Cidreira
Alentejo, Portugal
Paraiso Escondido
- Our low price promise from €300 p/n
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Treehouse
Sleeps 2
- One king-size bed
Overview
The Alentejo is a largely undiscovered region of southern Portugal, reaching from just above Faro in the south to below Lisbon in the north. It’s comprised of wild, unspoilt coastline, deep valleys and meadowlands that explode with wildflowers and migratory birds in Spring. Berny and Glenn have made their paradise here, with a spa and 10m pool adding to the naturally relaxing effect of living high up among the tall eucalyptus trees. The nearby beaches are beautifully uncrowded, with great waves for surfers and the Rota Vicentina, a 450km network of hiking trails, running right past the front door and through the hills to sleepy villages like Zambujeira do Mar.
Cidreira’s broad deck looks out over the valley, catching spectacular sunrises, perfect for a morning coffee or something from your personalised tea selection. Breakfast is included and served up at the main house four minutes away, where you might meet guests from Camomila, the sister tree bungalow, a minute down the hill. There are no cooking facilities in the treehouse, but there are local restaurants open in the summer months and you can also have dinner here, enjoying Berny and Glenn’s great company as well as their extensive selection of Portuguese wines. Meals will no doubt include fruit and veg from personally selected local producers and the organic garden, which is fed on captured rainwater as part of a commitment to minimising environmental impact that you’ll also see in carefully selected toiletries and even an electric car charging port. Berny and Glenn know that they have unique hidden paradise and are committed to preserving it as they share it with you.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 2 pm
- Check out: 12 pm
- Torch provided
- Mosquito spray is provided - the tree bungalow is surrounded by eucalyptus trees which act as a natural repellent against mosquitoes, however guests are advised to close the doors at dusk
- It's a 4 minute walk from Cidreira to the main house at Paraiso Escondido, and short walk to the other tree bungalow, Camomila
- Good mobile phone signal. WiFi
Sleeping arrangements
- One king-size bed
Cooking
- Paraiso Escondido is not self-catering and bringing your own food and alcohol is not permitted. Meals are available in the main house where there is also a bar (see the Food & Drink tab for more information)
- Breakfast included
- Kettle and personal choice of teas
- Nespresso coffee machine
- Mini bar fridge
Washing
- En suite bathroom with hot shower and flushing toilet
- Molton Brown Eco Green Park toiletries
- Bath robes
- Hairdryer
- Guest laundry (charges apply)
Heating, lighting & bedding
- 100% percale cotton Portuguese bed linen
- Towels provided
- Air conditioning for hot and cool air
- Ceiling fans
- Electric lighting and power sockets
Entertainment
- Shared outdoor swimming pool at main house
- Books and board games in the main house which guests can help themselves to
- WiFi
Getting there
Paraiso Escondido, Casa Nova da Cruz, São Teotónio, Alentejo, Portugal 7630-568
Entrance: ///incorrectly.founding.welcomed
By air
Paraiso Escondido is around 1 hour and 15 minutes from Faro and 2 hours and 15 minutes from Lisbon.
By car
Directions from Faro Airport
From the airport you’ll go past the following signs:
N125 / IP1 Faro - IC4 Lisboa/Portimao - N125 Portimao 57 Lagos 76 - IP1 Espanha/Lisboa.
Take the following turn off - IP1 Lisboa/Albufeira - Portimao. You should be on A22. Come off Junction 10. Take A2 - Messines. Come off Junction 14 - Silves - Messines.
You should now be on N124. Follow signs IC1 Lisboa. Then follow signs IC1 Lisboa / S. Marcos da Serra. Look for Galp petrol station on right hand side. Soon after passing Galp look out for sign - N267 - S. Marcos da Serra. Turn sharp right 5.7 km from Galp. Look for sign - Monchique - S. Marcos da Serra. Turn right. Look for the following sign - Benavolente / Monchique / Odemira. Turn left. Cross over railway line – follow the road for 5 - 10 minutes.
Look for sign - Odemira (please note that this sign isn’t very visible and may have graffiti sprayed all over the sign). Turn right. Look for sign - S. Teotonio – Turn Left (please note that this sign can sometimes be pointing straight ahead – but please turn left). Travel on this road for 20 minutes.
