Villa Plus FAQ

Transfers from/to the airport and to/from your villa.

Starter pack available on request. Each pack costs £42.00 and is suitable for 4 to 5 people.

Online payments made by credit (Visa or MasterCard) or debit cards – No charge.

Travel/holiday insurance.

Hire cars.

Flights

Extras such as pool fences, high chairs, cots, etc.

Our role is to help you choose a villa and resort that is just right for you and your party. We invite you to ask our experienced and knowledgeable reservations staff as many questions as you need to and to tell us as much as possible about your particular holiday needs. Good research is important in finding the right villa and you can telephone us on 01727 836686 and we will help you through our website. Please find our current opening times here https://www.villaplus.com/contact-us . We will be closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

All the names of those persons staying at the villa overnight during the villa rental period must be stated in the LAR request information given to us in the UK before departure. The number of people staying at the villa must not exceed the maximum occupancy number as shown on our website. Whilst day visitors are permitted ( limited to no more than 2 additional persons ) Villa Plus will ask any additional persons not listed in the LAR / Passport information, to leave the villa in a case of non-compliance. No overnight visitors are permitted.

Our pricing structure is such that on some occasions, a larger villa compares favourably in price with a smaller villa. Visit our website at www.villaplus.com , which will greatly assist in increasing your choice of villas without necessarily increasing the price. Alternatively, please contact us and we will advise the options to help you make the right choice.

Villa access information and any driving directions will become available in the online ' Manage my Booking ' portal, prior to your departure once passport information has been completed for all guests.

When you book a villa only and make your own travel arrangements, we will be pleased to take your booking on that basis - visit www.villaplus.com for villa only prices or call us for a quotation. All our usual listed facilities and services are included in the cost, but, if required, cots, high chairs and extra beds are available at an extra cost (£30.00 per week for an extra bed, £10.00 per week for a highchair and £20.00 per week for a cot). 25% of the villa only cost will be required as a deposit at the time of booking unless within 12 weeks of departure when full payment is required. With the exception of Andalucia, Costa Blanca, Costa Del Sol, Costa Blanca, Majorca, Menorca, and the French Riviera, in other destinations (where permitted) 1 extra bed is available per villa (£30.00 per week) but is only suitable for children aged 15 years old or younger. Dimensions can vary.

Children under the age of two on their return date are classed as infants and we can accommodate them for only £50.00 per week for the first week and £30.00 per week for subsequent weeks. Reductions are available for children from 2-11 years inclusive. Infants are not counted towards the party size. We still count children in your party size thereby reducing the cost for each member of your party and ensuring that there are no under occupancy charges. This is worth considering when making comparisons with other companies' child reductions.

You can check into your villa at 4pm on your arrival day and are required to leave the villa at 10am on your departure day. It can take considerable time to clean a villa on guest changeover days and we would ask that you do not attempt to fully occupy the villa before this time, as it’s important that the housekeeping team are able to perform their duties without interruption. If you attempt to occupy the villa, soon after the 10am departure of the previous guests, the cleaners may not have arrived and cleaning may not have taken place. Please Note: On your departure day the housekeeping team may arrive at your villa as early as 8am.

Housekeeping and local resort teams wil inspect the villa after your departure and any evidence of damage, breakages or undisposed rubbish will be recorded and photographed.  You will be notified by our UK office if this will incur any deduction of Security or Risk deposits paid.  The lead named traveller will be liable for all and any such damages and Villa Plus reserves the right to take further action to recover monies on behalf of the villa owner.

N.B. We are unable to offer the facility to leave your luggage at villas before 4 p.m., due to extended cleaning and servicing. Servicing Arrangements: Villas are regularly maintained by a team comprising of (but not limited to) housekeeping staff, gardener, pool man and the villa manager or agent, who oversees the property. The times and hours worked may vary. Their duties include making beds and cleaning floors and bathrooms. Towels should be changed twice weekly and bed linen once per week (including your arrival day). Linen is supplied - fresh linens and towels may be left on your arrival day. Some villas may be able to offer a light mid-week clean - please contact the local resort team who will advise if this facility is available for your villa in your online villa manual. It is important that the pool technician, housekeepers and gardener can carry out their duties to maintain villas and due to their workloads, the times of their visits cannot be fixed and may not always be convenient to everyone. Photographers may also be present on your arrival day taking the latest website images of the villa and/or its grounds or surrounding area and we kindly ask for your co-operation during their visit. The ground surface inside and outside the villa may be wet due to being cleaned on your arrival, departure and any other day when a housekeeping service is carried out. Be aware of the ground condition at all times and be cautious by taking the necessary steps to ensure your safety and especially that of children and the elderly. At other times, ground areas open to the elements or subject to dousing in water from the swimming pool may be wet and caution is required at all times.

