Booking Terms & Conditions
We're delighted you're considering staying with us. Prior to booking, please review our booking terms and conditions below. If anything isn't clear, don’t hesitate to ask, we’re here to help you enjoy a wonderful visit.
Holiday Stay Agreement
The property is let for short-term holiday accommodation only and may only be occupied for the agreed holiday period. It must be used exclusively for self-catering holiday purposes. We reserve the right to refuse entry or cancel a booking if guests breach these terms.
Booking Correspondence
When you submit your booking request via our website's booking form, you'll receive an automatically generated response by email to the email address you provided. Please note, this email does not confirm your booking. Your reservation will only be confirmed when the deposit is paid and you receive our official confirmation email.
Arrival & Departure
– Check-in: from 4:00 PM.
– Check-out: by 10:00 AM.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 4:00pm. If you will be arriving earlier than this and would like to offload your luggage so you can explore, please let us know and we will make arrangements for safe storage.
In order that the property can be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the arrival of other guests, departure time is strictly 10:00am.
Reservations & Deposits
A reservation is confirmed only once we have received your deposit, equivalent to 50% of the total booking cost. For bookings made more than six weeks before arrival, the remaining balance is due six weeks before your arrival date. For bookings within six weeks of your stay, the full amount must be paid at the time of booking.
If your final balance isn't paid by the due date, we may treat your booking as cancelled.
Changes to bookings, such as dates or duration, may be possible up to 48 hours before arrival, subject to availability. Any price difference will be applied to your original booking cost. Please contact us directly to discuss these changes.
Cancellation Policy & Refunds
We strongly recommend you take out comprehensive travel insurance covering holiday cancellations and unforeseen events.
If you need to cancel your booking, please notify us in writing by email.
Short-Term Bookings (Under 7 Days)
- More than 6 weeks before arrival (42+ days):
Full refund of your deposit. - Between 2-6 weeks before arrival (14-42 days):
50% refund of the total accommodation cost. - Less than 2 weeks before arrival (under 14 days):
No refund unless we successfully rebook your dates. If rebooked, we will issue a full refund, minus an administrative fee of 10% of the total cost. - Christmas, New Year, and Easter bookings:
no refund will be provided for cancellations made with less than 6 weeks' notice.
Long-Term Bookings (7+ Days)
Due to the extended nature of long-term stays, we have a stricter cancellation policy:
- More than 12 weeks before arrival (84+ days):
Full refund of your deposit. - Between 8-12 weeks before arrival (56-84 days):
50% refund of the total accommodation cost. - Less than 8 weeks before arrival (under 56 days):
No refund unless we can rebook the full stay. If rebooked, we will issue a refund, minus an administrative fee of 10% of the total cost.
Third-party Bookings
Bookings made through third-party platforms (e.g. Airbnb) are subject to the cancellation policies outlined on those platforms, and their service charges or fees may be non-refundable.
Cancellation by Sanctuary Cottages
We will make every effort to ensure your chosen cottage is available. However, in the unlikely event that your booked cottage becomes unavailable, we will either offer you alternative accommodation or provide a full refund of your payment. Our liability is limited to the amount paid by you for your booking, and we cannot accept responsibility for additional compensation or consequential losses.
Severe Weather
Sanctuary Cottages is located in the beautiful coastal townland of Ballymore, Ireland. Due to our coastal and rural location, guests should be aware that extreme weather conditions, including high winds, heavy rain, snow, and icy roads, can sometimes affect travel to and from the cottages.
- If adverse weather makes access difficult, we recommend checking local weather reports and road conditions before setting out. If you feel unable to reach the property safely, please contact us, and we will do our best to assist with alternative arrangements where possible.
- During periods of extreme storms, power cuts may occur. While we cannot control power restoration times, we do provide emergency torches and heating alternatives where available. No refunds or compensation will be provided for weather-related power outages.
- On the very rare occasion that temperatures drop below freezing for an extended period, water supplies to external amenities (such as outdoor taps) may be affected. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee full functionality of these features in extreme weather, and no refunds or compensation will be given for their unavailability.
We strongly recommend guests take appropriate precautions when travelling in winter conditions and encourage the use of a 4x4 vehicle or winter tyres where necessary.
