Booking Terms and Conditions

BOOKING CONTRACT

1. Please read these booking conditions carefully, since they, along with the other information in our brochure, set out the terms and conditions of the contract between you (the person signing the booking form as party leader, and all the other members of the party on whose behalf he or she signs) and Balfour France, a trading name of BIPL Limited, 326 Upper Richmond Road West, London SW14 7JN (“we” or “us”). We act as a booking agent for the accommodation suppliers of the properties featured in the brochure and for our other suppliers, and as such, bookings for their services will form a direct contract between you and the relevant supplier, and will be subject to that supplier’s standard terms and conditions.
2. The contract commences when we have issued the written booking confirmation or, if booking within 28 days of arrival, when we have verbally confirmed and given you a booking reference number. We reserve the right to refuse any booking on behalf of the relevant accommodation supplier.
3. You must be aged 18 years or over when the booking is made and you are responsible for the payments under this contract and for ensuring that all members of your party comply with these terms and conditions and carry passports, visas and other documents required for travel or driving.
   PAYMENT
   
4. The booking form must be accompanied by the appropriate booking deposit.
5. To enable us to pass on your payments to the accommodation suppliers or those acting on their behalf, the balance of the booking price must be paid at least 8 weeks prior to the arrival date, failing which we reserve the right, on behalf of the relevant accommodation supplier, to treat the booking as cancelled by you and cancellation charges will apply (see clause 21), or we may make a late payment charge of up to 2% of the overdue balance. If booking within 8 weeks of arrival the full amount is payable on booking.
6. We will accept payments made by third parties (such as other members of your party), provided they are identified as payments made under this contract. Any repayments which may become due from the accommodation supplier will be made to you.
7. Bank charges on payments by means other than UK Sterling cheques are payable by you.
   THE PROPERTY
   
8. You agree to:
   
   1. treat the property with care and consideration and report any damage or breakages to the caretaker for the property prior to departure or, if significant, as soon after its occurrence as possible.
   2. ensure that no member of your party behaves in a manner likely to cause damage to the property or its contents or offence, danger or distress to others.
   3. leave the property clean and tidy at the end of the rental period otherwise a final cleaning charge will be made.
   4. permit only those listed on the booking form to reside in the property and not to sublet or assign the property or any part of it, nor to exceed the maximum number of people permitted to reside there (as stated in the property details or otherwise agreed by the accommodation supplier and confirmed to you in writing by us). The parking of caravans or pitching of tents is forbidden. Pets are not permitted unless agreed by the accommodation supplier and confirmed to you in writing by us.
9. In the event of a breach of clause 8b) or 8d) above, the accommodation supplier (or those acting on their behalf) reserves the right to ask you to vacate the property and the contract will terminate without refund or compensation. In the case of over occupancy the accommodation supplier may make an additional pro-rata rental charge in lieu.
10. The accommodation supplier (or those acting on their behalf) shall be entitled to inspect the property after giving reasonable notice to you, but no notice will be required if a breach of these terms is suspected or if emergency repairs are required.
    SECURITY DEPOSIT & INSURANCE
    
11. A security deposit is required for all bookings (as an indemnity against breakages, loss or damage to the property its fittings, fixtures or contents, telephone calls and other applicable charges). We will normally be stakeholder for this deposit, in which case it will be payable with the final balance and held to the order of the accommodation supplier. If the accommodation supplier requires it to be paid on arrival we will advise you. In all cases, the security deposit must be lodged prior to handover of keys. Your liability is not limited to the amount of the security deposit and you should ensure that you are adequately insured. The security deposit, less applicable deductions, will be returned to you by Sterling cheque as soon as we are authorised by the accommodation supplier. Deductions will be converted to Sterling at the prevailing tourist exchange rate (as published in the Daily Telegraph).
12. We strongly advise you to have insurance cover for at least the following risks: a) liability for accidental damage to the property; b) cancellation; c) medical & emergency expenses. Personal possessions are not covered by property owners insurance.
    ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
    
13. You must check-in between 4pm and 6pm on the arrival date (unless special arrangements are agreed in advance) and check-out between 8am and 10am on the departure date (all times are local French time). An additional charge may be made for arrival or departure outside these times.
    PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS
    
14. The contents of the brochure have been prepared in good faith. We will inform you of any significant changes at the time of booking or as soon after as possible if you have already booked, but shall not be liable for any minor or insignificant inaccuracy in descriptions and information. We are not responsible for any representation unless displayed on our current website or made by us in writing and signed by a director.
    LIABILITY
    
15. We act only as booking agent for the accommodation suppliers of properties featured in our brochure, and for our other suppliers, and therefore accept no liability whatsoever for any death, personal injury, loss or damage of any kind, unless caused by our negligence.
16. We accept no liability for loss or damage to personal effects unless caused by our proven negligence.
17. Accommodation and other suppliers will have their own terms and conditions and you will be bound by these as far as the relevant supplier is concerned. Some of these conditions may limit or exclude liability on the part of the relevant supplier, or give the supplier the right to cancel or alter your arrangements without penalty. Where relevant, copies of such conditions may be available for inspection at our offices, or at the offices of the relevant supplier.
18. Children should be monitored at all times and you should verify the suitability of equipment, particularly children’s cots, high-chairs and other items, for the purpose you intend to put it as we cannot accept liability. Swimming pools do not have depth markings and you should check the water depth before using the pool. Diving into the swimming pool is at your own risk. The presence of animals or insects is inevitable in the South of France.
    STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT
    
19. Where you have asked us to arrange additional staffing, services or equipment for which we make no charge, this is done on the basis of a private arrangement between you and the supplier and payment must be made direct to the supplier. You authorise us to deduct from your security deposit the amount of any unpaid bills for such arrangements.
    CHANGES AND CANCELLATION
    
20. Prior to issuing the booking confirmation, the accommodation supplier may make changes to the accommodation or prices, and if this happens, we will pass this information on to you.
21. Cancellation by you of your booking must be in writing signed by you. The effective date of cancellation shall be the date of receipt by us of the written notification. Unless otherwise notified, the following percentages of the total price are payable by you in the event of your cancelling depending on when notification is received: more than 56 days before arrival date - 30%; 56 days or less before arrival date - 100%.
22. If you request any changes to your booking we will pass your request on to the relevant accommodation or other supplier, but cannot guarantee that it will be possible for them to make such changes. If your requested change is possible, an administration charge may be payable, plus any costs incurred by the relevant supplier in making the change.
23. If an accommodation or other supplier alters or cancels your booking, we will inform you as soon as possible, but we have no liability to make any refunds or pay any compensation. Any applicable refund to you will be solely the responsibility of the relevant supplier.
24. Prices are based on an exchange rate of €1.20 to £1. Accommodation or other suppliers may reserve the right to impose surcharges consistent with adverse currency fluctuations or as a result of government action and you will be liable to pay such increases.
    FORCE MAJEURE
    
25. We cannot accept any liability for compensation where performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons outside our control or by circumstances amounting to force majeure.
    LAW
    
26. These terms & conditions and the contract to which they apply are governed in all respects by English law and the English courts only shall have jurisdiction in relation to them.