Please note: Smoking is not permitted in any of our villas, nor in the villas' external grounds and we would request that you only smoke in an appropriate place outside the villa perimeter.

Security Deposit

Your party may be required to pay a security deposit prior to your departure date and you will be asked to authorise the necessary amount as part of the online check-in process 4 days before your arrival at the villa in ‘My Villa Plus’. Assuming you leave the villa in good condition and no damage has been found, Villa Plus will release the pre-authorisation within 28 days of your departure from the villa.

We understand that mistakes happen on occasion, please remember that should any accidental breakages at your villa it must be reported to our local Villa Representatives or the local resort office team promptly. They are there to help and you can contact one of our Villa Representatives on their mobile telephone via your mobile, WhatsApp, email to the local resort office, or from a pay-phone/restaurant.

Assuming you leave the villa in good condition and no damage has been found, Villa Plus will release the pre-authorisation of any security deposit paid within 28 days of your departure from the villa.

In some instances, villa owners may ask us to take an additional security risk deposit on their behalf, which must be paid on request, prior to your travel arrival date.  A member of our UK Travel Team will contact the lead customer if this charge applies to your booking, to facilitate payment.  this charge will be determined by the number of bedrooms and the overall cost of the property being booked., at a minimum cost of £200 GBP per bedroom. Our team will contact the lead named customer to advise this process. Payments can only be made with a credit card. Assuming the villa is found to be in good condition, with no issues identified during your stay, our Travel Team will refund any additional security risk deposit within 31 days. 

Car hire can be booked via the MyVillaPlus portal, after making your villa booking*. It is not always essential to hire a car with our villas, but it is a great asset. We are able to offer special contract rates, which must be pre-booked in the U.K. To assist you in deciding if you need to rent a car on your holiday, we have categorised each villa as follows:

• Car not required - This is where you are close to, or in a resort centre and can walk to a selection of restaurants, mini-markets, shops, bars, and usually the beach.
• Car useful - This is where you can usually walk to some restaurants, a mini-market, and the beach within 20 minutes and where a car will enhance your resort experience.
• Car essential - This is where the villa location is not close enough to restaurants/bars to walk and where we believe your holiday will be restricted should you also have to walk to the beach.

*Please note that all car hire is on request until confirmed with the supplier. All car hire can be added up to 7 days prior to departure.

Insurance for your hire car

Your vehicle comes with sufficient insurance cover for you to drive away. Please note, upon collecting your vehicle you will have to sign a rental agreement with the supplier at which time you must leave a credit card imprint. The supplier will generally hold an amount on the credit card until you return the car. The agreement that you must sign will specify that you are responsible for certain failures/damage on the vehicle including (but not limited to) windscreen, tyres, wheels, sump, clutch and the underside of the vehicle. This is not covered by your CDW cover and neither are accidents where the rental company believes you were negligent. Any additional or newly imposed Government Taxes or charges are not included in your arrangements with Villa Plus and are payable locally. The supplier will usually offer you additional, optional, cover for increased peace of mind if you don’t already have your own private insurance cover, or an excess reduction policy.

It is important to note that any additional cover taken out locally is strictly optional and represents a private arrangement which is not part of your Villa Plus booking. DO NOT sign the rental agreement offered to you on collection of the vehicle unless you have read, understood and agreed to all the charges shown on the documentation (printed or electronic). Once this agreement has been signed we are unable to obtain any refunds from the supplier for any unwanted optional extras.

Rental period

Vehicles are rented in periods of 24 hours from the time of collection and not by calendar date. Your rental agreement will show the time that you will need to return the vehicle at the end of your holiday. Please note that if you return the vehicle after that time you will be liable for a late return fee which is typically one full day’s rental at the supplier’s local rate (not the special rate negotiated by Villa Plus) plus an admin fee. Make sure your rental booking covers sufficient hours to avoid these charges – you may wish to consider booking an extra day at the end of your stay if your homeward flight is significantly later than your arrival in resort.

Who can drive?

