Booking Conditions

We accept initial reservations by telephone, fax or email for the current and following year only. UK residents may also correspond by post.

Reservations will be confirmed upon return of the fully completed Booking Form, the deposit or full payment of the rental charge according to the schedule set out in paragraph 6, and the details of a credit/debit card to be provided as security. Until that time no contract or agreement will be considered to exist between us. If significant changes need to be made in the Booking Form after the reservation has been confirmed, an amended set of forms must be completed and returned.

The Party Leader is the person or agency who holds the booking, to whom all correspondence and invoices are addressed and who is responsible for the rental. Spouses' names are not considered interchangeable.

Agencies are regarded as clients and Party Leaders and they or their legal representative must sign all the relevant documents, including the Booking Form, and provide as security a credit/debit card that is the agency’s property (Company Card). Tuscany Now Ltd. shall not have any contract responsibility towards or any direct relationship with the agency’s client. All financial transactions shall be made exclusively between Tuscany Now Ltd. and the agency.

A credit/debit card (the security card ) in the name of the Party Leader must be given as security for the rental and related charges.

The security card will be held for that purpose only and debits will only be applied against the card under the following circumstances (administration charges may apply):

· to settle an outstanding balance, invalid or unpaid cheques, or payments not received according to the Payment Schedule;

· to settle any invoiced amounts that you specifically indicate should be debited against the card.

Should you wish to alter the name of the Party Leader or substitute a different credit/debit card for the one provided in the Booking Form, an amended set of forms must be completed and returned.

The security card must have a period of validity that extends a minimum of 15 days beyond the end of the rental period. If the security card provided expires before that time, a Credit/Debit Card Form with the details of the replacement card must be completed and returned prior to the expiry date, failing which the Accommodation Vouchers will not be released.

The price quoted on the rental Invoice is the contractual rental price (this will be referred to as the Invoice Price). Changes to the prices might occur during the year and updated information posted on our website.
The payment schedule for the rental price is as follows:

· If the initial reservation is received less than nine weeks (63 days or less) before the first day of the rental period, the completed and signed Booking Form must be accompanied by 100% of the total Invoice Price within two working days.

· If the initial reservation is received more than nine weeks (64 days or more) before the first day of the rental period, the completed and signed Booking Form must be accompanied by a deposit of 30% of the total Invoice Price within five working days.

· If the booking is being made for the following year and the initial reservation is received prior to December 15th and more than nine weeks (64 days or more) before the first day of the rental period, the completed and signed Booking Form must be accompanied by a deposit of 10% of the total Invoice Price within five working days. A further 20% of the total Invoice Price is due within seven days of the beginning of the year of the rental. If payment is not received on time, the second deposit amount will be automatically debited against the security card.

· If the booking is being made for the following year but the initial reservation is received after December 15th, the completed and signed Booking Form must be accompanied by a deposit of 30% of the total Invoice Price within five working days. Full payment is due within nine weeks (63 days) of the first day of the rental period.

If payments are not received on time we reserve the right without prior notice to apply the amount due against the security card or to cancel the booking outright and apply cancellation charges.

Payments are accepted in English Pounds only and may be made by credit or debit card or Maestro Switch card (UK only), in accordance with the restrictions set out in the above schedule.

We accept Access, Visa, Visa Delta, MasterCard and American Express credit cards. We do not accept Diners’ Club cards. Payments may be made with a different credit/debit card than the one provided as security.

If, on the day the balance comes due, the value of the pound Sterling drops below Euro 1.40 = £1.00. Tuscany Now reserves the right to impose a surcharge on the total Invoice price.

The Final Bill, which is presented by the owner/caretaker of the property at the end of the rental period, must be paid directly to him/her in Euros (€).

Payments are accepted in United States dollars only and may be made by credit or debit card, in accordance with the restrictions set out in the above schedule.

· US dollar payments made through Visa, MasterCard and Access credit cards may be subject to currency surcharges imposed by the credit card companies that are beyond our control. These surcharges may be avoided by paying with an American Express card or by bank transfer/wire.

· If, on the day the balance comes due, the exchange rate between the UK pound sterling and the US dollar rises to exceed US$2.05 to £1.00, Tuscany Now reserves the right to impose a surcharge on the total Invoice price.

The Final Bill, which is presented by the owner/caretaker of the property at the end of the rental period, must be paid directly to him/her in Euros (€).

Invoices are issued and payments are accepted in English Pounds only. Payments may be made by credit or debit card or Maestro Switch card (UK only), in accordance with the restrictions set out in the above schedule.

