PatricksVilla.com


Frequently asked Questions

 




Why should I book with you?
A lot of people still book their holiday villa through a traditional travel agent. Quite often, you get your villa allocated upon arrival with no specifics as to the property you will be occupying and on which development it will be situated. Booking directly with us/the owners means you avoid this inconvenience and worry. You are able to ask us as many questions you need to beforehand, you can see the pictures on our website and know exactly what you are paying for and you have a professional 24 hour management company on call during your stay.

When we bought PatricksVilla we made sure that it is a property that offers privacy. When you compare our pictures with pictures of other vacation homes you will find that a lot of them are either build in a long row, one next to each other, or directly opposite each other, overlooking the neighbors pool. You don't want to go for a swim in your own private pool only to find that the guy next door is just a few feet away, admiring your beautiful body.


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Is the house better value than a hotel?
The rate for our home is for the whole villa, not per person. In addition to the well equipped bedrooms and bathrooms, you have the luxury of two lounges, your own very well equipped kitchen, your own pool, relaxing pool deck and a double garage. We have got a variety of games for our SONY Playstation 3 and the Playstation 2, books, videos and DVDs in the home, together with interesting visitor information. Recently we upgraded PatricksVilla with a second 42" Plasma TV and a Panasonic Home Theatre System. We have also produced an in depth "Welcome Book" to inform you about everything you need to know about PatricksVilla. It includes general information about the area as well as important telephone numbers and information on how to operate the various electrical equipment including TVs, DVDs and Videos. Our management company has also produced an information pack to assist you during your stay in our home. Please contact us should you like to view this booklet in advance. We will be more than happy to send it to you.



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Can I discuss this with someone?
We would be more than happy to discuss any aspect of your holiday with you. We are very familiar with Orlando, Central and Southern Florida as we have lived there and can offer you advice on practically anything you need to know. We work for an airline and can assist you with flights and car hire arrangements as well.
All you need to do is call us on +1 863 223 0132 (USA),  or you can just
email us. ( Patrick@PatricksVilla.com )

We also invite you to view our on-line guestbook to see what previous guests had to say. You will find this here:
PatricksVilla Guestbook

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Are there any hidden extras to the prices quoted on the Rates page?
No, the prices quoted are the prices you pay. The only optional additional charge is for pool heating which we would be happy to arrange for you in advance (please see our rates page for further details) and for cleaning should you stay with us for less than 7 days.

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What if I need more than one villa?
Please contact us, friends of ours are also villa owners on the Southern Dunes community and we would be more than happy to arrange a further villa should you require one.

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There are a lot of villa choices, why yours?
Because ours is the best ... No jokes aside, our villa is set on an established community, there is no building work being done and you are not overlooked by anyone else, in-fact you have a great view over the 12th fairway of the  Southern Dunes Golf course!
The houses to the right and left are far away, a fact that guarantees your privacy only a few other villas can offer.
We are constantly changing and improving our villa to ensure it is kept to the highest standard possible.


Make sure you regularly check the picture gallery page.

Additionally PatricksVilla is a large two story, 4 bedroom, 3 bath property with all the amenities you require to ensure you have the luxury you deserve during your stay with us. 
Our costs are for our villa that is kept to a very high standard with everything you could require for a fantastic holiday at a reasonable and sensible cost.



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Is the Villa cleaned?
The villa is professionally cleaned by our management company ready for when you arrive. There is no cleaning service during your stay (although we would be happy to arrange that for you at an extra cost [US$ 90.00 per clean - please contact us] but the villa will be cleaned once you have departed, ready for our next guests.


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Is there a security deposit ?
A refundable security deposit of US$ 500.00 / £ 300.00 must be paid at the time of final payment (8 weeks prior to your arrival date). This deposit will be refunded to the original form of payment within 2 weeks of your departure from PatricksVilla, providing there has been no reported damage or loss to the property or its contents and all keys have been returned to either the property management or the lock box as instructed. We reserve the right to retain the security deposit (either in part or in full) to cover breakages/losses or damage to the property or its contents as deemed necessary. Please ensure to report any damages upon arrival to our management company. Any breakages or losses not reported  may be charged. If a key is lost the costs of replacing all the house locks and keys will be charged.


