Charters Beach House Vancouver Island, Sooke

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FAQ


If you don't find the answer to your specific question, please feel free to contact us
and we'll get the answer for you.

When can we check-in and when do we have to check-out?


Bookings are generally from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday, although there are exceptions. Check in time is not before 4:00 p.m. on the day of arrival and check out time is not later than 10:00 a.m. on the day of departure [unless otherwise stated]. It is important that these times are respected so that the owner has an opportunity to ensure there is adequate time to prepare the property between rentals.
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Are all the rates posted in Canadian Funds?


All rates are in Canadian dollars and are subject to provincial 8% Hotel Room Tax (10% in Kelowna, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler). For property owners who must also collect GST, their listing will indicate that as well. A booking fee of $40 + gst applies to all reservations. 
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How long will Great Spots hold my reservation without payment?


You have 10 days from the date of booking to confirm your reservation. If we have not received your fully executed signed booking agreement and all required payments [deposit, post-dated balance and damage deposit] within that time, we will release the property for rental to others. If, for any reason, you forward payment to us but we are unable to confirm your booking, we will return all money received in full.    
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Do I need to book ahead?


The majority of our cottages are much sought after - do not leave it too late to book. July and August are notoriously busy months for vacationing families - it is essential to book ahead. The “booking season” generally starts in January and is very busy until about mid-June and there are rarely any cancellations.
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What if I have a complaint?


We hope you will not have cause to complain but in the unlikely event that you do, please feel free to contact the property owner directly via the contact number provided to you before your vacation. If satisfactory results are not achieved, then by all means, please contact us at Great Spots. We want to make sure your vacation is a relaxing and stress free experience.
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Are towels and sheets included?


Most properties do provide linens and towels, but beach towels are not provided. Each listing should indicate whether these items are provided or not, if you are not certain, please feel free to ask.
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Can we bring extra foamies to sleep more people?


Each property is registered to accommodate a specific number of guests. For insurance reasons and to not overload the property’s systems (septic and water supply, etc.), the specified number of guests may not be exceeded.
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We have someone coming to visit on our holiday for 3 or 4 nights, can they bring their RV to the property?


Property owners do not encourage guests to bring recreation vehicles, particularly if this means the registered number of guests for the property would be exceeded.  In most cases, the property may not be able to facilitate an RV.  This type of situation would have to be reviewed on an individual basis, so it never hurts to ask, but we don’t guarantee the answer to be yes…..
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Can the kids pitch a tent to sleep in for the week?


Pitching a tent is generally not permitted, as it causes damage to the grounds and may give a false sense of permission to exceed a property’s maximum allowable registered guests. If the kids are desperate to sleep outdoors and want a tent, please ask and we’ll see if the property owner would make an exception.
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Do you recommend particular cottages?


Each cottage offers something unique - please read the description to get the "feel of it". Some may be peacefully situated at water’s edge, others may be convenient for town centers, most are suited to families, while others offer superior accommodation for couples treating themselves to a weekend break.  Each listing is very comprehensive, but if you have any questions about a property, please feel free to ask.
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When do we receive directions to the property?


We will send you directions and other information, including means of access and contact numbers, approximately 4 weeks prior to the commencement of your rental.  For more short notice bookings, this information will be forwarded to you as soon as your reservation is fully paid and confirmed.
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I’d like to view the property before we rent it, can I have the address please?


Based on the contract/agreement between Great Spots and the property owner and to protect the occupants’ privacy, we are not permitted to provide the physical address prior to a fully confirmed reservation.     
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How much cleaning to we have to do before we check-out?


Properties are to be left in the same clean, tidy and orderly condition we hope you found it in upon your arrival. Like mother always said, “Make sure you leave things in better shape than the way you found them....” Most properties have the heavy cleaning (bathrooms, floors, laundry) included in their rate, but there are a few that require the cleaning be done prior to your check-out time and in these cases, the rates have been lowered to reflect this and the check-out time extended. In all cases, dishes should all be clean and put away, any furniture should be exactly where it was when you arrived, etc., etc. Renting a house / cottage for your vacation is not at all the same as staying in a hotel, thank goodness - this is your home away from home and should be treated as you'd expect others to treat your belongings / property in your absence; with respect.  It is because of the consideration shown by Great Spots' guests, that property owners enjoy making their homes available for us to enjoy.
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Can we bring our pet and is there a pet fee?


It is specified on each property listing as to whether pets are permitted or not. Any additional fees that are charged with respect to guests traveling with their pet are a reflection of the additional cleaning costs incurred by a property owner for accepting pets. The fee is not a financial penalty applied to the guest who is traveling with their pet.

If bringing your pet, please let us know something about him/her, i.e.: age, sex, breed, size, name.

If a property states “No” to pets, it is likely due to either the property owner or regular guests who suffer from pet allergies.
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Does the property’s kitchen have plates, cutlery, pots & pans, etc.?


Each property’s kitchen is fully equipped. If there is something specific you need to know about the kitchen, please feel free to ask. Or if there is something you can’t live without on your vacation, be sure to pack it with you.
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How do I pay for my reservation?


You are welcome to pay by cheque, money order, certified cheque, cash, Visa, MasterCard, PayPal

When forwarding the booking agreement, please enclose the following cheques or contact us to make a credit card payment:

(a) for bookings made more than 6 weeks before the start of the rental, the following is required:

  • 40% of the rental payment & tax + $42.00 (including GST) booking fee, due at time of booking;
  • 60% of the rental payment & tax + pet or cleaning fees (if applicable), if paying by cheque, please post-date for 6 weeks before the start of the rental; or contact us to make a credit card payment
(b) for bookings made less than 6 weeks before the start of the rental, enclose the following:

  • 100% of the rental payment + $42.00 (including GST) booking fee + accommodation tax, by currently dated cheque;
  • if the rental is to begin less than 3 weeks from the date the executed rental agreement will be received by Great Spots!, payment must be made by cash, certified cheque or money order.
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Is there always easy parking?


Most cottages have ample private parking, if you have specific concerns about parking at the property you have chosen, please feel free to ask.
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What happens if I cancel my reservation?


If you cancel a confirmed booking, you are liable for the full rental payment and booking fee. We will attempt to re-rent the property and, if successful, we will refund the money you paid less a cancellation fee of 15% of the rental payment.

Due to unexpected circumstances that may arise and prevent you from traveling, or the possibility of any misfortunes that you may experience while on your vacation, it is strongly recommended that renters purchase Travel Insurance. Please consult your financial institution, insurance agent/broker for the insurance coverage that best suits your needs or perhaps your credit card provider may extend this type of coverage. A couple of other suggestions are:

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What is the Security Deposit for?


When you confirm your reservation, you will be providing Great Spots with either, a) valid credit card details [with an expiry date not before 1 month after the conclusion of your rental], or, b) a cheque in the amount of the specified Security [damage] Deposit for the property you are renting, that will be deposited to our Trust Account and refunded approximately 30 days after your rental concludes, provided of course, there is no damage or excessive cleaning required when you check-out. If you provided credit card details, there won’t be any charges at all, unless of course there is damage or excessive cleaning required as a result of your rental. Please ensure that any instructions provided by the property owner are followed upon your check-out and leave the property in the same clean, tidy and orderly condition as it was when you arrived.

Fortunately, the number of claims made by property owners against Security Deposits is extremely low, this can be attributed to the fact the Great Spots Guests are the most considerate - which is great because it keeps my bookkeeping to a minimum….!
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Stat Holidays:


  • New Year’s
  • Christmas & Boxing Day
  • Spring Break
  • Easter
  • Victoria Day
  • Canada Day
  • BC Day
  • Labour Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Remembrance Day
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