Note: These Terms & Conditions apply only for bookings made directly with Steve or Nora Francis. For bookings made through an agent, the agent's Terms & Conditions will apply.

Included Basics

Your rental payment provides for the enjoyment of the guest-designated areas of Villa Santa Cruz for the length of your stay. Included are requisite linens, bedding, towels, and normal disposable items such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, etc. Kitchen utensils and supplies such as trash bags, zip lock bags, and basic condiments are provided. Utilities are provided as part of your rental, with the exception of long distance phone service.

Payment Policy

Rates indicated are per week and are based on a maximum of eight people, with additional charges for extra guests. Rates indicated do not include your required payment of 12.5% VI hotel tax and separate, refundable damage deposit. Minimum rental is 7 nights. All rates are in US Dollars. Rates are always subject to change. A deposit of 50% of the rent is due at the time of the reservation. Failure to make this payment subjects your reservation to cancellation without notice to you. Payment is by personal check, PayPal, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, or bank transfer. Your deposit constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Payment Balance

The remaining balance of the rent, including 12.5% VI Hotel Tax and $500 refundable damage deposit, are due 45 days prior to your arrival.

Cancellation Policy

There is no refund during HIGH SEASON unless the property can be re-booked for the same rate and time. If the property can be rented under these conditions, 80% of the payment made will be refunded. Note: the 80% refund is based and proportioned upon the number of actual dates of the original stay that are rebooked.

LOW SEASON: If cancellation notice is given more than 45 days before arrival, then 80% of payments made will be refunded. With less than 45 days notice, no payment will be refunded unless the Villa can be rebooked for the same timeframe. If so, the 80% refund rule as outlined above will apply.

There are no refunds due to reductions in the total head count originally booked. There are no refunds for late arrivals or premature departures, or no-shows within an arriving guest group.

Damage Deposits

Damage deposits are refunded within 45 days of your departure, provided there is no breakage, damage, missing items, long distance calls charged to the villa’s telephone, or extraordinary clean up. All normal utilities (except long distance phone calls or careless or extremely excessive use of water and electricity) are included in the rental price. You agree to pay the cleaning or replacement costs for all damages which may occur as a result of your occupancy, excluding normal wear and tear. Rearranging the furniture or removing items from the villa is prohibited. You will receive a letter and documents explaining any charges.

Liability

The owners of Villa Santa Cruz assume no liability for property loss or damages, nor liability for injury, accidents, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or the acts of any company or persons engaged in conveying passengers to or from the Villa. Transportation (including airlines, ferries, charter vessels, rental cars, and taxis) is supplied by providers who operate independently. We assume no responsibility, therefore, for any loss, injury, or damage to person or property because of the acts of those providers. Furthermore, the Guest is responsible for Villa Santa Cruz during their occupancy, and must lock the villa’s windows and doors securely at all times when not on the premises, and must exercise care in securing all personal property. Guests must observe all cautions as given in our Guest Guide and/or by local contact people. Guests shall indemnify and hold harmless the owners of Villa Santa Cruz for any claims for personal injury or property damage arising from the vacation rental. Villa Santa Cruz reserves the right to refuse service or rental to anyone at their complete discretion.

In addition to the above, the Guest is specifically cautioned on the following areas:

1) The Villa’s flooring is all natural stone, including the flooring on the front porch, the gallery, and the front entry steps. This material is slippery when wet. The Guest must use extra caution when walking on wet surfaces.
2) The Villa’s steps to the entry road are many and without handrail. The Guest should not use these steps unless physically able to do so.
3) The steps from the Villa to the pool area are without handrail. If not able to use the steps without a handrail, the Guest should seek assistance to move up or down these steps.
4) The Guest recognizes that the pool patio on the north side is five feet or more above ground. Extra caution must be employed to ensure no harmful falls occur. The north side of the pool has a service deck and safety rail. This deck is for service personnel only and is not available for leisure use. Do not enter this deck area.
5) The Guest recognizes that the pool bottom is multiple leveled and only five feet deep at its deepest point. Diving into the pool is prohibited.
6) No one under the age of sixteen years old is allowed in the pool or the pool area without the supervision of an adult.
7) The Guest recognizes that the pool area is not fenced from access and that special care must be maintained to ensure that anyone of any age that cannot swim is supervised when in the pool area.
8) The ocean area in front of the Villa is shallow with a rocky bottom, and often has a large population of sea urchins. The sea urchins can deliver a painful sting when touched. Please use extra caution when entering the ocean waters.
9) The Villa has a government-mandated fifty foot set back from the high mean tide, which prohibits the construction of permanent steps to the beach. Non-permanent steps to the beach are available, but due to their nature can become unstable from rainfall and runoff. Please use caution when using these steps.
10) Use of the gym equipment is at your own risk. If you are not familiar with the gym equipment and accessories, do not use them. It is your responsibility to ensure the reliability of any equipment prior to its use. No children under 16 years of age may use the gym.

