Fantastic Day-Trips, Short Breaks and

Luxury Coach Hire from Norwich, Norfolk

 

14th August 2020

Just a quick update from IC Travel and ICT Coaches.

Firstly a big thanks to all of you who have supported our local days out.  Numbers have ranged from 7 to 26 (capacity!) and whilst these are loss making for us we are keen to start somewhere and give people the chance to get out and about. As some businesses get back to work it is easy to get the impression that things are getting back to normal.  Certainly in our sector this is far from the case and in some ways getting more complicated.  Several of you have been in touch concerning past cancelled trips and those due to take place over the coming months.  Sadly we have no more information that is generally available and whilst some businesses have returned to work this is often with reduced staff, many of which are working from home with call centres closed.  It takes forever it seems to get responses and updates.   All I can say is once I know any information I will pass this on as many of you will know.   Some intermediary companies have ceased trading which means in some cases we have lost money and/or are having to piece together from scratch.  In all of this for our companies we are doing this work in our own unpaid time and a big thanks goes to all those who have lent a hand. So – please bear with us as we work through the list of rescheduling and rebooking – many venues and attractions themselves have no idea if things will take place.  Take London West End shows for example which can open it seems but with hardly any audience.  It’s all very complicated. Anyway thanks all for your patience and will keep you informed as best we can!   Ian  

23rd July 2020

Just a quick update from IC Travel and ICT Coaches.

Well another month has passed and the good news is that yesterday we had our first trip since 12th March – to Southwold.  We have put together a revised summer and autumn programme and whilst there will undoubtedly be changes we have made a start!   All trips will be run taking into account government guidelines with reduced capacity to permit spacing, temperature checks, face coverings and additional sanitisation measures.

If any planned trips are cancelled then we will advise our customers booked on that trip with appropriate details.  Some, particularly shows and concerts, are currently being rearranged so when a cancellation is announced the revised information can be provided at the same time.

Please email or phone to book.  We are still manning the office remotely so please leave any message and we will call you back.

Please dial carefully on 01603 86 86 80.

Hope to see you soon!

Ian  

24th June 2020

Just a quick update from IC Travel and ICT Coaches.

On 23rd June the government announced further changes to the gradual release from lockdown.   The 1m+ spacing rule makes a massive difference to us which means that we can, with the various recommended measures being taken, be able to get around 40 people on the 53 seater coach.  As we have said before, we have had around 100 trips and breaks cancelled this year or rescheduled into 2021 with near on 4000 people affected.  Virtually everyone has been willing to sit tight and await to rebook/reschedule as things unravel.

That has been a massive help for us to hang on in there – as tickets are sold, the profits are used to pay bills, insurance, licences, advertising, book new trips etc. To refund everyone all the money would be impossible and put us and any company out of business.

Imagine running a shop which suddenly closes, no more sales and having to refund every sale made in the past 12 months!  In addition the cost and process to refund to cost in excess of £10000 taking into account the time needed, card company commission lost and so on.  As people book well in advance, bank cards in many cases cannot be refunded as the time lapsed exceeds that allowed to refund – plus many cards expire and get changed.  This means having to get bank account details (many people understandingly cautious about putting this on email) and having to set up a bank payment.   By rebooking this cuts out all this extra process and cost and us helped us keep trading.

However as things gradually ease here are our plans!:

 

• We will reopen our offices on a part time basis from 1st July – in many cases you will need to leave a phone message and we will call you back – ring 01603 868680 or email info@ictravel.co.uk
• Our website is continually updated with a revised programme – we shall be adding some more local (East Anglia) trips for the summer and beyond
• As we are unable to produce a brochure at present we shall email or post a revised list of trips which go well into 2021 with many short breaks listed including: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northumberland, Devon & Cornwall, Isle of Wight and Lake District
• We are open for bookings for airport transfers and coach hire too!
• We will introduce recommend procedures on all trips including additional deep cleaning, temperature checks, requesting travellers use face coverings where possible (see general government guidance) and hand sanitizer

At this opportunity I would like to thank all our customers for their support and also my colleagues who have worked hard behind the scenes giving their time to keep our heads above water.  Recovery will be gradual and lengthy – at least 5 years sadly but we will get through the journey ahead!  PS  A big thanks to Tesco Drayton also for their help!

 

Stay safe!

Ian

26th April 2020

Just a quick update from IC Travel and ICT Coaches on things as we find ourselves.

As you will know the current situation has devastated many industries including the travel and tourism industry. No one of course knows the way ahead and we take each day as it comes. Being small family/local businesses we are in a position where we want to keep people informed in a frank and honest way and I know from feedback that when dealing with large companies of any description it can be difficult to get any information. Our businesses developed as a result of great community support and with that continued support we know we can get through this extremely difficult time.