Your vehicle will be booked in the name of the lead passenger. If the lead passenger is not going to drive the vehicle please discuss this with us in advance so that we can advise the supplier otherwise the lead name on the booking will be considered as the lead driver. In most cases a second driver is included free of charge but the person in whose name the booking is made must also have a valid driving licence. Conditions, as set out under the individual destination car hire pages relating to the eligible age of drivers, will apply

Vehicle model

Each rental group includes a range of different makes and models. Vehicles are booked by group type and not specific vehicles. The vehicle models shown on our (or the supplier’s) website are for indication only. Rental companies in different locations may have different makes and models available and we cannot guarantee a specific vehicle will be provided.

Please note that although the alternative vehicle will be from the same rental group it may, in some cases, be smaller than the one pictured on the website. We reserve the right to substitute any vehicle for a similar or superior group if the booked vehicle is not available at the time of collection.

If at the time of booking you are told the car group selected is on a ‘request basis only’ this means that we are unable to confirm availability of the requested group until we have contacted our local supplier. If our local supplier is unable to provide this car group we will then offer an alternative car group at the best price available. You will then be able to either accept the alternative car hire element of your booking or decline and make your own car hire arrangements. N.B. If it transpires that the ‘on request’ car hire group is not available it will NOT be possible to then cancel the other elements of your CONFIRMED Villa Plus Holiday arrangements without incurring our published cancellation charges.

Fuel policy

The vehicle will generally be provided with a full tank of fuel, please check your fuel gauge when collecting the vehicle. You will be expected to return it in the same condition. You may be charged a deposit for fuel which will be refunded providing the vehicle is returned with a full tank. You must confirm with the rental company that this will be done when you return the vehicle as it will not be possible to ask for this later.

Some companies offer a ‘fuel up front’ option whereby you pay in advance for a full tank of fuel and can then return the vehicle with any amount of fuel. This payment will only be returned if the tank is full at the end of the rental. Anything less than a full tank will incur the full charge and no partial refunds will be given.

Traffic offences

You are responsible for any fines payable should your vehicle receive a parking/speeding ticket or contravene any traffic regulation while in your possession. Rental companies are obliged to provide details of the driver to the police if required and you will be required to pay any resulting fines or handling charges directly. Villa Plus is unable to intervene in such circumstances.

Amendments to car-hire bookings

It is important that you check the details of your car rental (particularly the drivers' names and booking dates) are correct prior to confirming the booking as it is subject to the specific Terms and Conditions of the Third Party Supplier which may differ from Villa Plus. Changes made after confirmation may be subject to amendment fees which might, in some instances, incur 100% cancellation charges.

With the exception of Cyprus, as in most continental countries you drive on the right-hand side and overtake on the left. Like the UK, in Cyprus you drive on the left hand side. Please note that from 8 June 2015 the paper part of UK driving licences has been abolished. If you are hiring a car you will need to obtain a ‘check code’ from the DVLA no more than 21 days before picking up your car. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence for more information. Minimum driving age is 21 years except for Portugal & Croatia: 18 years, Puglia: 19 years, Crete: 20 years & Corfu 23 years. In Cyprus drivers aged under 25 years old can only hire a car if they have held a Full Driving Licence for three years. Whilst driving, you are required by law to have your driving licence, identification with photograph (for British Citizens please use a passport), spare spectacles, and the car rental documentation given by the car company.

From the 1st January 2021, UK drivers won't need an International Driving Permit / IDP to drive in most countries in the EU, but must carry their photocard driving licence* and insurance details with them and any medical documentation if required to drive.

*You might need an IDP to drive in some EU countries ( Cyprus, France, Italy and Norway ) if you have a paper driving licence or a licence that was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

IDP permits are available from UK Post Offices at a cost of £5.50 - drivers must be 18+, residents of the UK or Northern Ireland and hold a full UK driving licence.