Look for sign - Barranco do Inferno. Soon after this sign turn sharp left down the dirt track, and you’ll see wrought iron gates between two white pillars, set back from the road about 50 metres. You’re there!
To open the gate, kindly contact us to obtain the code.
Please note if you reach Casa Nova da Cruz (tiny little hamlet/village) you’ve gone too far. Turn back and you’ll see the sign Barranco do Inferno, turn right into small dirt track.
Lisbon to Paraíso Escondido
Travel on the motorway towards Algarve from Lisbon and exit the motorway at Junction 10 (Beja/Ferreira). After the Toll, immediately move to the left lane following the sign N262 / Algarve / Ourique.
Follow IC1 towards Faro/Ourique until you reach a village called Mimosa. When you see the Galp Petrol Station on your left, very soon after turn right, following the sign N262 Alvalade/Cercal/Lagos.
Drive over the bridge and then go straight ahead at the roundabout. Drive ahead on this road making sure you always follow the signs to Cercal. Keep driving along this road all the way to Cercal. When you reach Cercal you’ll arrive at a large roundabout surrounded by coffee shops/Pastelarias & restaurants. Follow the sign left to Milfontes (2nd exit off roundabout).
Drive ahead on this road and follow the signs to Vila Nova de Milfontes. Go ahead across the next 2 roundabouts and follow the signs to V N de Milfontes. At the 3rd large roundabout (beginning of V N de Milfontes) follow the sign N120 to Odemira 2nd exit. Drive ahead across the large bridge (you will see beautiful views of V N de Milfontes on your right hand side). Continue driving on this road following the signs to Odemira. Go ahead over a small roundabout and go straight, keep following the signs to Odemira. Immediately after you see a large old factory on your right hand side with a small petrol station in front, you will see a sign (Cabo Sardao/Zambujeira) and turn right. Follow the road for a while. You will drive past the Z-Mar Camp site on your left hand side. Then the road has a very sharp bend to the left – follow the bend to the left (Lagos).
You will arrive at a small junction and the road splits and curves to the right. Turn left following the signs to Lagos N120. Drive towards São Teotónio. Keep driving ahead on this road until you reach a roundabout (you’ll see a building supplies yard on the left hand side). At the roundabout, take 3rd exit (left) following the signs to Odemira. Drive up the hill and look for a sharp turn right (N120-2 Sao Teotonio). Take this right turn. As you drive on this little road you will see a road on your left hand side. Take this junction turning left towards (Saboia/Casa Nova da Cruz).
Continue driving straight ahead through a very small village called ‘Quintas’. Keep driving and you will soon see a road on your left hand side. Turn left at this junction, follow the signs (Saboia/Casa Nova da Cruz). Continue driving straight ahead through a very, very small village called ‘Choça’. Soon after, you’ll arrive at the small hamlet called ‘Casa Nova da Cruz’. Drive through Casa Nova da Cruz and very soon you’ll see a sign ‘Barranco do Inferno’ on your right hand side. Turn immediately right onto the dirt road. You will then see the gates to the property on the right hand side. You’ve arrived at Paraiso Escondido! To open the gate, kindly contact us to obtain the code.
Parking is located right outside each tree bungalow. Please note there are quite a few steps up to the entrance of Camomila.
Food & Drink
At Paraiso Escondido Tree Bungalows
A delicious breakfast is included in your stay, with organic free-range eggs, fresh fruit and juices, local freshly baked bread, yoghurts, cereals, a selection of cold meats and cheeses and a range of herbal teas and coffee on offer.
Lunch time snack menu with salads and toasted sandwiches served from 12.30 pm until 3 pm, at additional cost.
Dinners are provided at extra cost using the freshest Alentejo produce, with 3 course evening meals available from 8:30 pm (with 24 hours advance warning). The vegetables and herbs are sourced from personally selected local producers and Paraiso Escondido's own organic garden using whatever is fresh and in season.
Wine and drinks also available to purchase at Paraiso Escondido and at the bar. There is also a mini bar in the tree bungalows.
