We have personally selected a range of properties from which you can choose to stay in to enjoy the fascinating and delightful regions of the Minho, Algarve, and Sintra Lisbon area. Many of our houses are lovingly restored and refurnished by their owners and contain some of their own personal belongings. Some of our properties are grand houses with swimming pools and some are small, simple and cosy - but all are honestly described. Some of our houses are in villages, some on the outskirts, others in the country and a few that are quite isolated. The location of each property is given in each description and we would ask you to read this carefully as well as the individual details.

Villas by the day

Easy and convenient
Portuguese Affair have a few villas in Portugal that can be booked on a daily basis. This is ideal for clients who want their villa rental to fit conveniently into their travel arrangements by flight, train or ferry. During February, March, April, May, June, September, October and November many of our villas can be booked for any duration, arriving on any day of the week and departing on any day. There is a minimum rental period of 4 days and a daily rate is shown so that you can easily calculate your final price – you can for example stretch your one week holiday into 10 or 11 days, your two week holiday into 16 or 17 days; or if you only have a short period free from work just go for 4 days. Villas that can be booked “by the day” on this flexi basis have daily rental only prices shown in blue so that you can easily identify them.

Restrictions
During the Easter (22/3-4/4), Half Term (24/5-30/5), July/August School Holidays (5/7-12/9) and Christmas (20/12-2/1) you are restricted to reserving a 1 week or 2 week Saturday to Saturday rental, since we know that this is suitable for virtually all of our clients.
properties can be reserved for a minimum duration of one week and any number of weeks subject only to availability. However, during the mid and high seasons (July and August) properties are normally reserved for a minimum duration of two weeks. In a few instances some properties can be rented for one week only in early July,in which case it will automatically be shown as available when you check the site.

Villas by the Week

Saturday to Saturday rentals
Most of our properties can only be booked on a weekly basis and the “changeover” day is always a Saturday. Portuguese Affair have in the past chosen these “changeover days” as the most convenient arrival and departure day for clients wishing to stay in a villa for one of two weeks. Many of our villas continue to be booked on this basis and during the periods of Easter (22/3-4/4), Half Term (24/5-30/5), July/August School Holidays (5/7-12/9) and Christmas (20/12-2/1) all our villas are booked on this basis.

Check-in & Check-out

Your check-in time on the arrival will be 5:00pm to 7:00pm and your check-out time on departure will be 9:30am.

Welcome Pack

In most of our villas in the Minho and Algarve food Welcome Pack at £30 each can be provided on arrival at your property with such essentials as bread, eggs, coffee, fruit juice, cheese, cereals etc. For £40 the pack will also include wine, beer. Please indicate your requirements.

You will normally be asked for a security deposit on arrival of between £100-£150 (equivalent to 145-218 approx). The currency payable is in either pounds sterling or Euros depending on the property. This is payable to the owner/keyholder and serves as a security against any minor breakage or damage to the property or its contents. Any extra local charges that there may be for electricity or gas will be deducted from this deposit on departure. There are occasional exceptions to the above which can be advised to you upon enquiry.

Electricity Costs

Electricity costs are not usually included in the price of your holiday. As a guide you should allow approximate charges of £15-£30 (22-43) per week between 12 June - 11 September or £20-£40 (29-57) per week between 01 April - 12 June and 11 September - 29 October. Costs will be higher for houses with swimming pools where filters/pumps run off electricity.

Out of season costs (01 November - 31 March) for electricity will vary depending on prevailing temperatures and the extent that the property needs to be heated during your stay.

Cleaning

Your property is cleaned in between rentals and is prepared for your arrival. You should expect however to spend about one hour with the owner or keyholder prior to your departure so that they can inspect to their satisfaction the state of the property in their presence. Although the property is prepared after your departure for the next clients, you are expected to have tidied the property and left it in good order.

Insurance

Your holiday price does not include personal holiday insurance cover; it is important that you do purchase this at the same time as you book your holiday, or that you already have a valid annual insurance cover. In particular you should be aware that, whilst you are renting one of our properties, you are responsible for it and may be held liable for any damage either to the property or it's contents. You should therefore ensure whatever insurance cover you organise that it does provide protection against liability from accidental damage to the property; normally this is shown under the personal liability cover of the policy.

Swimming Pools

Swimming pools will be in full use and maintained as follows: 01 April - 31 October in the Algarve;
15 April - 15 October in Sintra, Lisbon and Minho. Outside these dates it may be possible to prepare a pool for use; clients should specifically request this at the time of booking and may have to pay additional costs for this service.

Out of Season Rentals: 01 November - 31 March

You will only be offered on our web site properties for out of season rentals that are suitable for renting during this period of the year. You can assume therefore that any property that is offered does have suitable heating facilities.

Blankets, Sheets and Towels

Adequate blankets, sheets and towels are provided in each house. However we suggest that clients take one beach towel per person for their holiday.

Pets

Clients are kindly asked not to take pets to our properties, even though EEC regulations have recently relaxed quarantine requirements.

Each property has a weekly rental price shown in both £ sterling and EURO. The actual price that you will be charged will be in £ sterling; the price is shown for your guidance only and has been calculated at £1=1.30.

In order to reserve your property rental you will be required to pay a deposit of 30% of your rental costs. If you wish to book "on-line" this payment should be made by credit card or switch card. If your holiday starting date is less than 10 weeks away you will be required to pay the full amount.

Cancellation

Any client cancelling a booking must do so in writing (by recorded delivery post) but the following charges apply, the weeks in question being calculated from the date of receipt of the written cancellation in our office:

Over 12 weeks prior to departure: Loss of deposit

12 to 6 weeks prior to departure: 50% of holiday cost

6 to 4 weeks prior to departure: 75% of holiday cost

Less than 4 weeks prior to departure: 100% of holiday cost.

In the rare event of a cancellation by French Affair of a client's booking all monies paid will be refunded immediately and in full whereupon the liability of French Affair ceases. Should a client wish to change his accommodation for any reason French Affair reserve the right to treat such a change as a cancellation and levy the appropriate cancellation charges. It lies within French Affairs' sole discretion to make any refund greater than would result from the application of these conditions, or to forego any claim against a client for any balance due at the time of cancellation. Should a client not pay the balance due by the specified time French Affair reserves the right to cancel the booking and levy the appropriate cancellation charges.

Payments and credit cards

A deposit of 30% of the rental is payable as a deposit in order to make your holiday booking. The balance is due 10 weeks prior to your departure. We accept payment by Visa and Mastercard credit cards. In this instance no charge will be made on the deposit element of your holiday cost; however if the balance is paid by credit card this amount will be subject to a nominal charge of 1.5% as a contribution to the costs incurred.

Tickets

Two to three weeks prior to your holiday you will receive your property details and directions, as well as any travel documents such as ferry tickets, flight tickets, car hire vouchers, overnight hotels etc.