UMBRIA HOLIDAY RENTALS - BOOKING INFORMATION  (revised on Nov 28, 2011)

THE FOLLOWING INFO OVERRIDES ALL INFO RE UMBRIA HOLIDAY RENTALS THAT MAY BE ELSEWHERE.

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THE FOLLOWING INFO APPLIES TO ALL OUR APARTMENTS, VILLAS AND POOL APARTMENTS, EXCEPT FOR STRETTURA CASTLE, WHERE THERE IS NO WELCOME PACK BECAUSE OF THE RESTAURANT ON SITE AND THE LOCAL SHOPS, WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE. ALL THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RATE, IS AS FOLLOWS :

ALL UTILTIES….. ....central heating, unlimited hot water, linens, towels…… + hair dryers, microwaves….. + SUN-LOUNGERS, COTS, HIGH-CHAIRS, BICYCLES (FOR LA PASSIONATA + La ROMANTICA), LOGS (WHERE APPLICABLE), LINEN, BEACH TOWELS (AUTOMATICALLY IN POOL PROPERTIES OR ORDER OTHERWISE), A GENEROUS WELCOME PACK (to start you off !) .....eg wine, pasta, pasta sauce, olive oil, tomatoes, bread, cheese, cereal, milk, coffee, tea, sugar, all the condiments (the ingredients can vary according to the season) + toilet paper, soap etc+ CLEANING AT END OF STAY ARE ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE ­ -  AND , NO TAXES !!!

Bed linen and towels are provided at the start of your stay and, by request, bed linen will be replaced once a week. However, there are washing machines available for all our apartments and, therefore, we expect you to wash your own towels.

There are absolutely no additional “hidden” extras – only nice surprises !

HOW TO BOOK AND PAY  :

IF YOU WISH TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF SECURING A BOOKING, YOU ARE BEST TO PHONE. OTHERWISE, PLEASE USE EMAIL.......

EXCEPT FOR RUBBIANO HOUSE, SPOLETO BY THE POOL + STRETTURA CASTLE, WHERE UP TO A 25% DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED…

Unless the booking is for 1000 euros +

EITHER…….

ISSUE YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS (IN 2 SEPARATE EMAILS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES) OR, YOU CAN PAY A 25% DEPOSIT

OR, IF THE BOOKING IS FOR 1000 EUROS + ………….

A  COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENT A DEPOSIT OF 25% WITHIN 24 HOURS, 

PLEASE PHONE :  (0039) 0743 498 38

OR EMAIL : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

THEN, ASSUMING THE VILLA, APARTMENT OR POOL PROPERTY YOU HAVE NAMED IS STILL AVAILABLE, I WILL SEND YOU THE CONFIRMATION DETAILS, PENDING A DEPOSIT, WHERE IT IS REQUIRED.

FOR DEPOSITS OF LESS THAN 1000 EUROS, PAYPAL CAN BE USED. OVER 1000 EUROS, A BANK TRANSFER WORKS OUT CHEAPER RE THE COMMISSION CHARGES. HOWEVER, YOU CAN OPT TO PAY VIA BANK TRANSFER FOR ANY AMOUNT.

ON YOUR BANK TRANSFER OR PAYPAL PAYMENT, PLEASE STATE THE FOLLOWING :

“HOLIDAY: name of property eg VILLA MARIANNA”. 

I  CAN ALSO ACCEPT PAYMENTS VIA MONEYGRAM OR WESTERN UNION, BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH EITHER. I HAVE FOUND BOTH THESE AGENCIES TO BE RELIABLE BUT IN THE PAST THEY HAVE BOTH RECEIVED A BAD PRESS – I DO NOT KNOW WHY !

Where credit card details suffice, your credit card would be only debited in the event of a cancellation or no-show – otherwise, it is too complicated and time-consuming, not to mention, expensive. Then, I ask that you pay cash, in euros, on arrival – there are many cash machines. And, for larger cash payments, if you wish to make a special arrangement with Laurie to pay an initial amount of 500 euros and the rest in stages during your stay, this would be perfectly acceptable.

