CareFree Italy - Important Information

Confirmation Invoices - We will send a confirmation invoice to you within 5 working days of making your booking. Please check it carefully and contact us immediately if it is incorrect, as it may not be possible to make changes later.

Accommodation Vouchers - Vouchers will be sent 7 to 14 days before travel, subject to full payment being received by Carefree. The voucher will provide the address of your accommodation and should be handed in upon your arrival. Please take care of your voucher as failure to present it may result in your room being cancelled, or having to pay for your room again, or paying a higher price. No refunds for unused accommodation vouchers can be made, as they will be treated as cancellations.

Requests For Accommodation - Carefree will happily request our overseas offices to obtain accommodation, when not available from our wide range. We make no charge for this service. Please contact our UK-based Call Centre (0871 700 0850) for any requests.

Group Bookings – Bookings for groups of 20 or more must be made with our UK-based Call Centre (0871 700 0850), as some hoteliers will not accept groups, especially for all-male or all-female parties. Further, our Call Centre will be able to advise you where we can offer or apply for a group discount.

Special Requests - Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable request on to your hotelier or other supplier, we regret that we are unable to guarantee we will always be able to comply with the request. Confirmation that we have passed a request to a supplier on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation does not necessarily mean that the request will be provided.

Car Hire/Taxi Transfers – Carefree can arrange competitively priced car hire or transfers to your accommodation. Our website has further information. However you should be aware that transfers to country hotels, villas and apartments are not advised as once you are there it will be nearly impossible to arrange for taxis and transfers and it is better to hire a car - and often cheaper!

Help Line - Carefree does not provide overseas representatives, as we believe that today's independent traveller finds them unnecessary. But help, if needed, is only a phone call away. We will provide you with the telephone number and address of our specially appointed local agent, who will be available during normal office hours between Monday and Friday. We will also provide you with the telephone number of our UK-based Duty Office, which is open 24 hours per day.

Driving in Italy - Driving is straightforward as long as you respect the rules of the road. Traffic regulations are almost the same as in the UK except, of course, that you drive on the right. A British driving licence is valid in Italy but, with the exception of pink UK licences, must be accompanied by a translation, obtainable from the AA, RAC or ACI frontier offices if you propose to drive from UK to Italy. You must also take your vehicle registration document and proof of car insurance cover. A green card, obtainable through your insurance company, is definitely advisable. Without one your cover is likely to be reduced to “Third Party” only. However, some policies now extend your UK cover to certain European countries – please check with your insurance company.

The road system in Italy is generally good but, particularly in the country, minor public roads may not always be metalled and access roads to some properties are often no more than rough tracks. If you are driving a car with particularly low ground clearance or are otherwise concerned please check with our staff. Remember, also, that tolls are charged on motorways (except in Sicily).

What's included in your price - Hotels

Prices are per person based upon 2 people sharing a twin room, inclusive of all taxes, service charges and the meal arrangements specified below.

RO - Room Only - no meals
SC - Self-Catering - no meals, but cooking facilities are provided
BB - Bed & Breakfast - continental breakfast
HB - Half Board - continental breakfast and dinner
FB - Full Board - continental breakfast, lunch and dinner
AI - All Inclusive - continental breakfast, lunch, dinner and local branded beverages and soft drinks.

Gala Meals – are provided at many hotels at Christmas and New Year and are usually compulsory. When you make your reservation with us, we will advise you of the price of any compulsory gala meals.

Child Discounts - Child prices are based upon children sharing a room with two adults. The age range, for which child prices are applicable, is also shown. Any room or board supplements are payable at the adult rate.

Fairs And Conventions - There are occasions when destinations host conventions and special events, and prices may well be higher at these times. If any prices do vary, our computer system will be updated so that you will know the correct price at the time of booking.

What's included in your price – Villas & Apartments

Prices are per unit, except where otherwise stated.

Child Discounts - In apartments, where prices are per unit, there is no discount for children, unless otherwise stated. Any room or board supplements are payable at the adult rate.

Overview - Most properties are holiday homes and therefore subject to the taste of their owners. As you will have seen your choice of property ranges from the relatively simple to the luxurious and, naturally, the standard of furnishing varies accordingly. Electrical appliances, kitchen equipment, crockery and cutlery are unlikely to be of the same standard as in your own home. However, all properties are adequately equipped but you should be aware of the following:

Kitchens - Refrigerators and hobs (sometimes only two-ring in many properties) are standard. Further equipment such as ovens, dishwashers, etc. may be available depending on the individual property. This will usually be indicated in the brochure description. Kettles, toasters and tea towels are not usually provided in Italy as Italians tend to grill their bread, boil water in a pan and leave crockery, etc. to drain.

Bedrooms - Beds are often short and even top-quality villas often have very utilitarian-looking beds; however, this is usually just the local style. ‘Double beds’ often consist of two single mattresses within a double frame or two singles linked together with a double sheet. Mattresses may not be of as good a quality as you are used to at home.

