TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND RENTAL AGREEMENT

Your agreement
1) Your agreement as the guest renting the property is with the owner
2) The terms of the agreement are as described on this page
3) The agreement comes into effect when your rental payment (deposit or in full) is received by Swiss-Chalets and the accomodation is listed online

The role of Swiss Chalets
Swiss Chalets are the marketing agents for the property. It is the owner that provides the accommodation, that is responsible for the condition and safety of the property and it’s contents and who provides all items within it

Compensation
Accommodation provided by the owner will be as described on this web site. If this turns out not to be the case and your stay is significantly affected because of this or you have reported a serious problem that cannot be rectified that significantly affects usage of the accommodation then you are entitled to a part refund of the rental. Swiss Chalets will decide the amount of compensation entitled.

Reporting problems
Your accommodation is checked prior to your arrival but if you find a problem that significantly affects it’s usage please report this to Swiss Chalets immediately so it can be attended to. You will not be entitled to compensation if you delay reporting problems.

Accommodation is described in detail on the pages of this website but if a certain standard is required or if certain items or requirements are critical to the enjoyment of your stay then please check out the suitability of your choice with Swiss Chalets during the booking process to avoid disappointment

Health, safety and ease of access
Building standards, health and safety regulations and ease of access to your accommodation may not be the same as the country you live in. In particular, properties in the Alps may have steep stairs and low ceiling heights. Access may be along narrow, unlit, steep roads/driveways and in winter these may be deep in fresh snow or very icy under foot. We advise you to bring footwear that is appropriate for these conditions. If you wish to minimise access difficulties, especially in winter, chose accommodation that is adjacent to a major road or central to the town

You are responsible for:
1) Loss, breakage, spillage or damage that occurs. Please report breakage, damage or loss prior to your departure
2) Day to day cleaning
3) Attending to the items listed as EXCLUDED FROM THE RENTAL PRICE
4) Ensuring that group members comply with house & apartment building notices regarding behaviour, noise and responsibilities

Basic rules
1) No pets unless stated on the page describing the accommodation
2) No smoking inside. If you smoke please do so outside
3) No outside shoes, walking boots or ski boots inside. Please use footwear reserved for inside only

THE BOOKING PROCEDURE
Reserving accommodation and booking it:
When you make an advance payment the monies you have paid remain yours and are held on your behalf on deposit in the BCV bank in Switzerland until your departure date. Only at this point are monies transferred to the owner of the accommodation.
You can reserve accommodation before booking it so you can finalise travel arrangements (use the bank transfer option on the booking form).

Payment Stages
1) When reserving earlier than 10 weeks prior to your arrival – A 30% deposit is require to confirm your booking, 8 weeks prior to your arrival the remaining 70% of the rental cost, plus the refundable damage deposit is due.
2) When reserving later than 10 weeks prior to your arrival – Full payment is required to confirm your booking, including the rental cost and refundable damage deposit.

Methods of Payment
1) Bank transfer – Payments received no later than 10 days prior to your arrival

• Complete the online booking form selecting “Bank Transfer Payment”
• You will receive an email from our booking office confirming the property is available, and explaining how you should proceed with payment. Please note that online credit card bookings are confirmed immediately and are possible 24 hours a day thus on occasion a property you have requested may be booked before our booking office can reserve it for you.
• When you receive the email with payment instructions, you will have one week to complete your payment via bank transfer. During that time, the booking office will put a hold on the property preventing any automatic credit cards bookings via our website for said property.
• If your payment is not received within the week, the hold on the property is removed and the property becomes available for other interested parties.
• Swiss Chalets considers your booking confirmed when we have received your payment –30% deposit or total rental price. Should you choose to pay only the deposit, the remaining balance and refundable damage deposit are due 8 weeks prior to your arrival date.
• You will be emailed the key pick up and arrival instructions when the total rental price, and 1000chf refundable damage deposit have been received.
• Minimum time to allow for bank transfers- 3 working days

2) Credit card – Payments received no later than 1 day prior to your arrival

• Secure credit card payments can be made directly on our website.
• For bookings 10 weeks prior to your arrival date, you can choose to pay a 30% deposit and the remaining balance is due 8 weeks prior to your arrival date.
• For bookings less than 10 weeks prior to your arrival date, you must pay the total rental price.
• For bookings paid in full with a credit card via our website, your 1000chf refundable damage deposit will be automatically charged to your credit card 25 days prior to your departure date. The refundable damage deposit will then be refunded a maximum of 5 days after your departure if no damages have occurred and the property is left clean with the tourist tax on the kitchen counter.
• You will be emailed the key pick up and arrival instructions when the total rental price, and 1000chf refundable damage deposit have been received.