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Does the villa have a phone and do you offer free Internet access
Yes, you can make free phone calls within the whole of the USA and to Canada and Puerto Rico from the cord-less phone in PatricksVilla.
We also offer free wireless (WiFi), fast access, Cable-Internet access. All connection details will be given to you shortly before you arrive. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
 
We also offer the option to make international calls from PatricksVilla. These rates are very competitive and even cheaper than a local calling card. To give you an example, a call from our villa to the UK would cost US$ 0.04 per minute. For more information please click on this
link that will take you to our internet/phone provider Earthlink.
You do not have to be out of touch either, we will give you the villas phone number before you arrive so that your friends and family can call you during your stay. In addition there is a digital answering machine in the master bed room, so you won't miss any important calls.



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Do you accept smokers in the villa?
We would kindly ask you not to smoke inside the house. We have provided ashtrays for use on the pool deck and are happy for you to smoke outdoors.

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Do you allow pets in the home?
Sorry, but we do have a strict NO PETS policy in our house. 


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Is the Pool heated?
The pool can be heated for an optional / nominal charge, however this is generally not required between March and October.
Prices are: US$ 140 / £ 85 / € 130 per week



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Is the Pool being cleaned?
Yes, of course. The pool and all the filters are being cleaned and serviced once a week by a professional pool cleaning company. They will make sure that the hygiene standards are never compromised. 


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Are there shops, restaurants and other conveniences nearby?
Yes, very nearby in fact. A large selection of stores are available just outside the gated community of Southern Dunes and include a 24h Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Walgreen's, CVS, Dominos Pizza, Pizza Hut etc.  Please visit our shopping information page and see a full list of shops available near the villa as well as outstanding Shopping Malls within  20 minutes driving distance.

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How easy is it to drive in Florida?
Floridian roads are not too congested, compared to major cities. Obviously for some countries, the driver has to remember the cars are left hand drive.

In Florida, unless stated, you may turn right at a red traffic light providing it is safe to do so and that you came to a full stop before proceeding.

Headlights must be turned on during rain or reduced visibility.

You are required to 'Stop' if a school bus stops, even if you are on the other side of the road.  It is illegal to overtake a school bus when it is stopped for loading or unloading of passengers.  You should remain stationary until all the children are clear of the road and the bus moves off. When entering a school district watch out for reduced speed signs and follow it.

You may be required to pay in advance before filling up your car at most petrol stations. 

If the police stop you for any reason you must stay in your vehicle until the officer approaches your vehicle.  Do not attempt to get out of the car and leave your hands visible on the steering wheel. You must have both your driving license and rental agreement with you.  Failure can result in a fine.
 
You must report any accidents to the local police.  You must not leave the scene of an accident.  You must ask for a copy of the report for your car rental company.

Never drink and drive. It is also illegal in the State of Florida to carry alcohol in the passenger area of the car or to have an opened container of alcohol in the vehicle. Always transport any alcoholic beverages in the boot/trunk of your car

For more information on the Florida Highway Code please click on
www.hsmv.state.fl.us .


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What is provided in the homes - what do I need to bring?
Our home is completely furnished and equipped with bed linen and towels and there is a washer and dryer (including ironing and ironing board) in the villa for you to attend to any laundry, should you wish to do so. All kitchen utensils including cups, plates, glasses (including plastic versions for use outside by the pool), cutlery, pots, pans and bakeware and of course a dishwasher.  There is also a hairdryer in each of the bathrooms as well as an alarm-clock in each of the bedrooms.  In fact we have tried to include as much as possible to make your stay as enjoyable as possible - home from home.  The house will have a basic supply of guest soap and toilet paper on your arrival.

Please click here to see a full description of what is available in PatricksVilla.


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Is the Villa far from the main Orlando attractions?
No, PatricksVilla is situated on the US-27, about 15 minutes from the Disney theme parks and 20 minutes from International Drive, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, depending on the traffic and there are several routes to choose from.

Please see our location page to find out where PatricksVilla is located as well as our attractions page for a full list of the main area attractions.
 

Another useful tool is MSN Maps. Please note, that PatricksVilla's ZIP code is 33844.


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How do I get the keys for the Villa?
Once the booking has been confirmed and the full balance has been paid we will send you instructions on how to get the keys and directions to the villa from your arrival airport. The key will be deposited in a lockbox next to the door on the day of your arrival. As we change the combination of the box after each guest has departed we will let you know YOUR combination a few days before your arrival.
You can use the same code to operate the electrical garage door.

Should you require to code earlier than a few days in advance, please let us know.



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How safe will our money be?
A concern some guests have is
"how safe will our money be when we are sending it to someone we have never met".  Rest assured, we are very trustworthy people who are approachable and reliable. Think of it this way: "We trust you with our dream home -  and we may never have met".

Should you require proof of ownership of the villa, we will gladly provide you with that.
 