If, on the day the balance comes due, the value of the pound Sterling drops below Euro 1.30 = £1.00. Tuscany Now reserves the right to impose a surcharge on the total Invoice price.

The Final Bill, which is presented by the owner/caretaker of the property at the end of the rental period, must be paid directly to him/her in Euros (€).

The Accommodation Voucher package, which includes a list of Extra Services requested, driving directions, contact names and telephone numbers, will be provided once the fully completed and signed Booking Form and the total Invoice Price have been received and no later than three weeks before the first day of the rental period. The Voucher will not be issued if essential information, including group composition, is missing in the Booking Form. Errors or omissions in the Accommodation Voucher must be noted and conveyed to us immediately.

For security reasons, the Accommodation Voucher must be presented and left with the individual greeting you at the property or access may be denied.

The Voucher package also contains the Final Bill which is to be completed and left with the property owner/caretaker at the conclusion of the rental period.

The number of people staying at the villa throughout the rental period must never exceed the number of sleeping places indicated in the property description and in the Accommodation Voucher.

Should the composition of the party as detailed in the Booking Form change prior to the rental period, clients are asked to notify Tuscany Now promptly in writing.

Clients are expected to arrive at the property between 4:00 pm and 7:00pm on the first day of the rental period. If a different arrival time is anticipated, notification must be received in writing at Tuscany Now’s offices well in advance or the owner/caretaker may not be available to permit entry. If an unforeseen delay should occur, every effort should be made to contact the owner/caretaker at the telephone number provided in the Accommodation Voucher. Arrivals after 7:00pm may be subjected to a surcharge of €10 for each hour of delay. Access cannot be guaranteed after 10:30pm.

Upon arrival, clients should inspect the property with the owner/caretaker and ensure that they fully understand the use of any appliances, equipment and utilities. Units on the telephone counter will also be checked in order to determine usage during the rental period as telephone charges are calculated on a per unit basis.

Clients are expected to vacate the property at 10:00am on the final day of the rental period. The owner/caretaker will arrive at the villa at 9:00am for an inspection of the property and presentation of the Final Bill. Should departure prior to 10:00am be necessary, clients are requested to notify the owner/caretaker at the beginning of the rental period in order to arrange an alternative time for the property inspection. If you choose not to be present at the inspection, you will not be entitled to query the Final Bill, and we will automatically debit your Security Card for the amount indicated plus the £20.00 ($20.00 for clients paying in US Dollar) administration fee.

The Final Bill has two sections. The first page lists the specific costs of Extra Services requested and the unit or daily charges for utilities and optional facilities (eg. telephone, central heating and excess electricity consumption); meter readings for these utilities, if available, are to be noted here by the owner/caretaker and the client. The second section, which is completed by the owner/caretaker, details any additional charges such as repairs required as a result of damages caused by the rental party; final meter readings for utilities are noted here together with the resulting charge. It also makes note of those costs which could not be specified at the time of departure, such as utilities for which the property is billed on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and damages or lost articles for which the repair/replacement estimates have not been received in time. The Final Bill is presented by the owner/caretaker at the conclusion of the rental period and is payable to him/her in Euros (cash). Both the Party Leader and the owner/caretaker are required to sign the Final Bill.

Under extreme circumstances only, the amount shown on the Final Bill may be applied to the security card on the understanding that a £20.00 ($20.00 for clients paying in US Dollar) administration fee will be added to the amount due. The fee will be debited against the card in UK sterling at the rate given by the Financial Times of London on the Monday following.

Substantial amendments to bookings, such as a change of dates or properties, or cancellations must be conveyed in writing and are subject to penalty charges as follows:

· Such amendments requested more than nine weeks (63 days) before the first day of the rental period are subject to an administration charge of £20.00 ($20.00 for clients paying in US Dollar) to be debited against the security card together with any difference in the cost of the revised arrangements.

· Notices of cancellation or of substantial amendments received within nine weeks (63 days) or less of the first day of the rental period are subject to a penalty of 100% of the Invoice Price.

· Notices of cancellation received nine weeks (64 days) or more prior to the first day of the rental period, for bookings in the current year or for bookings in the following year made after December 15th, are subject to a penalty of 30% of the Invoice Price.

· Bookings for the following year made and cancelled prior to December 15th are subject to a penalty of 10% of the Invoice Price, provided the notice of cancellation is received at least nine weeks (64 days) before the first day of the rental period.

· Only for those properties which are offered for rental at different prices depending on size of the party group, the booking can be upgraded at any time to accommodate a larger group up to the maximum number or people allowed at that property. The cost of the upgrade is available upon request and acceptance of the upgrade shall be given in writing.
Downgrading for a booking made for a property which offer different prices based on the size of the party group, can be requested only nine weeks (63 days) or more before the first day of the holiday, it is not allowed within nine weeks (63 days) before the first day of the holiday.

