Terms and Conditions for renting our villas

Terms and Conditions

Alas, we wish we could rent villas based solely on the honour system, but this is a business, so we have our own special version of the fine print. To wit!

Our parent company is Pedal & Sea Adventures , and we are trading or acting under the name of Vacation Villas. We accept Visa, and MasterCard.

Rentals: Vacation Villas rents villas, houses and apartments directly for and on behalf of the owners of the property. All properties have been personally inspected by Vacation Villas or their sister company, Vacenze in Villa, to ensure that they meet the high standards of accommodation on which the company's reputation is based. Properties are furnished and equipped as described in the detailed and technical descriptions provided to clients on the company's web site. Prices are as represented in price lists on the company's web site, and are subject to change without notice. However, once a booking has been confirmed and a deposit received, the parties shall be bound to the price agreed.

Rental fees include: weekly rental of the villa or apartment, sheets and towels, use of water, electricity, and gas (except for heating and air-conditioning), and use of swimming pool for the designated periods. (Villa Chabrol's (Riviera) prices do not include electricity or gas, which are added at the end of the rental, based on usage). Some villas include the cost of cleaning, but for most, it is an additional fee. Telephone calls are metered at 0.20 Euros per unit, and heating and air-conditioning provided at prices specified in the price list.

Payments: A deposit of 30% of the rental cost is payable on booking and confirmation will not be effected until the whole of the deposit has been received. The balance of rental payments must be made 50 days prior to the beginning of the rental period. Non payment of the balance within this period will constitute notice of cancellation and the property will be re-offered and cancellation conditions applied.

Cancellation: Should the client for whatever reason, cancel the booking, they will have the right to repayment of all money paid minus cancellation charges. Cancellation is effected only when written notification is received by Vacation Villas or in the event of non payment of balances. Cancellation charges are based on total rental payments and are calculated from the date of the rental period as follows:

1) More than 51 days prior: 30%
2) Between 30 days and 50 days prior: 50%
3) Between 15 days and 29 days prior: 80%
4) 14 days or less: 100%

Changes to booking dates or villas within the period of 60 days prior to the date of rental will constitute a cancellation of the booking and a new confirmation will be required. In bona fide, Vacation Villas will attempt to mitigate all losses from cancellations, and will at its sole discretion retain the right to reduce cancellation charges as it sees fit on a case by case basis. Clients are advised to take out adequate insurance to ensure that they are protected from unforeseen events which may give rise to cancellations.

House substitution: If as a result of a serious breakdown or failure in the house, or repairs need to be undertaken, and Vacation Villas or the owners decide that it is not possible to honour the booking, the company will do its utmost to find a replacement property acceptable to the client, or as a last resort will refund any moneys paid on unused rental. The client acknowledges that in this event, the company's liability for damages will be limited to the amount of unused rental calculated on a pro rata calculation of days unused.

Security deposit: On entry to the villa a security deposit is required to be lodged with the local representative as a bond against potential damages and costs incurred at the property. The amount of the deposit is specified in the price list and will be returned or accounted for at the completion of the visit. It may be deposited in Euro or foreign currency of the same value. In the event of damage to the property or chattels, unpaid telephone or heating or air-conditioning costs, these will be assessed at the time of departure and the balance of the deposit returned to the client. The client acknowledges that he is responsible to the property owner for the full value of damages caused notwithstanding that it may exceed the value of the security deposit. Vacation Villas shall not be held responsible for disputes regarding the deposit arising between client and property owners, however it will endeavour to assist parties to arrive at an amicable agreement in the event of a dispute.

Insurance: It is strongly recommended that all clients purchase adequate travel insurance— which can be supplied by Vacation Villas— or provide evidence of purchase of insurance from another supplier to the company prior to paying the final balance. If you chose not to purchase insurance, we will ask you to sign a waiver declaring that you have not purchased insurance, and full understand the risks and liabilities of such a decision.

Arrivals, departures and conduct: Arrivals are accepted at prearranged meeting points after 3:00 pm (15:00) and before 7:00 pm (19:00) of the day of arrival. We also require that clients telephone the local representative to advise the estimated time of arrival. Local representatives will do their utmost to accommodate out of hours requests, however, the company and property owners cannot guarantee access to the properties after 22.00 hrs. Where possible, Vacation Villas will arrange late arrivals on request, for parties travelling on late flights, subject to the payment on arrival of a late-arrival fee of 50 Euros. The company and owners of properties cannot accept any responsibility for damages or other consequences of late arrivals. All expenses for transport of people, luggage and goods from port to houses are to be paid by the Clients.

The rental voucher provided at the time of payment of the balance is not transferable and must be presented to the local representative at time of arrival. Specified in the voucher will be: the number of persons booked for the rental period, and it is strictly forbidden to exceed this number. Exceeding the maximum number of persons specified on the voucher represents a breach of the terms and conditions of rental and provides a valid basis for the owner to deny entry to the property with consequent termination of the rental agreement and forfeiture of all moneys paid. Please don't let this happen!

Any queries should be addressed to Vacation Villas prior to breaching the agreement, who will do their utmost to find a viable solution. The company cannot be held responsible for any damages in the event that the agreement has been breached and the owner has exercised their rights. Conduct unbecoming at the villa (including wanton destruction of property, poor hygiene, excessive noise etc.) also represents a possible basis for termination of the rental agreement, and offenders may be asked to leave the property thereby forfeiting any money paid.

Departures are due before 10:00 am on the final day of rental. Where possible requests for extended departure times will be accommodated, however this must be by prior agreement with the local representative.

