La Maison du Petit Jacques Gites Terms and Conditions (2022) 

Booking and Payment

The properties known as the Mirabelle and Rose Gites at La Maison du Petit Jacques, 9 rue des plaisirs, Aumagne 17770 France (“the Properties” or “the Property”) are offered for holiday rental subject to confirmation by La Maison du Petit Jacques and Renée and Alastair Thompson (“the Owners”) to the renter/hirer (“the Client”).

Once a reservation enquiry is confirmed as having been received by the Owners, the Client must pay the initial non-refundable deposit, which will be deemed acceptance of the Terms and Conditions.  Following receipt of the initial deposit, the Owner will email the Client confirming both the reservation of the Property and the outstanding balance, including any Add-Ons (yoga or Pilates classes or wine tastings), the refundable security deposit, and the regional tourist tax (taxe de séjour) based on the number of adults and children entered at the time of booking.  Payment of the balance must be made at least 60 days before arrival date to complete the Booking Contract.

Please note the cancellation policy before committing to a reservation.
A 30% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking.  The only case in which the 30% deposit is refunded is if the Client’s booking is cancelled within 24 hours of the original booking being made. The final payment of the remaining balance is due before or 60 days prior to arrival and includes the refundable security deposit and applicable taxe de séjour based on the number of occupants (Booking Party) during your stay.  We will make you aware of the required payment date via email. Should payment not be received by the required date, we reserve the right to cancel your reservation and keep the initial 30% deposit. 

If the Client decides to shorten his or her stay for any reason after arrival, the Owners are not required or liable to refund any missed days.  In the unlikely event the Owners must cancel a Client booking, we will contact the Client immediately. Any payments made will be refunded in full and we will do our best to help you find accommodation in the local area. Our liability will not extend beyond these conditions. 

All payments to us are paid securely via Stripe or can be paid directly into our French bank account (in Euros only).  Stripe accepts the following payment types: Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Maestro, & American Express.   

Pricing, Taxe de Séjour and Security Deposit

The price for rental of both the Properties gites are nightly, including bed linen and bath towels. There is a 7-night minimum stay from July – August and a 3-night minimum stay at all other times of the year.

The price excludes taxe de séjour, which is a tourist tax payable by adult guests at 2,75 € per person per night for occupants aged 18 and over. This tax, plus a refundable security deposit of 250 €, will be invoiced to you along with your outstanding balance at least 60 days before arrival.  Should there be no additional cleaning or breakage charges applied (as per the damages and breakages clause below), the security deposit will be refunded normally within 10 days and no later than 30 days after departure. 

If booking through other online travel agents, the security deposit isn’t taken at the time of booking, but we reserve the right to request it from the 3rd party company should there be any damages upon inspection  

Arrival and Departure

Check-In is 17h00-21h00 on the day of your arrival.  If you need to arrange a time outside of these hours, please contact us in advance. Check-Out is 10h00 on your day of departure. 

We reserve the right to add a fee of 50% of a night’s stay for any departures after 10h00.  If the rental period is to be shortened by the Client for any reason, the Total Rental Amount will not change and there will be no refund to the Client.  

Damage and Breakages

Please take care of our home. The Client is responsible and liable for any breakages or damages caused by the Client and/or his or her fellow travelers to the accommodation and its contents. The Owners reserve the right to deduct from the deposit the cost of any damage to the property or its fittings and equipment, although the Client’s liability is not limited to this amount. We hope not to have to levy any such charge except in exceptional circumstances. 

Please report any damages or breakages to the Owners as soon as they occur. Please also notify us as soon as possible of any defects in the Property, including breakdown in appliances in the Property, garden or swimming pool.   Arrangements for repair and/or replacement will be made as soon as possible. The Client undertakes to allow maintenance personnel, cleaning staff and the Owners reasonable access to the Property during the rental period for the purpose of repair and maintenance. Complaints as regards any defective or non-functional aspect of the Properties or their facilities cannot be accepted upon or after the Client’s departure.   

