Holiday Rental FAQs

The most frequently asked questions about renting a 'home away from home' Holiday Rental property.

1. What is included in the rental rate?
2. What should we take with us that may not be in the property?
3. Will a security deposit be required when we check-in?
4. What happens if we have a problem or don't know how to use something?
5. Will the property be what we expect and what we booked?
6. Can we add optional rental property items to our booking?
7. What is the temperature of a private swimming pool likely to be?
8. HOME AND APARTMENT FAST RENTAL FACTS - Our information guide to renting a property.

1. What is included in the rental rate? Answer: The price is fully inclusive. Rental Tax varies between countries and locations but is included in the rental cost to you and paid by the property owner. The property will be cleaned ready for your arrival and cleaned again when you leave. Interim Maid Service if required is at extra cost and will be provided by the local Management Agents (may require advance arrangements).
   
   Optional Extras that can be pre-booked will be shown during our online booking check-out process, everything else is included. Local phone calls are usually free (or for a small callcharge) and we recommend you use a phone card for long distance or international calls (free in some properties) rather than use a property telephone. You may have the option of having calls charged to your credit card but beware - calls this way could be expensive. Also we would caution you not to leave your credit card open to a telephone service provider to just charge your card for calls during your stay - it may sound convenient and if you do this we suggest you make sure you know exactly what the call rates will be and keep a record, even so it will be almost impossible for you to follow up if you have a query on the cost of calls charged to your card.
   
   
2. What should we take with us that may not be in the property? Answer: The property will have everything you would normally need, linens, bedding, kitchen utilities and cutlery, plates, cups, etc up to the maximum number of persons accepted. It is literally like a home from home. What it will not have is items of a personal nature, beach towels and electrical items that you might normally take for granted. Take hair-dryers, CD players, etc with you and don't forget you will need adaptors for them.

Some properties will include a welcome arrival pack but - unless advised otherwise - do not expect washing up liquids or cleaning material, these are rarely provided, unless left (and not removed by the cleaners) by the previous guests. You will need to buy washing up liquid, dish-washer liquid (be sure to get - and use! - dishwasher liquid) and washing powder. NB: Some management agents will provide a cleaning preparation kit if pre-ordered.

3. Will a security deposit be required when we check-in? Answer: Yes. Usually this requirement will take the form of a credit card imprint in much the same way as if you were staying in a Hotel or renting a car.  Sometimes we will take this from you before you leave to expedite your arrival into the property or you will be required to provide the security to the Property Management Agents.  Either way on all rentals a security deposit/guarantee in some form or other will be required. You will be charged for any extra charges brought about during your stay which could include the cost of rectifying accidental damage or excess cleaning if required after your departure. In a nutshell the property should be left in the same condition as you found it apart from requiring reasonable cleaning. Acceptable Credit Cards are normally Mastercard or Visa, some agents will accept American Express. Your contract with regard to any extra charges will be with the property owner or the local management agents. If we hold/collect the security from you then we do so on their behalf.
   
   
4. What happens if we have a problem or don't know how to use something? Answer: All properties are individually owned and both the owner and the property management agent have prepared the property for rental use and therefore everything should be in order and ready for you. There will usually be an introduction book to the property with information about the property itself and local facilities and other such information. If anything is remiss (or as is often the case ‘seems’ remiss) then the property management agents are on hand to help you and we provide you with their contact number with your vouchers and arrival instructions - please do not hesitate to contact them.
   
   
5. Will the property be what we expect and what we booked? Answer: Yes, most definitely. The vast majority of clients are more than pleased with the properties and in most cases the standard and situation over-exceeds expectations. All the properties are described exactly as they are and you have the pictures to judge exactly what you are getting - obviously standards do vary and that is one of the reasons why you have or will be deciding to book an individual property. In the individual descriptions we provide you with will be the information you need to assess a property in line with your own expectations. You will know exactly where you are going to be staying and for clients that require the peace of mind to know the property in advance then booking an individual property is the way to go.
   
   Worth mentioning however is the need to book early, you will be very unlikely to be able to hand pick a property if booking late, especially so on peak dates unless you get lucky and manage to get in on a cancellation.
    
6. Can we add optional rental property items to our booking? Answer: Baby items such as Crib and High Chair should be requested at the time of booking. Grocery Packs are not really necessary these days given the number of shops and supermarkets nearby to all but can 'sometimes' be arranged if required (Look out for this during the check-out process).

Pool heating should always be reserved at the time of booking for the convenience of good administrative purposes with the property management company. Adding pool heat locally - waiting to see the water temperature - is not a very practical idea and will nearly always prove to be a false economy.  Pool heating must be booked for entire period of the stay and once ordered from a property owner may not be cancelled or changed in any way.

If you ask for any these extras to be added on after your online booking has been received there will be an administration fee of £25 (per request).  For late bookings, within 8 weeks of arrival, requiring full payment, we will deal with everything at the time of booking.

7. What is the temperature of a private swimming pool likely to be?  Answer: This will vary between your choice of location and the time of the year – the air and overnight temperatures have a profound effect on the temperature of the pool water and you should also be aware that heavy rain can nullify the effects of pool heating.  It is unrealistic to expect the pool heating to warm the water more that say 8ºC above the average air temperature, therefore if the average air temperature is say 12ºc then the pool temperature is unlikely to reach a comfortable temperature.  In reality, not much different from any other pool in any typical holiday destination in Southern Europe.
   
