Terms and Conditions

General Sales Conditions

Madame Vacances is a registered trademark of the company EUROGROUP SA

Notice : The contents of this Madame Vacances brochure have been compiled with utmost care. It is nonetheless possible that errors, material or otherwise, may have been noticed after publication. In this case, before any booking is confirmed, the reservation department will inform you of any errors noticed, in addition to any changes regarding the description of the resort or the services on offer. We would also like to emphasise that the photographs featured in our brochure and on our website are non contractual and impose neither obligation nor responsibility on our part. They are for illustrative purposes only.
All prices, dates and conditions featured in the brochure are subject to confirmation by our personnel at the time of the booking. Finally in exceptional circumstances, Madame Vacances reserves the right to modify offers without updating the current edition of the brochure.

 

1. Objective:
Each booking is made under the condition of temporary residence only. It is strictly forbidden for clients to use accommodation as a principal or even secondary residence. Under no circumstances may professional or commercial business be conducted from the premises.
The French law of July 6th 1989 regarding accommodation leases cannot be applied to the present contract, in particular with respect to the maintenance of the property. As a result, the contract will be governed according to the French Code Civil as well as the conditions laid out below.

2. Prices:
Madame Vacances reserves the right to modify the prices in this brochure at any time and for any reason. The prices in the brochure are subject to confirmation for each booking. The website madamevacances.com offers the Client free access to all current information available online at the time of connection. Products and services will nonetheless be charged according to the rates in place at the time of booking. All prices include tax and are stated in Euros. Prices are per unit of accommodation and per week, unless otherwise stated. Holiday tax, booking charges, optional services and the cost of sporting activities (unless otherwise indicated) are not included, and neither is the damage deposit which is to be paid by the client upon arrival.

 

 

3. Deposit and payment of the balance
Upon making a booking, the client must pay 30% of the total cost of the holiday.  The contract will take effect once both the deposit and the completed and signed reservation form have been received.

Conditions of payment of the balance: - Balance due for stays in rented accommodation: The full cost of the holiday including any extra services is payable one month before the start of the holiday, or immediately in the case of last minute bookings (7 working days before arrival). The client must pay the total amount for their holiday by the due date. In making the initial part payment the client authorises Madame Vacances to debit from their bank card the final balance to be paid on the due date.
However, should the client wish to use another method of payment to pay the balance (cheque, bank transfer or a different debit/credit card) he/she must inform Madame Vacances 8 days before the payment is due. If no such notification is received within this assigned time limit, the amount in question will be automatically debited from the card used for the deposit.

 

Madame Vacances also gives the client the opportunity to pay in 3 separate instalments.  In this case an administrative charge of 25€ will be added onto the first payment, which is due at the time of booking.

 

In case of outstanding balance payments, Madame Vacances reserves the right to consider the reservation void and thus apply the cancellation conditions established for this reason and defined below.

Balance payment for stays in Hotels: payment due on site

4. Penalty Clause:
For every payment deadline missed, with effect as of the second letter sent to the Client, a handling fee of 15 Euros per reminder letter will be charged. Should failure to pay becomes a legal matter, the complete debt will include handling fees and interest charged at the current legal rate, as well as any legal and administrative costs whatever their nature.

 

5. Discounts:
Child discounts vary according to the hotel. All reductions are clearly shown on the website madamevacances.com and are available on request by phoning the call centre.
Unless otherwise specified, special offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

6. Holiday Taxes:
Holiday taxes are not included in the prices. As an indication, the amount tends to vary from 0.20€ to 1.50€ per person, per night. This tax is a fixed amount in each location, and is regularly revised by the local authorities, to whom we are required to transfer the tax collected from our clients.

 

7. Booking charge
Unless otherwise specified (see *), each reservation is subject to a booking charge of 18€ for reservations paid for by credit/debit card, and 25€ for reservations paid for by cheque, chèque-vacances, American Express card or bank transfer.  This booking charge is payable at the time of booking, and is separate to the cost of accommodation.
There is no booking charge for reservations made online at madamevacances.com

 

(*Higher booking charges apply at certain sites.  These also apply to reservations made online.  The charges are as follows: 30€ per house or apartment and 45€ per villa, at St Jean de Monts, St Gilles Croix de Vie, St Hilaire de Riez).

 

8. Modifications made to key elements of the reservation by Madame Vacances
In unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances (known in France as force majeur), Madame Vacances reserves the right to modify one or more of the services on offer. This includes both the accommodation itself and any optional additional services. The client will not be charged for any unavailable services.

