Holiday Rental FAQ

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT VACATION RENTALS

 

THE BOOKING PROCESS

 

THE APARTMENT

 

THE CHECK IN

 

THE CHECK OUT

 

DURING MY STAY

 

AFTER MY STAY

 


 

What is a holiday rental apartment?

A holiday rental apartment is intended to be let out for short stays and as holiday accommodation. The apartments are fully furnished with everything you'd need from beds, appliances to teaspoons. You would only need to bring your clothes.

Usually everything is included in your daily/weekly/monthly lease fee. A breakage deposit would be required to cover any possible damage during your stay at the property. This is refunded after an inspection when you leave the apartment.

What's the difference between a holiday apartment and a hotel?

When you rent a holiday apartment, you're renting a fully furnished home away from home. They have full on bathrooms, living areas and kitchens, which are fully equipped with everything you need. You have space, which is great if you want privacy or if you have a large family.

When you rent out a hotel room, you're only renting a room. The hotel may provide communal lounge or pool areas depending on where you stay. Hotels often have particular meal times, which need to be respected, and you cannot cook in your own room.

What's included in your rental fee?

Apartments are charged per night and not necessarily per person. Stays in excess of a month are entitled to discounted rates.

Included in your rental fee is the use of all appliances, Wi-Fi connection (if available), utilities and mandatory cleaning.

You're welcome to request additional cleaning at an additional cost which ranges between R200 and R400 per clean. This can be discussed with the reservationist when you make your booking.

If you need to check in early or later than the given time, additional charges will be levied. This can range between R250 and R500 and should be discussed with the reservationist when making your booking.

What apartments/villas are on offer?

Holiday Apartments has a range of exclusive properties around Cape Town. Depending on the area you're looking at renting in and your price range we're sure to have something perfect for you. Have a look at our website for some fantastic properties.

The availability is listed on each property but always check with the reservationist. If you're having difficulty finding the perfect rental for your holiday they can assist in finding something that's suitable for your number of guests and budget.

How do I book an apartment/villa?

Booking your holiday accommodation with us is simple. Click on the "contact us" page and enter your details. If you were looking at a particular property the necessary reference details will automatically populate in the "contact us" form.

One of our reservationists will get back to you by email or telephone and discuss specifics to ensure you've booked accommodation suitable for your needs.

Once everything is in order, we'll send you a booking form to complete. Once approved, a 50% down payment on your rental is required.  Guests are required to pay the balance prior to checking in at the apartment.

How do I confirm my apartment/villa is booked?

As soon as we've received your deposit, we'll notify you via email. You'll be provided with the relevant contact details so you can let us know what time you're arriving on your check in date.

If by some fluke the apartment or villa is no longer available after your booking is confirmed we'll contact you right away to suggest an alternative or we will refund you in full.

What is a 3D Secure payment?

Cape Town Holiday Rental makes use of an online payment platform designed by MasterCard and Visa known as 3D-Secure. For those who use just Visa or MasterCard, Visa's product is called 'Verified by Visa' and MasterCard's is SecureCode, just so that you are aware. It's the simplest, most secure and most agreeable method for paying for your holiday accommodation.

How does 3D-Secure safeguard my information?

MasterCard or Visa relays your credit card data via a top level encryption and places it on a secure server guarded by a powerful firewall. 3D-Secure ensures you are safe from fraud by confirming that you are in fact the person making the payment. The process is quite straightforward.

Step 1: When you start to make a payment, the 3D-Secure window opens automatically and prompts you to sign in with your password.

Step 2: After you have passed through the signing in process and proceed to payment, 3D-Secure links your transaction to either Visa or MasterCard to verify your particulars: name, card number, expiry date and CVV number (the last 3 digits on the back of your card).

Step 3: After your information has been confirmed, 3D-Secure then redirects you to the bank that issued your card. You will need to type in your 3D-Secure pin code to prove that it is you, the account holder, that is making the payment.

Step 4: Lastly, your bank checks your account: whether you have enough in your account, are you beneath your daily transaction limit, etc.

The payment is only processed once these verifications have taken place successfully, and we do not charge any transaction fees when your payment is via credit card online.

