DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ: Palm Springs Vacation Connection is an Internet-based connection site - connecting prospective vacationers with homeowners who are willing to allow their homes to be used for vacation purposes. At all times vacationers are "guests" of the homeowner, and all money paid is for the use of the homeowner's accommodation and facilities. Palm Springs Vacation Connection and the property owners that we represent will not be responsible for any personal injuries or loss or theft of any personal items that renters may suffer during their stay. We encourage you to enjoy your vacation to its fullest, while remaining responsible and sensible.
-->Check-in time is 3pm*
-->Check-out time is 11am*
*Unless a home has been reserved from the night before, guests may not check in before 3pm. Guests who extend their stay beyond the departure time will incur a late departure charge equal to 25% of the daily rate deductible from the deposit. If we have no incoming guests that day we can relax this rule. We will call the night before departure because if we have more than one check out the same day we can also stagger check outs based on flight times as our maid service can only do one home at a time. We would appreciate if you have a very early flight out that you please let us know.
If your vacation home is not booked for another guest the day you are leaving, or is not occupied the night before you arrive, we will gladly adjust the check-in and check-out times to suit your travel needs.
When you first arrive please call 760-898-4407 from the house phone to let us know you have gotten in safely. That way we wont worry about you.
With our compliments: All homes come with a complimentary few days supply of toilet paper, dishwasher and laundry tabs, soap, and condiments.
Pricing Schedule
From January 1, 2011 through Dec 31st 2011 the basic prices are as follows: (Last minute bookings may have discounts. Please inquire.)
- Our 3 bedroom homes have many extras and start at $200 a night or $1,400 a week. (based on 2 guests)
- Our 4-bedroom homes start at $2,100.
- We have amazing Summer specials from June through September! Please ask for more info and pricing.
- Major holidays are slightly higher.
- We offer complimentary hair spa packages when booking for 7 or more days!
Weeks which include a major holiday have a surcharge of 20%. This includes Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Valentines Day weeks.
All of our homes are available for terms of 7 days or longer. On occasion, a home may be available for a shorter term, 2 -3 days, upon owner discretion only. At no time are our homes available during the holidays or holiday weekends for 2-3 days.
Monthly Rentals
We offer 1-week, 2-week, and 4-week rentals, so monthly rentals are 28 days (or 4 calendar weeks). This allows our team of housekeepers to have some down time in between to do a deep clean, and carpet and window clean prior to the next guest arriving. After a monthly stay it's imperative we do a major clean in all areas of the home to adhere to our high standard of cleanliness.
Short-Term Stays (Less than one week)
Some owners will accept less than 7-night bookings and this varies from owner to owner and depends on dates, availability, number of guests, etc., and usually not on major holidays. We do not offer hotel services.
We are very definitely an upscale home vacation booking site so do prefer the 7-day or more bookings. If we have a guest with a 9-10-11 day booking who leaves a 2-3-4 day gap, then the owners can, at there discretion, say yes to short term bookings.
Please ask us if our calendar for the home you want appears to have a gap in dates. Sometimes however we do keep that gap for repairs, painting, deep cleaning, etc. so not all gaps are available for booking.
Deposits and Payment Methods
An initial payment is required in order to reserve the dates you request (anyone else inquiring, may book the dates requested until your initial deposit is received). Bookings of 28 days or more require a $500 deposit at time of booking and $300 for less than 28 days. If the vacation dates are less then 7 days away, full payment is due at the time of booking and is non-refundable.
That's why we ask that you pay that deposit with Pay Pal or Visa, or MasterCard then the dates are instantly booked.
By Visa , MasterCard or PayPal
You may pay with Visa, Master Card or PayPal, however we have to add a 2.5% processing fee to offset our additional expenses. We do not add anything to the initial deposit as we refund that to the same card.
- By PayPal using your checking account
No Fee - For our UK and Irish guests we also have a UK Nat West account that payment may be wired to or paid into. If you wish to use this service please let us know.
If you choose to mail us a check via US mail it can take up to 5 days and is not as reliable if time is of the essence to secure your dates. Fed Ex Overnight, UPS, or US Mail Overnight is also a faster way to send your check. PayPal is the Fastest way to send Money and is a "do it from home without moving from your chair " alternative to Western Union.
Generally, Fed Ex overnight shipping is $15, and US Postal Overnight is $10. Western Union charges vary according to location.
