Policies and ProceduresYou have chosen a unique way to travel. Bed and breakfasts, homestays and private apartments offer a unique experience that is different from a standard hotel. Please read the following carefully!
CANCELLATION POLICIES
ONE TIME AGENCY FEE: $25 for new customers. Non-refundable.
STANDARD CANCELLATION POLICY: (January through August, November and December except special event dates) Minimum $25 applies to all cancellations regardless of the cancellation date. If you cancel more than two weeks prior to your arrival date, the fee is $25. If you cancel two weeks to 24 hours prior to your arrival date, you are responsible for 50% of each of those nights not rebooked. If you cancel within 24 hours, the first canceled night is non-refundable. This policy also applies to shortened stays.
EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY: (Graduation periods from mid-May through early June, the Boston Marathon in mid-April, the Fall season in September and October) Minimum $100 applies to all cancellations regardless of the cancellation date. The fee is $100 if your cancel more than one month prior to your arrival date. Your reservation is non-refundable for those nights not rebooked if you cancel one month or less prior to your arrival. This policy also applies to shortened stays.
ONE NIGHT CANCELLATION POLICY: Must be paid in full in advance and is non-refundable.
LONG TERM CANCELLATION POLICY*: (*Long term refers to all monthly rentals.) First month’s payment is due at time of booking & is non-refundable. Additional months are due one month in advance & are non-refundable. If payment is by check and it is not received 1 month in advance, your credit card will be processed. [Guest may request 1st option to extend. All extensions must be in writing (email is acceptable) and must be within 24 hours of agency notification of a new reservation request. Payment is due at time of acceptance of the extension and is non-refundable. If guest chooses not to exercise the1st option to extend, he/she must notify us in writing (email is acceptable).] SHORTENED STAYS: If a one week or one month reservation is shortened, the rate reverts to the appropriate nightly or weekly rate. PRORATED RATE: Weekly and monthly rates are prorated for extra days.
COMMERCIAL INNS & HOTELS have their own policies that will be stated to you and will be included on your confirmation.
SHORTENED STAYS: If a one week or one month reservation is shortened, the rate reverts to the appropriate nightly or weekly rate.
PRORATED RATE: Weekly and monthly rates are prorated for extra days.
REVISIONS: $25 reprocessing fee. OTHER POLICIES CLEANLINESS: Guest shall maintain the rented premises in a clean and orderly condition. Most apartments and many accommodations do not include daily cleaning. If we incur additional cleaning charges, we will add the amount to your rate.
DISTURBANCE: Most accommodations are in residential buildings. In consideration of neighbors and other guests, the following rules apply: Please do not ring other doorbells or contact any residents. There is a $100 fine if residents are disturbed. Please consider that hallways can be noisy. Try to remain quiet in the halls and please try to keep your luggage from hitting the walls. (So sorry, we do not have luggage service at our apartments and at some of our B&Bs). If you can not gain access, please call your host or the agency.
Guests shall not make any unlawful, noisy or otherwise offensive use of the rented premises, nor commit or permit any nuisance to exist thereon, nor cause damage to the rented premises, nor create any substantial interference with the rights, comfort, safety, or enjoyment to the owner or other guests.
ACCESSIBILITY: The owner or agency may enter the room/unit during the day or early evening when there is a concern for the unit. The owner or agency may enter the room/unit at any time when there is an emergency. (Some B&Bs offer daily partial cleanings.) For monthly stays the owner or agency may enter the room/unit to show it to a prospective guest with a 24 hour notice.
CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT: All accommodations must know your arrival time in advance. Normal check in is 4 – 10 p.m. (Some accommodations accept late arrivals.) Many properties offer earlier luggage drop off. Normal check out is 11 a.m. Most properties will allow you to leave your luggage for a limited period of time with prior approval. If you do not vacate by 11 a.m. you will be charged 50% of one night. If you do not vacate by 4 p.m. you will be charged one entire night and any costs incurred by the agency to compensate a guest who has reserved the night of your departure date and any subsequent nights. (This excludes those with approval to leave luggage for a specific period of time.)
RATES/ROOM TAX: Posted rates are for single or double occupancy in most cases. During special events, rates are higher than posted. Many properties charge extra for additional guests. Small B&Bs and most apartments include applicable taxes in their rates.
