General Conditions
For the purposes of these General Terms and Conditions:
“House” refers to the building in which the Accommodation Service is offered, and a room, a floor or the entire building can be reserved.
“Entire House” refers to reservations for the entire accommodation relating to Rooms 1-10.
“Customer” refers to any person who purchases and uses one or more Services provided by Cadeira ao Norte, Lda., as the Managing Entity of Quinta do Bom Despacho.
“Company”, referred to as “the Company”, “We”, “Our”, “Ours” or “Connosco”, refers to Cadeira ao Norte, Lda., the managing entity of Quinta do Bom Despacho.
“Guest” or “Guests” refers to any individual or group of individuals, respectively, who has reserved one or more rooms and, therefore, can access certain areas and facilities of the House and/or the Property.
“Half House” or “Half House” refers to reservations for a section of accommodation that relates to the Garden level House (Rooms 1-3) or the Superior level House (Rooms 4-10).
“Promotions” refers to discounts, competitions, sweepstakes or other Promotions offered by the Company that may be related to one or more Services provided.
“Property” refers to the land on which the House is located, accessible through the main green gate located on the southeast side or through the secondary red gate located on the southwest side.
“Service” or “Services” refers to all or any of the Services offered by the Company, such as, but not limited to: the Website, accommodation, events or visits.
“Terms” refers to these Terms and Conditions which form the entire agreement between the Customer and the Company regarding one or more Services.
“Third-Party Booking Services” refers to platforms external to the Company, such as Booking.com, Airbnb or Coliving.com, through which the User can book one or more rooms, Half or the Whole House.
“User” refers to any person who accesses and browses the Website.
“Visitor” or “Visitors” refers to any individual or group of individuals who, despite not being a Guest or a Client, have temporary access to certain areas or facilities of the House and/or the Property, at the discretion of the Company, and through the direct or indirect acquisition of one or more Services by a Customer.
“Website” refers to the Quinta do Bom Despacho website, accessible from https://www.quintadobomdespacho.com
“You”, “Your”, depending on the context, may refer to oneself or to another(s), such as: 1) Website User; 2) previous, current and/or potential Client of the Company; 3) Guest(s) 4) Visitor(s).
1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1. These Terms establish the conditions governing the reservation of accommodation(s) contracted by the Customer to Empresa Cadeira ao Norte, Lda., a limited liability company with registered office at Rua do Lajedo, 62, 9500-213 Ponta Delgada, registered at the Conservatória do Commercial Registry of Ponta Delgada, with the Corporate Identification Number 513 285 156.
1.2. Any particular conditions associated with the provision of other Service(s) by the Company and contracted with the Customer shall prevail over these Terms.
1.3. Any other conditions established by mutual agreement and communicated in writing between the Company and the Customer also supersede these Terms.
1.4. In the event that any extraordinary room reservation conditions not expressed in these Terms are stipulated between the Company and the Customer, they must be considered an exceptional occurrence and from which no rights for future accommodation reservation contracts can be derived.
1.5. Reservations for our Accommodation(s) can be made directly through our channels, such as website, email, telephone, social media or in person.
1.6. The Customer may also book accommodations through Third Party Reservation Services, which are subject to different conditions that may vary depending on the service provider.
1.7. The General Conditions relating to reservations made through Third Party Reservation Services or any other intermediary external to the Company are their exclusive responsibility and must be consulted by the Customer for information purposes.
1.8. The Terms listed below apply exclusively to bookings made directly with Us.
1.9. Requests for any Service are considered provisional until payment, in whole or in part, is received and the Service or Services are confirmed in writing.
1.10. In addition to the animals that live on the property, and following Portuguese Decree-Law No. 74/2007, we reserve the right not to accept any animals on the Property, except assistance dogs.
1.11. We understand that there may be Guests and/or Visitors who may have unregistered support animals that are necessary for Your well-being. Occasionally, such animals may be permitted, but acceptance is subject to written agreement and no rights can be derived for any stay that may be extended nor for any new booking.
1.12. The customer is responsible for informing us in time of the total number of people included in their reservation, as well as explicitly indicating the number of children included. Reservation confirmation may be subject to the availability of cots and/or extra beds, as well as space in the room(s) reserved.