We do NOT debit credit or debit cards, except in circumstances of no show or cancellation, because it is extremely time consuming and costly in the ordinary course of events......I am a UK resident and, therefore, much verification is required to implement a debit in Italy re the Italian banks. And, even in the case of cancellation (which very rarely happens !), I have managed to never debit a credit card, by offering the cancellee the chance of a reduced cancellation fee, which has been always taken up. The taking of credit card details is for an extreme emergency, which so far, has never happened !

DISCOUNTED BOOKINGS:

Discounted rates do not usually apply to a private car space or garage or to the “extra person” tariff of 50 euros/week minimum.

There are some circumstances where a special deal can be arranged. However, please note that a “special deal” arrangement is inclusive of all discounts that may be on offer elsewhere and, further, MAY require that 50% or THE TOTAL is paid in advance in order to secure the booking. 

OR, YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO PAY AN IMMEDIATE DEPOSIT AND, THEN, THE REMAINDER, UP TO 9 MONTHS IN ADVANCE, TO SECURE THEIR BOOKING – see below for the cancellation conditions.

Returnees (or anyone they recommend who mentions their name) attract a 5% discount off the full rate FOR LIFE. Indeed, this LIFE TIME discount may increase, the more times you stay with us ! To claim this discount, the name of the returnee must be stated.

Anyone who has paid a cancellation fee, qualifies for a 10% discount off their next booking that is at the full rate and/or may be credited towards a further booking, unless stated otherwise by me. 

With the exception of Vista Del Mondo or Posto Del Sole : 

a booking of 2 properties simultaneously attracts a 10% discount off the lowest weekly rate of 1 property, providing that the period booked is for at least 1 week;

a booking of 3 properties simultaneously attracts a 10% discount off the lowest weekly rate of 2 of the properties, providing that the period is booked for at least a week.

Please note that if the Vista Del Mondo or Posto Del Sole apartments are booked simultaneously with any other apartment that is not part of Vista Del Mondo or Posto Del Sole, then, this booking will also attract a 10% discount off the lowest weekly rate of 1 property, providing that the period booked is for at least 1 week. 

Please enquire about our apartments that can be “joined up” to accommodate larger parties because I offer discounted “combi” rates.

Please note that the period from May to Oct inc is almost fully booked by May. Therefore, those of you wishing for a longer term booking in this period should book as early as possible in order to increase your chances of a long period being available in one apartment. Otherwise, you can move from one apartment to another, and, include a break in your stay, should you wish, without losing the discounted rate for the weeks booked in total.

ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT SOMETIMES I OFFER PROMOTIONAL RATES : A PROMOTIONAL RATE IS NOT COUNTED AS A DISCOUNTED RATE, NEITHER IS IT COUNTED AS A FULL RATE AND, THEREFORE, DOES NOT ATTRACT THE DISCOUNT OF A FULL RATE BOOKING.

SCAM :

Sometimes I receive scam email whereby someone asks to pay more than they need etc and in an unorthodox manner. In order to avoid wasting time, the only method of payment I accept for an advance payment is an electronic transfer in sterling or euros (depending on the circumstances at the time) or Western Union or Moneygram in euros for the exact amount I have requested. Please note that until I receive the payment into my account, the booking remains unsecured.

CONFIRMING AND PAYING FOR YOUR BOOKING :

As soon as I receive your credit card details or a commitment to pay a 25% deposit, by e-mail or phone, for a booking of less than 1000 euros, OR, a commitment to pay a 25% deposit, by e-mail or phone, for a booking of 1000 euros +, the payment to be in sterling or euros, via Paypal or electronic transfer (or, Moneygram or Western Union, if you are familiar with either), your booking is secured.

Please note that Moneygram and Western Union has received some bad press in recent times. While I, and all my guests to date, have been totally happy with the service that both Moneygram and Western Union provide, please do not use either of these services without satisfying yourself that either is a good way for you to send money.