Paraiso Escondido is not self-catering and bringing your own food and alcohol is not permitted. Meals are available in the main house where there is also a bar. All meals are vegetarian/plant based
Places to eat
Food lovers will enjoy some of the best seafood and shellfish from the unpolluted waters of the Costa Vicentina. The wines from this region are a hidden gem, with many wonderful Wineries producing world-class wines.
There are several restaurants in the local area, the closest being about 15-20 minutes by car (nothing is within walking distance). Please note, these restaurants are seasonal and most are closed in the winter months.
Tasca do Celso in V.N. de Milfontes.
O Paulo in Arrifana.
Costa Alentejana in Zambujeira do Mar.
Activities
At Paraiso Escondido Tree Bungalows
The property at Paraiso Escondido has a 10 metre swimming pool, a small lake, organic vegetable garden and numerous quiet areas to relax, read and sunbathe. The main house also has a large lounge, bar, dining and reading area.
The roof terrace has an outdoor spa and massage sanctuary for treatments and relaxation, with qualified therapists with both Banyan Tree Spa Academy (Thailand) and Ayurvedic massage training and experience. Treatments can be arranged upon arrival at Paraiso Escondido.
In addition to the main house, there is a multifunction studio, tucked into the hillside facing the lake and the Alentejo countryside. The studio is used for various workshops, demonstrations and coaching.
“We provide the opportunity for guests to learn how to connect with their inner self during classes including painting, cooking, meditation yoga and pilates, amongst many others”.
More energetic pursuits such as surfing, canoeing, golf, hiking and tours to Alentejo wineries can also be organised.
Places to visit
The Alentejo is still relatively undiscovered and is often referred to as the Tuscany of Portugal with its beautiful sun drenched rolling landscapes dotted with sleepy villages surrounded with cork trees and olive groves and its wonderful gastronomy.
The South West Alentejo and the Costa Vicentina National Park is one of the finest preserved stretches of European coastline, from Porto Covo in the Alentejo, to Burgau in the Algarve. The Park can be visited by walks along the famous Rota Vicentina.
The Rota Vicentina comprises 400km of Fisherman’s Trails and Historical Routes. The beautiful River Mira is nearby and has been acknowledged as the cleanest river in Europe. Canoeing and boat trips can be arranged.
Outdoor & Active
The closest beaches to Paraiso Escondido are between 15 – 25 mins by car and these include Zambujeira do Mar, Carvalhal, Odeceixe and Vila Nova de Milfontes. It’s possible to discover many other beaches that have been preserved in a virtually unspoiled state.
The beaches are highly popular amongst surfers, and are some of the finest in the country. There are a tremendous variety of natural and unspoiled beaches, including long stretches of sand and small beaches nestled between the cliffs and rocks
Meet your hosts
Meet Berny & Glenn
Born in Mozambique, Berny Serrão first thought of the southern Alentejo as her “stolen Africa”. The vast open landscapes with rolling hills and clear, unpolluted starry skies. The long hot summer months and wonderful light all year round. It all makes for a magical backdrop for the wild and almost virgin coastline with amazing unspoiled beaches.
The idea to turn their country house into a small tranquil retreat first came to Berny and Glenn in 2008 and since then the couple have been working on this dream. They felt it was important to share their love of nature and their special place in Alentejo that they call ‘Paraiso Escondido’ or ‘Hidden Paradise’. Their dream became a reality when they opened the doors to the world in November 2014.
It’s the perfect location to slow down, relax and reconnect with the beautiful things that life has to offer. “Here, our guests will find pure nature, delicious food, and great company. Mix this together with enjoyable, inspiring and healthy experiences and our guests have a magical way to become grounded and enriched on a physical, emotional and spiritual level, leaving them feeling re-charged and in a much better place”.
Wildlife & Environment
Enjoy the simplicity of the beautiful and breathtaking surroundings in the 20 acres of private land with breathtaking views. “This truly is a special part of Portugal”.
The South West Alentejo and the Costa Vicentina National Park is one of the finest preserved stretches of European coastline, covering over 100 km, from Porto Covo in the Alentejo, to Burgau in the Algarve. The Park includes various unique species of animal and plant life, and is visited by many zoologists and botanists from all parts of the world.