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1. BOOKING
The booking email or booking letter must be completed by the party leader (hereafter called the Guest(s)) who must be over 18 years of age. The acceptance of the booking email shall be deemed to constitute the acceptance of the Booking and Payment Procedure plus Terms & Conditions by the Guest and shall be a warranty by the person so signing that they have the authority to act on behalf of the persons named on the booking email including any substitutions or additions by any subsequent agreed amendments to the booking.

The procedures and conditions will still apply even if for any reason the booking email has not been completed by the client, e.g. in the case of a late booking requested by telephone which necessitates immediate commitment.

The booking is not accepted until the appropriate deposit has been received and the Acknowledgement/Receipt has been issued. If the booking is not accepted for any reason the deposit will be refunded in full. Amendments to, or cancellation of a booking by the guest will be subject to the provisions of sections 6 and 8 of these terms and conditions.

The accommodation cannot be shared, assigned or sublet and only the persons shown on the booking form are permitted to stay in the property. Persons/children under the age of 18 years are not acceptable unless accompanied by parents or an adult. Pets are NOT permitted.
Should the property be accommodated by more guests than advised during the booking, an additional charge may apply.

2. PAYMENT
Deposits and Payments are to be made in accordance with the Booking & Payment Procedure. Failure to comply with the payment procedure will be deemed to be a cancellation by the guest and will be subject to the cancellation charges as detailed in Section 8.

3. THE RENTAL PERIOD
The villa is available for occupation from 4.00 p.m. (local time) on the day of arrival, until 10.00 a.m. (local time) on the day of departure. Vacating after 10.00 a.m. may incur charges equivalent to one day's accommodation cost.

4. RENTAL CHARGES
The villa rental charges and the items included are as detailed under "Rates" and "The Villa". The interior of the villa is subject to change and is not guaranteed at the time of booking.

5. PRICE GUARANTEE
The rental price for the villa is fully guaranteed when the deposit has been paid and the acknowledgement / receipt has been issued.

6. AMENDMENTS
The effective date of any amendment is the date on which details of the proposed amendment are received in writing. Whenever possible, any amendment to the booking requested after the booking has been confirmed, will be accommodated. Dependant on the nature of the amendment additional costs may be incurred.

7. THE SECURITY DEPOSIT
A refundable security deposit of US$ 300.00 / £200.00 must be paid at the time of final payment (8 weeks prior to your arrival date). This deposit will be refunded to the original form of payment within 2 weeks of your departure from PatricksVilla, providing there has been nor reported damage of loss to the property of its contents and all keys have been returned to either the property management or the lock box as instructed.

We reserve the right to retain the security deposit (either in part or in full) to cover breakages/losses or damage to the property or its contents as deemed necessary. Please ensure to report any damages upon arrival to our management company. Any breakages or losses not reported may be charged. If a key is lost the costs of replacing all the house locks and keys will be charged.
The Guest is solely responsible for any damages or breakage's that may be caused to the property or to its contents and also for any loss of items in the inventory during their stay. The villa is inspected both before and at the end of each occupation. Charges for damages / losses or any maintenance / repairs to the Villa, equipment, amenities or fixtures necessitated by misuse will be at the discretion of PatricksVilla and will be charged to your account. In the event of any damage / loss, the Guest will be held responsible for full reimbursement of the outstanding amount within fourteen days of notice of such costs. It is important that the property be left reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the rental period.

8. CANCELLATION BY CLIENT
Any cancellation by the Guest must be notified in writing directly to PatricksVilla. Cancellation by telephone will not be accepted. In the event of cancellation by the client, the following charges will apply :-

  • Cancellations 8 weeks or more prior to the arrival date:

Your full deposit

  • Cancellations 8 to 4 weeks prior to the arrival date

50% of your total balance

  • Cancellations 4 to 1 week prior to the arrival date

75% of you total balance

  • Cancellations within 1 week prior to the arrival date

100% of your total balance

Note! All Guests are strongly advised to have adequate travel / holiday / medical insurance in force for all members of the party and for the entire period of rental. PatricksVilla will NOT under any circumstances enter into negotiations relating to compensation for any payment of excess on Guest's insurance policies relating to any claim made by Guests against such policies how so ever they may occur. (Travel insurance may cover the cost of cancellation for reasons beyond your control).

9. CANCELLATION by Owner
In the unlikely event that circumstances beyond our control, necessitate cancellation of the booking, we will refund any monies paid by the party leader (without interest, compensation or consequential loss of any kind).

10. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Guests are personally responsible for the provision of international travel / health documentation. Cancellation caused by Guests due to incorrect documentation will be charged the relevant cancellation fees.

