HOW TO BOOK
We are constantly updating our programme and details of any new villas can be seen on this website.  Please study this information carefully and if you wish to make a booking, telephone us, fill in the Enquiry Form or contact your travel agent. We will hold an option for 48 hours, pending receipt of your booking form and deposit. Your booking will be confirmed when the booking form and full deposit are received.

BOOKING DEPOSIT
You can reserve your holiday by sending us a completed booking form and deposits for the villa, flight seats and non-refundable insurance premiums, unless you advise us of your alternative insurance cover. Your booking will be confirmed when the booking form and full deposits are received.  The villa rental deposit is detailed on the booking form, or price guide. You can pay this deposit by cheque, credit or debit card. To keep our prices as competitive as possible, a charge of 1.6% will be added to all credit card transactions. By adding this percentage we do not have to cost into our prices the charges levied by the credit card companies, thus do not penalize those clients who wish to pay by alternative means. 
 

VILLA OCCUPANCY
Villa occupancy begins at 12 noon on the first day of your holiday and ends at 10am the last day, unless otherwise stated in the Price Panel. In the early and low seasons it is sometimes possible to vary the specified arrival day. Pets are not usually permitted although one or two of the villas may accept a well behaved dog, subject to prior written confirmation. Single gender bookings cannot be accepted unless indicated on the villa description when confirmation will be required from the villa owner. ONLY THE PERSONS NAMED ON THE BOOKING FORM MAY OCCUPY THE VILLA and we MUST have all names, titles and initials even if we are not arranging your flights. If for any reason, whatsoever, any additional persons are accommodated during the holiday, they will either be asked to leave the villa or we will deduct the additional rental cost from the security deposit.

PRICES
We act as agents for villa owners and pay only for what is rented, thereby ensuring the best prices for you. We can offer flexible travel arrangements to simplify the process of booking, therefore costing less than a package holiday. Our prices are based on the WEEKLY RENTAL OF THE VILLA and are NOT PER PERSON. Each property description shows the lowest weekly rent applicable to that property. Gas, water and electricity are included in the rental price. Pool heating, air conditioning, heating and logs are at extra cost, unless specified in the villa description.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS
We try to make our descriptions as detailed and informative as possible. "Bathroom" means a bathroom with a bath and "Shower room" means there is no bath but a full size shower. "Cloakroom" usually means a hand basin and lavatory. If the washing machine is for "maid's use only" the maid will usually do your personal laundry, at extra cost, provided you supply her with the washing powder. If we say "car essential" it means that you will be unable to walk to shops or restaurants. If we say "Car recommended" it usually means that there are one or two facilities within walking distance, or that the less agile might prefer to drive. If we state that there is an "enclosed garden", this does not imply safety but indicates that the property has gates and is surrounded by walls, hedges, bushes or a combination of all three. "Barbeques" may be built-in or portable.

SWIMMING POOLS & GARDENS
Swimming pools and gardens are looked after throughout the year. If the villa has a heated pool, the price quoted will include a pre-heating period. The outside air temperature can affect water temperature and we cannot guarantee, nor be responsible for, pool temperatures. It is worth remembering that, if the pool has a cover, this will keep the water a degree or two warmer. The pool maintenance companies and gardeners will need to visit during your holiday but are as unobtrusive as possible. Pool measurements are APPROXIMATE, intended purely as a useful guide and may not be completely accurate. During the summer months depths can fluctuate due to hot weather and constant usage.

LOCAL REPRESENTATION
Properties featured in our brochure have English speaking staff on hand to help with any local information. In addition, a full time Area Manager, based in the Algarve, is available to deal with emergencies. If we arrange flights to Faro Airport on your behalf, our Airport Representative will usually be at the airport to welcome you.

MAID SERVICE & RUBBISH DISPOSAL
The rental usually includes maid service and the frequency is indicated in each villa description. As some maids look after more than one villa, the times of maid service will vary. Her duties are making beds, cleaning and weekly linen change but NOT washing up, cooking, personal laundry or rubbish disposal. If you arrive before 3pm the maid may not have time to finish preparing the villa so please be patient. In Portugal rubbish is taken to council bins, usually found on street corners. As many of the maids do not drive, clients are often asked to dispose of their own rubbish.

CASSETTE/CD PLAYERS & OTHER EQUIPMENT
Please remember to take your own tapes/CD's/video's/DVD's, as these are not provided unless otherwise stated in the villa description. If the villa has a tennis court, racquets and balls are not provided. If there is table tennis or a pool or snooker table, bats, balls and cues are provided.