Bathrooms - These may be small and showers may not always have a separate shower cubicle.

Living/Dining rooms - Easy chairs and settees are not as abundant as in the UK as a good deal of socialising in Italy is conducted at the dining table. Nevertheless, many properties use sofa beds to increase potential capacity. When converted to beds these may not be as comfortable as ordinary beds.

Television - Where Satellite TV is available the service is usually provided by a national service provider and English-speaking programmes may be limited to one or two channels.

Linen - Bedroom and bathroom linen is always included in the price as the effort needed to transport it from the UK would be unreasonable. You always need to take your own beach/pool towels as not all properties offer these as a hire item. Most properties do not include tea towels, as they are considered unnecessary and unhygienic.
We cannot accept responsibility for late changes in accommodation or equipment made by the owners of which we have not been advised although we make every effort to remain aware of any such changes that may occur and to communicate these to the appropriate clients. Where larger properties offer lower prices for reduced occupancy one or more rooms may be rendered inaccessible. If this is a matter of concern please check before booking. The mention of certain facilities at a property does not imply that the use of these facilities is free.

Utilities - Water, gas and electricity are included in the rental cost except where otherwise stated and are supplied according to different standards from the ones used in the city and with limitations due to being in the country. Voltage is 220v but an adaptor will be required if you wish to use your own appliances. Electricity supplies tend to be less reliable than in the UK and may not support the use of several appliances simultaneously. Electrical wires may be partly visible and unconnected wires may be found projecting from walls. Electricity is expensive and it is considerate to avoid unnecessary use. If it is charged locally, please ensure that meter readings are agreed at the beginning and end of your stay.
Water supplies, especially in the high season, may be erratic, particularly during a "dry" summer. It is considerate to use water economically as the owner has to pay based upon consumption. Although mains water is generally safe to drink we recommend that bottled drinking water is purchased locally.
Heating is nearly always available even if it is not specifically mentioned in the property descriptions and the cost is payable locally. The charge for heating is usually based upon the amount of fuel, normally gas, consumed and it is important to agree meter readings both at the beginning and at the end of your stay. It is also advisable to confirm the cost per unit with the owner locally. In the winter heating costs can be high (£50-£100 per week) according to the size of the property. Please check at the time of booking.

Cleaning - Your property should have been thoroughly cleaned prior to your arrival and will be cleaned again when you leave. We would, however, request that you leave the property as you found it. Cleaning costs, where applicable, are payable locally before you leave and will be shown on your accommodation voucher. The cost can be checked at the time of booking. If the property has, for any reason, not been properly cleaned when you arrive, please advise the owner or agent immediately.

Swimming Pools - Outside the summer months (June to September) swimming pools are closed and therefore will not be available for use by guests. Subject to the weather their opening times may vary particularly if the weather has been inclement, this should be checked at the time of booking. Problems do occasionally occur with swimming pools and, when notified, we will do all we can to ensure that any problem is resolved as soon as possible. Some owners allow pools to be used by relatives and friends, particularly during the Italian summer holidays. If this is likely to cause a problem please advise us at the time of booking and we shall make appropriate enquiries, although it is a matter over which we have no local control. Swimming pools are always used at the clients' own risk and young children must be supervised at all times. If the depth of the pool is important, please check at the time of booking. Please take your own towels for swimming pool use.

Holiday Duration - Most properties prefer weekly rentals but one or two will arrange reduced stays. All properties have a 3-night minimum and 6 month maximum stay. All self-catering properties have Saturday start dates, which maximises the number of sales a property can make. However, one or two properties will accept other start dates and unusual durations outside of the June – September high season months. Please contact our UK-based call centre (0871 700 0850) for further information.

Arrival and Departure - Clients are requested to arrive at their property between 4.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. on the first day of their stay and to depart by 10.00a.m. on the last day unless specified otherwise in the accommodation voucher. This is to enable the properties to be cleaned and prepared. If arrival time is likely to be different from the above, particularly if it will be late in the evening, we must be notified in order that the necessary arrangements may be made. In the event of an unforeseen delay, it is advisable to contact the owner or agent as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Some properties are unable or unwilling to accept clients after a certain time. If you have booked flights that arrive late, please check with us whether you will be able to gain access to the property.

Security Deposits - When the keys are handed over to the client, the deposit stipulated on the accommodation voucher must be paid in cash or by travellers’ cheque. Such amount will be refunded at the end of the holiday less any deduction made for any additional cost not included in the letting price or for any damage caused. The owner or agent may refuse access to the property if the deposit is not handed over. Should the client decide to leave the property prematurely the owner or agent is authorised to refund the deposit by post (less any eventual deduction for damages).

Safety Standards - Safety standards and regulations conform to local standards and could be less, or even more, stringent than those in the UK. The monitoring and enforcement of such regulations is a matter for the authorities of the country and the local supplier concerned. Cots supplied abroad conform to local safety standards but may not be of the same construction that you are used to. It remains your responsibility to check that they meet with your own and your infants’ requirements.