Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions - the basics 

1. General Information
1.1 Villa De Lyden is a privately owned, family-run guest house offering overnight accommodation in a main house and a separate cottage.
1.2 Our standard operating hours are 08:00 – 22:00.
1.3 We reserve the right to update these Terms from time to time. The version published on our website at the time of your booking applies to your stay.

2. Check-In, Check-Out & Reception Hours
2.1 Check-in: Between 14:00 and 22:00 on the day of arrival.
2.2 Check-out: Between 09:00 and 10:00 on the day of departure. Latest check-out is 10:00.
2.3 Early check-in or late check-out may be possible by prior arrangement only and may incur an additional fee.
2.4 Guests arriving after 22:00 must arrange late arrival with us in advance; otherwise we cannot guarantee access.

3. Rooms, Occupancy & House Layout
3.1 Main House

• 4 guest rooms in total.

• 1 room with en-suite bathroom and access to a private balcony.

• 3 rooms sharing one separate bathroom.

• Shared living room and kitchen for in-house guests.

3.2 Cottage

• 1 bedroom with en-suite bathroom.

• Open-plan lounge with kitchenette and sleeper couch.

3.3 Maximum Occupancy

• Standard rooms: max 2 adults per room.

• Cottage: 2 adults on main bed; up to 1 additional adult (or child) on the sleeper couch, if booked and paid for in advance.
  3.4 We may refuse check-in or terminate a stay if the number of guests exceeds the confirmed occupancy.

4. Facilities & Services
4.1 All rooms include:

• Bed linen & towels

• Flatscreen TV with DStv

• Wi-Fi

• Mini bar fridge

4.2 The property offers:

• Secure parking inside the yard (gate access)

• Backup energy for essential power and internet during load-shedding
  4.3 We do not operate as a traditional “bed & breakfast”:

• No cooked breakfast is served.

• Complimentary tea/coffee may be provided in rooms or common areas.

5. Bookings, Payments & Rates
5.1 Bookings can be made directly via our website, by phone, email, or via third-party booking platforms (e.g. Booking.com).
5.2 A booking is only confirmed once written confirmation has been issued by us and any required deposit or pre-payment has been received.
5.3 All rates are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR) and may change without prior notice, but confirmed bookings will not be affected.
5.4 Unless stated otherwise, rates are per room per night and exclude any third-party booking fees or commissions.
(You can add your exact deposit/payment rules here, e.g. 50% deposit to confirm, balance on arrival.)

6. Cancellation, Changes & No-Shows
(Adjust the timeframes and percentages to match how strict you want to be. The structure below follows common SA practice.) MGM Wilderness+1
6.1 Direct bookings (made with us)

• 14+ days before arrival: Free cancellation; deposit refunded less a small admin/bank fee.

• 7–13 days before arrival: 50% of the total booking value is charged.

• 0–6 days before arrival or no-show: 100% of the total booking value is charged.

6.2 Third-party bookings
For bookings made via online travel agents (e.g. Booking.com), their cancellation and payment policies may apply in addition to ours. In case of conflict, the stricter policy will apply.
6.3 Early departure
No refunds are given for early departure once you have checked in.

7. Children, Visitors & Extra Guests
7.1 Children are welcome but remain the full responsibility of their parents/guardians at all times.
7.2 Only registered guests are allowed to stay overnight.
7.3 Day visitors must be approved in advance and may be limited to a reasonable number per room.
7.4 Parties or events are not permitted unless agreed in writing beforehand. capefinest.co.za+1

8. House Rules: Noise, Smoking, Pets
8.1 Quiet hours are from 22:00 to 07:00. Please respect other guests and our neighbours. Excessive noise may result in immediate eviction without refund.
8.2 Smoking: Smoking is not allowed inside the rooms or indoor areas. Designated outdoor smoking areas may be used. Cleaning fees may be charged for any smoke damage or odours. capefinest.co.za+1
8.3 Pets: Unless otherwise agreed in advance, pets are not permitted on the property.
8.4 We reserve the right to terminate a stay, without refund, for serious or repeated breaches of house rules.

9. Damage, Loss & Guest Responsibility
9.1 Guests are responsible for any damage, breakages, or loss caused to the property, furnishings, or equipment, whether accidental or due to negligence. The cost of repair or replacement may be charged to the guest’s account or card. capefinest.co.za+1
9.2 Please ensure doors and windows are properly locked when you leave your room or the property.
9.3 We recommend that guests have adequate travel insurance to cover unforeseen events, cancellations, and personal belongings. Switsongo B&B -

10. Parking & Security
10.1 Secure parking is available inside the yard, subject to availability.
10.2 You park and leave vehicles and belongings on the property at your own risk. We do not accept liability for loss, theft or damage to vehicles or items left in vehicles, unless caused by our gross negligence. Switsongo B&B -+1

11. Liability & Indemnity
11.1 Guests use the premises and facilities at their own risk. While we take reasonable care to provide a safe environment, we are not liable for any loss, injury, illness, damage, or death that may occur on the property, unless caused by our gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Switsongo B&B -+1
11.2 By staying at Villa De Lyden, you indemnify us, our owners and staff against any claims arising from your stay, except where South African law prohibits such exclusion.

12. Data Protection & Privacy (POPIA)
12.1 We are committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”). POPIA+1
12.2 We collect and process personal information (such as your name, contact details, ID/passport number, and booking details) to:

• secure and manage your reservation,

• comply with legal obligations, and

• maintain a record of guests and repeat visitors. BouBou Bed and Breakfast+1
  12.3 Your information may be shared with:

• payment processors,

• booking platforms, or

• authorities when required by law,
  but will not be sold or shared for unrelated marketing without your consent.
  12.4 You have the right to request access to, correction or deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and contractual limits.
  12.5 For more detail, please refer to our Privacy Policy on this website (or contact us directly).

13. Website Use & Online Bookings
13.1 All content on our website (text, images, logo, design) is owned by or licensed to Villa De Lyden and may not be copied or used without our written consent. fevertreeguesthouse.com
13.2 You agree not to use the website for any unlawful purpose or to attempt to interfere with its operation or security.
13.3 Online availability and prices are subject to change and may vary from third-party platforms. We are not responsible for errors clearly arising from obvious mistakes or technical faults; in such cases we reserve the right to correct them.

14. Force Majeure
14.1 We shall not be liable for any failure to perform our obligations due to events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to load-shedding, water cuts, extreme weather, strikes, or government restrictions.
14.2 In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to assist or reschedule, but refunds are at our discretion unless required by law.
15. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
15.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
15.2 Any disputes arising from these Terms or your stay will, where possible, be resolved amicably. Failing that, they may be brought before a competent court in Mpumalanga, South Africa

What to include in the T&C document

Generally speaking, T&C often address these types of issues: Who is allowed to use the website; the possible payment methods; a declaration that the website owner may change his or her offering in the future; the types of warranties the website owner gives his or her customers; a reference to issues of intellectual property or copyrights, where relevant; the website owner’s right to suspend or cancel a member’s account; and much, much more. 

To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Terms and Conditions Policy”.