Bookings for both businesses have currently completely stopped and everything we had booked in has been cancelled for the immediate future. We like you are reliant on the government updates on the lockdown and guidance to venues about opening and sadly we know no more than that. We have been taking advantage of the various government schemes available. Sadly the process in many cases is proving very slow but we are doing all we can.

Our coaches have been taken off the road, untaxed and insurance cover reduced. We have reached agreement with lease companies for repayment holidays and visit the vehicles twice a week to start the engines and keep the batteries charged. I have gained a temporary contract with Tesco in Drayton and Alison is busy with Amazon deliveries.  It has been good to see many of our customers during my Tesco shifts!

Part of the government support means that we cannot do any work for the company during that support, hence the office is closed and we are doing the work just required under our legal responsibilities as Company Directors.

At the time of writing IC Travel have had over 60 trips cancelled so far. The profits from the trips are used to pay for insurance, overheads and invested in future trips. Money is tied up right through the chain and sadly some intermediary companies who act as booking agents for groups have already ceased trading owing money to many companies including ourselves.

Other venues are closed and the volume of cancellations across the industry is now in the millions. Hence the reason that despite the various consumer rights etc. and in line with other operators, cash refunds are just not possible at present and our priority is for customers to rebook other trips and to do all we can to hold firm during the crisis and then start trading again as soon as we can.  Our terms and conditions when booking (and as included on receipt email, website and in brochure) are detailed below.  Our customer’s support is the most important part of making this plan work.

Rearranging trips is of course difficult with venues closed but once we are back trading this will be done.

To say 2020 has been stressful so far is probably an understatement. In the past couple of months we have moved house (just!), our 2 eldest children have had their GCSE and A Level exams cancelled, all Taverham Band rehearsals and concerts over the summer have been cancelled and we have had to deal with all the impact of the Coronavirus. However we have had so many messages of support, have been working with some fantastic people at Tesco (and lost 10lb!) and achieved more DIY than ever imagined!

Fingers crossed and with your support we will get through this, get up and running again and get the coach wheels turning again. Speak soon!  Our update below gives the position on trips at present.

Thanks for your continued patience and understanding.

Stay safe

Ian

 

Covid 19 Statement  – 20th April

Once again we would like to thank you all so much for your kind messages of support and your patience and understanding in these unprecedented times.

With the continued lockdown our office will remain closed at present.

We are still presuming all trips are cancelled at present until the way forward is a bit clearer. Some events have been completely cancelled and others rescheduled. Customers for each trip are being contacted accordingly.

Under the terms and conditions of booking (repeated below and as per receipt, website and brochure), the current situation falls under the ‘force majeure’ clause and in line with current package travel guidelines, due the immense volume of bookings this has affected, we are not currently able to facilitate refunds. However, we will hold any payment made to be used towards another trip of any choice to be taken by 31st December 2021.

With a number of changes we are keeping our website updated as best we can. All dates are listed and any trip can be booked via the website or by emailing info@ictravel.co.uk . If this is done we will record your booking and be in touch once our office reopens to arrange payment.

Thank you and stay safe.

Ian Colman MBE Managing Director

*”Neither the coach company nor IC Travel can accept responsibility for any travel delays incurred for any reason, nor failure of transport and any resultant losses. This includes cancellation of travel or excursions as a result of Force Majeure and presents a high level of risk to the safety of customers and staff. In such cases no refunds are payable but every effort will be made to apply any recoverable costs to another trip. Any such decision is made as a last resort after consultation with a number of professional bodies such as police. Force Majeure means an event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid and is therefore an event beyond our or the supplier’s reasonable control. These events include but are not limited to strikes, riots, political/civil unrest, government acts, hostilities, war, threat of war, terrorist activity or threat of terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, flood, tornadoes, hurricanes, transportation problems, airport closures, and severe weather conditions. We suggest that you take out adequate travel insurance to cover such eventualities”.

           

   

New!!  2020 Brochure out now 

View On-Line Brochure HERE!

Download latest full list here:

IC Travel Trips

Updated 24th February 2020

IC Travel Trips Themed

 

From 8 seater vehicles to 53 seater executive coaches, we have a full range of local days out and excursions further afield.

Personal and dedicated service from a family business.

Trips include RHS Flower Shows, Concerts, Craft Shows, London Theatre, Airshows, Stately Homes & Gardens and many more…..

Pick ups including Taverham, Costessey, Drayton, Thickthorn, Wymondham , Attleborough & Thetford (subject to destination).

 

To book, email info@ictravel.co.uk or phone 01603 868680

IC Travel Private Hire         

Book your group travel, airport and port transfers with IC Travel.  Known drivers.  Up to 8 passengers plus luggage.

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