   The day/overnight medium temperatures in the summer months may be high enough to make the pool comfortable for most people between April/May and September/October without pool heating, in which case pool heating as an option will not be available. NB: During this period the pool water temperature should be in the region of 75/80 degrees F – comfortable for most of us.
   
   Solar Heat will extend the spring and autumn seasons by a few weeks and make the pool a little warmer in the summer; in the winter months it will make virtually no difference. Pool heating is therefore recommended between the winter months of November/March and should definitely make the swimming pool much more pleasurable. In most Countries October and April are the in-between months when you may or may not need the heating. Winter months pool water temperature with pool heat and overnights of 60 degrees+ F should continue to maintain the pool at comfortable levels, around the 75/80 degrees F mark. However, it must be pointed out that lower overnights will very much affect the heating, and very low overnight temperatures, 50 degrees F or less, will probably nullify most of the pool heat pumps efforts entirely.
   
   NB: Sometimes paying a supplement for pool heating may not prove to be of much value and if this is the case - for any reason whatsoever - including inclement weather, no refund will be offered (or claimable).  The exception to this policy would be equipment failure.
    
8. HOLIDAY RENTAL PROPERTY FAST FACTS:
   Rental Properties are all individually and privately owned so that although essentially they may seem to be very similar, which in many respects they are, each owner will have furnished and equipped the property to their own specification. Below is a guide to the standard facilities that each property will have, together with some helpful information designed to assist you to maximise your enjoyment and stay in the home or apartment.
   
   Home or Apartment overall: Properties are comfortable and well furnished, generally to a very high standard, all will have a lounge and/or family rooms, dining area/table and breakfast area. Most all should have air-conditioning, telephone and parking. Each property should have an information book about the property, the management agents and local tourism information. If anything in the home appears not to work it will nearly always be because it works differently!
   
   Entertainment: At least one television with standard channels, extra cable channels on most.
   
   The Kitchen:  Well-equipped featuring as standard: oven, refrigerator, micro-wave, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, iron, ironing board and property cleaning equipment. Most properties also have a separate utility area. NB: Some apartments and condos will have communal facilities for cleaning clothes if there is no washer and dryer.
   
   Bed Linen and Towels: Fully equipped with bed linen and towels. Take your own towels for the pool and the beach.
   
   Swimming Pools: Depending on the location private swimming pools may be open or screened-in, usually depends on the humidity of the local area – lower humidity = open pools, higher humidity = screened-in pools.  The average size of a home pool is 30’ in length and 15’ in width; depth is usually from 3’ to 6’. No diving in private pools. Communal pools are much larger; most - but not all - are heated in the winter months, and are not screened-in. All swimming is at your own risk and children should be supervised at all times.
   
   Pool Solar Heating: By the suns rays via solar panels on the roof. The water is dependent on the sun shining and the day/overnight air temperatures.
   
   Pool Electric Heating: Heat pump is used to compress air and extract heat & transfer to pool water; temperature is very dependent on overnight air.
   
   Pool Gas Heating: Propane gas is the most effective but most expensive way to heat a pool. Once again it is dependent on overnight air temp.
   
   Finding the Agents or Property: We will provide you with detailed arrival instructions either direct to the property or to the property management agents. We will have enclosed a local map with directions showing one or the other, sometimes both. When you check-in with the agents they will provide you with a local map and directions to the rental property.
   
   Arrival: Earliest check in time at the property management agents is usually 4pm, the same time even if you are going directly to a property. The property will then have been thoroughly cleaned and prepared in readiness for you.
   
   Rental Home Security Deposit: Your accommodation is professionally looked after by the property management agent. They will require a security deposit on check-in, if this has not been done through us in advance. Please ensure you have sufficient funds on your credit card or cash/travellers cheques to cover this requirement. Most management agents will not actually charge your card but keep it on file pending any extra charges. If you lodge cash or travellers cheques you will have a wait for the refund and it will probably be with a foreign cheque – highly inconvenient!
   
   Check-out: Please observe the check-out time, usually 10 or 11am, the management agents cleaners will probably be ready to start at any time after your check-out time ready for the next arrival, which may be the same day.
   
   Key return: If you have a property key, or keys to return, remember to leave them in the property before leaving, return them to the property agents or take them home with you to return to us, as per your instructions.
   
   Extra Charges: You are liable to be charged extra if any of the following circumstances apply to your stay:
   
   ! If you leave the property in a state where ‘extra’ cleaning is required, other than normal cleaning requirements.
   
   ! If you do not return the property key(s) as per the instructions you were given.
   
   ! If there are any spillages, breakages or damages. If there are it is best to sort it out with the agents on the spot. Normally a simple replacement or quick clean is all that will be needed.
   
   ! Blockages caused to toilets by disposal of anything other than normal waste, pipes in many Countries are very narrow.
   
   ! Excessive use of the air-conditioning; keep the doors and windows closed when the air conditioning is on.
   
   ! Any long distance telephone calls charged to the property account during your stay.
   
   ! Any misuse of pool or jacuzzi/spa heating facilities that have not been paid for in advance.
   
   We hope the above has proved helpful and look forward to you booking your Holiday Rental accommodation with us.