Your vacation payment plus a non-refundable cleaning fee is due no later than 30 days prior to arrival, unless by prior agreement. The following exceptions apply: For all stays of 30 days or more we require payment in full 60 days prior to arrival, so that if there's a cancellation we will have more time to be able to fill the longer gaps. We do try to send a reminder invoice but it is your responsibility also to contact us for that figure if you are not sure, especially during our busy Winter season. Payments not received by the due date can mean loss of prepaid deposit and all monies paid to date. Vacations booked less than 30 days before arrival must be paid in full at time of booking.
We can be reached toll free at 1-760-898-4407 seven days a week, so please call if there are any questions concerning this matter. Please remember that the initial payment you made is a Security/Damage Deposit and is not to be deducted from your final payment. This is the deposit we will happily return to you provided you leave your vacation home in the condition in which you found it.
See Refund of Deposit below for more details.
*By paying your final payment you are agreeing to be bound by the conditions of these policies.
All personal information provided to Palm Springs Vacation Connection for the purpose of securing a vacation home is subject to verification. Providing false information will result in cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of your initial deposit.
Taxes
Sales Tax
Like hotel rooms and B&Bs, most short-term vacation rentals are subject to sales tax in the USA. Renters pay these taxes as an add-on to the rental cost. The law requires that the homeowners collect and remit to their local municipality. These taxes typically for stays of 30 days or less. Sales tax varies within each city. The rates are as follows:
- Rancho Mirage 10%
- Palm Desert 9%
- Palm Springs 11.75%
We at Palm Springs Vacation Connection will be collecting this tax and remitting it to the proper agency as required. Some of our homes however are exempt from this category. Please inquire upon booking.
Initial Deposit:
* Deposit for stays less then 28 days is $ 300.00
* Deposit for stays 28 or more days is $500.00
Payment in full is due:
* Stays of under 28 days are due within 30 days of arrival or upon booking
* Stays of over 28 days will be billed for payment and will be due 60 days prior to arrival
• Check –
Please make check payable to:
Palm Springs Vacation Connection
And mail to:
40101 Monterey Avenue B1-108
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
• Visa/MasterCard
You may pay with Visa or MasterCard directly to PSVC
Cancellation & Refund Policy:
Revised January 1, 2011: All initial deposits and final payments are generally non-refundable unless the property rented has been damaged or otherwise rendered unfit for habitation and no comparable substitute can be offered. The purchase of trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance is strongly recommended. Please ask us if you would like some names of companies who provide this type of insurance. Compared to the cost of a vacation, the reasonable cost of this insurance does give peace of mind. (I never book a vacation without it).
* If cancellations are made more then 60 days before your arrival date, your full deposit will be refunded.
* Within 60 days of arrival all monies paid will be forfeited unless we are able to re-rent the property for the same time and price, and we certainly will try. We really don’t like to keep your money.
There is no initial deposit refund within 60 days of the arrival date and the final payment is due not later than 60 days before the arrival date. All payment which are not received 60 days prior to arrival can result in cancellation of the booking and the loss of all monies paid.
POOL HEAT
Pool heat is $40 a day (minimum of 3 day stay)
CLEANING FEES
Cleaning fees for all homes booked from January 2011:
- $125 for 2-3 night stays
- $175 smaller homes or 2 guests
- $225 medium homes up to 3 baths and 2,500 square feet
- $275 large homes over 2,500 feet or any home with 4 bathrooms
If the stay is over 45 days we add $100 for deep cleaning which includes windows
NOTE: If our junior guests make the windows very sticky with little hand prints and our maids have to clean them we have to charge an additional $100 window cleaning fee. Please check the windows prior to leaving so there are no surprises!
Barbecues not cleaned before you leave are $40
Refund of Deposit
We will gladly refund all deposits providing the home has been left in the same condition as when you arrived, and the pool is not left on. Please do a thorough inspection upon arrival and call immediately should you find something broken or not working so we may note this in your file and not charge you upon your departure. All vacation properties have a built-in utility allowance in the rental fee for water trash, etc.
NOTE: The final cleaning fee is for the home and patios and does NOT include cleaning the barbecue. Therefore PLEASE clean the barbecue after you use it or we have to charge $40 to have it professionally cleaned for the next guest. We Know you don't want pieces of the last persons steak when you arrive!!!
It is not always possible to have your vacation home cleaned the day you leave during the busy season, therefore until it is fully inspected by housekeeping and our gas/electric bill check is done, we cannot release deposits. Saying that however, we do try to have your money refunded to your credit card or a check mailed within 14 days. It is not our intention to retain your deposit . We do want you to return and we also want you to send your friends!
