (eg. £5), bank holiday supplement (eg. £5), superior room (eg. £2.50 for sea view or large suite etc.). All details of possible charges are clearly outlined in the information pack.

Will the hotel try to charge me more than is stated?
No.

Do we have to eat in the hotels each evening we stay?
Yes, you have to pay for your evening meal and breakfast to avail of your free accommodation.

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Is the dine and stay menu different to the usual hotel restaurant menu?
No, not in the majority of the hotels, although in a very few hotels they may have a separate menu for dine and stay club members to make it easier for their staff and administration. You will always receive the finest hotel dining experience.

Can we dine first and then inform the hotel that we would like to stay?
No, you need to inform the hotel that you wish to stay before dining.

How many times can I stay?
It is unlimited, stay as many times as you like.
(Subject to availability)

How long can I stay at a hotel?
It is unlimited, stay as long as you like.
(Subject to availability)

Is there an obligation to use the dine and stay card a certain number of times?
No.

Can we bring our pets with us?
Yes, there are a number of hotels (approx. 14) that accept pets. This is detailed in the information pack, please confirm at the time of booking.

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How many people can go using the card?
The dine and stay member card is for one or two adults (over 18 yrs). The card is for the member who can be accompanied by one other adult guest, sharing a double or twin room. Your guest may be a different person each time and they too will enjoy all dine and stay benefits.

Can I bring children?
Yes, Children are welcome but the hotels usual rate for children may apply. You must arrange this directly with the hotel at the time of booking.

What if there are 3 ,4, 5 adults in our group?
In this case, you need to purchase 1 dine and stay pack per 2 adults.
If, for example, there are 3 in a group, you would need to purchase 2 packs.

Can I give my card to my partner to use?
No, the card is not transferable. The dine and stay member must always be present during the trip.

Can I give my card to a friend to use?
No, the card is not transferable. The card is for the member who can be accompanied by one other adult guest, sharing a double or twin room. Your guest may be a different person each time and they too will enjoy all dine and stay benefits..
The dine and stay member must always be present during the trip.

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Can I share my card with friends and family?
No, the card is not transferable. The card is for the member who can be accompanied by one other adult guest, sharing a double or twin room. Your guest may be a different person each time and they too will enjoy all dine and stay benefits.
The dine and stay member must always be present during the trip.

Can I buy the dine and stay pack for someone else as a gift?
Yes, when ordering ‘gift’ packs on the web site, please fill in your details for payment and tick the gift tick box. You have an option to have the packs delivered to your address or to the gift recipients’ addresses.

Purchasing your pack.
There are a number of ways to purchase your information pack.

· Online yearly purchase (automatic renewal). This is the cheapest, most convenient method for you and by far the most preferred by our members. See below How does online yearly purchase (automatic renewal) work?
· One time only purchase (non automatic renewal). This option is usually only used by non-Ireland/UK residents who may be restricted in their visits to Ireland. See below How does one time only purchase (non-automatic renewal) work?

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How does online yearly purchase (automatic renewal) work?
This method of payment was requested by members for their convenience. It guarantees massive savings and priority membership.

By purchasing online (this is an automatic renewal payment method) using your debit or credit card, you will automatically receive the dine and stay pack each year with a new membership card and updated hotel listings etc.
As well as the sheer convenience of automatic renewal each year, you are guaranteed membership when numbers are limited and yearly pack price increases will not apply to you

In other words, the first price you pay for your pack will be guaranteed to stay at this same price per year for you.
Example: Last year the pack was £29.99 and this year it is £39.99. Any one who purchased their pack online using debit or credit card (this is an ‘automatic renewal’ payment method) last year at £29.99 will receive the pack at the same price of £29.99 this year. You can see the savings.

The dine and stay information pack is becoming more and more popular each year and this could result in a limited number of packs being sold and, so far, there has also been a yearly price increase.

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Can I purchase for one year only?
Yes. Please see below.

How does one time only purchase (non-automatic renewal) work?
One time only purchase is for one year and is ideal for international visitors who may be restricted in their visits to Ireland. You can purchase one pack, or a few for a group of guests, by mail (eg GBP/EURO bankers draft, GBP/EURO cheque, GBP/EURO postal order etc.) or by telephone using you credit or debit card. This is not an online purchase option. See Contact us
The one time only purchase does not guarantee priority membership for the following years you may wish to purchase. So far, there has also been a yearly price increase and if you wish to purchase the pack for another year, after your membership expires, the full cost of the information pack at that time will apply.