How do I set up the 3D-Secure feature?

To get 3D-Secure working you will need to have your MasterCard or Visa card activated for 3D-Secure with your bank before making online purchases. Once your card is activated, your bank will issue you with a secure pin code to use as in Step 3.

Card activation is dependent on your bank, and may take a few days. When you make your first online purchase after activating your card, you will be requested to come up with a password to use for this first purchase and for every other online purchase you make from then, as in Step 1.

Is smoking allowed in the apartment or villa?

We have a strict no smoking policy in doors. While ashtrays are provided in most apartments and villas, we expect guests to smoke outside of the apartment or villa.

Are pets allowed in the apartment or villa?

This varies between each holiday rental property and depends entirely on the owner. This should always be discussed with the reservationist during the booking process.

Are parties allowed in the villa or apartment?

Our holiday accommodation, while in ideal locations, with stunning views and being close to the beach is situated in residential areas. This means that your neighbours go to work in the morning and so require quiet during night time.

Guests are expected to keep noise to a minimum after 9PM during the week and 11PM on weekends. Excessive noise can result in fines being levied against the guest by the apartment or villa's corporate body.

Will the apartment or villa be shared with other guests?

When you rent one of our accommodation rentals, you will rent out the entire villa or apartment. The only people who will have access to the premises will be you and your family.

Some apartment complexes or estates on which our villas are situated do have shared facilities such as laundry, pool, gym or tennis courts. These will be shared unless stated otherwise.

Can more guests stay in the apartment or villa than specified on the booking form?

Our villas and apartments only sleep a certain number of people so we don't recommend this. If the number of guests you need accommodation for has changed, we'd be happy to try and find suitable alternative accommodation for you.

When are the keys received?

We request that guests give us a call or send us an email letting us know when they'd be arriving at the property. We offer a concierge service ensuring our guests are met and welcomed at the property.

We'll meet you at the property; give you the keys, a map of the area and a list of important numbers in case of emergencies. Guests are provided with a welcome pack with cleaning and toiletry essentials to get them started.

When is check in time?

Our check in time is from 14.00 onwards. We require guests to notify us prior when they wish to check in as the apartment or villa may have a guest who is only checking out that morning.

When is check out time?

Our check out time is 11.00. If you need to check out later, we require guests to notify the reservationist beforehand. Additional charges will be levied against the guest for any late checkouts.

What is the minimum stay?

We request bookings are for a minimum of 3 nights and 10 nights over the Christmas/ New Year period.

How is payment accepted?

We take payment by credit card, bank transfer or cash. All card transaction are billed in South African Rands and converted to your local currency by the card issuer at their prevailing rate.

Are meals/beverages included?

All of  the accommodation we offer is self-catering unless stated otherwise. Guests are expected to provide their own ingredients for cooking. All of our accommodation is located close to shops and restaurants.

Guests can have fast food delivered at their own expense from Mr Delivery, Debonairs and a variety of other establishments. Some establishments do not accept card payments for deliveries.

Grocery retailers Woolworths and Pick n Pay offer online shopping and if guests do not have their own transport, we encourage them to make use of these services.

Are towels and bedding included in the rental fee?

Yes, we provide a set of towels for the maximum number of guests that can stay at the property. Bedding is provided for all beds on the premises.

Who should be called if there's a problem?

When guests check in, they are provided with a list of emergency contacts in case of fire, medical or safety emergency.

If there's a problem with the accommodation please contact the reservationist who will do the necessary to have the problem resolved as quickly as possible with as little impact as possible on your vacation.

Who should be called if additional cleaning services are required?

If during your stay you need additional cleaning please let the reservationist know prior when making your booking so the necessary arrangements can be made with our contracted cleaners.

Would I have to clean the apartment or villa when I leave?

A thorough cleaning of the accommodation is arranged before and after guest arrival if the apartment is uninhabited for more than 5 days. Guests are however expected to take the trash out and leave the apartment or villa in a decent condition.

When will the deposit be returned?

After the guest has left, the accommodation will be thoroughly checked out for damages and missing items. Should there be none the breakage deposit is returned within 7 working days.