Terms & Conditions

Arrival and Departure

Check in is available from 4.00pm on the day of arrival. Check-in times outside of those specified must be confirmed with us prior to arrival.

We ask that you please vacate your room by 10.30am on the morning of departure.

Reservations

Please note the cancellation policy before committing to a reservation.

In order for us to confirm a reservation we require a 50% deposit,

Cancellation by the Guest

We are a small business, so cancellations can have a big impact on us, especially if we have turned away potential guests in favour of someone who has already booked and who then cancels. We do, however, appreciate that unforeseen circumstances can intervene, and we try to be as sympathetic and helpful as possible in such cases.

In the event of a cancellation up to 14 days prior to the scheduled date of arrival we will attempt to re-book the room. If we are able to do this we will return your deposit. All returned deposits will be subject to an admin fee to cover processing costs.

If you cancel your reservation within 14 days of the scheduled date of arrival you will be liable for the full reservation price.

Guests failing to arrive, without notification, may be responsible to a charge equivalent to the total reservation price.

For Le Mans Race Weekends and special events different terms apply – see below.

We take all Bookings in good faith, as we are unable to judge reasons for change, cancellation or non-arrival, guests are reminded that no exceptions to the above conditions will be made and that any booking made with Château de la Ruche for accommodation, goods or services that are pre booked (verbal or written) forms a legally binding contract. For this reason we advise that you take out a suitable insurance product to cover against unexpected costs such as cancellation fees. In addition, we may take legal action, through the Courts, to recover any outstanding debts.

Cancellation by Us

Should it become necessary for us to cancel a booking we will contact you immediately. Any payments made will be refunded in full and we will do our best to recommend other accommodation in the local area. Our liability will not extend beyond these conditions.

• Covid-19 

Should we be unable to host you due to lockdowns or restrictions imposed on us by the French government we will offer you a voucher that will allow you to postpone your stay to another time.

Special Events

When booking special events such as Le Mans Race Weekends, group bookings, retreats and party packages we require a 50% non-refundable deposit on booking. 

The balance of your bill is due eight weeks prior to your stay with us and is also non-refundable. At this time, we will also ask you for a €500 security and damage deposit. This will be returned to you after your stay, once we have inspected the property and confirmed that everything is in order.

We take all Bookings in good faith, as we are unable to judge reasons for change, cancellation or non-arrival, guests are reminded that no exceptions to the above conditions will be made and that any booking made with Château de la Ruche for accommodation, goods or services that are pre booked (verbal or written) forms a legally binding contract. For this reason we advise that you take out a suitable insurance product to cover against unexpected costs such as cancellation fees. In addition, we may take legal action, through the Courts, to recover any outstanding debts.

Moving your stay

Your booking is confirmed once you have paid your 50% non-refundable deposit. If you wish to change the date of your stay at Château de la Ruche you must inform us in writing. Changes of date will be at our discretion and based on availability. Charges will apply if you wish to change your date within 14 days of your stay. You can consider your date changed only when you have received written confirmation from us.

Car Parking

A car park is available for guests’ use within the grounds. Cars parked here are at owners risk.

Change of Room

If a booking is taken out for a specific room and the room reserved is required to meet a specific guest needs or rendered unusable via circumstances beyond our control, we reserve the right to transfer the booking to an alternative room of similar quality.

Damage and Breakages

Please take care of our home. You are responsible and liable for any breakages or damages which you cause to the
accommodation or its contents. Please report these as soon as they occur especially if you accidentally spill something – it’s much easier to clean if we know what it is and act quickly. We do not normally charge for breakages, but we reserve the right to charge for repair or making good if the damage is significant.

Please do not apply or use fake tan or suncreams in our bedrooms and bathrooms. Any linens, towels and soft furnishings stained with fake tan or suncreams will be charged for. If professional cleaning is required to remove stains caused by fake tan and sun cream products products you will be expected to pay the bill.

Please wash off sun cream before bed at night to avoid damage to linens and soft furnishings. Any staining that cannot be removed will be charged for.

