Vacation Rental Terms and Conditions

Rates: Until your reservation is confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice. Prices are in Euros, converted to US Dollars at the time of payment according to our bank's exchange rate. Please note that the exchange rates you commonly find on the internet are the bank to bank rates that are usually about 4% lower than the rates we have access to. We accept payment with VISA and MasterCard, personal US dollar bank check when there is time for the check to clear, US Dollar cashier's check or wire transfer. Wires subject to fee.

Reservations: To reserve an Excellent Europe property, please contact us about availability. Some properties can be rented for less then 1 week during certain times of the year, but all require a minimum of 4 nights. When we receive your inquiry we'll get back to you promptly, usually within 24 hours. When you are ready to reserve, and we've agreed upon your dates, let us know and we'll email you a reservation form. We will hold your tentative reservation for 48 hours pending receipt of your completed reservation form and payment.

50% of the rent is due at the time of booking. The remaining 50% the rent is due 90 days before your check-in date. If a reservation is made within 90 days of check-in, then the entire amount is due upon booking. After booking we provide a detailed confirmation with information about the property, location, and useful local information about the area, favorite restaurants and local resources.

Security Deposit: The security deposit is refundable less any damage to the home, lost keys, lost loaner mobile phone and deductions for utility usage over the allowance if utilities aren't included in the rent. The security deposit is due at the same time as the final payment if paying by personal check. We are prompt in refunding it within 4 weeks of your departure. If paying by credit card your card will be charged after check out.

Cancellation: It is hard to believe it will happen to you, but the best laid plans can sometimes go awry. To protect yourself, we strongly encourage you to take out an inexpensive travel insurance policy, in case an emergency arises and you need to cancel. We advise you to buy travel insurance as soon as you make your reservation because we cannot be held responsible for cancellations for any reason. We are happy to refer you to a reputable travel insurance company. We send information with your reservation request document, but should we somehow fail to send it to you, please request.

Greater than 120 days, deposits will be refunded, less a $250 administrative fee plus 3% of charges made to credit cards.
120 to 91 days before arrival: 35% of total rent is retained
90-60 days before arrival: 65% of total rent is retained
Within 60 days: Rent is non refundable
Security deposits are fully refundable. Failure to pay the final balance due is considered a cancellation with no refund due.

What’s included: The rental prices include the final cleaning, kitchen, bedroom & bathroom linens. Additional maid service can be arranged at some properties. Additional towel service during your stay is also available at some properties. Your confirmation will note what is included and the fee for extra maid and linen service, if available.

Utilities: Charging for gas and butane usage is common practice in Italy and is done by taking a meter reading upon arrival and departure. The amount of utilities included in the rent is noted in the property pricing. If there is a utility allowance, usage over the allowance is charged to your credit card or deducted from your security deposit after check out.

Short Stays: Stays of less than a week involve the same effort on our part as longer ones so for "short stays," we need to cover our administrative costs by adding a $50 transaction fee.

Arrival and Departure: For most of our properties arrivals can occur on any day of the week. The check-in time is by appointment in the late afternoon or early evening, usually between 5 and 8 pm. Please note this when making your travel arrangements. Check-out time is by 10 am the day you depart. We know what it’s like to arrive in Italy after an all night flight, so we try to be as accommodating as possible. We can usually arrange for you to stop by the property and drop your bags if you arrive mid-day. However, we do need time for our cleaners to thoroughly clean the apartment after the departure of other guests. If you are arriving before 5 pm and want to be able to check-in upon arrival, we recommend you reserve the previous night so that you can check into the property upon arrival and get settled. Check-in's between 8 pm and 10 pm are by exception, if a greeter is available, and are subject to a $100 fee. There are no check-in's after 10 pm.

Number of people in the party: The number of people must not exceed the number of people indicated on your reservation form. If the number of people in your travel party changes, please let us know so that we can adjust the rent accordingly.

Property Viewings: If you would like to inspect a property in anticipation of a future stay, there is a $100 non-refundable viewing fee. Out of respect for our guests privacy, we do not show properties to prospective guests when there are other guests staying in the property. If you decide to book, the $100 fee will be applied towards your booking. We do, however, sometimes need to admit a repairman, building inspector, etc. during a guest's stay. If so, we'll let you know in advance and our greeter will accompany the repairman.

Additional Services: The confirmation document provides extensive information to help you plan the other aspects of your trip and includes information on transportation services, concierge services, private tour guides, language and cooking school, restaurant recommendations and general tourism resources. We also provide our Excellent Europe "Manual" which is a practical guide on what to expect when renting a vacation property in Italy.

To inquire about availability or to make a reservation, contact us.