Should the aforementioned situation arise the client will be notified of these modifications by fax, e-mail or telephone and a letter will be sent by recorded delivery by way of confirmation. The client may then choose to:

 

- either terminate his/her contract and be fully reimbursed
- or accept the modifications or the alternative holiday proposed by Madame Vacances.
Both parties will then sign an amendment detailing the modification. Should there be a reduction or increase in cost this will be deducted from or added to the outstanding balance owed by the Client.
If payment has already been made in full and exceeds the price of the substitute holiday, the surplus will be refunded to the client before the date of the end of their stay.

9. Modifications made to key elements of the reservation by the Client:
The length of stay is stated in the booking confirmation.  The length of stay may be extended, at the discretion of Madame Vacances, provided there is a sufficient availability. Madame Vacances is under no obligation to offer the client the same apartment or the same rates as the original reservation.   In the case of an extended stay with a revised price, the new price will be applied as of the original arrival date. In the case of an early departure which does not come under the cancellation conditions, the price will be revised to correspond with the shortened length of stay and will apply from the date of arrival.  In addition to the above conditions, the client must put the desired modifications to the contract in writing and send it to Madame Vacances, with a cheque for 35 € to cover administration charges, no later than 31 days before the arrival date.

10. Cancellation conditions:
If the client cancels a reservation the following amounts will be retained:

• More than 30 days before the arrival date: the deposit
• Between 30 and 21 days before the arrival date: 45% of the total cost of the holiday.
• Between 20 and 8 and days before the arrival date: 60% of total cost of holiday
• Between 7 and 4 days before the arrival date: 90% of total cost of holiday
• 3 days or less before the arrival date: full cost of holiday.

In order to cancel a booking, written notice must be given to Madame Vacances. The date of cancellation will be considered to be the date on which this written cancellation is received.

 

11. Termination of stay:
The client is not entitled to any compensation or reimbursement of any kind if they shorten or interrupt their stay, regardless of the reason (including strike action or repatriation on medical grounds, etc).In addition, any unused service will not be refunded.

12. Arrival and departure times:
The villas, chalets, apartments and hotel rooms are available to the client from 5pm. On the day of departure they must be vacated by 10am, otherwise the client will be invoiced for an extra day in the accommodation. In the case of a late arrival, i.e. after 9pm the client must contact Madame Vacances or the site manager to agree an arrival time.

 

13. Damage deposit:
A damage deposit is requested on the client?s arrival ? 260 Euros for apartments and 750-1000 Euros for chalets and villas.  The deposit will be returned within 15 days of the client?s departure. This delay allows Madame Vacances to discover any damage not immediately noticeable. In any apartment, chalet or villa, if cleaning or repair work is necessary, or if a broken or damaged object needs replacing, the amount deducted from the damage deposit for expenses will be justified by means of an invoice. The client will be charged 8 Euros for any lost key.  Throughout his/her stay, the client is automatically held fully responsible for any object that is damaged or broken, and for any other damage to any other contents of the property.

 

 

14. Contents:
The apartments, chalets, villas and hotel rooms are fully equipped with cutlery, crockery and bedding (except sheets and towels, unless the client requests these at the time of booking and pays the extra charge). It is forbidden to use the beds without sheets. Due to there being many simultaneous arrivals and departures, it may be impractical for Madame Vacances to check the accommodation upon the client?s arrival.  In this case, a list of the contents of the accommodation will be compiled before arrival at the property and a written copy provided for the client, who should then inform the manager of the residence as soon as possible if there are any discrepancies.  Upon arriving at the property after a previous client?s departure, the client should indicate any problems, damage or missing items.
In their own interest, each client should therefore compile an inventory upon arrival detailing any marks and stains, appliances that do not work properly and submit this in writing to the manager of the property with minimal delay.

 

 

 

15. Client obligations
The accommodation will be provided to the client in a good state of repair.  It is expected that the client uses the property and its contents respectfully and responsibly. The apartments, chalets, villas and rooms all conform to French safety regulations and are regularly inspected. They are equipped for holiday use. The maximum occupancy of the accommodation is indicated in its description. The accommodation must never be occupied by a greater number than that stated in the contract.
In locations where amenities such as communal or private swimming pools, saunas, spa pools, gyms or games are available or other activities are proposed in collaboration with other providers, the client must, before use, judge themselves to be fit, in a good state of health and capable of participating or using the equipment. They must also take note of the instructions regarding usage, maintenance and safety and be sure to understand and respect these rules. If these instructions are not followed Madame Vacances will not take any responsibility for damage, loss or injury to those using the equipment.
Finally, Madame Vacances reserves the right to deny access to any equipment or service to anyone who refuses to conform to the rules of use or safety.