Many bird species can be seen, such as rare fish eagles. The rarest species is the white stork, given that this is the only place in the world where they build their nests in the seashore rocks. Another rarity is the otter, since this is the only place in Portugal and one of the last places in Europe where it is possible to find otters in a marine habitat.
The beaches are highly popular amongst surfers, and are some of the finest in the country. There are a tremendous variety of beaches, including long stretches of sand and small beaches nestled between the cliffs and rocks. The closest beaches to Paraiso Escondido are between 15 – 25 mins by car and these include Zambujeira do Mar, Carvalhal, Odeceixe and Vila Nova de Milfontes. It’s possible to discover many other beaches that have been preserved in a virtually unspoiled state.
A short drive inland you will find the beautiful Alentejo countryside. This mainly undiscovered area is often referred to as the Tuscany of Portugal, with its beautiful sun drenched rolling landscapes dotted with sleepy villages surrounded with cork trees and olive groves. This is a region where you will find some of the most delicious food in Portugal. Some of the delicacies include Porco Alentejano (perfectly seasoned and spiced pork, cooked with clams), Secretos de Porco Preto (thinly sliced pork from locally bred black pigs). If you are a fish lover, this is the place to be, with a wide variety of delicious fresh fish and shellfish from the cold and unpolluted Alentejo coastline.
For all wine lovers, the Alentejo region offers some of the finest wines you could wish to drink. The wines from this region are a hidden gem, with many wonderful Wineries producing world-class wines.
Reviews
We had a fantastic time! The location is perfect for relaxing, but also close enough to visit the stunning coastline. Berny has plenty of suggestions about the best places to visit in the area and we found this very helpful. The vegan food options were and very tasty and overall we felt very well looked after.
17/11/2018Nicholas
We had a magical stay in Cirdreira at Paraiso Escondido for our honeymoon back in May. Berny and Glenn were the perfect hosts. They have created a beautiful guest house concept with deluxe accommodation in a lovely setting, with delicious food too. It couldn't have been better.
21/05/2018Ed
We're super excited to be adding Berny and Glenn's tree bungalows to the Canopy & Stars collection. Wonderful additions to the collection! The feedback for Paraiso Escondido should give you a good feel for what a stay will be like. Book a stay and be the first to write a review!
28/03/2018The Canopy & Stars Team
Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd (Company No 09088366) of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. As an Agent we act as an intermediary between you and the owner (‘’Owner’’) of the holiday accommodation (‘’Property’’) you will be staying in. We help to arrange reservations and bookings between you and the Owner and take payments from you on behalf of the Owner.
We are only arranging a contract between you and the Owner for hire of the Property and for any other services or arrangement you purchase from the Owner (the “Booking”). This means the legal contract for the Booking is between you and the Owner despite the fact that a payment for the Booking has been made to the Agent. Your contract for the Booking is not with Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd (Canopy & Stars).
Canopy & Stars is part of the Sawday’s family of companies, a majority employee owned business, 24% owned by a charitable trust and a B Corp. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into in relation to Bookings or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking.
When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner, as detailed in clause 1.2 below. Your Booking is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:
- You have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- The lead name on the Booking will be the person responsible for the Booking and shall be responsible for paying the deposit and the full price, for making any amendment and cancellation requests and for the payment of any additional charges. The lead name accepts these Terms & Conditions on behalf of all persons in the Booking;
- You consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
- You are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. To confirm your booking, you must pay a 25% deposit (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of your check in date) and the entire Booking will be subject to the cancellation policy as outlined in clause 2 below. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the Booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone, we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm). Online or email enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a 25% non-refundable deposit as required (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in). The deposit is non-refundable as it covers costs incurred and services provided to enable your Booking. These include, but are not limited to, marketing and PR, property inspection fees, Owner management, booking management, credit card fees and customer service.
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This Booking confirmation email will be sent within 24 hours and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your Booking confirmation email within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Once the 25% deposit has been paid, the full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in. A reminder to pay your balance will be sent to you one week prior to this 10 week date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your responsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the automated balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it is expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If you do not make any payment due to Canopy & Stars by the due date for payment and at the latest within 5 days of this date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who will cancel your Booking and terminate their contract with you. In these circumstances, your rights to a refund are set out in clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that if you have paid in a currency that is different to the original pricing, we will not be able to guarantee the same conversion rate that was used to convert the deposit payment.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Elavon who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation by You
2.1 If you have to, or want to cancel or amend your Booking, this request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within two working days of receipt. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your 25% deposit being forfeited. The deposit is always non-refundable as it covers costs incurred and services provided to enable your Booking.