1.13. Bookings made through us may vary in nature. Each reservation is unique and involves operational differences, such as, among others, the services offered, the costs involved and the Terms applicable to these Services. We make our best efforts to provide up-to-date and transparent information on Our Site and Third-Party Booking Services so that You can know what to expect when staying with Us.
1.14. When contracting one or more Services with the Company, it is clear that the Customer accepts these Terms as well as any other applicable particular conditions.
2. TYPES OF RESERVATION
2.1. We currently offer two different booking seasons:
2.1.1. Ecoliving Reservations, from October 1st to May 15th, in which the Customer can reserve one or more rooms for a consecutive period of 1 week up to 8 months;
2.1.2. Group Reservations, from May 15th to September 30th, in which the Customer can book a Half House or the Whole House for a consecutive period of 4 nights for up to 4 months.
2.2. Regardless of these two booking seasons, single rooms may occasionally be available to book with a 2-night minimum stay.
2.3. In the Ecoliving season, when booking a single room, regardless of the floor it belongs to, you can count on:
2.3.1. Have a remote control to open the main gate, a key for the House's front door and at least one key for Your room (additional keys depending on internal/external access to Your room).
2.3.2. Have private access to the specific room you have booked which includes a bathroom, whether private or shared (for a maximum of 4 persons).
2.3.3. Free external parking, subject to availability.
2.3.4. Share the dining and meeting room as a coworking space with other Ecolivers.
2.3.5. Share all common internal areas of the House and external areas of the Property with other Ecolivers, Visitors and Employees.
2.3.6. Have access to the Office according to its opening hours (9am to 4pm).
2.3.7. Share the barbecue area and kitchen on the Garden level with Employees.
2.3.8. Occasionally have limited access to and/or share areas and facilities throughout the Property with members of our Community Wellbeing program, such as Greenhouse, Compost Toilet, Community Porch and South Parking Lot. To find out when this might happen, you can find updated information and schedules on the Our Community Wellbeing Program page accessible using the link https://quintadobomdespacho.simplybook.it/v2/.
2.3.9. In terms of making a reservation at Ecoliving, it differs from other types of reservation, as only a 10% deposit is required to confirm the reservation, with the remainder divided by the number of months of the stay and paid monthly.
2.3.10. We also offer a 10% discount on double rooms for single occupancy – This option is not available when you book and must be entered by us manually – so please let us know before paying if you choose this option.
2.3.11. The minimum stay is 7 nights and prices decrease for stays of 14 nights or more and for stays of 28 nights or more.
2.3.12. Prices include cleaning, change of bed linen and towels once a week, laundry service twice a week, coffee, plus fruit, vegetables and herbs available in the gardens.
2.4. When booking a single room, regardless of the floor it belongs to, the Customer can count on:
2.4.1. Have a remote control to open the main gate, a key for the House's front door and at least one key for Your room (additional keys depending on internal/external access to Your room).
2.4.2. Have private access to the specific room you booked that includes a bathroom, whether private or shared by a maximum of 6 persons
2.4.3. Free external parking, subject to availability.
2.4.4. Share all common internal areas of the House and external areas of the Property with other Guests, Visitors and employees.
2.4.5. Have access to the Office according to its opening hours.
2.4.6. Share the barbecue area and kitchen on the Garden level with employees.
2.4.7. Occasionally have limited access to and/or share areas and facilities throughout the Property with members of Our Community Wellbeing program, such as Greenhouse, Compost Toilet, Community Porch and South Parking Lot. To find out when this might happen, you can find updated information and times on the Our Community Wellbeing Program page accessible using the link https://quintadobomdespacho.simplybook.it/v2/.
2.5. When booking Half House, the Customer is guaranteed not to have other Guests or Visitors accessing the reserved floor and can count on:
2.5.1. Have, per room, a remote control to open the main gate, a key for the house's front door and at least one room key (additional keys depending on internal/external access to your room).
2.5.2. Have private access to one of the floors of the House, which includes access to the areas and facilities on that floor, i.e. individual bedrooms, kitchen and living room.