Cleaning

Cleaning: The Client agrees to be a considerate tenant and to take good care of the apartment and the facilities. The Client also agrees to leave the property in a clean and tidy condition at the end of the rental period.  A departure checklist will be provided, along with all necessary cleaning supplies.  If extra cleaning is required, a minimum charge of 100 € will be levied. For stays of 2 weeks of more, clean linen will be provided after each 14 days. The Client will be responsible for any other desired washing of linens.  A washing machine is provided in each Property, along with a separate outdoor clothesline for drying.     

Insurance

The Client is strongly recommended to arrange a comprehensive travel insurance policy (including cancellation cover) and to have full cover for the personal belongings, public liability, since these are not covered by the Owners’ insurance. Cancellation of a reservation by the Client is valid only upon written acknowledgement by the Owners. 

Keys

The Client will be provided with two sets of keys for the Property.  Bedrooms do not have individual locks. Lost keys will be charged at €15.00 per key.  

Car Parking

Car parking for up to 2 cars per Property is available at each gite for Client use and is private. All cars parked on the Owners’ property are at the Client’s risk. 

Maximum Number of Guests

The maximum number of people allowed to reside in the Properties is as follows: –Mirabelle: 8 people (including children) Rose: 6 people (including children) If the Client wishes to have friends or family beyond the Booking Party visit the Property, the Owners must be informed at least 48 hours before arrival. Facilities at the Property are only to be used by the Client and those staying in the Properties (Booking Party).  Additional overnight guests are not permitted. Only the number of people stated on the booking form as the Booking Party may occupy the property, even if the maximum occupancy is not reached. 

The Mirabelle Property comfortably accommodates 8 people in four bedrooms.  The Rose Property comfortably accommodates 6 people in three bedrooms.
A baby cot with mattress and waterproof cover can be provided if the Owners are notified at the time of booking.  It is recommended that Clients bring their own cot bedding.  

Cancellation due to Covid-19

We strongly suggest that each member of your holiday party is covered by a comprehensive travel insurance product prior to booking with us.  If you are unable to travel due to government restrictions on travel being in place between France and your country of residence, we will provide you with a voucher for the total amount you have paid. This voucher is redeemable up to 12 months from the date of your original stay. Should your dates be moved from a lower rate season to a higher rate season, payment of the difference will be required to secure your dates. We are unable to refund the difference if your stay moves from a higher to a lower season. Should you decide not to travel for any reasons other than a government order in place either in France or your country of residency, then our standard cancellation policy is applicable.  After 12 months, if the voucher is unused by the Client, the Owners will not be liable for any refunds or re-bookings.  The voucher is non-transferable and can only be used by the Client.  

Swimming Pool

Use of the pool (May to September)
The use of the Owners’ 10x4m swimming pool is strictly at the guests’ own risk. The pool is open from May to September from 10h00 to 20h00 and is cleaned daily.  There is no lifeguard on duty. No diving is allowed.  Guests will be required to sign a form before using the pool specifying they have read and understood Poor Usage requirements.

Glassware, bottles and chinaware are all strictly forbidden.  Plastic glasses are provided in each Property for pool use.  Any glass or chinaware falling or breaking into the pool may require the Owners to empty, clean, and refill the pool, resulting in pool closure and the loss of the Clients’ Security Deposit.

The Owners reserve the absolute right to close the pool or restrict the hours of the swimming use for any period of time in circumstances, which the Owners believe in their absolute discretion to be necessary in the interests of health and safety and are not responsible for any loss or inconvenience that may be suffered as a consequence.

Children are not allowed to enter the pool area unless attended by an adult at all times.  Babies must wear swim diapers to enter the pool. The Owners shall not be liable for any personal injury, loss or damage whatsoever caused as a result of the use of any children’s equipment, toys, balls, barbecue or other equipment left at the Property for use by the Client and their guests during the rental period.

Smoking is not permitted within any rooms of the Properties or the swimming pool area.

Pool towels are available for hire at 5€/towel/stay. Guests are not permitted to use bath towels in the pool area.  Any bed or bathroom linen stained by fake tanning creams or suntan lotions will result in a damage charge to be taken from the Client’s Security Deposit.   

Smoking

The Owners operate a No Smoking policy inside the Properties and around the pool area. Any Client disregarding this condition will forfeit their security deposit.  Please dispose of cigarette ends in a clean and responsible manner.  