Occupancy
You must be at least 30 years of age to sign a vacation rental contract and to occupy said vacation rental property. Each property has a maximum occupancy, generally two per room. Undisclosed guests will result in loss of rental fees paid, complete forfeiture of security deposit, and all guests being evicted. Guests that disturb the peace and quiet of neighbors will be evicted with no refund of rental fees paid and may forfeit a portion or all of refundable deposit. Palm Springs Vacation Connection is not responsible for accidents, injuries, loss of money, jewelry, or valuables of any kind.
The number of guests on the property is limited to those named on the contract. Any additional guests not named on the contract may cause loss of deposit unless authorized by management prior to arrival. Our homes are for Vacation Purposes only and must never exceed the number of guests on the contract or be used in any form for commercial purposes.
If you are unsure what "Commercial Purposes " means please call prior to making the booking. We Cannot allow Weddings to be performed or wedding receptions or large Birthday Parties or similar. Anything which constitutes large groups is not acceptable in these residential vacation homes.
Keyless Entry for All Homes
We provide Keyless Entry to all properties prior to your arrival. You will be given a 4-digit personal code and instructions to open the box. (Click here to see photos and instructions.) That will release your key. When you leave, simply repeat the process to reinsert your key into the box. All codes are changed by the maid service when you leave to a new code for the next guest. This way you don't have to arrive on a certain day or time. You are on Vacation and you may arrive at leisure!
Friends and Family Referrals
If you have stayed at and enjoyed one of our properties for one week or more and refer a friend or family member, please let us know, and on your next booking you will be given an extra night free! (Applies to one week or longer bookings only.)
Disclaimer
Palm Springs Vacation Connection reserves the right to substitute the reserved property for a similar or better property in the event that the property is sold, or other unforeseen conditions develop such as property damage, or owner's personal or health issues.
Published rates are subject to change without notice until your deposit has been received and your letter of confirmation emailed or faxed to you. Rate changes are dependent on the time of the year and the number of people in the party. Rates are set by each individual owner. We send out our confirmation emails or faxes within minutes of accepting your deposit.
Although Palm Springs enjoys many days and months of sunshine and heat, we can't guarantee this and therefore cannot be held liable for refunds if your vacation ends up being during one of our unusual rainy periods.
Pool and Spa Heat in Winter and Air Conditioners in Summer and House Heat In Winter
If your vacation home has a private pool or spa and you have requested and paid for pool heating, please remember to turn off the pool and spa prior to vacating as the owner / manager / pool service may not be able to get there immediately. You are charged another day if you do leave it on. Also vacation home pool heaters get a lot of use - more than the average home pool heater. Therefore, due to this they can and do break down. It is unusual and very infrequent but If this happens during your stay, we will gladly refund the days you did not have the pool or spa heating you paid for unless it is determined that it is a man made break and not a mechanical failure. Also please remember to let us know your preferred hours of pool heat. Costs are based on the heater working 10 hours a day at 88 degrees - your choice of which hours.
To have a pool on 24/7 we have to take an additional $1,500 deposit to offset the cost, and the balance will be returned to you with a copy of the gas bill for your dates.
Air Conditioning in Summer
All the homes we rent out have central air (plus fans). Temperatures in the Desert can reach 123 in Summer and over usage can cause mechanical failure. If a problem occurs during your stay, please call immediately and we will have the unit repaired as soon as possible. During the down time, please use overhead fans and floor fans (just like the natives!) A broken A/C unit that is in the process of repair is NOT a reason for cancellation or any form of refund. Please be patient if an A/C problem occurs. We do not take it lightly and will do everything we can to have it repaired in a timely manner.
Electricity and gas costs here are extremely high. We base our rental rates on the A/C being set not lower than a comfortable 76. Your vacation fee includes an allowance of up to $100 per week for Gas and Electric combined. All excess usage is charged back to you at the rate used and shown on the bill. By keeping the A/C set at 76 and the doors and windows closed and in Winter, and the heat at 80 or less, the amounts quoted will be adequate to cover that cost. Thank you for working with us on this we do not want to have to raise our rental rates due to excessive utility bills.
Pet Policy - Dogs
We love our pets as much as you love yours and understand that sometimes your baby simply has to come along! Several of our homes are pet friendly and marked on the Internet as small dog-allowed, or with owner approval. You must inform us if you wish to bring your dog. We will request information about your dog and procure owner approval prior to confirming your reservation. An additional pet deposit or pet charge may apply. If you bring a pet without prior approval, entire deposit is forfeited and you may be subject to additional fees, so be sure to tell us if you plan to bring your dog.
