Dear Customer,

In our website you can find a description of our properties, all of which we view ourselves and in relation to which we provide you with as much information as possible. Please also read the following information attentively. They apply to all of our offers and complement the individual descriptions of the properties and localities. Their purpose is to provide you with information on the content of our services. Please also note that our information apply to all of the properties and locations offered by us and that you can only expect what we describe in detail below, and that we provide our services in accordance with this information. By providing this information we would also like to avoid any misunderstandings and spare you any disappointment.

And while we have the chance, we have another request. After your stay we will ask you to rate the property and the service we provide. Please get back to us with this information. We will forward your comments on the property to the owners and will insist that any weak points be improved.
Please write your entry in the online guest book; there is one guest book for each property. Your experience will be of great value to future guests!

Keywords in alphabetical Sequence

Age of property

Obviously, you know that not all of the holiday properties can be new. If we have not provided a specific year of construction, you cannot assume that the property was recently built. Please note the difference between the year of construction and the year when (partial) renovation work took place. Where older properties, in particular older villas, are concerned, you must expect that the furnishings (e.g. older types of terrazzo floors, older types of Venetian blinds and windows, doors and locks which are not easy to use, older types of sanitary equipment, etc.) reflect the period in which they were constructed. The ravages of time have left their mark on such properties. This is often the reason why they have their special charm. Some older properties have their own smell, which can be subjectively perceived as muggy, but which is not a negative indication where the sanitation and/or cleanliness of the property are concerned. Older types of houses can become damp, especially those located close to the sea and during rainy or foggy weather. You will have to adapt to these local phenomena!

Beach, beach facilities, quality of water

We cannot provide any details related to the quality of the water at individual beaches because we have no influence in this respect. The water may have been polluted by tar, seaweed, etc. Unfortunately, in some countries it is still the accepted thing for sewage to be discharged into the sea. We can only provide details of the quality of the beach as we found it at the time when we viewed it. Wind and waves are always causing changes in this respect. Sand can be washed away, while a powerful storm can wash up litter and seaweed. A sandy beach can become a beach with too much shingle. Most of the beaches are public beaches and are not as a rule cleaned on a regular basis. The locals also like to visit the beaches.

Beds 

Soft or hard, too long or too short, too narrow or to wide. Problems can always occur in this respect. Please expect local, sometimes unusual, occasionally also problematic furnishings. The beds in holiday homes are as a rule unsuitable for very tall or heavy people or for people with physical handicaps.

Building work

Building work is the worst kind of problem that any holidaymaker can face. If we know of any building work being undertaken while the brochure is being published, we will obviously inform you about this in the description of the property. If we subsequently hear about something, we will let you know when we receive your booking request or when your booking is being confirmed. Should your holiday really be ruined by your suddenly having to cope with building work, we will always endeavour to find a suitable solution for you by proposing a replacement offer or, if necessary, by cancelling the contract fee of charge. If building work is a problem for you, you should contact us before you book your trip. Building work is taking place in all of the countries in which we offer properties, so you must expect that building work can begin in the short-term even if building work can cause real problems only in a small number of cases. Please also see the information on public works.

Distances

Details related to distances are always approximate. They do not always refer to the most convenient route and we cannot take into consideration changes such as diversions, road blocks or other types of obstacles created in the short-term or caused by the weather. Details of distances, in particular in relation to beaches with dunes or beaches located in front of forests or meadows, do not refer to the water's edge. Details on distances to areas do not necessarily refer to the centre of the area in question or local sights or shopping opportunities.

Early part and late part of season

There are often misunderstandings with regard to what is meant by the early part and the late part of the season. This can vary greatly from one holiday destination to the next. We would be pleased to provide you with related information and can usually offer you particularly reasonable prices during these periods. However, restrictions must in turn be accepted during the early part and the late part of the season. You must expect that local tourist facilities and other types of facilities, restaurants and businesses will be closed in the short term or permanently. An increase in the amount of private and public building work being carried out must in particular be expected during the early part and the late part of the season.

Furnishings

Please do not assume that the property contains very specific furnishings because of its price or the standard indicated (e.g. villa or modern or high-quality). The properties contain the type of furnishings promised and listed by us. Sometimes more, but sometimes not. The functionality and standard of the furnishings may be simple even if the property is high-quality. Anyone expecting luxury household appliances in a luxury property may be disappointed.

Garden furniture

Garden furniture is subject to much wear and tear caused by use and the weather. This is why it can almost never be totally new. Layers of rust are inevitable, especially when the property in question is located close to the sea. The quality of use and comfort are seldom in accordance with northern European standards. If garden furniture is mentioned in the description, this means garden stools and a garden table. If a sunbed and a parasol are available, they will also be mentioned.

Heating system

The actual description of the property contains a direct reference to the heating system insofar as the properties offered by us contain a heating system. Should the description not contain any such details, you cannot as a rule expect that a heating system is available or is being operated.
Please note that heating periods are regionally regulated by law in Italy. The actual situation in Tuscany for example: Unless new regulations take act, in Tuscany the heating can be used only from November to the end of April (8 hours a day). Outside of this period the possibility of using the heating and the cost of such must be determined directly with the owner or his/her representative.

Insects

One must always expect to find insects in southern countries, in other words in the destinations offered by us. This applies above all to properties located at ground level and has nothing to do with cleanliness.