· For all other properties no price reductions are allowed in relation to the size of the party

We undertake to notify clients in the unlikely event that we are forced to make changes to their booking. Should a property become unavailable for reasons beyond our control, we will do our utmost to find an alternative property in the same area and of a similar description, and reserve the right to transfer your booking to that property. Should no similar or suitable properties be available, we will refund the full amount paid to us for the rental and additional services but we will not be liable for cancellation charges pertaining to travel arrangements.

The Extra Services available at each property are detailed on our website. Extra Services may be requested up to twenty one days before the first day of the rental period, we cannot guarantee fulfilment of any Extra Services requested as these are provided by third parties. We do our utmost to ensure that the individual engaged to perform the service fulfils their duties in a professional manner but we are not liable for any inadequacies.

Maid service. The maid service included with the property rentals involves cleaning and tidying only. Please note that this service does not cover the making of the beds, cleaning of the kitchen, laundry or ironing. For further details you may contact our extra services department or a member of the sales team. Extra maid service ranges from €10 up to €30 per hour, depending on the location.

Cook Service. Cooking services are charged either on an hourly basis, €15 to €30 per hour plus the cost of the ingredients, or on a per-person basis including food (but not wine), €25 to €70 per person.

Shopping. If you send us a shopping list in advance, before the deadline for booking Extra Services, we shall arrange this for you. Please note that service charges are applicable; refer to our website for current prices. Beyond of the cost of the items themselves, there may be a charge for shopping service (from 8 euro to 20 euro per hour depending on location).

The charge for shopping during your stay is €8 to €25 per hour plus the cost of the ingredients purchased. Please be warned that this service is prone to errors - often in the most amusing ways - due to misinterpretations and substitution of local products for those requested.

Prices serve as a guideline and are subject to change which shall be advised by the owner of the property.

Extra Services may be cancelled without penalty until fifteen days prior to the first day of the rental period, provided notice of cancellation is received in writing. Notice of cancellation of Extra Services received within fifteen days of the rental period are subject to penalty charges and debited against the security card as follows:

Maid service, €4.00 per hour requested
Cook service, €52.00 per meal requested, plus 5.00 euros per person per meal
Babysitting, €25.00 per evening requested
Shopping, 100% of the cost as shown on the receipts.

Extra Services cancelled after arrival at the property will be charged at full rate. The amount will be debited against the security card together with a handling fee of £20.00 ($20.00 for clients paying in US Dollar)

Clients are responsible for ensuring that they hold the proper documentation for their visit to Italy.

17. COMMISSIONS TO AGENCIES (NB This clause applies only to agencies and NOT to clients booking directly with Tuscany Now)

Tuscany Now Ltd. and the agency will agree on a commission percentage based on the rental charges set out in the current Price List. The agreed commission will be applicable to all eventual future bookings and will be in the form of a deduction against the rental charge. No payment will be made by Tuscany Now to the agency but an invoice will be provided to show a cost breakdown.

We have visited and inspected each property. The descriptions contained in our brochure were accurate at the time of publication and made in good faith. Please check the description on our web site as this should be considered the correct description. We decline all responsibility for any modifications made by the owners without our knowledge, or for construction or alteration of the landscape in the vicinity of the property. Clients will be notified in writing of any changes that are made to a property or anticipated/current construction projects in the area if we are made aware of them, and the description will be altered accordingly.

Panoramic views and privacy entail a certain amount of elevation and distance from main thoroughfares so please be prepared for a hill or two along the way. Access roads to rural properties may be rough, twisting and/or bumpy - drivers of low-slung cars should check with Tuscany Now to ensure that access is reasonable. Stated driving times are approximate.

Please note that the information contained in our yearly printed Information Booklet is to be considered only as an indication. The information contained in the Information Booklet was accurate at the time of publication and made in good faith. Please check on the Invoice and on our website as changes might occur during the year and updated information posted on our website.

During unusually dry periods water shortages may occur in rural locations with the result that lawns may become scorched and wells may malfunction slightly and produce odd smells. Likewise, sudden rains can seriously affect roads, drives and stated driving times.

A number of properties are identified as being ideal for families with small children. Our recommendations are based on our inspection of the properties, the positive experiences of past clients and the owner's willingness to accept children at the property. Specific concerns should be discussed with a Tuscany Now sales agent.

Clients with infants and small children should check with a Tuscany Now sales agent if a crib, cot or high chair is available. These may not conform to safety standards and are used at the client's own risk. For sanitary reasons bedding for cots and cribs is not supplied.

