FAQs for Spain
We have personally selected a range of properties from which you can choose to stay in to enjoy the fascinating and delightful regions of Andalucia, Costa de la Luz, Cantabria, Asturias and Mallorca. Many of our houses are lovingly restored and refurnished by their owners and contain some of their own personal belongings. Some of our properties are grand houses with swimming pools and some are small, simple and cosy - but all are honestly described. Some of our houses are in villages, some on the outskirts, others in the country and a few that are quite isolated. The location of each property is given in each description and we would ask you to read this carefully as well as the individual details.
Villas By The Day
Easy and convenient
Spanish Affair is delighted to introduce you to our programme of villas in Spain that can be booked on a daily flexi basis. This is ideal for clients who want their villa rental to fit conveniently into their travel arrangements by flight, train or ferry. During February, March, April, May, June, September, October and November many of our villas can be booked for any duration, arriving on any day of the week and departing on any day. There is a minimum rental period of 4 days and a daily rate is shown so that you can easily calculate your final price – you can for example stretch your one week holiday into 10 or 11 days, your two week holiday into 16 or 17 days; or if you only have a short period free from work just go for 4 days. Villas that can be booked “by the day” on this flexi basis have daily rental only prices shown in blue so that you can easily identify them.
Restrictions
Andalucia, Costa de la Luz and Mallorca: During the Easter (22/3-4/4), Half Term (24/5-30/5), July/August School Holidays (5/7-12/9) and Christmas (20/12-2/1) you are restricted to reserving a 1 week or 2 week Saturday to Saturday rental, since we know that this is suitable for virtually all of our clients.
Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia: During Easter (20/3-2/4), Half Term (22/5-28/5) and July/August School Holidays (3/7-10/9) and Christmas (18/12-31/12) you are restricted to reserving a 1 week or 2 week Thursday to Thursday rental, since we know this is suitable for virtually all of our clients.
Villas By The Week
A number of our properties can only be booked on a weekly basis and the “changeover” day is always a Saturday for Andalucia, Costa de la Luz and Mallorca and Thursday for Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. Spanish Affair have in the past chosen these “changeover days” as the most convenient arrival and departure day for clients wishing to stay in a villa for one of two weeks. Many of our villas continue to be booked on this basis and during the periods of Easter, Half Term, July/August and Christams all our villas are booked on this basis.
Check-in & Check-out
Your check-in time on arrival will be 5:00pm-7:00pm and check-out on departure will be 9:30am.
Welcome Packs
In all areas except Mallorca and the Lecrin valley, food Welcome Packs at £30 each can be provided on arrival at your proprety with such essentials as bread, eggs, coffee, fruit juice, cheese, cereals, etc. For £40 the Pack will also include wine and beer. Please indicate your requirements.
Security Deposits
You will normally be asked for a security deposit on arrival of between £100 - £150 (equivalent to 145€ - 218€ approx). The currency payable is in either £ sterling or € depending on the property. This is payable to the owner/keyholder and serves as a security against any minor breakage or damage to the property or its contents. Any extra local charges that there may be for electricity or gas will be deducted from this deposit on departure. There are occasional exceptions to the above which can be advised to you upon enquiry.
Electricity Costs
Electricity costs are included in the price of your holiday.
Cleaning
Your property is cleaned in between rentals and is prepared for your arrival. You should expect however to spend about one hour with the owner or keyholder prior to your departure in the morning so that they can inspect to their satisfaction the state of the property in their presence. Although the property is prepared after your departure for the next clients, you are expected to have tidied the property and left it in good order.
Insurance
Your holiday price does not include personal holiday insurance cover; it is important that you do purchase this at the same time as you book your holiday, or that you already have a valid annual insurance cover. In particular you should be aware that, whilst you are renting one of our properties, you are responsible for it and may be held liable for any damage either to the property or it's contents. You should therefore ensure whatever insurance cover you organise that it does provide protection against liability from accidental damage to the property; normally this is shown under the personal liability cover of the policy.
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools will be in full use and maintained as follows:
01 April - 31 October in Andalucia, Lecrin Valley, Costa de la Luz and Mallorca.
01 May – 30 September in Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia
Outside these dates it may be possible to prepare a pool for use; clients should specifically request this at the time of booking and may have to pay additional costs for this service.
Out of Season Rentals: 01 November - 31 March
You will only be offered on our web site properties for out of season rentals that are suitable for renting during this period of the year. You can assume therefore that any property that is offered does have suitable heating facilities.
Blankets, Sheets and Towels
Adequate blankets, sheets and towels are provided in each house. However clients will need to take their own beach towels as they are not provided by the owners.
Pets
Clients are kindly asked not to take pets to our properties, even though EEC regulations have recently relaxed quarantine requirements.
Prices
Each property has a weekly rental price shown in both £ sterling and €. The actual price that you will be charged will be in £ sterling; the € price is shown for your guidance only and has been calculated at £1=1.30€
Booking
In order to reserve your property rental you will be required to pay a deposit of 30% of your rental costs. If you wish to book "on-line" this payment should be made by credit card or switch card. If your holiday starting date is less than 10 weeks away you will be required to pay the full amount.
Cancellation
Any client cancelling a booking must do so in writing (by recorded delivery post) but the following charges apply, the weeks in question being calculated from the date of receipt of the written cancellation in our office:
Over 12 weeks prior to departure: Loss of deposit
12 to 6 weeks prior to departure: 50% of holiday cost
6 to 4 weeks prior to departure: 75% of holiday cost
Less than 4 weeks prior to departure: 100% of holiday cost.
In the rare event of a cancellation by French Affair of a client's booking all monies paid will be refunded immediately and in full whereupon the liability of French Affair ceases. Should a client wish to change his accommodation for any reason French Affair reserve the right to treat such a change as a cancellation and levy the appropriate cancellation charges. It lies within French Affairs' sole discretion to make any refund greater than would result from the application of these conditions, or to forego any claim against a client for any balance due at the time of cancellation. Should a client not pay the balance due by the specified time French Affair reserves the right to cancel the booking and levy the appropriate cancellation charges.
Payments and credit cards
A deposit of 30% of the rental is payable as a deposit in order to make your holiday booking. The balance is due 10 weeks prior to your departure. We accept payment by Visa and Mastercard credit cards. In this instance no charge will be made on the deposit element of your holiday cost; however if the balance is paid by credit card this amount will be subject to a nominal charge of 1.5% as a contribution to the costs incurred.
Tickets
Two to three weeks prior to your holiday you will receive your property details and directions, as well as any travel documents such as ferry tickets, flight tickets, car hire vouchers etc.