The gov.uk website gives full guidance details: https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

EU Driving post Brexit: Read More

IDP's: Read More

A particular villa may be more expensive than others because of its size or proximity to a beach or other reason and not because of the standard of its furnishings. Villas are decorated and furnished in different styles according to owner's tastes and the furniture will sometimes vary from the brochure or website pictures. Photographs are factual unless they have a caption 'this is an artist's impression', which can occur when a facility was being constructed at the time the photograph was taken and the pictures on our website may not depict pool / table tennis tables but will be listed in the villa amenities if the property features them.. Because many photographs are taken during the winter some 'natural' aspects surrounding the house may have been enhanced. We do not feature five star or luxuriously furnished villas. Our villas are well equipped, primarily as a second home or for holiday rentals. We provide self-catering accommodation and do not offer hotel style reception, facilities or services. Villas advertised with greater seclusion, does not mean they are totally private, but simply have more overall seclusion than most villas. We try to be accurate at all times. It is impossible to give a full description of our villas within this brochure or website. All the villas featured have been visited by us and it is important that you not only read the individual descriptions but also speak to us to obtain a better understanding of each villa and the surrounding area. You can also visit our website, www.villaplus.com which shows extra information and pictures about our villas, the surrounding areas, local beaches and places of interest.

Washing machines are for your benefit, but may also be used by the housekeeping staff for the villa laundry and may be sited in the main villa, or in a separate, external area and the they will need access to it, on occasion.

Dishwashers are supplied in most of our villas. It is most important that you use the correct tablets. If you have purchased an arrival starter pack there are a few tablets to get you started and if you use the machine regularly, please purchase more.

Housekeeping teams may place any unwashed items left by previous guests in the dishwasher on a run cycle.

A starter pack can be purchased during the booking process or any time after the booking has been made but we do not cater for particular demands / allergies. Our Starter Pack is designed to provide basic necessities and sufficient food for a light snack and it typically includes: milk, bread, tea and coffee, juice, cereals, biscuits, a selection of local products, water and a bottle of wine. The pack also includes helpful essentials such as, washing up liquid and sponges/cloths, matches, dishwasher tablets and bin bags. These items can vary from destination to destination, and are subject to availability. The Starter Packs are usually sufficient for 1-4 persons and cost £42 each, which also includes a small charge for purchasing and delivery. If you already have a booking with us, please go to the My Villa Plus portal to add it. N.B. Please note that in some destinations, it is not possible to offer chilled or perishable goods, so these will substituted wherever possible with long-life options. Some local stores may offer online delivery - please contact your local resort office to check if this option is available and to request details.

Please note that our villas do not have telephones. Information as to the nearest public telephone, which could be a considerable distance away, will be found in the villa manual, available online. We strongly recommend that clients take mobile phones especially useful in cases of an emergency. Telephone services in Europe do not always have the constant quality of that in the UK and some rural resorts still depend on local dial up internet. WIFI is a method of sharing broadband internet via a radio signal and this can have limitations, particularly in populated residential areas where signals may overlap resulting in interference. We have installed WIFI in the majority of our villas and the villa amenities section will show if this is available. WIFI connection vary between different resorts and individual villas and are a combination of fixed line, mobile data routers or local rebroadcasting systems in the individual villas or shared between adjacent properties. Some villas offer high speed wi-fi service which will be a minimum of 50 megabytes per second . Some villas are constructed with very thick walls and the layout and style of construction may prevent the signal from being received in all areas of the villa, in this case we have located the router where the best possible signal is available and very occasionally this may not be in a communal area of the villa, i.e. the router may be located in a bedroom. It should be noted that we cannot offer a service which would be comparable to what is widely available in the UK. Specific limitations are detailed below.

• Just as in the UK, broadband speeds vary depending on demand. Restrictions may be introduced by the service providers based on, but not limited to, technical issues and/or high demand. We have no control over these restrictions.
• Websites providing video streaming services such as YouTube and film/TV services such as Netflix, which require high data consumption will not be available as standard offering, but may be available in villas with Smart TV's.
• Please note that neither video film downloads or online video gaming will be available.
• Video calling services such as Skype or Apple Face Time are unlikely to work well.
• Services offering Remote Desktop type facilities are unlikely to function in a manner which would allow the internet/Wi-Fi connection to be used for work or educational purposes.

Whilst we will endeavour that you can make the maximum use of the service afforded, we are not in a position to guarantee;

• The availability of the service at all times, or the speed at which information may be transmitted or received via the service; or that the service will be compatible with your equipment, or any software which you use. Villa Plus accepts no responsibility for the loss of any internet connection or service or any subsequent consequences thereof and we will not offer any compensation for the same. Your use of the service must not be unlawful or otherwise inappropriate and we have no responsibility for, or control over, the information you transmit or receive via the service.