Properties are supplied with linens, towels and table ware sufficient for the number of guests indicated in the Booking Form. Fresh linens and towels are provided weekly.

· Charges for heating are applied according to consumption and must be paid locally at the end of the rental period.

· 330 kilowatts of electricity are included in the rental charge. Excess consumption is charged at €0.40 per kilowatt.

· Water and tap hot water are included in the rental charge. We recommend drinking bottled water only.

Should problems arise with the delivery of water, gas, electricity or telephone services, the owner/caretaker of the property will do their utmost to remedy the situation but we cannot accept responsibility for non-delivery due to circumstances beyond our control.

A charge is generally applied for the heating of hot tubs, where available. Please note that this can take several hours.

Swimming pools are generally open between May 15th and September 30th, although this may vary according to the weather and the property owner's inclinations. Clients should check with a Tuscany Now sales agent.

Use of the swimming pool is strictly at the clients' own risk and children should be supervised at all times.

22b. USE OUT OF SEASON OF SWIMMING POOLS

In the event that you require use of the swimming pool outside the period of mid May until the end of September (when all our pools are open) we can pass on your request to the owner. The final decision shall be left to the owner at their discretion; an extra charge of Euro 100 per week will apply payable prior to the rental start date to Tuscany Now Ltd.

The majority of our properties lie within farming or rural areas and livestock or wildlife is frequently present. A number of properties have resident pets, such as dogs, cats or ducks, and while the owners are asked to keep these out of our clients' sight and hearing, we realize that this is not always the case.

Clients' pets are not accepted at any property unless noted in the description. Where accepted, pets are restricted to a single non-aggressive dog and the property owner's permission must be obtained in writing before the booking can be confirmed.

The property will be in a clean and well-maintained state when you arrive, and it is expected that you and your party will keep them so throughout the rental period. If the property has not been left in an acceptable state, the caretaker at his/her discretion may add up to 13.00 per person to the Final Bill for the extra cleaning and tidying required.

The Party Leader is responsible for the decent behaviour of his party. Should the party behave in a manner that is not acceptable, the owner/caretaker has the right to ask you to vacate the premises. No camping is permitted on the property grounds.

If a problem occurs at the property, it is the client's responsibility to notify the owner/caretaker promptly so that he or she may take the action required. If the problem is not or cannot be resolved satisfactorily within a reasonable time frame, the client should contact Tuscany Now by telephone and ensure that they can be reached while the problem is being handled.

The Party Leader is liable for any damages caused to the property, its contents or grounds by any member of the party or the loss of any articles belonging to the property such as mobile telephones. The cost of repairing any damages caused by the party or replacing of any articles lost will be included in the Final Bill, unless the owner/caretaker has been unable to obtain a cost estimate for the repairs before the end of the rental period. In this case, the outstanding issue will be noted on the Final Bill and the security card will be debited for the cost of the repairs/replacement when the estimate is received. In the event of a disagreement regarding the extent of the damage or the cost of the repairs or lost articles, clients must call Tuscany Now immediately and speak directly with a staff member before leaving the property.

Vacating the property without speaking directly to a Tuscany Now staff member will void the client's right to query charges or to claim compensation or refund for costs or rental charges. Tuscany Now will not offer a remedy for any issue, problem or complaint raised after the rental period. And refunds offered shall not exceed the amount of the total Invoice Price.

In all cases where a signature is required by us, we can only accept documents which are manually signed. These can be sent to us via post (UK residents only), facsimile or scanned as an attachment to an email. We cannot accept typed or digital signatures. For all other correspondence, it is agreed that both parties accept documents transmitted by facsimile or electronic means.

Your signature on the Booking Form is taken as a declaration that you hold a valid travel insurance policy as generally available in Europe. For non-European citizens we highly recommend that you obtain coverage for medical and personal liability, as well as loss of luggage, monies and repatriation.

Tuscany Now has a Tour Operators Public Liability Insurance as required by law. At time of printing this is with Royal Sun Alliance Insurance Services Ltd., policy #AF0 71196.

Your contract made under the terms of this agreement is subject to English Law and Jurisdiction. You may however choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you live in those countries.

By completing and returning the Booking Form, you and all members of your party acknowledge full awareness of these Booking Conditions and agree to accept and abide by the terms stated.

We act as booking agents on behalf of named owners of the properties featured in this brochure and on our website, and as such your rental contract is with the relevant owner.

We do not have any obligation to compensate you for any personal injury, death, loss or damage of whatever nature suffered by you (or by any member of your party) save to the extent caused by our own negligence.