Privately Owned Vacation Homes on Florida's Gulf Coast - independently owned, locally managed and operated

General Information

How To Make a Reservation

Availability can change frequently - we recomend re-confirming dates by email or telephone immediately prior to completing a booking form.

Our online calendar is updated regularly but due to international time differences it cannot be guaranteed accurate at all times.

Booking

Rates shown are for the property (up to the maximum occupancy indicated) and include use of all utilities associated with the property including solar pool heating (where available). A standard cleaning fee is applicable in most properties (rentals in excess of 27 nights may attract a supplementary cleaning fee) rates exclude state & local taxes, a pool/spa heating charge may apply at certain times of the year.

Payment

* First payment required at time of reservation is typically 15% - 20% depending on the property.

Guest note: the first payment indicated is charged to validate the booking. It is deducted from the total amount charged for the rental when the balance falls due (it is NOT a refundable security deposit)

* Remaining balance payment falls due 30 days before date of travel

* For reservations made less than 30 days before date of travel payment is DUE IN FULL at time of reservation

* Payment by credit card is preferred - we accept Visa - Master Card - American Express

* Payment by credit card may be subject to a transaction fee.

* Payment by bank transfer is possible - please contact us for our bank account details (please include your name as the reference - international payment should be received within 5 business days to avoid cancellation)

* Payment by check is possible please contact us for mailing information (US$ checks should be received within 7 business days to avoid cancellation)

Additional Information

Full travel and check-in details are e-mailed when the balance payment has been received (usually not less than 21 days before travel)

Check-in and key or key code collection for all homes will be via the local office in Florida – all guests should collect the property directions and key code information from the local office BEFORE proceeding to the home. Facilities for out of hours check-in collection are available via a lockbox located immediately outside the local office.

Please note check-in at the office is from 4.00pm on the day of arrival.

We do not require cash or refundable credit card charge for a security deposit – however guests will be required to provide an imprint of their credit card (Visa/Master Card/Amex) to the local office in Florida upon arrival (no advance $ charge is applied). In addition and to comply with state law and Department of Homeland Security requests, the head of the party will also be required to complete their registration at the local office.This requirement is mandatory and is a condition of Secret Places acceptance of your booking - it should be noted that it is the guest's responsibility to register and provide this information within 48 hours of arrival.

Guests should note that for cleaning purposes, at busy times early arrival or check-in is not available. This may mean that for those guests arriving when the office is closed, at weekends or holidays, check-in details may not be available or actually placed inside the lockbox until 4.00pm

Check out from the property is by 11.00am on the morning of departure. We kindly ask our guests who may intend to make an early departure, for their assistance in notifying us the day prior to their scheduled departure. During busy times early access can be of great assistance to the cleaning staff in preparing the house for the in-coming guests.

Accommodation

Florida sales & tourist tax applies to all rates, currently 11.5% - 12% depending on location - MINIMUM RENTAL PERIOD during high season is 7 Nights

Electric pool heating is available at most homes - an additional fee is chargeable at certain times of the year, please inquire for details.

CLICK HERE for important information about electric pool heating

Rates quoted are for the property & includes all persons up to the maximum occupancy levels: 2 bed = 4 people 3 bed = 6 people 4 bed = 8 people 5 bed = 10 people

(reduced rates are not available where fewer people occupy the property) An additional infant or small child may be accommodated at our discretion.

Rates quoted include usage of utilities inside the home – there are no additional charges for household electricity

Departure cleaning fees vary by home size and location, increased fee may apply for longer stay rentals - sample range $195 - $375

Short rentals of 3, 4 or 5 nights may be available outside high season but may not be available in all homes – inquire for specific availability

Weekly rentals overlapping two seasons are pro-rated based on the seasonal in which they fall.

A monthly rental is defined as (28 nights) – additional nights are pro-rated

We reserve the right to amend our published rates & substitute alternative accommodation

Cape Coral Area Waterfront Homes Rates are quoted in USD (converted £ / € rates are approximate conversions)	US $	GBP £	Euro €

Electric Pool / Spa Heating

An additional cost for electric pool/spa heating is charged to recover the energy costs associated with powering the system for approximately 8-10 hours per day and is NOT a guarantee of achieving a specific water temperature ……here’s how the system works

In common with most homes in Florida, electric pool heating is provided by an outside heat exchange unit. The unit has a circulating fan which draws in air, the heat exchanger extracts warmth from the air and by means of a compressor, uses this heat to transfer to the pool water which is circulating through pipes and grilles inside the unit.

An average size pool holds approximately 10,000 gallons of water, electric pool heaters DO NOT have a direct heating element as this would simply be too expensive to operate.

The ultimate temperature that it is possible to obtain for the swimming pool water depends entirely on the outside ambient air temperature and cannot be guaranteed. The pool heating system operates only during daylight hours therefore the cooler winter nights and early mornings, even in Florida will impact the available heat for warming the swimming pool water.

It is not possible to either guarantee the exact temperature that swimming pool water will achieve or that this temperature will be maintained, however without an electric pool heater the temperature of the water will fall by convection to be the same as, or lower than the outside air temperature. The use of an electric pool heater WILL gain several degrees of extra warmth.

A Spa is NOT the same as a Hot Tub or a Jacuzzi and DOES NOT have an independent heat source, however by concentrating the heating capability of the pool heater into a smaller volume of water inside the spa it is possible to attain considerably higher temperatures than in the pool as a whole.

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Solar Pool Heating.
Heating is provided by means of a system of solar panels placed on the roof – swimming pool water is pumped through an extensive series of grills inside the panels which are being heated by direct sunlight. The heated water is then released back into the swimming pool. The actual temperature attained by this system will be dependant on the outside air temperatures, cloud cover and the amount of direct sunlight. Solar systems where installed, work in conjunction with electric pool heaters and operate only during daylight hours.

General Information

How To Make a Reservation

Booking

Payment

Additional Information

Accommodation

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