2.5.3. Have private access to the internal areas of the house corresponding to the floor you booked.
2.5.4. They have free outdoor parking, subject to availability.
2.5.5. Share the external areas of the Property with other Guests, Visitors and Employees.
2.5.6. Have other Guests use the same House, but not the spaces assigned to your private access.
2.5.7. Have access to the Office according to its opening hours (9am to 4pm).
2.5.8. Share with other guests and Staff the barbecue area and kitchen on the Garden level.
2.5.9. Occasionally have limited access to and/or share areas and facilities throughout the Property with members of Our Community Wellbeing program, such as Greenhouse, Compost Toilet, Community Porch and South Parking Lot. To find out when this might happen, you can find updated information and times on the Our Community Wellbeing Program page accessible using the link https://quintadobomdespacho.simplybook.it/v2/.
2.6. When booking the Entire House, the Client is guaranteed not to have any other Guest or Visitor accessing the House and can count on:
2.6.1. Have, per room, a remote control to open the main gate, a key for the House's entrance door and at least one room key (additional keys depending on internal/external access to Your room).
2.6.2. Have private access to the House, which includes access to the areas and facilities that belong to you, i.e. individual bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms.
2.6.3. Free external parking, subject to availability.
2.6.4. Have access to the Office according to its opening hours opening (9am to 4pm).
2.6.5. Share the kitchen area on the Garden level with Staff Menbers.
2.6.6. Occasionally have limited access to and/or share areas and facilities throughout the Property with members of Our Community Wellbeing program, such as Greenhouse, Compost Toilet, Community Porch and South Parking Lot. To find out when this might happen, you can find updated information and times on the Our Community Wellbeing Program page accessible using the link https://quintadobomdespacho.simplybook.it/v2/.
3. CHECK-IN, CHECK-OUT AND OPENING HOURS
3.1. Check-in can be done from 3:00 pm.
3.2. Check-out can be done until 11:00 am.
3.3. The office opening hours are from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
3.4. Exceptions to these times may occur, which will be analyzed at our discretion, as long as there is no interference with other check-ins, check-outs or Cleaning Services.
3.5. In the event that different check-in and/or check-out times apply, this must be considered as an exceptional occurrence, from which no rights can be derived for any future booking.
3.6. During normal business hours, an Employee will be available to support the check-in, check-out process and/or any other request, as long as it is associated with a Service.
3.7. In case the Guest arrives before business hours and, subject to availability, we offer the possibility of an early check-in. With early check-in, the Guest can book the night before arrival with a 50% discount. This ensures that you will be able to enjoy your room, floor or the entire House as soon as you arrive at the Property.
3.8. If the Guest arrives after business hours, it may be necessary to do a self-check-in. You will receive detailed instructions in a timely manner and through the appropriate channel close to your check-in date.
3.9. We reserve the right to apply a surcharge of 50% of your reservation rate for each check-out that goes beyond the indicated times and has not been communicated to us or validated by us.
4. PRICES AND PAYMENT TERMS
4.1. We provide different Services through Our direct sales channels, some of which may also be available through Third Party Booking Services.
4.2. Prices and payment terms may vary depending on the Services provided and the channel through which the Customer purchases them.
4.3. In the absence of specific conditions, such as, but not limited to, those of Third Party Reservation Services, these Terms apply.
4.4. Our current prices are available on the Website and apply exclusively to Services purchased directly through our sales channels.
4.5. All prices are in Euros (€), the currency in which all payments must be made.
4.6. Even though banking entities and/or digital payment managers may accept and process payments from another currency to Euros, we decline any responsibility for charges, commissions and/or other amounts due related to, but not limited to, payment and currency exchange services. .
4.7. We reserve the right to apply specific prices for Services provided during events such as, but not limited to, national and regional holidays, regional events, New Year, Christmas or school holidays.
4.8. Sales made through Third Party Booking Services, or any other affiliated sales channels, may be subject to specific Terms and Conditions that may include different prices and payment methods. We disclaim any responsibility for such provisions, which are the sole responsibility of each service provider.
4.9. Regardless of the channel through which the Customer books their stay with us, the prices shown relate to the capacity of the accommodation(s) booked.