Cleaning and order: The houses must be delivered and left clean and in order. Crockery and other equipment of the house (chairs, blankets, etc.) must not be used or transported out of the house. Candles and oil burners are not permitted inside the house and must be used with great care on paved terraces. After delivery, repairs of breakdowns caused by the Clients and those of ordinary maintenance (plugging of w.c. and basins, damages to equipment and furniture and to the property, stains on mattresses and bed covers, broken crockery) will be charged to the Clients and the amounts will be deducted directly from the bond. In uncertain circumstances the person in charge will keep the whole bond and will return any balance together with the receipt for the expense met for repairs carried out after the departure of the Client.

Maid service and final cleaning: When specified in price list, a weekly final cleaning fee applies and is due upon arrival. The fee is a weekly charge, also applied to multiple weeks stays and includes: Change of bed linen, bath and kitchen linen and the remake of bedrooms, cleaning and sanitizing of floors, bathrooms and kitchen on Saturdays. Weekly maid service (if included) is specified in description and varies according to the property and owners requirements.

Liability: Many of the properties have inherent dangers such as swimming pools, dry stone walls, un-gated access to roads, steep staircases, unfenced drops, and other liabilities not fully described here. Vacation Villas and it’s parent company, Pedal & Sea Adventures, and property owners and their agents, cannot accept any liability for loss, damage or injury to the client or the client's personal property, occurring whatsoever relating to this contract and/or the rental property, as the client must be responsible for taking all necessary safety precautions. Equally, no claims of any sort will be entertained in the event of incidents occurring whilst occupants or guests are under the influence of alcohol or any drugs, whether therapeutic or not.

Website information: Vacation Villas has taken all precautions to insure the accuracy of all information contained on its web site relating to the properties advertised, but nothing in Vacation Villas web site shall be treated as a Term and Condition of the contract. The client determines his/her own needs, requirements and expectations when selecting a rental property from Vacation Villas web site, and Vacation Villas shall not be liable with regard to any differences of opinion as to the condition or quality of the properties advertised.

Child/Infant safety: Vacation Villas and it’s agents do not inspect cribs/cots, high chairs, or other furniture that may be provided at a rental property. Such equipment may not conform to any safety standards and the client uses all furniture at their own risk. Clients are encouraged to provide their own portable crib/cot or bassinet when necessary.

The client making the booking agrees to accept and abide by the Terms and Conditions of this contract. Also, the client acknowledges that the client has relayed all such info regarding Vacation Villas Terms and Conditions to all members of the client's traveling party. Therefore all members of the traveling party are bound by the Terms and Conditions of this contract. Please note for any comments and/or correspondence, Vacation Villas will only correspond with and direct all comments to the client making the booking.

Complaints: All properties are checked regularly by Vacation Villas — or by staff at Vicenze en Villa — in to ensure that they meet the required standards and that they are accurately reflected in descriptions and promotional material. Whilst the company will do all that is reasonably possible to ensure that properties comply with descriptions or rectify any problems which arise as a result of changes to properties or chattels, it cannot accept responsibility for last minute changes or variations outside of its control, including droughts, storms, or blackouts.

It is also possible to encounter noise and/or disturbances caused by third parties outside of the rental property. Also, clients should be aware that some of our properties are located in rural areas, so animals, insects, lizards, and other wildlife might be present in a greater degree than the client expects. Such disturbances and presences are beyond the control and liability of Vacation Villas or the property owner.

Complaints have to be directed, within 24 hours of the complaint's occurrence to the area's Vacation Villa representative, who will verify the problem, and endeavour to resolve the problem(s) or find an alternative solution. The client is obliged to give Vacation Villas the necessary time to resolve the problem.

Vacating the rental property without authorization from Vacation Villas does not constitute sufficient cause for refund, as we cannot verify a cause of your complaint without your presence. Failure to give notice of a problem when it occurs during the rental period and/or failure to remain in contact with the area manager and/or Vacation Villas during the remedial process will void any claim during or after the rental period. Should clients leave the property for whatever reason without notifying Vacation Villas in writing beforehand, their claims for compensation will be rendered null and void.

If the customer considers the services rendered unsatisfactory, again, he will detail his complaints during and not after the rental period.

At all times the client should follow the instructions regarding complaints set forth in these Terms & Conditions and make appropriate allowances for remedy. Failure to follow the appropriate steps and/or accept the good-faith remedies offered by Vacation Villas and/or its agents, will void any claim following the rental period.

Furthermore, please note that any refund offered to the client shall not exceed the amount of the villa booking price.

It is important that clients acknowledge that many of the villas have historical values, and are furnished with antiques and period furniture which are different to today's modern decorations and appliances. These properties are offered to the client to live for a short time in a different world where tradition and history form a part of the local life and culture. Vacation Villas cannot exclude, however, that these differences may result in minor inconveniences that cannot be accepted at complaints.

Disputes and acceptance of terms and conditions: Vacation Villas and client expressly agree that all disputes arising out of this contract and not administratively resolved by Vacation Villas shall be resolved applying Nova Scotia law exclusively in the courts of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the exclusion of all other courts and jurisdiction. Vacation Villas must receive notice of any dispute in writing.

By reading and acknowledging the terms and conditions or emailing acceptance of the Terms and Conditions, the client agrees to be bound by the provisions contained herein and to accept liability for damages caused by them or their parties to owners’s properties.

::: How to reach us :::

marilou@vacationvillas.ca

Marilou Levangie & Dana Gallant
Vacation Villas & Pedal and Sea Adventures
9075 St. Margaret's Bay Road, RR#2
Hubbards, Nova Scotia • B0J 1T0
Toll Free: 1-877-777-5699 • 902-857-9319 (office)
• 902-858-2004 (fax)

We now sell trip cancellation insurance, too!

Enjoy a bike tour in Tuscany, Ireland, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, & Costa Rica with our sister company: Pedal and Sea Adventures. We also create wonderful golfing vacations at: Golf Nova Scotia & Golfing PEI