Many villas include air conditioning/heating in the bedrooms as standard, which will be shown in the individual villa facilities descriptions. Most air conditioning has some form of management system. Some units work on a timer or break switch which turns the unit off if a window or door is opened, whilst other units may be fitted with an “eco sensor” which deactivates the unit when no movement is detected in the room are are fitted in compliance with local legislation. Please do not attempt to override timer systems, or leave the air-conditioning turned on full for long periods of time or with windows open, as this could cause the unit to malfunction, or leak. Please consult the online villa manual for full details. Subject to our booking conditions, Villa Plus cannot be responsible for any non-operational time which is out of our control.

Smoking is not permitted in any of our villas, nor in the villas' external grounds and we would request that you only smoke in an appropriate place outside the villa perimeter.

With the exception of Cyprus (where UK plugs can be used), the Electricity supply in the villas is 220 AC with continental twin plugs. Please remember to bring an adaptor when taking any electrical items with you. Your villa electricity supply is not always as constant as in the UK and individual properties may have pre-set limits. You may find that the electricity will "trip off" if too many appliances are used at once. If this happens, simply turn off some appliances and reset the main fuse box (the location and full details will be in the online villa manual). Please be careful, as it can get very dark, especially in some rural destinations. If in doubt, please contact your local Villa Representative or office team.

Bookings made on or after 1st March 2022

(a) Damage

All guests must ensure they treat villas, their contents and grounds, with due care and consideration. For any accidental damage or instances of negligence or vandalism, we reserve the right to invoice you / your party for immediate payment, or will seek to recover damages on behalf of the villa owner, by civil litigation. We reserve the right to charge your party a security deposit, prior to departure, details are given in our Booking Terms web page.

Bookings made on or before 28th February 2022

(b) Accidental Damage Waiver (ADW)

Most bookings will incur a non-refundable charge called an Accidental Damage Waiver (ADW). This will be added to your confirmation invoice and is payable with your holiday balance. The ADW is used to cover accidental damage that may occur at the villa and is calculated dependent on departure date and the size of villa. This waiver has maximum limits for damage caused to any part of the property or its facilities but excludes negligence and vandalism. Please see below scale of applicable maximum limits of cover.

• 1-2 bedrooms - £800
• 3-4 bedrooms - £1200
• 5 bedrooms - £1500
• 6 or more bedrooms - £1800

For any accidental damage that exceeds the values set out above, we reserve the right to invoice you for immediate payment.

Flight arrivals and departures in our resorts are spread throughout the day and as you have to leave your villa by 10am there is often a long wait before your homeward flight. Our local overseas in-resort team may be able to advise you of a nearby location or facility where you can safely store your baggage and you will need to contact them prior to your departure day to discuss this. Any charges for this facility are payable locally and do not form part of your contract with Villa Plus. Although usually secure, we cannot be responsible for any luggage left in this manner.

Where taxi transfers have been booked, it is normal practice for the taxi to collect clients at the left luggage facility and take them to the airport. It is the client's responsibility to get to that facility with the luggage. Our Villa Representatives may be able to suggest showering facilities or hotel rooms where available, but these must be paid for by the client locally and such local services cannot be guaranteed.

In most of our destinations (with the exception of Andalucia, Costa Del Sol, Costa Blanca, Majorca, Menorca, French Riviera and Languedoc) we can allow an extra bed in the Villa. This is usually a fold up portable “Z-bed” (dimensions can vary) and is suitable for a child under the age of 15 years only. In Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife, the maximum age for a child sleeping in the extra bed is 11 years.

Where a villa is rented with an extra bed (for example 6 adults and 1 child in a 3 bedroom villa) it does not necessarily mean that the villa amenities will allow for the extra child. Cots, high chairs and Z-beds carry a charge of £30.00 per week for an extra bed, £10.00 per week for a highchair and £20.00 per week for a cot. Most cots provided are of the 'travel' type. Linen is supplied, but it is not possible to provide an additional mattress over and above that provided by the manufacturer of the travel cot. Child gates are available free of charge, where it is possible to fit these in individual villas. Prior to booking, please check the villa description on our website under villa facilities to see if your chosen villa can have a child gate fitted.

Most of our villas have barbecues, some will be brick built, some may be portable. It is not normal in southern Europe to clean barbecues and it is not the housekeeping team's responsibility to do so. Therefore, we kindly ask guests to leave them in a reasonable and useable condition. We have asked owners to supply cleaning implements. Where there is a gas barbcue, fuel canisters will be provided. You will be required to provide charcoal for traditional barbecues. Please ask your local villa co-ordinator if you need any items.

Please ensure that children are supervised at all times around pools and comply with all safety signage.  Not all villa pools have pool lighting. 

For villas in our programme which offer pool heating facilites, the pool heater makes the pool 3⁰C- 5⁰ C warmer at 1 p.m. than a non-heated pool under normal circumstances at the relevant time of year. Note that this provides beneficial warming to a pool, but does not make it a 'hot' pool.

Please note that we do not feature pool heating during July and August, as weather temperatures will naturally raise the heat of the pool. The temperature of the water regularly exceeds 28⁰ celsius, the temperature at which the pool may be heated to. We recommend that you use the pool cover to retain the pool heat, if one if provided.

Between November and April, any pool heating installed may not be adequate to heat the pool to a comfortable temperature and under these circumstances, no refund will be made. We do not accept any liability for any non-operational time out of our control. In the case of any malfunction of the pool heating equipment, we will endeavour to rectify this as soon as possible, however, our liability will not exceed a total of £150 per villa, per week.

Please read the Health & Safety section of this website for other important information about swimming pools: https://www.villaplus.com/health-and-safety

Please note that Villa Plus does not feature jacuzzi, whirlpool, spa or hot tub facilities in the majority of its villas, either in villa baths or swimming pools, nor as a separate facility in any villas featured on our website. As it is not always possible to remove a jacuzzi type facility which has been installed by the villa owner prior to contracting the villa as a holiday home, some images of the villas may depict a jacuzzi type facility, however these units will not be operational. Please note that Villa Plus will not be liable for any incident or injury, if guests attempt to, or use these units.

• The Portuguese Tourist Office is located at 11 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PP. Tel: 020 7201 6666. Website: londres.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/
• The Spanish National Tourist Office is located at 79 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6XB. Tel: 020 7486 8077. Website: www.spain.info
• The Greek National Tourism Organisation is located at 4 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 8QJ. Tel: 0207 495 9300. Website: www.visitgreece.gr
• Cyprus Tourism Organisation is located at 13 St James's Square, London,SW1Y 4LB, UK Tel: 0207 321 4170. E-mail: visitcyprus@cto.org.cy Website: www.visitcyprus.com
• The Croatian National Tourist Office is located at 21 Effie Road, Fulham Broadway, London, SW6 1EN. Tel 0208 563 7979 E-Mail info@croatia-london.co.uk Website: croatia.hr
• The French Tourist Office is located at Lincoln House, 300 High Holborn, London WC1V 7JH. Tel: 0207 061 6631 Website: uk.france.fr
• The Italian Tourist Office is located at 1 Princes St. Mayfair, London W1B 2AY Tel: 0207 408 1254 Website: www.enit.it

We have installed Television systems in all of our villas which offer several English speaking channels. The methods of doing this vary between different resorts and villas and are a combination of Digital Satellite or Cable; offering either Limited Sky, Freeview and Freesat packages. Additionally, some villas may also receive terrestrial stations which feature local channels. BBC and ITV will only be available where specifically mentioned under the individual Villa Facility List. Some villas offer Smart TV with streaming services. Due to certain circumstances such as, but not limited to, changes in satellite orbit, atmospherics, weather conditions, location of villa we cannot always guarantee access to all the channels all of the time. Satellite signals may fail to operate for various reasons in any one of our resorts and at any one time and when this occurs, we will have no liability in these circumstances which are beyond our direct control.

A DVD player may be provided in your villa so you can bring UK DVDs with you to watch. If a DVD player is featured in the villa, a selection of DVD’s may also be provided in our Very Villa Plus programme.

Pool/Billiard tables and table tennis table may be provided at most of our villas (see individual villa descriptions for full details) and their location will depend on the property layout. Where located outside, the cloth on the playing surface of the pool / billiard table may become faded by the sunshine or proximity to sea. There is no need to take your own ping pong bats, balls or pool cues, as these wil be provided at the villa. Spare items may be kept in a cupboard or utility room, but if you need any replacement items, please contact your local villa co-ordinator.

It is your responsibility to check and fulfil the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We can only provide general information about this (please also read the 'Before I book ' section.) You must check requirements for your own specific circumstances with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates and your own GP, as applicable. Requirements do change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.

• If you have a UK passport, please use the website link below to check your current passport validity dates for travel to Europe: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/be-travel-aware
• For passport applications or renewals, please go to: https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport
• For more information about your chosen destination and for latest travel advice we recommend that you also refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ( FCDO ) at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice British Citizens holding a full British Passport currently do not need a visa to enter EU member states, although this is likely to change in 2024. The European Commission has confirmed that British residents are likely to need a visa to travel throughout Europe after Brexit, which is anticipated to start during 2024, when the proposed Visa may be introduced, if travelling to certain countries. This is called a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) costing around 7 Euros. Further information can be viewed on this link: https://www.etiasvisa.com/etias-news/how-will-the-etias-system-work. If in doubt as to whether you need a visa, the telephone number of the Portuguese Consulate General is 020 7291 3770. The Spanish consulate visa information is on 09065 508970. The Greek consulate visa information is on 09065 508983. The French consulate visa information is on 0207 605 6740. The Italy visa application centre is on 0871 376 0023 and the telephone number for consular section of Cyprus High Commission is 0207 629 5350. Some visas can take up to 4 weeks or longer to issue. Unless already on a parent's passport, children/ infants need their own passport. Anyone 16 or over on their return date must have their own passport. Anyone aged under 18 must be travelling with an adult aged 18 or over and/or provide information as required by the local authorities. Villa Plus accepts no responsibility for clients refused entry to their destination due to incorrect documentation. ( Please refer to our Booking Conditions. )

We will continue to update our information once changes are published during 2024.

Information last updated 24 May 2023.

Villa Plus will not be held responsible for any liability incurred if you are a no-show at your booked villa, should you miss your independently arranged flight and no refund will be made.

The local currency in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Madeira and Cyprus is the Euro.

The information contained within our Holiday Guide does not form part of our contract with you.

Online payments can only be made by our stated credit / debit cards , debit cards – there is no charge. Please note that payment for Risk / Security deposits can only be made by credit card.

Our resorts enjoy many more sunny days than the UK but occasionally it does rain heavily. The villas are not naturally suited to poor weather conditions which may result in temporary water ingress into the villa, water marks appearing on ceilings or walls or dampness.

Local festivals are held throughout the year in many of our destinations and although they can be enjoyable, there may be extra noise late at night in certain areas or driving routes may be temporarily restricted. Shops, banks, bars, restaurants, roads and other facilities may be closed.

No coastline in Europe is private and it may be possible for the general public to access and walk along some coastlines, including those that may be adjacent or close to our villas.

Some airlines do not allow pregnant woman who are 28 or more weeks pregnant on the date of return to fly. Other airlines have variations on this rule between 28 and 32 weeks, allowing travel with a doctor's certificate. If you are showing signs of pregnancy, our advice is to take a doctor's certificate with you even if you are less than 28 weeks pregnant on your return date of travel. Airline tour operators can substitute different airlines for a flight and it may be that each airline has a different rule regarding travel. Should you have a flight already booked with an airline and are not able to travel, our normal cancellation charges will apply. Our advice is to be cautious when travelling more than 28 weeks pregnant. Many airlines do not allow infants to travel under the age of two weeks old.

Please note, it is the requirements and standards of the country in which any services which make up your holiday are provided which apply to those services and not those of the UK. As a general rule, these requirements and standards will not be the same as the UK and may sometimes be lower.

Service supply

Water and electrical supplies can be erratic, especially during the months of June, July, August and September and during thunderstorms. There are many more electrical items in each villa these days, which can cause the trip switches to turn the supply off when used in conjunction with each other. Ensure that you know where the trip switches are when you arrive. Heavy rainfall and high humidity can, within a short spell, mar the appearance of some paintwork and cause flaking. Additionally, high salt content in the sea air and a prevailing off shore wind can act as a catalyst in the oxidisation process, particularly on some island resorts such as Menorca and Lanzarote, which can very quickly tarnish the appearance of external metal work.

Water Supply

The vast majority of residential villas are fitted with a traditional sized water tank of 150L capacity, so once the hot water supply has been used up, there will be some delay whilst the water tank refills. This is standard in most domestic properties and larger parties may therefore have to stagger showers. Hot water supply will also be dependent on simultaneous water usage, such as washing machines, dishwasher, showers etc. Sometimes water supply may initially be a little cloudy if the property has been unoccupied the preceding week, so running the taps for a few minutes should restore water clarity. Countryside villa locations in many destinations may not have access to a local mains water supply and will be served by a borehole located on the villa grounds.

