GENERAL INFORMATION
Our web site gives the availability of all our cottages and is updated daily by 2200hrs CET. The web site allows you to pay the 30% deposit by credit or debit card on line through PayPal which will immediately guarantee your reservation.
If you do not have access to the web, wish to pay by cheque or do not want to pass your card details on line, then please telephone us between 8am and 7pm any day of the week or email us and let us know the cottage and the dates you require. If the property is available for your dates we will reserve it for one week whilst you forward the deposit by post or by BACS. Please let us know if you need our bank details for internet transfer. Upon receipt of your deposit confirmation and a receipt will be sent to you. To confirm the booking we need your full name and address together with an easily contactable telephone number.
Deposit payments are non-returnable.
We offer discounted rates on the larger properties to make prices more attractive for smaller parties. This discounted tariff applies only when the required numbers of beds are occupied. A charge between the higher and lower tariffs will be made if use is made of additional beds.
The balance of payment is due not less than two calendar months from the start of your booking. Payment if made by cheque to should be payable to French Cottage Retreats Ltd at our UK office at:
French Cottage Retreats Ltd
86 The Causeway
Petersfield
Hants GU31 4JS
Credit card payments can be made via the web site on PayPal for this final payment but there is a surcharge of 3.5% for this payment by card. This surcharge does not apply to the online 30% booking deposit payment. If paying by BACS there is no additional fee.
On receipt of the final balance we shall send a copy of the agreement and information sheets including directions to the cottage. The cottage will be available at 4pm on the day of arrival. It is very important that you vacate the cottage by 10am on the day of departure.
Bed linen and hand and bath towels are provided in all cottages.
Most cottages have washing machines but we can arrange to change bedding for those visitors who are staying for two weeks or more.
Barbeques and outside furniture are provided at most cottages. Cushions for pool loungers are for hire subject to availability at a charge of £5 per cushion per week.
All cottages have at least supplementary heating. All gas, electricity and cleaning costs are included. There are no extra charges.
We strongly advise the provision of travel insurance to cover the cost of any cancellation.
Once you have booked and paid for the holiday it is not possible for a refund unless we can re-let the cottage at short notice. If this is the case then a proportion of the total cost will be refunded, based on what we are able to let the cottage for at that time.
If you cannot agree to the terms and conditions relating to your payment of any damaged caused during your stay then you are required to inform us and to pay before your arrival a refundable £250 deposit to cover such costs. Otherwise we will assume that you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. If you cannot agree to the terms and conditions relating to your payment of any damaged caused during your stay then you are required to pay before your arrival a refundable £250 deposit to cover such costs. Otherwise we will assume that you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions.
2. The agreement to let and to rent any cottage is between the owner (name and address supplied if required) and the client. French Cottage Retreats Ltd acts purely as an agent between the two parties and is not responsible for any damage to the property or its condition at any time or injury or death to any person resulting from negligence or mismanagement of the property including the terraces and pool areas.
3. All properties carry a public and personal liability policy to safe guard against any such occurrences.
4. A 30% non returnable deposit is due at the time of booking. This reservation will only be honoured if the deposit is received at our offices within 7days of the day of reservation and a full name and address together with a mobile or easily contactable telephone number.. The full and final payment is due 8 weeks before the commencement of the cottage hire. At that time and on receipt of the final payment we shall send to the Hirer directions to the cottage and all information relating to the cottage. We strongly advise the provision of travel insurance to cover the cost of any cancellation. Once you have booked and paid for the holiday it is not possible for a refund unless we can relet the cottage at short notice. If this is the case then a proportion of the total cost will be refunded, based on what we are able to let the cottage for at what will probably be short notice.
5. If for any reason the cottage is not available at the time of the booking then we shall refund the cost either in full or pro rata if it is unavailable for a shorter period of time than the full term.
6. The Hirer is responsible for the cottage and undertakes all reasonable care of it, to keep it clean and tidy. The Hirer is expected to advise the offices French Cottage Retreats Ltd of any breakage or damage and to replace any breakages or pay for damage caused. We do not ask for a damage or breakage deposit but request that our guests acknowledge the terms and conditions and that they will pay for any damage or breakages that occur during their occupancy beyond the basics principal of fair wear and tear.
7. At the end of the hire period, Hirers must dispose of any of their rubbish into the road side bins and to leave the cottage as they found it on arrival - that is in a clean and tidy condition. We reserve the right to charge 40 Euros if we have to dispose of any rubbish including bottles left behind at the cottage after visitors' departure.
8. Under no account are the prescribed numbers of persons per property to be exceeded beyond that which were originally booked and paid for. This includes other visitors or friends or family who stay more than one day. A charge will be made for additional visitors who stay over night. Camping tents or motor homes or caravans are only allowed if permission has been granted in writing by French Cottage Retreats.
9. All pools have a security fence or an alarm system installed. Visitors have a legal obligation as tenants to keep the system operative at all times, other than when the pool is in use.
10. Dogs are welcomed at some of the cottages, please contact us direct if you wish to bring dogs with you; a fee of £25 per dog will be charged to cover additional cleaning. For properties where dogs are allowed, we ask you to observe the following: dogs are not allowed on furniture or beds so please bring dog beds with you; dogs are not allowed in swimming pools under any circumstances and we expect owners to keep them away from pool areas; please do not let your dogs foul the gardens surrounding houses but if accidents do occur, then please ensure that you clean up immediately.
11. In the event of any complaints arising either on arrival or once occupation has commenced, these must be brought to our attention immediately so that we may investigate and endeavour to rectify.
12. Prices on the web site are intended to be correct. A hard copy of this is available on request.
13. Reduced Occupancy ("Just For") prices: these prices relate to reduced occupancy in a larger cottage and if more than the prescribed number of beds is used under the terms of this reduced occupancy rate then we will charge the difference between the higher and lower rates.
14. When clients phone/email looking for dates, we have three levels of scheduling, "Available", "Provisional" and "Booked".
15. We can simply advise 'availability'. 'Availability' means the dates the client is interested in booking are, at that time, clear and currently available.
16. We can mark dates, upon request, as 'Provisional' for 7 days (this can be extended upon request by email) awaiting receipt of the 30% non returnable deposit when the booking becomes 'confirmed'. If, after 7 days, a deposit has not been received, then 'Provisional' dates will be released from our schedule and will become available to all clients on a first come, first served basis.
17. Fuel and services. All cottages have at least supplementary heating. All gas, electricity and cleaning costs are included. There are no extra charges.
18. If you cannot agree to the terms and conditions relating to your payment of any damaged caused during your stay then you are required to inform us and to pay before your arrival a refundable £250 deposit to cover such costs. Otherwise we will assume that you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions