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The French authorities have issued clear directives for holiday cancellations. In close collaboration with our partner property owners, a consensus has been obtained in accordance with the directives to enable us to assist in cancellation requests on the property owners' behalf. This consensus is detailed below. However, there remain variations for some properties, depending on the wishes of the individual property owner and in this case you will be notified of the difference.
Please note that once processed by Vendee-Gites.com, your rental contract is definitively established with the property owner, so acting the cancellation and any reimbursement accorded will be solely in the hands of the property owner concerned. If the solution adopted is to move the rental to a later date, we will assist the owner in administering the change.
NB : If you have rented a property through our partner company Select Villas, you will need to consult them for the cancellation terms that will be applicable.
The case of "force majeure" is defined as :
A cancellation relative to measures officially announced in France which will be in force et the time of the rental and that imply that the stay is no longer possible, or will be seriously affected to the point that it is no longer viable.
The applicable measures are :
Frontiers closed to holiday travel, by France, or by the clients country of residence, or by the EU.
Measures of confinement, non-essential travel forbidden, or severe restrictions on the liberty of circulation, in France or in the client's country of residence.
Closure of all major infrastructures relating to tourism, at a local or national level.
Specific prohibitive measures in force for holiday accommodation or tourism in general, at a local or national level.
Update on 29/05/20 - Evolution of the measures in force in France.
Based on the announcements of the French prime minister on the 28th of May. This may be subject to change at any time and has no contractual weight.
Fance enters the second phase of freedom of movement from the 2nd of June onwards. A regular review of the viral situation will be carried out to ensure that no 'rebound' develops.
From the 2nd of June.
It will be possible to travel anywhere within France, although there will remain some minor restrictions for a further time for the Paris area, which should be lifted by the 21st of June.
Bars, restaurants, parks, lakes and beaches will be open. Beaches may be subject to a local authority decision concerning total numbers, distancing and allowed activities.
Theme parks can open, as long a adequate distancing procedures can be put in place.
Grouping together in any public space will be limited to 10 people. This also applies to bars and restaurants. Alcohol is not allowed in public spaces such as parks, gardens, beaches, riverbanks.
Cultural establishments, museums, monuments, etc. will be able to open, excepting large events such as festivals and concerts. General distancing recommendations will be retained and the use of masks will remain manadatory in confined spaces.
Masks are mandatory in public transport and will be required in many shops.
All types of tourist accommodation can open.
Up to date information for France can be found on the government website.
Travel information
France indicates that it will persue a common agreement via the EU for travel between European countries, to be announced around mid-June. This concerns all Schengen countries (including Britain in the Brexit transition period, but excluding Ireland). The Prime minister confirms that Belgian travellers will be able to entrer France from the 15th of June. However, if any member state applies quarantine for incoming travellers, France will apply a reciprocal quarantine.
This could fall back to individual decisions between member states or specific pairs.
Similarly, a common EU decision should be reached for travel from countries outside Europe and this is expected before the end of the month, however, quarantine may still be applied.
On 29/5/20 the French tourism agency Atout-France indicates international travel to France as "partially restricted" from Britain, Ireland, Holland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and "closed" from Belgium, Spain, USA, Australia... A regularly updated interactive map is available. As of 29/6/20, Ireland is retaining 14 day self-isolation for travellers returning.
From the UK, ferry companies and the tunnel indicate a return to regular crossings, however Brittany Ferries has stopped their crossings until the 15th of June.
For flights, Air France indicates that international flights will progressively open, and the scheduling for July and August should be available at the start of June. Most other air companies should follow this lead. However it is not yet clear for the timescales and availability.
A holiday villa rental in western France is one of the best bets abroad for this summer.
The west of France remains the least hit by the epidemic and the Vendee has currently only 46 Covid patients in hospital (15/5/20), mostly shipped in from overloaded hospitals elsewhere. It may be that individual house rentals will be in a better position for access than collective holiday accommodation such as campings and hotels...
For new reservations made through Vendee-Gites.com from 20/3/20, for dates up to 12/9/20.
In view of the uncertain circumstances for travel, the 75% balance payment due date can be been moved to 4 weeks before the start of the rented period.
For reservations made within 4 weeks of the start of the rented period, the full payment will be due at the time of the reservation. In view of the very high demand for high season dates, up to the end of August, these will be full payment at the time of resservation.