4.10. Depending on the booking season, i.e. during the Ecoliving season or during the Group Booking season, and the type of booking, i.e. Single Room, Half House or Entire House, we may charge a surcharge per additional person not included in the initial reservation, or we reserve the right not to accept that additional person.
4.11. All prices include Value Added Tax (VAT) at the legal rate in force, which may vary according to the Services provided.
4.12. We occasionally run Promotions during which one or more Services may be offered at reduced prices and/or with special conditions.
4.13. Promotions are time-limited, non-refundable and subject to specific Terms and Conditions that are communicated in a clear and timely manner through appropriate communication channels.
4.14. No rights can be derived from the particular prices and conditions applicable to the Promotions.
4.15. Our Services can be paid in one of the following ways:
4.15.1. Money
4.15.2. Debit card*
4.15.3. Credit card*
4.15.4. Bank transfer
4.15.5. PayPal
4.15.6. Wise
4.15.7. MBWay
*Cards accepted are Visa, Mastercard
4.16. Reservations made more than 30 days in advance of the check-in date require a 50% deposit at the time of booking to secure the reservation, with the remainder of the amount due paid upon arrival.
4.17. Reservations made 30 days or less prior to check-in date must be paid in full at the time of booking to guarantee the reservation.
4.18. We reserve the right to cancel the provision of any Service if the respective payment(s) do not meet the conditions above. We disclaim any liability for matters relating to, but not limited to, payment services and currency exchange.
4.19. Children under the age of 12 can stay free of charge as long as they are in the same room as their parents, guardians or other adult(s) responsible for them. No more than 2 children of this age are allowed in a room, as long as that room has space to accommodate them.
5. CANCELLATION POLICY
5.1. The provisions relating to our cancellation policy apply exclusively to reservations made directly with Us.
5.2. Reservations made through Third Party Reservation Services or any other intermediary external to the Company may be subject to specific cancellation policies. It is the Customer's responsibility to consult the appropriate information and cancel their booking accordingly.
5.3. Any Third Party Booking Services or any other intermediary external to the Company is responsible for its cancellation policy, as well as any potential complaints, claims or liabilities arising therefrom. We disclaim any responsibility for the cancellation policies of Third Party Booking Services or any other intermediary external to the Company.
5.4. This cancellation policy applies exclusively to reservations made directly with Us.
5.5. If there are more people present at check-in than those mentioned in the reservation, we reserve the right to charge a surcharge for each additional person or, depending on the occupancy rate, refuse to admit additional people. If the Guest decides to cancel their reservation under this provision, they will not be entitled to any refund or compensation.
5.6. All Promotions that may exist are non-refundable, regardless of the Service offered, the discounted price and/or any other special conditions. Promotions are subject to specific and time-limited Terms and Conditions.
5.7. In the event that the Customer cancels his order for Services:
5.7.1. Within 7 days of the initial order and more than 30 days prior to the Service start date, Customer will be refunded 100%, except for any transaction charges we may have incurred.
5.7.2. Up to 30 days before the Service start date, the Customer will receive a 75% refund and the remaining 25% will be due as an administrative fee.
5.7.3. Less than 30 days prior to the Service start date, there will be no refund or compensation to the Customer, including any deposits or payments made in full.
5.7.4. On or after the Service start date, there will be no refund or compensation to the Customer, including any deposits or payments made in full.
5.8. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances that force us to change or cancel the provision of any Service or Services and it is not possible to reach an agreement between us and the Customer, or if the Customer does not accept the changes under the provisions set out in point 5 of these Terms, the Customer is entitled to a 100% refund of any amount paid.
6. ADDITIONAL SERVICES
6.1. We offer self-catering accommodation, providing all the utensils, tools and appliances needed to cook and prepare meals independently.
6.2. We do not provide regular cooked meals, but this service can be requested and provided through one of our local preferred partner networks. This service may include, but is not limited to, a private chef or catering services. As a third-party service, these orders are subject to availability and specific prices and conditions.