Refundable damage deposit
A refundable damage deposit is required prior to entry into your rental property.
From this damage deposit deductions can include:

• The replacement or repair cost of breakage or damage that occurs during your stay plus a Swiss-Chalets 10% fee for organisation
• Group and date changes that have not been invoiced
• Any un-paid Tourist Tax (plus administration fee)
• Extra cleaning by request
• Extra cleaning required at departure (as specified in “Rent With Us”)
• Bank fees
• Extra items by request (travel cot and high chair)

Returning the damage deposit
The damage deposit you pay is held in Swiss Francs in a non interest bearing account. We cannot keep cash to return to you later as the funds must be deposited. After your stay the Swiss Francs received less deductions are returned by bank to bank transfer and converted to your currency by your bank OR refunded to the credit card used for payment. The amount that shows in your account may be slightly different than the amount sent to you because of exchange rate fluctuations and your banks charges. Bank to bank transfer or refunding the credit card used for earlier payment are the only ways that deposits are returned. To make the transfer our bank requires the information below which we will request by email after your departure or you can provide it sooner if you wish to speed up the process. If you do not provide the details required within 3 months of your departure your damage deposit less costs will be donated to charity.

1) Bank name
2) Bank address
3) Bank Identifier Code (BIC) or SWIFT
4) Account name
5) International Bank Account Number (IBAN)
6) Your home address

The IBAN is a standardized international account number that allows instant recognition of the three main account identifiers i.e. the country, bank and account number. The BIC is used to identify the beneficiary’s bank.

Group size
Is the maximum number of persons staying in the accommodation at any time during the rental period as stated on the availability page of this website.
The maximum number of personnes staying in the accomodation must not exceed the maximum amount stated on the properties description page

Babies
Babies over 6 months old are counted in the group

Cancellation applies when
1) Payment is not made on time
2) You change your arrival date or decrease the duration of your stay later than 3 months prior to your arrival date
3) When you email stating that you are canceling your holiday

Advance notice
If you cancel your booking more than 6 months in advance you will be refunded all monies paid less expenses of 10% (80 CHF minimum) management fees and less the Swiss-Chalet bank charges accepting monies from you and paying monies to you

Cancellation refund of payment if we are able to re-let
1) Every effort will be made on our part to re-let days you have booked if you change dates, cancel your visit , or do not pay the balance on time
2) If we are able to obtain a replacement booking for the days you have cancelled or some of the days, you will receive the rental monies back that you have paid or the income from the replacement booking for those days ( whichever is less) less expenses of 10% (80 CHF minimum) management fees and less the Swiss-Chalet bank charges accepting monies from you and paying monies to you

Cancellation refund if we are unable to re-let
If we cannot re-let your dates we reserve the right to retain payment as follows:
3) If cancelled less than 6 weeks prior to your booked arrival date, the full amount of the rental paid will be retained
4) If cancelled more than 6 weeks prior to your booked arrival date, 30% of the rental will be retained
5) We will refund in full any damage deposit paid and any payments made for services such as extra bedding.

Changes or cancellation by us
If due to circumstances totally beyond our control we are forced to cancel your holiday after you have made your first payment, we will offer you a full refund, but no additional compensation. Personal travel insurance is recommended.

Visa applications
Swiss-Chalets can assist with visa applications for nationals requiring it. If you require such assistence you are responsible for forwarding exact details as to the information required by your country’s authorities. Swiss-Chalets must be given more than 1 weeks notice.

TIMES AND TRAVEL

Arrival and departure times
1) Arrival is 4pm or later unless you have made prior arrangements
2) Departure is 10am or earlier unless you have made prior arrangements
3) If you depart later than 10am you may be charged for that day and the cost of accommodating the next guests

Available methods of travel
1) The nearest international airport is in Geneva. You can arrive by train from ‘Geneva Airport Railway Station’ to Villars & Gryon
2) Our accommodations are in Villars & Gryon which is linked by mountain train and bus to the European rail network and to local villages.
3) You can hire a car in Villars or at Geneva Airport
4) When travelling by train or bus a short taxi ride may be necessary on arrival and departure

Directions to the accommodation, key pick-up and key return
1) As part of our confirmation of your final payment we email a map with directions showing how to get to your accommodation and where to find the key
2) Your accommodation will be available any time after 4pm. Please note as our properties are all self-catering there may not be a representative available to meet you upon arrival
3) If you have problems arriving to your accommodation you should contact the local Swiss Chalets representative

Bringing food, pets etc in Switzerland, see the travel regulations
1) The description page for the accommodation will state under the heading ‘Special Features’ if pets are allowed
2) Read the rules and find out what tax or vat is to be paid at https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home.html

Representative in Villars
 & Gryon
During the booking process you will be provided with the name and contact information for the Swiss Chalets local representative available during your stay.