A reimbursement of 100% of the net owner rental price (the price that you have paid, less the booking fee) [1] will be accorded if the rental has to be cancelled for the reason of "force majeure" defined above. See [2] below for details of the reimbursement procedure. In response to a cancellation request from the client, a cancellation of this type will only become effective at the date by which the condition concerned is officially declared by the French government as being in force for the rented dates. Note that at the present time, no such condition exists and our usual cancellation terms will apply.
The French government tourism mediation service has stipulated that worries about the Covid-19 situation can not justify a cancellation without financial consequences.
The cancellation terms will be :
The 25% initial deposit paid will be retained. This includes the pro-rata booking fee [1].
If you have paid the full amount, then the property owner will reimburse* the 75% balance of the rental price, less the pro-rata of the booking fee [1].
In this respect, the property owner may choose to issue a credit note*, valid for 18 months.
The property owner may propose to move the reservation to a later date on the same accommodation, depending on the availability at that time. This may be later in the season or for similar dates in 2021. A credit note* valid for 18 months may be used in this respect. Any difference in the rental price for the new dates will be adjusted. If the balance payment is outstanding, this will be paid at the due date (4 weeks before the rental if moved within 2020, or the normal 8 weeks before if moved to 2021). No additional booking fees will be applied for this change.
The French government tourism mediation service has stipulated that in this case the rental contract can not be fulfilled or will be seriously affected and a reimbursement of the amounts paid is to be accorded, excepting any processing fees. However, no further compensation can be claimed in relation to the cancellation. (Article L211-14 of the Code du tourisme).
The cancellation terms will be :
If you have paid only the 25% initial deposit, the property owner will reimburse this amount less the pro-rata booking fee [1].
If you have paid the full amount, the property owner will reimburse this amount less the total booking fee [1].
In this respect, the property owner may choose to issue a credit note*, valid for 18 months.
The property owner may propose to move the reservation to a later date on the same accommodation, depending on the availability at that time. This may be later in the season or for similar dates in 2021. A credit note* valid for 18 months may be used in this respect. Any difference in the rental price for the new dates will be adjusted. If the balance payment is outstanding, this will be paid at the due date (4 weeks before the rental if moved within 2020, or the normal 8 weeks before if moved to 2021). No additional booking fees will be applied for this change.
IF one of these conditions applies :
This situation concerns yourself and your party rather then the supply of accommodation. If the rented accommodation is available for your occupation and not affected by the condition of "force majeure", the property owner is not required to offer a reimbursement. Some property owners may accept to move your reservation to a later date, but may require a justification of the medical condition that you can obtain from your doctor.
In this instance you should consult your travel insurance provider and/or the payment protection service of your bank/credit card (if you have paid by this method) for any cover that they may offer for medical conditions.
[1] The net owner rental price is the amount that you have paid through Vendee-Gites.com less the booking fee. The booking fee deducted will depend on whether the full rental has already been paid.
If only the initial payment of 25% has been paid, the deduction will be between 45€ and 75€ for a 7 night stay.
if the full payment has been made, the deduction will be between 180€ and 300€ for a 7 night stay. You can ask for confirmation of the amount applicable to your reservation.
The booking fee is a contractual arrangement between the property owner and Vendee-Gites.com for the supply of administration services. These services having been accomplished in full and not part of the supply of accommodation, they are not concerned by the cancellation or reimbursement.
In most cases of cancellation, the amount retained will be a 25% pro-rata of the usual fee, as the remainder is normally released at the time of the balance payment.
These reduced amounts go to partially covering the fixed costs for Vendee-Gites.com / Accord Services, without which the company could cease to exist in the coming months, leaving clients without our valuable back-up, before and during their stay.
[2] Once processed by Vendee-Gites.com, your rental contract is definitively established with the property owner, so the reimbursement will be made to you by the property owner. This will normally be done by bank transfer, using bank details that you supply. The reimbursement will normally be made within 14 days of the cancellation of the rental, unless the owner opts for an 18 month credit note.*.
* Please note that the French government directive published 26/3/20 allows a holiday rental supplier to alternatively propose a credit note valid for 18 months. This option might be chosen by the property owner. If this credit note is not used for a later stay on this same accommodation, by you or by anyone else that you wish to designate, then the reimbursement would be made at the end of the 18 month period.
