How to book your cottage, gite or villa  
 
Booking | Questions & Answers | Terms & Conditions | Go Back
 
  This is how the booking works, from start to finish.
 Click on each point below to see more information
 
1. You can ask for an option to be held for 3 days
The availability shown on our web site is normally accurate within a day or so, but the situation can change on a daily basis. You can request that we hold an option open for you on the dates that you require while you consult other family members or while you book your travel. Request this by e-mail or by telephone. The option will be held for 3 days, after which time the dates will be re-opened for booking.
See our Travel page for ferry discounts.
2. Confirm your reservation by telephone and pay the 25% deposit
You are required to confirm your reservation by telephone, giving card details for the 25% deposit. We accept any card showing the VISA or MASTERCARD symbol (sorry not Am-Ex or Maestro.)
Reservations made at 8 weeks or less from the rental start date will require full payment.
The payment will be in Euros and the deduction from your account, in your local currency, will depend on the exchange rate and any charges that your bank applies.
NB: The booking is not definitive until stage 3 below has been completed.
3. Send the Booking Form (within 14 days) to complete the reservation
You are required to complete the reservation by completing the Booking Form, available to print from the property details on this website (each property has its own Booking Form, in PDF format*).
Fill in TWO copies LEGIBLY (we don't know your postal address, nor your post code, you do...).
Fill in ALL sections, sign the forms and post them to the ACCORD SERVICES address given on the top of the form. Unfortunately we cannot accept scanned copies by e-mail as this is not considered as a valid contract in France.
NB: Due to the actions of a minority of negligent customers, if the completed forms are not received within 14 days the reservation may be considered as cancelled. In these cases we apply a € 50 deduction to any refund to cover administration charges.
4. You WILL receive a booking confirmation and receipt of payment by post
Once we have received your completed Booking Forms we will raise your booking confirmation document and payment receipt. The turn-round time for this is no more than 2 working days and the postal delay will be 3 to 5 days. PLEASE TAKE CARE TO KEEP THESE DOCUMENTS IN A SAFE PLACE.
Around 5% of clients claim that "it must have been lost in the post" . If this was true the postal service would be submerged under thousands of tons of undelivered letters...
Make a note of the balance payment date that is shown on your confirmation (see below).
5. Pay the remainder of the rental by the due date (8 weeks before the rental)
You are required to pay the remainder of the rental price (75%) by the due date that is shown on your booking confirmation document. This date is 8 WEEKS before the rental. We will not automatically take the balance from the card details used for the deposit payment unless you confirm that you wish us to do so (you can confirm this by e-mail, but make sure that the original card is still valid and has not been replaced with a new one in the meantime). Otherwise, please telephone with the card details that you wish us to use.
NB: Due to a increasing number of customers not having the honesty to inform us promptly that they will not be continuing with their holiday booking, we are obliged to issue only ONE balance payment reminder by e-mail at 7 days overdue. If no reponse is received within a further 7 days we must assume tacit cancellation of the booking and put the dates back on sale.
6. You WILL receive a receipt for the balance payment and full arrival instructions
Once we have received balance payment we will raise your payment receipt post this together with the detailed arrival instructions. The turn-round time for this is no more than 2 working days and the postal delay will be 3 to 5 days. PLEASE TAKE CARE TO KEEP THESE DOCUMENTS IN A SAFE PLACE.
Around 5% of clients claim that "it must have been lost in the post" . If this was true the postal service would be submerged under thousands of tons of undelivered letters...

The arrival instructions will allow you to find the property easily and also contain the postal address of the property, the contact details for the owner or caretaker and a reminder of the other points that you need to bear in mind for your arrival (see below).
7. Questions before departure
Just before departure you may have a few questions. The answers to these are usually to be found in the "Questions and Answers " section of this web site, or indeed on your Booking Form, or in the property description or on the arrival instructions. If you have not found the answer there, or if the question is a little more specific, please feel free to get in touch.
8. What you will need to provide on arrival
These two items will be needed when you arrive at the property. Please note that the property owner can refuse entry to the property in the absence of these. This is not an owners' preference or whim, it is a legal requirement in France...

(i) The Security Deposit. Please refer to the Booking Form and arrival instructions for the details of the Security Deposit that is required (most owners require a cheque on arrival, but some may have a slightly different system).
(ii) Documentary proof of holiday insurance including Personal Liability cover, for all members of your party. See this page for the answers to your questions on this point.

You will also need to settle any charges that are to be paid on site (linen hire, cleaning service, etc), as indicated on your Booking Form. Please have the courtesy to have the necessary amount with you on arrival.