Obtaining service engineers abroad is a little different to the UK. The response time is often better than at home, but on occasions they may not be able to attend to a problem on the same day that it is reported. We will always try our best to rectify any problems reported to us as soon as possible.

Insects & wildlife

Portugal, Spain, Greece, France, Italy, Cyprus, Madeira and Croatia are no different to most southern countries when it comes to occasional problems with unwanted creature intrusions, for example, ants, mosquitoes, wasps & bees, cockroaches, crickets, cicadas. moths, other insects and small mammals and reptiles, such as mice and lizards. You may also see local unwanted wildlife by your villa. Their presence does not reflect the condition of the villa, it is simply a reflection of holidaying in a warm country or in a villa close to or in the countryside. Taking care to cover and clear up food, especially dropped crumbs, can help the situation and we ask that you dispose of your rubbish daily in the allocated external bins. We would also ask you not to feed any stray animals, as they may become a nuisance and return to the villa even after you have returned to the U.K. Additionally, in rural areas, many residents have guard dogs, which may be more active than pet animals and bark more at night. Local attitudes to animals/pets differ to the UK. Also, motorbikes being driven without silencers are not uncommon

Sensible precautions should always be taken. Do not leave windows and doors open when you leave the villa, are by the pool or go to bed. Please use the safe provided to store all valuables, including passports and travel documents. All our villas have safes, with the exception of villas located on a resort complex (where the safe at reception should be used) however some safes are small. If you do not use the safe provided you may invalidate any insurance claim that you may have. Most villas have an alarm and security lights. Always use the alarm when you leave the villa. Your holiday villa may not have the same high level of security as you might have in your own home and we firmly recommend that you do not take any items of great value with you, but if you do, ensure that these items are adequately insured.

CCTV: Whilst villas in our direct programme are not permitted to use CCTV inside villas, some properties may have CCTV operating in areas covering external doors and parking areas, for insurance policy cover compliance.     If you stay in a property that it owned or managed by Local Accommodation Providers or in a property on Holiday Resort complex, they may have CCTV cameras operating in some areas – please contact them direct during your stay if you have any questions concerning these.

Most travel insurance policies have limitations placed on them with regard to money and valuables - please read your policy carefully. Do not take large amounts of cash with you. When changing traveller's cheques check out a couple of Banks and Exchange Bureau as rates may vary. You can also use most credit or debit cards to obtain cash from cash point machines, using your card and pin number. We do not offer compensation resulting from activities of theft or accept any liability for such matters.

Finally, please remember that should anything go wrong with your villa it must be reported to our local Villa Representatives or the local resort office team promptly. They are there to help you and to try to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible. You can contact one of our Villa Representatives on their mobile telephone via your mobile, WhatsApp, email to the local resort office, or from a pay-phone/restaurant.

Our villas may not be ideally suited for clients with limited mobility although some are more suitable than others. If you have a disability, mobility or other medical requirements and need specific answers to specific questions before booking with us, we must be pre-advised by writing to us ( preferably by email ). When making a booking, if you think any member of your party may have mobility requirements, please ensure that you have selected the 'villa suitability check' option during the booking process and one of our Travel Team will contact you to discuss your specific requirements. We are unable to take any responsibility for the lack of suitable facilities without knowing your requirements. To help us help you, please ask for a copy of our Checklist for Disabled or less mobile clients. (See also clause 15 of our booking conditions).

The villas are booked for normal holiday use only and pets/animals of any kind are not allowed. Guide and assistance dogs are usually allowed, with the prior permission of the villa owner - please contact us before you confirm any booking. Please note that any guests arriving at a villa with an animal or a pet / pets that is not a guide dog which has been given prior permission by Villa Plus, will be asked to leave immediately and no refund will be given in this circumstance.

The charging of electric cars or other electric / hybrid electric vehicles is not permitted in any villas and the villa owner may seek to levy a fee on your party for any charging usage.

Planning for your next holiday or have you just booked your first villa holiday? Sometimes it can be a daunting task to sort through everything but Villa Plus is here to help! For more information about your chosen destination and for the latest travel advice we recommend that you refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website.

We recommend that for any information on local laws, passports, VISA information and your holiday destination in general, then visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

This information was updated May 2023.