The following are the terms and conditions on which the The Vineyard at Pornano (the “House”) is available to let. By booking the House you agree to these terms and conditions:
Our responsibilities and your responsibilities:
- The specified security deposit must be paid cash in Euros on arrival. This will be returned in full at the time of departure, unless there are agreed costs to be deducted (cleaning, telephone or other) or damage to be compensated. A guest who does not pay the security deposit will not be given entry to the House.
- In Italy for reasons of public security the names and nationalities of persons staying in holiday accommodation must be available for communication to the local police. Accordingly, all persons staying in the House must register their names and addresses and allow a copy of their passports and ID cards to be taken. Only the persons whose names appear on the booking form may stay in the property and use the facilities (swimming pool, etc.), and the House may not be occupied by more persons than the number specified in the booking confirmation. Substitution of one guest for another during the term of the booking is not permitted unless agreed in advance with us. Breach of this clause will entitle us immediately to terminate the booking, and no refund will be given.
- The House and the equipment in it is delivered clean and in order. Any complaints regarding the state of the House or equipment will be entertained only if made within 24 hours after arrival. Guests must leave the House and its equipment in clean condition. Before their departure guests must remove all rubbish and clean the kitchen. If the House and equipment are not returned in clean condition as described, we will normally withhold €150 of the security deposit paid, or such higher amount as we reasonably estimate it will cost to clean the House and/or equipment. The House and equipment must also be returned undamaged and in the same condition as at the start of the booking, fair wear and tear excepted. If the House and/or equipment are returned in a damaged condition (fair wear and tear excepted), we will withhold such amount of the security deposit as we reasonably estimate it will cost to repair or replace the damaged item(s) or (if less) the whole balance of the security deposit. This withholding is without prejudice to our right to be fully reimbursed or compensated for any loss or damage to the House or the equipment in it to the extent not covered by the security deposit.
- We reserve the right for us or our representatives to gain access to the House to undertake necessary maintenance work (tending to the garden, cleaning the swimming pool, checking equipment, etc.
- Guests must conduct themselves in a civil manner and refrain from behaviour, activities, games and the use of equipment that could disturb other guests and/or neighbors. Adults are responsible for the behaviour of children in their charge.
- We are not responsible or liable for circumstances beyond our control such as strikes, floods, fire, epidemics, wars, terrorist acts, natural disasters, storms, lightning, acts of God, interference on the part of local authorities, shortages of services supplied by local public authorities (for example, interruptions in the supply of water, electricity or other forms of energy). We are also not responsible or liable for the malfunctioning of telecommunications equipment, air conditioning units, the filtering equipment for the swimming pool, or any other equipment or infrastructure. In such cases our responsibility is confined to arranging for the necessary repairs to be done as soon as reasonably practical.
- We are not responsible for accidental injury, death or harm of any kind suffered by persons or things during the booking, except death or personal injury caused by us intentionally or through our negligence. Guests are required to take out their own suitable insurance to cover all such eventualities before coming.
- Electricity, Air Conditioning and Heating– Please note that Italy is one of the few countries in the world where the government has introduced a system of limits on the supply of electricity in order to contain consumption. This means that in private accommodation one must be careful not to use too many electrical appliances at the same time to avoid triggering a power cut. Guests should be energy conscious in their use of electricity (which is very costly in Italy), turning off inside and outside lights (where possible) when not in the accommodation. In view of the laws on energy supply in Italy, the use of heating (periods of use and temperature) is regulated by rules that vary from region to region.
- The equipment supplied with the House (umbrellas, tables, chairs, cutlery, etc.) must be returned at the end of the day to its original location. Outside umbrellas must be closed. Window shutters should be closed when guests are not present as otherwise sudden gusts of wind could damage them. Bed linen may not be used outside. Barbecues should be used with care as they could spark fires during the summer months (the authorities may prohibit their use). They should not be used on pavements in order to avoid stains: if barbecuing stains are made on the paved areas we may require that you reimburse us the costs of cleaning the stained surfaces. The House is not connected up to a public sewage system but to a septic tank. Nothing other than normal toilet paper must be flushed down the toilets. Once the keys to the House are in the custody of the guests, you will be responsible for them. Should the keys be lost and/or damaged, then we may require that you pay the costs of changing the locks and/or replacing the missing or damaged items.