Health and safety and antisocial behaviour.

We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal activities, vandalism and rude and abusive behaviour towards us, our family and anyone working alongside us. Illegal activities, drug taking and excessive alcohol consumption will immediately be reported to the police. Rude and abusive guests will be asked to leave the château and grounds with immediate effect. You are responsible for the behaviour of your guests at all times.

Château de la Ruche is a beautiful private residence and it is also our home. We ask that all guests behave and treat with respect our family, house, grounds and also our neighbours. We ask you not to leave our grounds and enter in to any fields containing livestock or that belong to our neighbours – the boundaries will be pointed out to you and it is up to you to inform your guests.

No lighting of fires is allowed, including the use of Chinese Lanterns which can frighten livestock and set fire to dry areas of our land and countryside.

We have a lake and this will be pointed out to you on arrival. Please make all of your guest aware of its location. The lake is not to be used for paddling or swimming and the boat is not to be taken out without prior consent. Any boating is undertaken at your own risk.

Château de la Ruche, our family and anyone working alongside us will not be liable for any injury, damage or loss of any nature, however caused (through negligence or not) suffered by you or your party whether before, during, or after your stay.

Data

Some of the data gathered during the course of a booking may be held on computer. We would like to hold this data after your visit to be able to inform you of future offers. If you would prefer us not to hold this information please let us know. For more details about how we will use your date please see our privacy policy.

Evening Meal Reservations

We are pleased to offer our guests table d’hote meals each evening. Please telephone or email in advance to book an evening meal and notify us of any special dietary requirements. All meals are prepared to order and therefore we require a minimum of 24 hours notice.  Without pre-ordering, we may not be able to provide a meal on the day of arrival.

As Evening Meals are purchased for and prepared to order, if an order is placed and cancelled after 12 noon on the day of dining or not taken for any reason, the full cost of the meal will remain payable.

Evening meals are subject to availability. Please note that while we do our best to cater for all dietary requirements we cannot guarantee that our kitchen is completely allergen free. If you have severe allergies you may wish to bring your own food.

Keys

You have access to the building and your room 24 hours a day throughout your stay. Our rooms do not have locks. Occasionally we may give guests who are staying for longer periods a set of keys for the main doors of Château. You have full responsibility of these keys for the duration of your stay. Lost keys will be charged at €15.00 per set.

Liability

We do not accept any liability for any damage, loss or injury to any member of your party or any vehicles or
possessions, unless proven to be caused by a negligent act by ourselves or our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.

Lost Property

We are happy to return items that have been left following departure. However, there will be a minimum charge of €20.00 to cover postage and packaging.

Missing Items

We reserve the right to charge for items missing from our rooms.

Payment

Payment is due on the morning of departure and we accept the following charge, credit and debit cards; Debit MasterCard, Delta, Electron, Maestro, MasterCard, UK Maestro, CB and Visa, as well as cash.

Pets

We are unable to accommodate pets, so please do not bring your pets with you. Please note that we have a dog and two cats, but they are not permitted in guest rooms.

Prices

We reserve the right to change our prices at any time. This does not affect bookings already made.

Smoking

Smoking is NOT permitted within any part of Château de la Ruche, the garden, grounds, woodland or park. Please note that offending guests may be asked to leave immediately and may be liable for professional cleaning of any rooms and any outstanding balance of nights booked but not taken through early departure.

Termination Policy

Château de la Ruche reserve the right, at its discretion, to terminate, without notice, an individual’s stay where deemed necessary through unacceptable behaviour or as a result of actions which are likely to endanger or offend others (Please note that non-compliance of our non smoking policy may constitute termination). In such circumstances any outstanding account must be settled, no refunds will be made.

We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.

You acknowledge and agree that all intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to, copyrights (including rights in software), trademarks, database rights, patents and inventions) in and relating to the service are owned by us and our licensors or contractors. Nothing in this agreement operates to transfer any such intellectual property rights to you.

We reserve the right to assign or sub-contract any of our rights and obligations under this agreement without notice to you.

If any provision of this agreement is found to be unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.