6.3. Breakfast is not included in any price for any booking type, but we can provide it upon request. Our breakfast is made with local and/or organic products and is vegetarian type and may sometimes use seasonal ingredients produced on the Property. The provision of the Breakfast Service is governed by the following:
6.3.1. Breakfast time is between 8am and 10 am.
6.3.2. Breakfast for adults costs €15 per person per day.
6.3.3. Breakfast for children costs 12 euros per child per day.
6.3.4. All prices include VAT (Value Added Tax or VAT) at the legal rate in force.
6.4. If you value the experience, harvest baskets can be placed at Your disposal so that You can harvest fresh fruits, vegetables and/or herbs from the gardens. The products harvested are free and exclusively for personal consumption.
6.5. Due to the type of accommodation, we are not allowed to have washing machines in the kitchens and therefore we have a laundry service subject to a supplementary fee.
6.5.1. Washing clothes per 15kg load costs R$10 for a simple wash with or without fabric softener.
6.5.2. Drying per 15kg load costs €15 and includes folding and delivering the clothes to your room.
6.5.3. The Laundry and/or Drying Service is subject to availability.
6.5.4. The Guest can request the Laundry and/or Drying Service during business hours (9am to 4pm), as long as it is done up to 24 hours before the Service is completed.
6.5.5. After accepting the Laundry and/or Drying Service, the Guest may deliver their clothes to the indicated location using the basket available in their room.
6.6. We have a Community Wellbeing program with a set of activities and schedules that promote physical and mental well-being. This program is open to Guests, Visitors and the local community and is subject to its own Terms and Conditions. For up-to-date information, please see Our Community Wellbeing page accessible via the link https://quintadobomdespacho.simplybook.it/v2/.
7. PEACE OF MIND
7.1.For the protection of the Client and Visitors, the Property is protected by CCTV in the areas outside the House. Surveillance footage is stored locally and accessible only to Company Employees for security purposes and is not shared with any external entity.
7.2. For your peace of mind, there are two cell phone numbers available 24 hours a day. If you need assistance, you can call or send a WhatsApp message to +351 924 702 207 and/or +351 965 297 129.
7.3. We have a House/Community Manager on site to ensure the safety and well-being of Guests and Visitors. This member of staff lives in a self-contained part of the House and is only available when needed.
7.4. In case of unforeseen circumstances, your accommodation unit may be replaced by another of the same or higher category. If this happens, no surcharge will be applied, therefore the previously agreed prices and conditions will remain valid.
7.5. In the event of a change in the provision of one or more Services, we will inform the Guest in writing, subject to Your agreement, which must be confirmed through the same communication channel.
8. RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION
8.1. Throughout the Property there are several different internal and external areas and facilities, each of which represents different construction, access, uses and maintenance. Each and every Guest as well as any Visitors under Your responsibility is responsible for accessing and using these areas and facilities in accordance with their intended purpose and with due diligence.
8.2. Each and every Guest, as well as any Visitors under Your responsibility, who have children under Your supervision assumes responsibility for their safety and for ensuring that they use the indoor and outdoor areas and facilities appropriately and responsibly.
8.3. We decline any responsibility for any damages, liabilities, claims or requests for compensation, including expenses and representation costs, claimed by any Guest, by anyone connected with the Service or the Services provided to You or by any Visitor under Your responsibility as a result of any negligent use of and/or access to any internal and/or external areas and facilities.
8.4. The Guest – or anyone connected to the Service or the Services provided to them – is responsible for damages caused to any areas and facilities of the House and the Property, including its contents, such as, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, bed and appliances. This includes any costs resulting from losses and/or repairs due to damage that is attributable to the Customer – or anyone connected to the Service or Services provided to the Customer – or a breach of these Terms. Such costs may include, but are not limited to, representation costs and expenses.
8.5. All written conditions contained in these Terms are considered to be in force from the moment of their publication and, in the event of one or more conditions being cancelled, they will be considered unwritten.
8.6. These Terms are governed by national Portuguese legislation, applicable Portuguese language being interpreted in accordance with it. In the absence of an amicable and negotiated agreement between the Customer and the Company, any dispute arising from the application of these Terms or related to their execution, non-compliance, interpretation, resolution or reduction, the jurisdiction of the Judicial Court of the District of the Azores is stipulated, with express waiver to anyone else.
8.7. We reserve the right to change these Terms at our discretion without prior notice.
Last updated October 2024