TELEVISIONS & VCR’s
We cannot guarantee which channels or networks will be available in individual villas. If the villa description simply says 'TV' it will only receive national channels; it may, however, be possible to hire a VCR. 'Limited English channels' usually means you will receive the free to air programmes. 'Range of' means you should receive UK terrestrial stations and 'Wide range of' has additional film, music and/or sport.

EXTRA BEDS, COTS, HIGHCHAIRS & PLAYPENS
Where specified in the villa description, extra beds can be arranged at an additional cost, which is shown on each Villa Price Table. Baby equipment can usually be hired and prices are shown on the Booking Form, but please remember it may not necessarily be manufactured to British standards. Cot linen is NOT provided.

LINEN, IRONS & IRONING BOARDS
Unless otherwise stated, all linen EXCEPT beach towels is included in the villa rental. Irons and ironing boards are always provided.

RECEPTION HAMPERS & WHAT’S INCLUDED
On arrival at the villa, you will find an initial supply of soap, a litre of drinking water and washing up liquid. Lavatory paper is provided throughout your holiday. In order to ensure that our prices remain competitive, we do not include a reception hamper (unless otherwise stated in the villa description). We can usually arrange for a reception hamper, containing groceries to be put into your villa before you arrive. Sizes and prices are quoted on the booking form.

PICTURES
It is not always possible to include interior photographs of all the villas, but our staff will certainly be able to assist you with any queries. In some instances, additional photographs can be seen on this web site. Location photographs may not be in the immediate vicinity of the properties featured on the same page.

VERBAL QUOTATIONS AND RECEIPTS
Any quotations given over the telephone or email by our staff are considered to be provisional and our booking confirmation/invoice will show the definitive price for your holiday. WE DO NOT ISSUE RECEIPTS FOR FINAL PAYMENT UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED. 

SECURITY DEPOSIT
A security deposit is held on all villa reservations. This is payable with the holiday balance and will be refunded automatically approximately 2 weeks after your return, after deduction of any charges claimed by the villa owner and approved by us.

HOLIDAY INSURANCE  (UK RESIDENTS ONLY)
We have arranged a special Holiday Insurance Scheme through Travel & General Insurance Services Ltd., underwritten by CNA Insurance Co. (Europe) Ltd., which we strongly recommend. Confirmation of booking from The Villa Agency is proof of cover and you will receive the full insurance synopsis along with this. PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL NOT BE ISSUED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE POLICY. Cancellation cover commences on receipt of your booking form and deposit. The remaining sections apply to the period of the holiday and the direct onward and return journeys. WE CAN ALSO ARRANGE ANNUAL HOLIDAY INSURANCE - PLEASE ASK US FOR DETAILS.

FINAL PAYMENT & TICKETS
Final payment is required eight weeks before departure. Please note, WE DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF PAYMENTS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED. For bookings within 8 weeks of departure, full payment is required at the time of booking. Tickets and/or final details will be posted approximately 10 days before departure. Please check these very carefully and read all other literature included in the travel documents wallet. No refund can be made in respect of unused portions of air or other tickets, unused accommodation or car hire.

ALTERED BOOKINGS
A charge of £20 will be payable for EVERY alteration made after we have sent the confirmation/invoice. Any names still to be advised within 4 weeks of departure, and name changes will be charged at the carrier's discretion. All amendments MUST BE MADE IN WRITING and accompanied by the relevant fee but please telephone us first to discuss the alterations you may wish to make. Changes of villa, dates or party members will be treated as part or full cancellations.

HEALTH
At the moment, no specific vaccinations are required for travelling to Portugal. For up to date information clients are advised to refer to the Department of Health Leaflet 'Protect Your Health Abroad' available from post offices. If you have recently returned from the Tropics we advise you to check with your doctor as to whether any special vaccinations will be required.
 

PASSPORT, VISAS & DRIVING LICENCES
Please ensure that all members of your party have the necessary visas and permits that may be needed to enter Portugal and re-enter the UK. If in doubt, please telephone the Portuguese Consulate on 0207 581 8722. Remember that it usually takes at least 4 weeks to obtain a British Passport. Passports must be valid for six months from the date of departure. Children under 16 years of age are now required to hold a full British Passport and family passports are no longer issued. However, children under 16 who are already on their parent's passport will not be affected. Child passports are valid for 5 years. In order to drive in Portugal you will need to have a full driving licence.
 

APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIMES
Porto to Lisbon: 3 hours    Porto to Algarve: 6 hours
Lisbon to Algarve: 2½ hours    Faro to Spain: 1 hour

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