2.3 All bookings are non-amendable and non-refundable within 10 weeks of your check in date. If you need to cancel your booking within 10 weeks, the total cost of the accommodation including the deposit will be forfeited. Cancellation should always be in writing to bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk.
2.4 If you need to cancel your booking at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, the 25% deposit will be forfeited. If the booking has been paid in full the balance will be returned to you, minus the 25% deposit. Refunds will be issued in the same form and ratio as the original payment was made. Therefore, if a Gift Voucher was used to book your stay, the refund will be back onto a new Gift Voucher at the same amount as originally used. Alternatively, if you paid in cash, your refund will be processed in the currency of the booking. Where this is different to the currency of the payment card, this will be converted at the current exchange rate on the day of the refund.
2.5 Cancellations made by you, at any time, may incur a £50 administration fee in addition to us retaining the non-refundable deposit. This represents the administration costs incurred by us on behalf of the Owner to deal with such requests.
2.6 If extreme weather prevents you from reaching your holiday, taking, or finishing your holiday, you are still subject to these cancellation terms as outlined in clause 2.3 above. We strongly recommend that you take out a travel insurance policy which covers this eventuality. In the event of the property becoming unavailable (such as due to fire or flooding), Canopy & Stars will endeavour to provide the Guest with suitable alternative accommodation, starting with any other accommodation that may be available with the same Owner of your Booking, or will refund all monies paid, or a proportion in the case of curtailment. The Agency cannot, however, pay any compensation or expenses as a consequence of such an event.
2.7 Cancellation insurance is available to purchase from many providers, but will be a third-party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way. You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party for UK holidays and you must take out personal travel insurance for international holidays, including for illness and cancellation due to Covid-19. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover is adequate for your needs, including cancellation and curtailment.
2.8 If you fail to check-in on your date of arrival your Booking will be cancelled and no refund will be due.
3. Amendments to your booking, requested by you
3.1 Amendments to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time amendments may be treated as cancellation and our refund policy as detailed in clause 2.3 above may apply. All amendments are subject to availability and may incur a £50 admin fee detailed in clause 2.5 above.
3.2 If we can fulfil your request to amend your booking, any differences in price as a result of the amendment, will be paid by you in the case of an increase and refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price, e.g. amending your booking from low season to high season.
3.3 In the event that a date swap is offered, this will normally be agreed with a set timeframe to rebook and sometimes a credit against a future stay will be offered. The credit can only apply to a stay at the same space as originally booked.
3.3.1 If a date swap is offered, then the Agency Booking Terms and Conditions applied at the time of your original booking will still apply. Therefore, if your date was swapped within 10 weeks of the original check in date, the 10 week cancellation policy set out in clause 2.3 applies to your new stay, even if the new check in date is beyond 10 weeks.
4. Refunds
If a refund is issued it will be in the same form and ratio as the original payment was made. Therefore, if a Gift Voucher was used to purchase the original stay, the refund will be back onto a new Gift Voucher at the same amount as originally used.
5. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party for your holiday, including holidays in the UK. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover is adequate for your needs, including cancellation and curtailment for any reason. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday.
6. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Booking or to cancel your Booking. We will also liaise between you and the Owner to try and organise an alternative Booking offered by the Owner, or a refund but we will have no further liability to you.
7. Cancellations due to events outside of Owner’s control
An Owner may have to cancel a booking due to events outside of their reasonable control (see clause 22). In such circumstances, we will liaise between you and the Owner to try and organise an any alternative Booking offered by the Owner, or a refund but we will have no further liability to you.
8. Complaints & Procedure
We always aim to provide the best possible holiday experience, however, if you have any complaint or problems during your stay, please immediately notify the Owner during the stay itself, so that the Owner has the opportunity to resolve the problem at the time. If you do not follow this procedure, there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that the amount of compensation you may be entitled to, may be reduced or negated.
Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also let us know of the problem as soon as possible by emailing info@canopyandstars.co.uk. We will aim to respond within 1 working day to acknowledge your email. We will then review your feedback and investigate the complaint. This may involve discussing your concerns with the owner, revising the website listing for inaccuracies, and reviewing previous guest feedback and internal inspection notes. This process can take time to complete, so please allow approx. 7 working days for a final response.
We also welcome you to fill in our feedback survey which will be sent to you via email the day after you check out. It is important for us to gather as much information as possible about the experiences our guests are having. This is what helps us support our Owner in fulfilling their potential and identifying if anything could be improved.
9. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
10. Your Responsibilities
10.1 Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their Property.
10.2 You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners may also require a damage deposit. If so, this information will be provided on the website place page under ‘essentials’.
10.3 You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your Booking. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Please note that this would be without the right to any refund.
11. Pets
11.1 Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. If you take a pet to a place that doesn’t allow pets, or you exceed the number of pets allowed at a place, the Owner has the right to refuse you to stay at the Property, and/or they may ask you to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Please note that this would be without the right to any refund.
11.2 A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply, you will be notified of this at point of Booking. Please check these terms carefully before booking and arriving.
11.3 Please do not leave your pets alone or unsupervised in the property at any time during your stay. For the safety and comfort of your pet we request that Owners exercise due diligence at all times, especially where the property is located near a road/livestock. Canopy & Stars nor the Owner can accept responsibility for the safety of your pet.
11.4 If any guest has an allergy to pets, please be aware that Owners (and we) cannot guarantee that a pet has not stayed in a particular Property. We and Owners cannot accept responsibility for any suffering which may occur as a result of such animals having been present in a property.
11.5 We ask that all owners of pets keep their pet under control at all times and to be responsible for ensuring that they do not damage the Property, livestock or vegetation during the stay. You will be liable for any damage caused by your pet. Any damage is to be reported to the Owner immediately. Any additional cleaning required, that may incur an additional charge, will be at the Owner's discretion.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, allergy, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a Booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
13.1 The Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property. As Agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
13.2 The Owner only supplies the Property for domestic and private use. You agree not to use the Property for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose, and the Owner has no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity. If you do wish to use the Property for a commercial purpose, you must contact Canopy & Stars prior to confirming your booking.
14. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled, and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of Booking is permitted.
15. Pricing
15.1 Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices. Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
15.2 Rates are set per place in the currency specified by the Owner. Where this has been converted into the currency of your preference, until the payment stage this will be an estimation only, based on a recent exchange rate. The original rate will be displayed before you confirm your payment and you will be given the option of paying in your own currency at our guaranteed rate, or paying in your own currency and leaving the conversion and any associated fees to your card provider.
16. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured and so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
17. VAT
Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable, the tax is included in the advertised holiday rental price. If the rate of VAT changes between the date of the Booking and the date of the stay, Canopy & Stars may adjust the rate of VAT that you pay, unless you have already paid for the Booking in full before the change in the rate of VAT takes effect.
18. Visa, passport and health requirements
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the international Booking. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday. Prior to international travel it is your responsibility to check whether it is safe to travel by visiting the FCO website www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
20. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
21. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
22. Events beyond an Owner or Agency’s control
If an Owner or Canopy & Stars is prevented or delayed from complying with any of their respective obligations under these Agency Terms & Conditions or a contract for a Booking due to events or circumstances beyond their reasonable control, the inability or delay in performing those obligations will not be treated as a breach of these Agency Terms & Conditions or a contract for a Booking. Examples of such events or circumstances include fire, flood and other acts of God, strikes, trade disputes, lock outs, restrictions of imports or exports, riot, accident, disruption to energy supplies, civil commotion, acts of terrorism or war, pandemic (including Covid-19), any national/local/regional government restrictions.
Thank you for wading through all the very boring, but very important stuff above.
Now the outdoors is calling, so go and get wild in nature!
We had a fantastic time! The location is perfect for relaxing, but also close enough to visit the stunning coastline. Berny has plenty of suggestions about the best places to visit in the area and we found this very helpful. The vegan food options were and very tasty and overall we felt very well looked after.
17/11/2018