- Valuables– During guests’ absence valuables should not be left in the House and all doors and windows should be closed: even though the area is peaceful, incidents of petty crime may occur. We are not liable under any circumstances for the theft, loss or misplacement of unguarded items on the property.
- Tourist Tax- As a result of reforms in Italy, some municipalities have decided to introduce a small tourist tax that visitors must pay. The amount varies from municipality to municipality and depends on the type of accommodation, but it must in any case be paid by the guest, directly on the spot.
- Severability – Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions be found by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be wholly or partially, invalid or unenforceable, the invalid or unenforceable part of such provision, shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the other provisions of these Terms and Conditions. All remaining provisions not affected by such invalidity or unenforceability shall remain in full force and effect.
- Indemnification – You the guests agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify, defend and hold us the owners harmless from any liability, loss, claim and expense (including legal fees on an indemnity solicitor-client basis) arising out of or in relation to your breach of these Terms and Conditions.
- Miscellaneous – If this English version of these Terms and Conditions differs from the equivalent terms in another language, the English version shall prevail.
- Jurisdiction and Venue– This contract is governed by Hong Kong law and the Courts of Hong Kong shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes regarding it.
- The failure by us to exercise or enforce any right herein contained shall not be deemed to be a waiver therefore nor shall it affect our entitlement to take any subsequent action in respect of that right or of any other right.
Things you need to be aware of:
- The House is a renovated mediaeval building. It contains some narrow stairs. The garden is steep in places, and there are steps which do not have bannisters or railings, and occasional cracked pavements and steps. Care is needed, and for this reason the House may not be suitable for people who have mobility difficulties, or for young children.
- The road and the private lane leading to the House are ‘strade bianche’ (unmetalled ‘white’ roads). Some parts are steep, requiring driving in first or second gear. The roads are rough, and after wet weather they can have potholes. They are not suitable for inexperienced drivers or fragile, delicate or low-slung cars.
- The water supply at the House is drawn from a spring in the woods on the property. We regularly drink the water, but we suggest providing mineral water to small children and others with sensitive constitutions. The spring has never run dry during the period since 2005 when we have owned the House, but we cannot guarantee that that will always be the case. In any event, water is a precious commodity in Italy in a dry summer, and should not be wasted.
- Utility services in rural Italy can be unreliable, especially in stormy or thundery weather. Outages of electricity and Internet, occasionally prolonged, are not uncommon, and we cannot accept any liability for them. An electricity outage also entails the loss of air-conditioning, internet and water supply (since this is pumped from the spring by electricity) for its duration. The telephone and modem should be unplugged during electric storms, to avoid their being burnt out. Important: although the House has an Internet connection and WiFi, the bandwidth and speed is not comparable to those available in urban centres and, as stated above, can be interrupted. Persons whose business or personal affairs require a stable, fast or high bandwidth connection or special connection requirements may consider the House unsuitable for them. We accept no responsibility in relation to Internet connectivity in the House.
- The swimming pool is not fenced, and does not have a lifeguard. The deep end is too deep for an adult to stand in and even the shallow end would be too deep for a small child. Unfenced swimming pools can be a serious hazard for young children, and they should never be allowed to wander unsupervised in the garden. Swimming in the pool is at the swimmer’s own risk, and swimmers should always be aware of their abilities and fitness before entering the water, and must take care while entering, swimming and diving in the pool. Do not swim in the pool during electrical storms. Inflatables are available for the pool, but these are not a substitute for proper flotation devices or for the ability to swim, and must be used with care. Children below 12 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times. Please keep glassware away from the pool area. Do not put anything into the pool water, and do not allow pets into the water.
- The garden and the lane are occasionally visited by wild animals and insects, including pigs, deer, foxes, badgers, snakes, wasps and scorpions. In general, wild animals are not aggressive unless challenged. Give them a wide berth, especially if they are with their young. Do not leave the doors of the House open, to avoid pests entering the House. Where deer are present, ticks can also be present, and tick bites can cause serious illness. After walking in the woods, check for ticks, especially in the case of young children.