Your confirmation details will include all the arrangements for meeting you, including the probability of picking you up from the station and dropping you back re your return journey, if you have booked an apartment in central Spoleto. This service could be unavailable in exceptional circumstances eg the car being serviced etc. However, to date, this service has had no interruptions.

If you are booked into Rubbiano House, Strettura Castle, La Passionata, La Romantica, Mount Olive Cottage, Il Castello, L’Arco, Posto Del Sole, Vista Del Mondo or Villa Marianna, then, you are required to be in possession of a car. If you are booked into Spoleto By The Pool, then, a car is highly recommended.

On arrival, I ask that you pay the total amount, or, balance due, in cash, in euros. Or, after you have paid an initial amount on arrival, you can make special arrangements with Laurie to pay the balance at a later stage during your stay. We do not accept travellers’ cheques – too difficult to cash in the banks round here. And, there are plenty of Bancomat and ATM machines from which you can withdraw cash at any time of the day or night. On receipt of the cash, I give you a receipt. 

EXCEPT FOR RUBBIANO HOUSE, POSTO DEL SOLE, VISTA DEL MONDO, L’ARCO OR STRETTURA CASTLE, WHERE WE DO NOT ACCEPT BOOKINGS FOR LESS THAN THE WEEKLY RATE:

bookings for less than a week, but not less than 3 days, are calculated on a daily base, pro-rata the weekly rate plus an extra daily tariff, the total not to exceed the weekly rate and not to be below 350 euros. This is because the main overheads are the same on a daily basis as they are for a week.

Il Castello is a big house and, therefore, the rate for a minimum of 3 days is calculated pro-rata the weekly rate plus 50 euros a day;

for 1 or 2 days, the rate is the same ie 420 euros, unless it exceeds the rate for a 3 day booking. Then, it is whichever is the lesser. 

Spoleto By The Pool has large, manicured grounds, 2 large stone BBQs + seating area, a Jacuzzi and a pool and, therefore, there is much upkeep required : the rate for a minimum of 3 days is calculated pro-rata the weekly rate plus 50 euros/day – bookings not taken for less than 3 days.

The pro-rata weekly rate for daily bookings plus the extra daily tariff should not exceed the higher average weekly rate if the rate should span across different price bands. 

Days in addition to a week are costed pro-rata the weekly rate. 

DIVIDING YOUR STAY BETWEEN ONE APARTMENT AND ANOTHER EG A TOWN AND COUNTRY EXPERIENCE :

a booking of at least 2 weeks will attract the usual discounts, irrespective of whether the stay is divided between more than 1 apartment and irrespective of whether the stay is interrupted eg, you could stay for 1 week, go somewhere else, and return for another 2 weeks and still attract the same discount; 

if the stay in either or all of the apartments is not less than 1 week, then, there is no extra charge;

if the stay in any apartment is less than 1 week, then, the cost for that part of the stay will be calculated identically to the cost of booking on a daily basis - please see Booking On A Daily Basis – above, unless part of a specially discounted offer;

the cost for the rest of the stay will be calculated at the weekly rate and days in addition to the week will be costed pro-rata the weekly rate.

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR BOOKINGS BETWEEN DEC 21 – JAN 3 INC :

RUBBIANO HOUSE, POSTO DEL SOLE, VISTA DEL MONDO + VILLA MARIANNA ARE BETWEEN 2000 - 3000 EUROS/WEEK MINIMUM DURING THIS PERIOD – PLEASE ENQUIRE RE EXACT WEEKLY RATE.

IL CASTELLO IS 1000 EUROS/WEEK.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR THE REST OF THE HOLIDAY PROPERTIES, FROM DEC 21 – JAN 3 INC, THERE IS AN EXTRA TARIFF OF 100 EUROS FOR ANY PERIOD BETWEEN THESE DATES.  DURING THIS PERIOD, BOOKINGS WILL BE CHARGED AT THE WEEKLY RATE, EVEN IF YOU WISH TO BOOK FOR LESS THAN A WEEK.