Booking terms and conditions as of 1 January 2010

Karelia Expert Tourist Service Ltd (hereinafter “the letting agent”) applies the following terms and conditions for ordering, booking and cancelling holiday cottage services. These terms and conditions become binding for both parties once the client has made an order and the letting agent has sent an invoice to the client.

1. Prices
Holiday cottage prices are listed together with the presentation of each individual cottage. Prices include VAT. The letting agent has the right to correct any mistakes in the price information before sending the invoice to the client. Prices do not include linen, cleaning or charging fee, unless otherwise stipulated.

2. Payment
After making the booking, the client will receive an invoice for the payment of the deposit and final payment. The deposit is 30% of the total rent. In addition, a service fee of €15 is charged together with the deposit. The deposit is to be paid within 14 days of the date of the invoice. The final payment is to be paid at least 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the rental period.

If the booking is made later than 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the rental period, the total of the rent is to be paid within 7 days of the date of the invoice and no later than the beginning of the rental period. For bookings of less than 3 days in duration, the rent is to be paid in total within 14 days of the reservation.

3. Cancellations made by the client
Cancellations of bookings must always be made in writing to Karelia Expert Tourist Service Ltd. Cancellations can be made by letter, e-mail or fax. If the cancellation is made by standard letter, the client is responsible for ensuring that the letter reaches its destination. The cancellation becomes effective once information of the cancellation reaches Karelia Expert Tourist Service Ltd. Standard letters are considered to have reached Karelia Expert on the seventh day after the date on the postmark.

If the client makes a cancellation earlier than 28 days prior to the beginning of the rental period (or earlier than 60 days for reservations for the period 24 December-1 January), any rent that has already been paid shall be refunded minus a service fee of €15 and a handling fee of €20. If the cancellation is made later than 28 days prior to the beginning of the rental period (or later than 60 days for reservations for the period 24 December-1 January), the total of the rent shall be withheld. Should the letting agent manage to let the cottage in question to another client, the cost of cancellation shall be the service fee of €15 and the handling fee of €20.

If the booking is cancelled due to illness, accident or death occurring to the client or to a family member living within the same household as the client, the client is entitled to a refund of the rent that has already been paid minus a service fee of €15 and a handling fee of €20. The letting agent must be informed about the incident without delay, and a doctor’s certificate or other reliable account must be supplied. If the rental period has begun before the incident, no refund of the rent shall be paid. Also, if the rental period has begun before the notification of the incident is received, no refund of the rent shall be paid.

4. Changing a booking
Should the client wish to exchange the letting agent’s holiday cottage for another or wish to change the rental period, this shall be considered a cancellation of the previous booking and a new booking, unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties.

5. Letting agent’s right to cancel a booking
The letting agent has the right to cancel a booking if the client neglects to pay. Bookings can also be cancelled due to neglected payment without separate notification being made to the client. The letting agent also has the right to cancel a booking if the client does not comply with the terms and conditions of this agreement, or if the client causes a disturbance at the holiday cottage. If the cancellation is due to the fault of the client, no refund of the rent shall be paid.

If the cancellation is due to force majeure, the letting agent is obligated to refund all payments that have been made to the client. The letting agent is not obligated to compensate for any other damages or resulting costs arising from the cancellation of the booking. In case of force majeure the letting agent also has the right to provide the client with a different holiday cottage than the one that was originally booked. If the price of the alternative holiday cottage is higher than that of the holiday cottage that was originally booked, no additional cost will be charged to the client. If the price of the alternative holiday cottage is lower than that of the holiday cottage that was originally booked, the client has the right to receive compensation from the letting agent for the difference in prices.

6. Arrival at holiday cottage and handing over of keys
Together with the invoice, the client shall be sent the name and address of the holiday cottage owner, information on where the keys can be collected, and driving instructions to the holiday cottage. The keys to the cottage are handed over to the client as specified in the driving instructions. The client must inform about his/her arrival time well in advance if so requested in the driving instructions. The client is responsible for looking after the keys to the holiday cottage during his/her stay. If the client loses a key, all actual costs accrued as a result of purchasing a new key or changing the lock will be charged to the client.

7. Staying at holiday cottage
The rent of holiday cottages includes free use of the holiday cottage and its furniture, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery, and fuel for heating, cooking and lighting. Clients shall provide their own bed linen and towels, unless they are included in the rent as stated in writing. Bed linen can be hired for a charge at most holiday cottages. Hiring bed linen should be agreed in advance. Permission for bringing pets to the holiday cottage must be requested in advance. Smoking is allowed only outside the holiday cottage.

A fee for the final cleaning of the holiday cottage at the end of the rental period shall be added to the rent.

Holiday cottages are available for use by the client from 4pm on the day of arrival to 12noon on the day of departure, unless otherwise agreed.

8. Compensation for damage
The client is liable for the direct compensation of any damage caused to the cottage or its furnishing. Should the actions of the client cause damage to the letting agent, the client is liable for compensation in full to the letting agent.

9. Number of persons
The number of persons using the holiday cottage must not exceed the number specified in the presentation material. The owner has the right to charge reasonable payment for extra persons, even if extra beds cannot be provided. Possible overnight guests must be separately in advance. Use of a tent or a caravan on the site of the holiday cottage without permission is prohibited.

10. Complaints
All complaints concerning the holiday cottage must be made without delay to the owner of the holiday cottage or to the letting agent. If no measures to correct the matter are made, a complaint must be made without delay to the letting agent, after which a possible claim for compensation can be made, unless the matter has been corrected meanwhile. The claim for compensation must be made in writing, and the letting agent must receive it within 30 days of the end of the rental period. If the client claims compensation from the letting agent, the grounds for compensation must be notified to the letting agent during the rental period, and the letting agent must be given the opportunity to correct the matter.

Any shortcomings in the furnishing, cleanliness or condition of the holiday cottage must be notified without delay to the owner of the holiday cottage or to the letting agent. The client does not have the right to present demands to the letting agent or owner of the cottage on the basis of the furnishing, cleanliness or condition of the holiday cottage unless he/she notifies about these shortcomings before the end of the rental period and gives the letting agent the opportunity to correct the matter.