General conditions

Booking Terms & Conditions: Stay in Minho

The website www.stayinminho.com is operated by Stay in Minho - Promoção e Gestão de Propriedades Lda, with VAT number (NIF) 515156540. The following Booking Terms & Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy and House Rules, form the basis of your contract with Stay in Minho (“we”, “us”, or “the Company”).

Please read these carefully. In these conditions, “you”, “your”, and “party leader” refer to the first person named on the booking and all persons on whose behalf the booking is made.

1. Your Booking Contract

To make a booking, you must be at least 21 years of age and possess the authority to accept these terms on behalf of your entire party. A binding contract is effective only when:

1. A 40% non-refundable deposit is paid and we issue a formal booking confirmation.

2. Full payment is made (for bookings within 8 weeks of arrival) and confirmed by us.

All contracts are governed by Portuguese Law, and any disputes shall be settled in Portugal. All payments must be made in Euros (€) and prices include VAT at the legal rate.

2. Included in Your Stay

• Rental of the accommodation for the specified period.

• Standard supply of bed linen and towels (plus mid-stay cleaning for stays over 10 nights).

• Normal usage of water, electricity, gas, and Wi-Fi.

• Pool and garden maintenance.

• 1 Cot and 1 High chair (subject to availability).

• Air conditioning (where specified in the property description).

Not included: Pool heating (unless specified), central heating supplements, extra beds, transfers, or additional concierge services (Chef, Baby-sitting, etc.), which are available by prior quote.

3. Payments & Cancellations

• Deposit: 40 % due within 48 hours of booking to secure dates.

• Balance: Due no later than 8 weeks (56 days) before arrival.

• Cancellations: Must be made in writing via email. The following fees apply:

  • More than 57 days before arrival: Loss of 40 % deposit.

  • 56 to 43 days: 50% of total rent.

  • 42 to 29 days: 75% of total rent.

  • 28 days or less / No-show: 100% of total rent.

We strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance to cover unforeseen cancellations.

4. Security Deposit & Damage

A security deposit (typically €400, unless otherwise specified) is required at check-in via cash or credit card.

• The Keyholder may refuse access if the deposit is not provided.

• You are responsible for keeping the property and all furniture/fittings in the same state of repair as found.

• Any damage or breakages must be reported immediately. We reserve the right to charge for repairs, replacements, or specialist cleaning, deducting from the deposit or invoicing for balances exceeding the deposit amount.

5. Guest Responsibilities & House Rules

• Occupancy: The number of persons staying must not exceed the property’s maximum capacity or the number confirmed on your booking. Unauthorised guests are not permitted.

• Conduct: You are responsible for the property during your stay. We expect noise to be kept to reasonable levels, respecting Portuguese "Quiet Hours" (23:00 – 07:00).

• Strict Prohibitions: No pets, no parties/events, and no smoking inside the accommodation. Single-sex groups or groups under 21 years of age are only accepted by prior written agreement.

• Care: Malicious damage or deliberate negligence is considered vandalism and will result in immediate termination of the stay without refund and potential legal action.

6. Swimming Pool Safety & Usage

The use of the swimming pool is entirely at your own risk. By booking with Stay in Minho, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• No Lifeguard: Most private villas do not have lifeguards.

• Supervision: Children and non-swimmers must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.

• Prohibited Acts: Diving is strictly forbidden due to varying pool depths. Glassware is not permitted in or around the pool area (please use plastic/polycarbonate alternatives provided).

• Maintenance: Maintenance staff require access to the pool area to ensure hygiene standards; we ask for your cooperation during their brief visits.

• Availability: Pools are generally available from 1 April to 15 October. Use outside these dates is by request only.

7. Check-in / Check-out

• Check-in: 16:00 to 20:00. Late arrivals (after 20:00) may incur a €50 fee.

• Check-out: By 10:00. This allows us to prepare the home for the next guest.

• SEF Requirements: Under Portuguese law, all guests must provide identification details via our online check-in link prior to arrival.

8. Liability

Stay in Minho acts as a management agent for property owners. We do not accept liability for:

• Temporary breakdown of mechanical/electrical equipment or public utilities.

• Personal injury, death, or loss of personal belongings.

• Incidents occurring during third-party excursions or activities not managed by us.

• Force Majeure: Events beyond our control (natural disasters, pandemics, etc.) that render the property uninhabitable. In such cases, we will offer an alternative property or a refund of monies paid.

9. Complaints

If you encounter an issue, you must notify us immediately during your stay. This gives us the opportunity to rectify the situation. We cannot accept or compensate for complaints made after departure if we were not given the chance to fix the problem while you were in residence.