MINIMUM STAYS: Most B&Bs require a 2-night minimum. Some accept one night at short notice (within 3 days of arrival). Most vacation rentals require a 3-night minimum and some accept 2 nights at short notice. Larger Inns and hotels accept 1 night. NOTE: There is a 3-night minimum in the Fall (September and October) and during graduations in mid-May through early June. There is a 4-night minimum at most accommodations during the Marathon in April and the Regatta in mid-October.
MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY: Only the TOTAL NUMBER OF GUESTS ON THE CONFIRMATION will be allowed to occupy the property. Additional guests will be asked to leave or your credit card will be charged for each night the additional guest occupies the unit.
KEYS: FOR SECURITY REASONS, please be conscious of the keys for your room or apartment. If keys are missing when you arrive, please contact your host or the agency immediately or you will be held responsible for the missing keys. There is a $50 fine for any set of missing keys. If you forget to leave keys in appropriate places and we have to deliver them, you will be charged a $50 courier fee.
MONTHLY STAYS WHO MAY EXTEND: Guest has 1st option to extend within 24 hours of agency notification of a new reservation request. Extending beyond the committed period of time will be in writing by the guest (email is acceptable). A guest who is no longer extending also needs to notify us in writing (email is acceptable). The “1st option to extend” policy must be arranged at the time of the booking.
SMOKING AND PETS: Consideration is given to guests with allergies. Smoking and pets are not permitted, unless stated otherwise at specific accommodations. Extra charges will be incurred if this policy is not honored. The charges are based on the fee for professional smoke cleaning services plus a fee for loss of business due to inability to rent to guests who have allergies.
Bed and Breakfast Associates Bay Colony, and the property it represents, is not responsible nor liable for any damage, loss or delay incurred by any person to themselves or to their property as a result of the act or omission of any person which might result from the placement. Giving your credit card number indicates you accept our cancellation policy.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION
TO MAKE A RESERVATION: Call us at the numbers below OR complete the secure Reservation Form online.
PAYMENT PROCEDURES: We require a deposit equal to 50% plus any applicable taxes or fees. If you are new to our service, please add a $25, one time agency fee. Full payment is required two weeks prior to arrival during standard times and one month prior to arrival during special event times and for monthly reservations. We accept MC, Visa and Discover. We require a credit card to make a reservation.
PROPERTY ADDRESSES: Many of our properties are private home B&Bs. The exact address is only provided to guests with reservations, and is not published to the general public. We provide the cross streets, which will (maps.google.com) map to the location.
BOSTON IS KNOWN AS "AMERICA'S WALKING CITY." It is small enough to visit and enjoy on foot and all of our properties have easy access to public transportation. We urge you to leave your car at home as our historic city can be confusing to newcomers and parking is expensive and at a premium. See our Travel Resource Guide page.
PARKING: While only a few B&Bs have parking facilities on site (see notations in listings), parking in Boston is always available at a nearby garage or lot, and we are happy to assist you with locations. Most other areas in suburban Boston and Eastern Massachusetts provide parking.
BREAKFAST: Our web site indicates if there is or is not a complimentary breakfast. Most smaller B&Bs in Metro Boston provide a continental breakfast. Most commercial B&Bs and inns serve full breakfasts unless otherwise indicated. Private furnished apartments have kitchens or kitchenettes and do not provide breakfast foods.
TELEPHONE AVAILABILITY varies by property. If a private phone is essential, please be sure to check with our office immediately as we do not guarantee in-room telephones in every location. At most accommodations, a telephone calling card is necessary for long distance calls. Note: If the owner is charged for your calls, you will be responsible for the cost and we will charge your credit card along with a 10% service fee.
HIGH SPEED INTERNET is provided at most accommodations. Please check as a few do not.
PETS: Because some hosts have cats or dogs, please let us know if you would prefer a B&B with no pets on the premises. We have very few B&Bs and furnished apartments that accommodate guests traveling with pets.
DOOR LOCKS: Some smaller B&Bs do not have locks on guest doors.
ELEVATORS AND FLOOR LEVELS: As elevators are rare in historic buildings and small B&Bs, please note the floor location of guestrooms if stairs are a problem. When there is an elevator on site, the listing will note this.
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