Occupancy
Only guests named in your booking are permitted to stay. Exceeding stated occupancy without prior agreement will result in immediate termination without refund.
Children
Guests must accept responsibility for the safety of their children at all times whilst visiting the Sanctuary Studio, Pipers Cottage and/ or Ocean Blue Retreat and the grounds. All children (a person under 16 years of age) must be accompanied by an adult and must be supervised by an adult at all times.
You must take particular care when children are around animals, fire, equipment and water. Of course, Ballymore and its surrounds has been and remains home to a number of children, but it is a rural environment with cattle, sheep, donkeys, chickens, dogs, cats and native animals wandering fields and roads and so it has its own risks.
Travel Cots & Highchairs
We have a limited number of these that we can provide for your use. Please try to request these at the time of booking to avoid disappointment. Linen and bedding for travel cots are usually not provided and we do not provide stairgates.
Pets
We love dogs (our dog, Rusty, would agree wholeheartedly!), but due to our proximity to working farms, we unfortunately cannot allow dogs or other pets. However, we understand how difficult it is leaving your four-legged family behind. Previous guests have happily used Dingle Doggo's, a fantastic local boarding service, ensuring your pet also enjoys a holiday!
Internet & Mobile Reception
We provide complimentary Wi-Fi in all our properties. You agree to reasonable and lawful usage of this service. Despite the wonderful remoteness of the area, internet is broadband and is quite stable for rural areas. We cannot guarantee that internet access will always be available as the weather may affect the service. Any damage to the infrastructure caused by the weather may take a while to repair. No refunds or compensation will be offered or paid should there be no internet access.
Smoking & Vaping
Our properties are strictly non-smoking/non-vaping. There is a private patio for each property which you may use to do so, but we ask you keep this area free of litter. Breaching this policy incurs a €500 cleaning fee.
Noise & Behaviour
Please respect the peaceful setting of Sanctuary Cottages. Excessive noise or disruptive behaviour affecting other guests or neighbours could result in termination of your stay without refund.
Care of the Property
Please treat the cottages with care, leaving them tidy and secure upon departure. Accidents happen, so please inform us immediately of any damages or breakages.
Liability
We are not responsible for loss or damage to guests' personal property or vehicles during your stay. Guests are advised to have suitable travel insurance.
Woodburner & Heating
Pipers and Ocean Blue Cottages have independent modern heating systems (underfloor and radiators) and do not depend on the fires for heating. The Studio has a woodburner for comfort and comes supplied with logs and a starter supply of firelighters. More logs and firelighters can be purchased for a small fee. It also has electric heaters for your comfort.
Open Flames & Fires
For safety reasons, open flames, including candles, are not permitted inside the properties. If you need extra lighting, just let us know, and we'll be happy to provide it. We may also provide a fire pit, if it is available, for use on the outdoor patio, but it must not be left unattended when lit.
Drone Usage
Drone flying is permitted only with our prior written approval. This ensures privacy and tranquillity for all guests and our neighbours and their livestock.
Complaints
We want your stay to be enjoyable and comfortable as possible, but from time-to-time, things do go wrong. In these circumstances, it is our guests responsibility to make any such problems known to our team and give us the opportunity to correct the situation as soon as reasonably possible.
Please contact us about your issue by contacting the following channels:
Email: stay@sanctuarycottages.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 87 602 2152
Unless this procedure is followed, no subsequent claim will be entertained.
Force Majeure
If, for any reason, we have to cancel your booking in advance due to circumstances beyond our control, for example fire, flood, exceptional weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics, destruction/damage to the property ("force majeure") you will be refunded the full amount of the booking.
If we have to terminate your holiday early for the above reasons you will be refunded part of the booking fee based on the time remaining of the booking. This will be the full extent of the liability of Sanctuary Cottages. No additional compensation, expenses or costs will be payable.
Our registered business address is:
Sanctuary Cottages, Ballymore, Ballymore, Ventry, Kerry, V92 R2F8.
Email: stay@sanctuarycottages.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 87 602 2152
Self-contained cottages along Ireland's wild southwest coast—a cosy sanctuary to rest, renew and roam.
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