Hurricane Policy

In the event of a pending hurricane, all guests MUST vacate the Villa when instructed to do so by the Villa’s management. (Any unused rent and taxes will be refunded). It is the sole responsibility of the guest to secure other lodging or change airline tickets for an early departure.

No Pets

Pets of any kind are not allowed.

Complaints and Maintenance

The owners of Villa Santa Cruz will make every effort to keep the Villa and its inventory in good working order. In case of a maintenance problem, we will strive to repair the problem as soon as possible after being notified. However, no refund or rate adjustment will be made for unforeseen mechanical failures such as the supply of electricity, water, pool control or filtration systems, air conditioning, telephone, television or satellite service, appliances, etc. It is the Guest's obligation to report any problems or damage IMMEDIATELY to the management of Villa Santa Cruz. No refunds will be granted unless there is a serious problem which causes the Guest extreme, undue discomfort or serious inconvenience that cannot be remedied in 24 hours.

Phone, Television, and Internet Services

Villa Santa Cruz has a restriction on long-distance calls, so a credit card or calling card must be used. Also note that due to the surrounding terrain, cell phone connections at the Villa are limited. Cell phone service signals are stronger approximately 100 yards to the east on the Villa’s access road. Internet service is provided via microwave transmission to the villa. Television services are provided via satellite. Both satellite-TV and Internet services may be subject to interruption by periods of extreme weather, when the satellite signal simply cannot penetrate localized thunderstorms and other extreme weather events. There is a collection of DVDs in the Villa for your use.

Electricity and Water Use

Electricity on the island is very expensive, at approximately four times the rate charged by stateside utility providers. Please use only what you need and make every effort not to be wasteful and excessive in your use. Running the air conditioning units with the doors and/or the windows open is considered extreme and will result in additional charges. There is no public water supply to the Villa. Our fresh water is supplied by catching rainwater from the roof. The availability of fresh water is therefore dependent on the amount of rained received and the amount of usage at the time. Please be conservative in your usage.

We capture rain water into two 22,000 gallon cistern tanks. The water goes through two sedimentation filters, then is passed through a filter with an ultra violent light.  We drink it from the tap.  Rain water is normally all we ever need, but we have access to a commercial supply delivered by truck. When this is required we buy distilled water which is a byproduct from the electric generation process on the island.  So the supply is very reliable and we have never been with out water.  Also, because we irrigate most days, we never let our storage system drop below 10,000 gallons. Please be conservative in your usage.

Check-in and Check-out Times

Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. Checkout time is 10:00 a.m. Earlier check in times or later check out times will be accommodated based on the before and after occupancy of the Villa.

Entry Into Villa Santa Cruz

The Villa, its grounds, patio and pool require routine service, which is performed by pre-authorized personnel. Access to the Villa by these personnel will be required during your rental period. All efforts will be made to inform you of their presence in advance, and to minimize interruption of your stay.

Illegal Drugs and Hazardous Materials

Guest and members of his/her party shall not use or permit to be brought into the villa any illegal substances, flammable fluids, explosives, or articles deemed hazardous to life, limb or property.

Villa Keys

A lost key will require the re-keying of the Villa locks, for which the guest will be charged. Please be careful with the Villa keys.

Capacity of the Villa

The total number of persons allowed in the villa at any one time is restricted to the number of persons scheduled and for which payment has been received. Occupancy is based on a maximum of eight people, with additional charges for extra guests. Exceptions are made only for infants; if sleeping in a baby crib, they are not included in the villa's total count.

Should a group misrepresent themselves, they will be required to pay for the excess persons immediately, or vacate the villa without refund.