 

 

 

16. Responsibility
Madame Vacances will not be held responsible for the damage or theft of personal belongings within accommodation, including in individual safes, communal areas, car parks or any other area of the residence or hotel. The conditions of the French Code Civil (article 1952 onwards) relating to the civil responsibility of hotels will not be applied herein. Similarly, Madame Vacances will not be held responsible should injury, illness or death occur as a result of the practice of a sport or any other activity organised on or off site.
Madame Vacances will not be responsible for any unforeseen circumstances that may upset or interrupt the holiday or prevent it from taking place.
The client must ensure that they hold valid insurance (comprehensive and civil responsibility as well as an extension of home insurance), from a creditworthy insurance provider, proof of which they must be able to provide upon request by Madame Vacances.
Unless a written agreement has previously been accorded, all minors under 16 years of age are the sole and exclusive responsibility of their parents or accompanying adults throughout the duration of the holiday.
The client and any other person not employed by Madame Vacances are strictly forbidden to enter any area marked for staff access only. If the above enter these areas it is at their own risk, Madame Vacances will take no further responsibility.

 

 

17. Complaints
Any complaint arising during the stay must be brought immediately to the attention of the manager or head of reception. If the problem cannot be resolved onsite the client must notify Madame Vacances in writing within 15 days of the end of the stay, with details of the complaint. After this period, no complaint will be dealt with and no correspondence will be entered into.
In any situation the client must pay the total balance of the stay within the designated time scale, not retaining any of the money owed unless agreed by Madame Vacances. Failure to do so may result in the complaint not being considered by Madame Vacances.

 

18. Cancellation insurance
This option, which can be added at the time of booking, allows the client to benefit from the security of cancellation insurance. This will cost 4% of the total amount.  Having taken out this insurance, in the case of cancellation by the Client, all payments already made will be refunded, with the exception of a 35€ administrative charge. 

 

This guarantee functions exclusively within the limits of the following conditions:

 

- Serious illness, serious accident or death of the client, his/her partner or the person accompanying the client on the stay (providing his/her name is on the invoice)

- Death of a father, mother, child, brother, sister, brother or sister in law, son or daughter in law.

- The loss of employment of either the client or his/her partner, providing that this could not be foreseen at the time of reservation.

- Destruction of your place of work and/or home. This would have to be on such a scale as to make it impossible for you to leave and must have happened within 48 hours preceding your planned departure.

The insurance does not cover the following circumstances, whether they concern the person who made the reservation or a person directly involved in the reservation:

Cancellation due to the hospitalisation at the time of reservation or at the time of payment. Long-term illness or complications following an earlier accident. Pregnancy, giving birth and complications resulting from birth. Illnesses needing mental or psychological treatments including depression. Accidents resulting from sports such as the following: bobsleigh, climbing, competitive sledging, all aerial sports as well as any injuries resulting from a competitive event or match.
In the case of an accident the client must warn us immediately by phone, and inform Madame Vacances in writing, by fax or email and must send a follow up letter of confirmation along with all necessary documentation by recorded delivery.  All this must be done within 5 days.

Note to clients: this is not a complete list of the insurance conditions; the full contract will be sent upon subscribing to this option.

 

19. Classifications and Other Information:
Choosing to take holidays in off peak periods can provide many advantages. There is less traffic on the roads, prices are lower, the atmosphere is more peaceful. On the other hand, there can be fewer activities available and some shops or services may be limited and/or closed.
Swimming pools and restaurants are usually open but if there is bad weather, if cleaning or maintenance is being done or for any other reason outside our control, it is possible that some services are unavailable or suspended.
If you wish to make use of a facility, especially if it is essential to your holiday, please ask for confirmation that it will definitely be available during your stay.
Specific requests will be invoiced at 60€ per week.
Pets are allowed in most of our establishments for a fee: 5€/day/animal or 30€/week/animal, or 13€/day/animal in hotels.  This supplement can be paid at the time of booking or on the spot.
In accordance with the conditions of article L 121-20-4 of the French Consumers Code, the right to withdrawal as regards the sale of goods or provision of services does not apply to service contracts regarding accommodation, transportation, food and leisure activities, which are made available at a set date and for a fixed period.  

20. Termination of contract
Any contract will be automatically terminated without legal proceedings if the client fails to fulfil any of their obligations or behaves inappropriately in the accommodation thus disturbing other clients or the running of the Madame Vacances site. In this case, the client must immediately return the keys to the property and may be required to leave immediately.

21. Legal competence
Before undertaking any legal proceedings, both parties must attempt to resolve their dispute out of court.  Failure to do so may result in the rejection of any claim submitted in court.
If no solution can be reached out of court, parties attribute competence exclusively to the courts of first and second instance of Chambéry.