11. FORCE MAJEURE
P
atricksVilla and their representatives accept no responsibility whatsoever and no compensation or any other payment will be made if any cancellation or change to the terms of the booking becomes necessary due to war or threat of war, riots, civil commotion, terrorist activities, industrial disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, flood, adverse weather conditions, building or construction in progress within the community, technical problems with transportation, closure or congestion of airports, alterations or cancellation of schedules by carriers, or any other events beyond our control.

12. COMPLAINTS
In the unlikely event a problem should arise whilst on holiday relating to the Villa, the Guest should immediately contact our Management Company (their details will be supplied prior to your arrival & are also to be found in the "Welcome Book", which is to be found in the Villa). The Management Company will seek to resolve matters speedily.

13. WEBSITE DESCRIPTION
Whilst all information supplied on this website is deemed to be correct and to the best of our knowledge, it is understood that the information supplied is for guidance purposes only and does not form part of any contract.

14. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Although every effort is made to ensure that the villa is in perfect condition, and as described in the literature supplied. It is a condition of acceptance of the Terms & Conditions that the Guest understands this information is as supplied at the time of writing and is subject to change without notice. It should be pointed out that as many communities still have ongoing building & construction work in progress, over which we have no control whatsoever, PatricksVilla and their representatives accept no responsibility whatsoever and no compensation or any other payment will be made to any Guest in respect of any disturbance, annoyance, inconvenience or any other problems that may be caused or created by or in response to any such building or construction work being carried out within the community. Guests specifically requiring information regarding building or construction work affecting the Villa should request this information before booking.

The Owners of PatricksVilla do not accept responsibility for third party claims, accidents, damage to, or loss of property, or for any expenses incurred for any reason, including changes caused by Force Majeure, regardless of howsoever they may have occurred, nor can liability be accepted for injury or death as a result of the use of the pool or any other item in the villa, howsoever caused. Guests are specifically advised not to allow unsupervised children to use the pool and/or the villa.  GLASS is not permitted in the pool area.

15. POOL  HEATING
Due to the nature of the prevailing weather systems in the sub-tropical climate of Florida, PatricksVilla cannot guarantee the water temperature in the swimming pool. The pool heater is set and locked to standard water temperatures. The heater is set to operate at set standard hours during the day, this is to ensure that guests paying for the heating service get the optimum benefit from the heating at normal times, and that we comply with the operating requirements of the system as laid down by the manufactures. The actual water temperature will vary with the ambient temperature, time of use and prevailing weather conditions. PatricksVilla will NOT enter into any discussions concerning complaints regarding pool temperatures, therefore Guests booking pool heating do so at their own risk.

16. NON-SMOKING POLICY
It is the standard policy of PatricksVilla that the property is deemed as Non-Smoking. Therefore All Guests are required not to smoke whilst in the villa. Smoking is permitted in the pool deck area, and ash trays are provided for this purpose. Any extra cleaning or damage, howsoever caused through the Guest not abiding by this Non-Smoking Policy, will be dealt with by the deduction of such costs as required by PatricksVilla from the Guest's security deposit, according to the Security Deposit Procedure (see item 7 THE SECURITY DEPOSIT).

17. GUEST RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of each and every Guest to read and understand the PatricksVilla Welcome Book and the guidelines provides by the Management Company in the Villa, and to ensure that all the Villa and communal rules are adhered to. The party leader is responsible for the actions of all the Guests in their party. Failure to abide by any of these rules could result in deductions being applied to your Security Deposit. The Villa will be professionally cleaned prior to Guest arrival and again after the Guest departure but it remains the responsibility of the Guest to ensure the Villa is left in an orderly state. Kitchen utensils should be cleaned before leaving. The Management Company will charge for any extra cleaning and this will be deducted for the Guest Security Deposit.

18. PATRICKSVILLA RESPONSIBILITIES
It is a requirement of booking that the Guest understands PatricksVilla responsibility is to ensure that the villa is available for the Guest and Party for the times the Guest has requested and that it has been prepared in readiness for the Guests arrival. In the unlikely event of there being a problem with the Villa, it's contents, running or operation, including any community problems, the Guest MUST contact the Management Company in Florida, (details will be supplied prior to arrival). The Management Company are the only people able to resolve any problems regarding the Villa during the rental period. Any and all problems must be reported to the Management Company including damage or breakage's caused by Guests. PatricksVilla will not enter into any discussion relating to problems that have not previously been reported to the Management Company in Florida.

19. LAW
This contract is subject to and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of England and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of English Courts.

 

 

PatricksVilla

Where you are more than just a guest

 

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