Weddings and Events

Villa Santa Cruz is available for weddings, family reunions, meetings and other functions: Events are limited to a maximum of approximately 50 persons on the premises (but only a maximum of 8 persons may stay at the villa overnight). For wedding-related events, the villa rents at the maximum (7-8 person) seasonal rate, PLUS a surcharge of $950 for holding the function at Villa Santa Cruz, and the refundable damage deposit increases to $1000. Any events must end by 10pm. No events may be held the day before departure, but must be scheduled earlier during your stay. All details and plans for your function, including a full list of outside personnel (caterers, wedding planning company and staff, etc.) MUST be fully disclosed in writing well before your arrival. Note that on-site parking is highly limited and those limitations are to be reviewed with Villa Santa Cruz management during the early planning stages of the event. Before event set-up and after-event cleaning and disassembly of Guest-provided tables, chairs, equipment, etc. remains the responsibility of the Guest. Use of materials, which may damage or compromise the house, furniture, utensils, the pool, or any part of the property, is strictly forbidden. This includes, but is not limited to, tape, glue, confetti, and rice. Upon review Villa Santa Cruz reserves the right to decline to rent for events at its discretion.

Smoking

There is no smoking permitted anywhere within the Villa. You may smoke outside only, and all smoking materials must be disposed of properly. Smoking inside the villa will result in a forfeit of your damage deposit.

Quiet Enjoyment and Parties

Villa Santa Cruz is located in a residential area, and noise carries easily across adjacent open spaces. Accordingly, guests shall be sufficiently quiet and peaceful, keeping the noise levels down, so as not to disturb our neighbors, particularly after 10 p.m. at night. The Villa is rented to family groups and responsible adults only; absolutely no house parties or functions such as weddings are allowed without advanced written permission. Parking shall be held to the villa premises, and adjacent access roads shall remain free and passable to other vehicles at all times.

Assumption of Responsibility

As the Renter, you are held responsible for the actions of all the members within your party at Villa Santa Cruz. This would include any persons that may be temporarily present on the premises, at your invitation and/or concurrence, during your stay.

Important Supporting Information

On-island Arrival

You must provide your airline carrier, flight number, arrival and departure times in writing to us at least 45 days prior to your trip. You must notify us immediately of any changes in your travel plans affecting this information prior to your departure. If your flight is delayed or cancelled while en-route, you must notify us that same day, as soon as possible, during the course of those travels. Transportation to and from the Villa is your responsibility. The Villa management, upon your arrival, will provide an orientation to the property.

Stairs and Access

Villa Santa Cruz is set on a sloping hillside and has stairs that access various parts of the Villa and its property. Neither the Villa nor the grounds comply with ADA ramp parameters. Supplemental assistance will be required to those with impaired mobility to navigate the sidewalk slope and steps.

Infants and Toddlers

Infants and toddlers under 2 years old are not included in the headcount, which determines your rental rate, if they sleep in a crib. If they sleep in one of the villa’s beds, they are counted as a paying guest. Parents are reminded that they are held responsible and liable for the actions of their children at all times when on premises. A crib and crib bedding are available at the Villa when requested in advance by the guest.

Maid Service

Villa Santa Cruz is cleaned via a cleaning service just prior to your arrival. A mid-week maid service, or “dust-up,” is available at your option. For bookings of 10 to 14 nights, one free dust-up is included. For bookings of 15 to 21 nights, two free dust-ups are included. Additional dust-ups are available at additional cost to you. Standard maid service provides for general hotel-type linen-changes, cleaning and tidying only – it does not include personal laundry. Additional services such as cooking and babysitting can be provided by special arrangement, prices set according to the services required.

Villa Environs

The island of St. Croix is a tropical environment, and the Villa Santa Cruz property is set close to a National Park ecological preserve. The presence of insects and other wildlife on the island of St. Croix - and the Salt River area in particular - is undeniable. The Villa area receives regular and aggressive insect extermination treatments. However, absolutely no warranty or guarantee is provided – expressed or implied – regarding the elimination of insects or wildlife within and around the Villa environment. Guests are advised to exercise common sense care and precautions during the course of their stay. The presence of insects will not be grounds for refund of the rental.

Prevailing Law

In any dispute arising out of this rental agreement, the laws of the state of Arizona shall apply.

Binding Agreement

This agreement becomes binding upon receipt of your rental deposit. Your sending payment constitutes your acceptance and agreement to these terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions. If you have questions or problems with any of the preceding, please be sure to contact us before you send us your rental deposit monies.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

All rates, details, and Terms and Conditions regarding Villa Santa Cruz are subject to change without prior notice.

Thank you.