Pets

We have a number of animals on the Property including chickens, cats and a dog. We do not allow Clients to bring their pets with the exception of guide dogs, hearing dogs and other assistance dogs. Please do not feed any of the Owners’ animals, as their diet is strictly controlled.  

Add-On Wine Tasting and Yoga & Pilates Packages

If the Client has booked an Add-On such as yoga/Pilates or wine tasting, the Owner will contact the Client as soon as the booking has been received to schedule the class(es).  As noted online, the ‘Yoga/Pilates & Wine Tasting’ class is only available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5pm and the ‘Why Not? Just Wine’ class is available Monday – Thursday at 5:30pm.  There is a minimum of 4 people required for both wine classes, and there is no refund for less than 4 attendees.  Cancellations on the part of the Client will only be refunded with 2-weeks’ advanced notice.  If the Owner needs to cancel for any reason, we will do our best to reschedule for another mutually agreed-upon time or payment will be refunded in full. Advance payment is required to book Private yoga or Pilates classes.  Cancellations must be made more than 48-hours in advance to receive a full refund.  If the Owner needs to cancel for any reason, we will do our best to reschedule for another mutually agreed-upon time or payment will be refunded in full.  To book group yoga or Pilates classes, the Client may enquire upon arrival, although advanced booking is strongly recommended.

Force Majeure

The Owners will not be legally responsible either jointly or individually for any compensation or to refund any deposit paid by the Client if the Owners are prevented from carrying out our responsibilities under this contract as a result of events beyond our control. This means an event the Owners could not, even with all due care, expect or avoid, including: natural disaster; world health; acts of terrorism; malicious damage; keeping to any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction; insolvency or bankruptcy of an Owner; fire, flood, snow or storm; other circumstances affecting the supply of goods or services.   

Client Liability

Use of the Properties and all amenities are entirely at the Client’s own risk. Client’s personal belongings (including motor vehicles) left in or around the Property are entirely at Client’s own risk, and no responsibility will be accepted by the Owners for any loss or damage thereto.

The use of all the facilities of the Property, including the swimming pool and gardens, are entirely at the Client’s and booking party’s own risk.  The Owners shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, injury or death. The Client agrees not to act in a way which would cause disturbance to neighbouring properties.  The Owners reserve the right to require any Client or member of the Guest Party deemed to be acting in an unreasonable or unlawful manner to immediately leave the Properties.

The Client, the Guest Party and their guests at the Properties must not do anything or permit anything to be done that would or may result in the insurance of the Properties becoming void or voidable or the premium increased. The right to use the Properties may be revoked with immediate effect by the Owners before the end of the rental period by the Owners giving the Client notice in the event of the Client being in serious breach of the terms of this agreement. 

Owner Liability

The Owners shall not be liable to the Client for any temporary defect or stoppage in the supply of public services to the Property, nor in respect of any equipment, plant, machinery appliance in the property, garden or swimming pool. Any loss, damage, injury or death that is the result of adverse weather conditions, fire, riot, strikes, war or other matters that are beyond the control of the Owners.

The Owners shall not be liable for loss or lack of a stable internet connection or electronic services. Under no circumstances shall the Owners liability exceed the amount paid by the Client to the Owners for the rental period.

This contract shall be governed by French law in every particular, including formation and interpretation and shall be deemed to have been made in France. Any proceedings arising out of or in connection with this contract may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in France.

If, before the Client’s Arrival date, the Owners are obliged to change a key element of the booking Contract, the Client may, after receiving notification from the Owners in writing:·     
- Terminate the Contract and receive, without deduction, an immediate refund of all sums paid
Or·     
- Accept the change or substitution offered, in which case an amendment to the Contract detailing any changes shall be signed by both parties. Any resulting reduction in costs shall be in the form of a deduction from payments due from the Client, and, in the event of payments already made by the latter exceeding the cost of the revised booking, the surplus will be returned to the Client.

The Owners reserve the right to make changes to the interior and/or exterior of the Properties between the time of accepting the Client’s booking and the date of the Client’s rental period. For example, the Owners may make changes to the décor and colour schemes of our rooms and the Owners cannot guarantee that the Properties or its surrounds will be free from additional structures.