In other words, the first price you pay for your pack will not be guaranteed to stay the same each year.
Example: Last year the pack was £29.99 and this year it is £39.99. Any one who purchased their pack online using debit or credit card (this is an ‘automatic renewal’ payment method) last year at £29.99 will receive the pack at the same price of £29.99 this year. You can see the savings if you choose the other payment option (automatic renewal payment method). See above.
The other payment option (automatic renewal payment method) was requested by members for their convenience. It guarantees massive savings and priority membership.

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How can I cancel my online yearly purchase (automatic renewal)?
You can cancel your automatic renewal at any time. We require 30 days notice prior to your payment due date.

Can I get a refund?
Yes.
If, in the unlikely event the dine and stay club free accommodation is not offered by the hotels under the terms and conditions outlined in the information pack, you are eligible for a 14 day money-back guarantee from date of purchase. The complete dine and stay information pack must be returned by mail within 14 days to the dine and stay club office at the address on the back of the pack. The returned pack must be undamaged, unused and the member card unsigned.
Please include your name and address and retain your proof of postage. Refunds are processed by the dine and stay club office only. The money-back guarantee will not apply if you have received your dine and stay pack as a gift or promotion.

Terms and conditions
Please telephone us and we will be happy to give you more information and full, detailed terms and conditions. See Contact us

What if I have a disability?
Disability access is clearly marked with a number of hotels listed in the information pack.

Who is dine and stay?
The dine and stay club is a subsidiary of Hotel Support Ltd., a well established and reputable company within the tourism industry.
Our aim is to attract both international and local visitors to hotels in Ireland (including Northern Ireland).
Our main focus is to encourage you, the public, to use our friendly Irish hotels more often and there is no better way to do this than offering you free hotel accommodation.

Any other questions?
Our friendly and efficient staff, are always happy to answer any queries you may have. Please see Contact us page.

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Feedback from members.

1. ...When I purchased my dine and stay pack, I thought
‘kiss good bye to that money, it’s probably a total waste,
but worth a gamble if it really works’. I was astonished
when I actually stayed in my first hotel for free, and have used it several times since. I couldn’t be more delighted with it. Thank you dine and stay club...

2. Dear dine and stay
A friend encouraged me to get a dine and stay pack.
I hesitated for some time assuming it was just a ‘scam’
Eventually, curiosity got the better of me and I thought
to myself ‘if you’re not in you can’t win’ and I gave it a go’.
I am writing to say ‘a big thank you!’ I have used it and had a fabulous time and now I even use it in places not so far from home just for the treat of it. Now I am encouraging my friends to do it.

3. Dear Heather at dine and stay club,
Many thanks for getting the card to us in time for our weekend trip to Donegal. The weather was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Please find enclosed a token of our appreciation and we hope you will treat yourself to a drink on us. Thanks again.
(member had enclosed a £5 note as thanks)

4. ...thank you dine and stay club!
We were sceptical about actually getting ‘free’ hotel
accommodation but it has proved us wrong! We have used
it about four times now. Its great...

5. ...We are just back from a week’s stay in The xxxxx Hotel in Dublin. When it came to the time to pay the bill, I was over the moon to see how low my total bill was and that my accommodation was actually ‘free’. We had a marvellous time – met so many people and the craic was 90! I will definitely be recommending this to everyone I know!...

6. ...dine and stay has saved me hundreds of pounds and I’m staying in hotels more often than I ever did before...many thanks.

7. ...I am a dine and stay member and I love it!
This is definitely something I will be buying every year...

8. ...My wife and I love going out for meals. We use our dine and stay card at hotels not too far from home, have gorgeous meals and stay the night!!
It is very convenient and rules out the need for taxis so we can enjoy a few drinks in the evening. Thanks – you have saved me a fortune!...

9. ...My mother just celebrated her 65th birthday. Because of dine and stay we were able to take her to a beautiful hotel in Donegal. The hotel staff could not have been nicer and it just made her day. Many thanks, this is a memory we all will treasure...