Kitchen 

The kitchens in our properties are furnished in accordance with local standards and appropriately. Independently of the price of the property, you can only expect to find particularly comfortable furnishings if we have actually provided a description of these. You will in particular not find or be able to use any appliances (e.g. dishwasher, microwave oven) not expressly listed by us in the description.

Leaves

Leaves are only found where there are trees which, e.g., provide shade. They cannot be removed from the pool and from the terrace on a regular basis and are often only removed once a year. We have to disappoint fans of English lawns!

Local standards

We value our guests as flexible and open-minded people. You must, therefore, know that most things in our properties are not the same as they are in your home. This applies to all norms such as building standards, staircases, windows, locks on doors, banisters, furniture, sanitary facilities and electrical equipment.

Neighbours

'You must ask your Neighbour if you shall live in peace.'
Obviously, we try to ensure that the properties offered by us are located in nice neighbourhoods. However, we have no influence on your neighbour's behaviour, be it good or bad, and in particular no influence on their activities such as barbecues, music, the noise level, etc. Unfortunately, problems occasionally arise in this respect, which you have to solve by means of friendliness and diplomacy.

Noise

Sensitivity to noise is a very subjective matter. The information we provide refers to a 'city person's' average sensibility. You can only expect the location to be a quiet one if we have described it as so in our description of the property. In this respect, information related to a quiet location can only refer to the usual conditions and cannot take special circumstances (e.g. loud fellow holidaymakers or neighbours, re-routing of traffic, unusual wind and weather conditions) into consideration. The amount of traffic on public roads fluctuates and can thus sometimes be heard more than at other times. For this reason properties located beside public roads can never be quiet. Like you, other guests and residents have to come and go and may do so at times to which you are not accustomed and without the type of consideration shown by you.

Nuisance caused by smells

As in your own home, smells can occur at any time and in any place, which neither we nor the owner can do anything about. The anti-siphon trap in your bathroom at home may also smell when the weather situation is bad. Such problems occur frequently in southern countries with different sanitary and drainage standards. They are not a sign that the property has not been cleaned properly or of insufficient drainage or waste disposal. Such problems can as a rule be solved with goodwill and by letting a large amount of air into the property. In this respect, please see the information on the age of the property.

Owners

Owners can be problematic. We will indicate if the owner of a particular property lives on the same property, has joint use of facilities on the property or occasionally enters the property. However, changes can occur in this respect without prior warning. No ill will is usually meant, such changes resulting from a different interpretation of neighbourliness or hospitality or justified fears on the owner's part related to the property. Not every guest behaves as good as you will. If a slight disturbance could cause you problems, we recommend that you receive special advice with regard to a suitable property.

Public transport

Where public transport is concerned, we can as a rule only provide details of the conditions prevailing when the brochure was being created. In this respect, one must always expect cancellations and changes.

Public works

Unfortunately, you are no more immune to public works and the associated nuisance caused by noise and dust, re-routing of traffic, etc. while on holiday than when you are at home. You can also come across pubic works in our holiday resorts. We have no influence on this sort of work and cannot prevent it from being carried out. However, obviously we will let you know if such conditions exist when you are booking your holiday with us or before you leave for your holiday.

Rust 

Rust occurs naturally and is unavoidable in countries with a Mediterranean climate, in particular in countries located close to the sea. Layers of rust are almost inevitable on outdoor equipment, garden furniture, etc.

Safety

No one can guarantee protection against break-ins or theft, and neither can we. As a rule you will not find locks and bolts in accordance with northern European standards or in accordance with our ideas of safety. This does not mean that you can expect break-ins or thefts. However, you should not have any fears in relation to safety and consider it a priority.  In most cases the related local standards are not in accordance with northern European standards.

Sanitary facilities

The sanitary facilities are at the very least in accordance with local standards, but please do not expect the standards found in new buildings in northern Europe.

Shopping facilities 

We will indicate the shopping facilities we are aware of when we are printing the brochure. The distances to the shops are estimates and approximate, and naturally vary in relation to different shops of the same type. The opening hours and range of goods on offer can change at any time. Some shops may also be permanently closed. Unfortunately, we cannot carry out detailed checks once the internet presentation has been published. At your request we will make enquiries in the locality and send you up-to-date, non-binding information.

Size of the property

We ascertain and publish the size of the properties as accurately as possible. However, we have to disappoint fanatical fans of northern European standards. We cannot comply with those types of standards. We cannot and do not want to add to the price of our properties in the form of surveying-related expenses. The information we provide is thus approximate and, in relation to the size of plots of land, swimming pools, gardens, etc. constitutes estimates and not measured quantities. We provide details of the actual space, not the usable space. This applies above all to plots with plants and plots located on slopes.

Swimming pool

An outdoor swimming pool can never be wholly clean or clear. The balancing act between a sufficient amount of chlorine or too much chlorine and circulation of the water is a difficult one and is not always successful. You should not be over-sensitive and not expect the same standards of hygiene as you find in swimming pools at home (which are often much more problematic!). Sand, insects and a thin dust and pollen film on the water are things you will have to adapt to. We cannot promise that the swimming pool will be monitored on a regular basis; if this is the case, we will indicate it in our description of the property. Swimming pools are only heated in wholly exceptional cases and only when details of this service are provided.

Wind-borne sand

This problem, which occurs close to sandy beaches, is one that simply cannot be overcome. Even when the property has been cleaned as much as possible, crunchy sounds can still be heard in the house, in the bathrooms and sometimes in the bedrooms too. This is the price to be paid for sandy beaches and one that is also paid by the locals!