Pet Policy - Cats
Sorry, our standard policy is no cats.
Pet Policy - General
If you have been allowed to have your pet with you on this vacation, we need to ask the following: Where there are lawns and grass areas, please make sure that your little friends don't "pee on the grass", especially girl dogs. This causes brown burn marks and as it is so unsightly causes us to have replace the turf. If this happens, we will have to charge you for this to be done. It can cost up to $800.
Our Pet Deposit is $500 payable in advance. Sorry - no pets will be allowed without that deposit (refundable if no damage).
Computers
We do not supply or have computers for guest use. If you have a laptop, please bring it as we do provide free Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband. Alternatively there is a large library close by with public computers for your enjoyment.
Departure Procedures
Please turn off all lights, TVs, stereo, oven, range, etc. Set A/C to 90 in warm or Summer months. Turn off heater in Winter or cold months. Do not turn off refrigerator, water heater or other major appliances. Failure to turn off A/C may result in a significant charge to your deposit. Lock all doors and windows, shades, blinds, and SET ALARM where applicable. Failure to lock doors and windows and set alarm may result in loss of deposit. Check out time is 11am unless alternate arrangements have been made prior to your departure. Late checkout will result in an additional days rent, late check out fees or loss of deposit. All keys, gate passes, garage door openers etc., issued to you must be left where you got them. Failure to do so will result in a minimum $25.00 recovery fee deducted from your deposit plus locksmith fees if applicable and an additional days rent. If the unit has been soiled beyond normal usage or if there is excessive laundry, a minimum fee of $25.00 plus per hour charge will be deducted from your deposit for excessive cleaning, along with any charge for damages.
Very Important: Please clean the barbecue as this is not included in your general clean fee and the guest after you prefers not to have to eat leftovers!!!! If we have to clean it for you a charge of $40 is applicable.
Unit Condition/Housekeeping
Our homes are rented with the understanding that you will leave the property in reasonably the same condition as you found it when you checked in. Please wash dishes, take out garbage (call 898-4407 to check on trash pick up days if not posted in your vacation rental), and feel free to begin a load of sheets or towels. Our maid service charges us $25 if they have to clean a dirty barbecue and since that is not part of our regular final cleaning, that charge is passed on to you and deducted from your deposit if applicable. We do photograph the dirty barbecue and can email it to you as it is not our policy or desire to deduct anything from your deposit.
Departure Day Do's and Don'ts
Please DO the following:
- Put all used POOL towels ONLY in the washer and start the load.
- BEDROOMS - Leave all used beds unmade with sheets in a pile on top or on the floor. We have them all professionally Laundered
- BATHROOMS - Please put all used shampoo, conditioner, razors, soaps, toothpaste etc. in the trash can or your suitcase.
- KITCHEN - Please put all opened food items from the refrigerator, freezer and cupboards in the trash, or take with you, including all paper, plastic plates, containers, plastic and paper cups and knives, forks etc. and all old newspapers. Anything you brought in, please take with you or put in the trash.
Thank you for your consideration. The maids don't always remember to completely get rid of everything and there's nothing worse than half used soap, milk, OJ, shampoo etc. when our next guest arrives. So please do for others as we have done for you.
Finally the DON'TS:
- Don't forget to leave the garage and TV clickers, keys, gate cards,etc all in the place where you first got them. If it was inside leave it inside. If it was outside, PLEASE put it back outside.
Thanks so much and we hope you had a great time!!
Maintenance
Please call 760-898-4640 during normal business hours for routine maintenance or a non-life threatening emergency, or for assistance with how to work the lights, pool, spa etc. In the event of an emergency that requires the assistance of the Police, Fire Department or Medical Professionals, please dial 911.
Complimentary and Highly Reduced Spa Service
We now offer a complimentary Hair Spa experience to the booking guest in certain homes. This includes a relaxing Blue Oil neck and shoulder massage, a hand massage, and a shampoo and blow dry from our lovely Rebecca at Aveida Chakra in Rancho Mirage, opposite the River. It's our way of saying thank you for booking! This gift applies to The English Cottage, Heather, Jade, Opal, Petunia, Wisteria and Fleur, and is based on a minimum 7 night stay.
Call Palm Springs Vacation Connection today!
1-760-898-4407
