Here you will find a wealth of information and useful tips about Sun-hat in Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands - from Vale do Lobo villas to the apartments and hotels of Lanzarote's Playa Blanca. If it's not here, try our FAQ page.
Our Holiday Villas
Many of the holiday villas we feature are private villas, and are therefore
furnished and equipped to the individual tastes of the villa owner. For a Vale do Lobo villa, you will
pay more than for an equivalent villa in another area of the Algarve,
because Vale do Lobo is generally more expensive - but all holiday accommodation booked through Sun-hat
represents excellent value for money. Facilities vary from villa to villa, dependent on the country and
resort of your choice. Most of the private villas we offer are in these areas (click the links for more
information about the resort):
Villa Descriptions
We describe our holiday properties accurately dispensing with colourful adjectives in favour of clarity
and integrity, giving a feel of the layout of the villas and apartments, along with their situation.
We also show clear photography both interior and exterior. Should you want further information, we know
most of our properties and can give you more details on request.
Prices
The Sun-hat prices we quote are for the villa, apartment or hotel room per week. In some villas and
apartments and in most hotels you can book for more than 7 nights (and less than 14) and pay on a
pro-rata basis. Villas, apartments and hotels are priced to accommodate 2 people per bedroom. In many
properties an extra bed or cot may be added at a small additional cost.
Price Guarantee
Sun-hat guarantees the price of your accommodation will not change after you have made your booking
and we have issued a confirmation invoice. There are no hidden extra costs and your price will not be
subject to surcharges.
Booking
Telephone or e-mail us to confirm the availability of your chosen villa,
apartment or hotel room. Once we confirm, you can book your flights. You then need to complete the
booking form - you can do this online if you wish - and pay
your deposit, which is usually 25%. The balance of your cost is paid 10 weeks prior to your
holiday.
Making Payments
Most people pay by cheque, we also accept major credit cards. There are no processing charges on deposit payments made more than 10 weeks before departure. Balance payments paid by credit card will incur a 2% processing charge, or you can pay by debit card, cheque or transfer with no processing fees
whatsoever.
Assistance Abroad
In all our destinations we have a local agent or house manager who will make the necessary arrangements
in advance of your arrival. We respect your privacy and independence, and will provide you with local
contact numbers for our people in your chosen destination, should you need assistance or information.
Directions and Maps
We provide clear easy to follow directions and maps giving the precise location of your chosen villa, so
you can take a hire car from the airport should you prefer. Should you take wrong turning, you can
always call our local agent, or even our UK office to help you back on the right road. If you would
like us to talk you through the directions before you leave, we would be very happy to do so.
House Deposits
Many of our villa owners, especially those in the Algarve, require us to hold a refundable house deposit
from you, in case you damage the property in any way. This deposit is refunded after your return to the
UK and extras costs are settled. The amount varies from £200 to several hundred pounds.
Accommodation and Pools
A twin bedroom means two single beds. A double bedroom has a double bed. A full bathroom has bath with
shower over, basin and W.C. A shower room has a shower instead of a bath, basin and W.C.
All properties have a kitchen and living room. Where pool sizes are shown, for irregular shapes
the maximum is shown.
Air-conditioning and Pool Heating
These facilities are available in some of our villas and there may be an extra charge for these
depending on the villa. The price varies for each villa, please see individual villa descriptions.
Villa Heating - Portugal
During the October - April months, many villas and some apartments in Portugal are priced excluding
electricity and gas usage. These villas are usually equipped with meters and charges are made
according to consumption. These costs are often settled on return to the UK and there may be an
additional deposit required for this.
Satellite Television
Where satellite television is advertised this may mean BBC and/or ITV and in some properties Sky TV, however in some properties only a very limited selection of
satellite services are available. We cannot guarantee the precise channels as these services change from time to time and we do not monitor changes. If you ask us to clarify which services are supplied at a particular property we can usually find out.
Telephones
If your villa has a telephone you may use this after payment of a telephone deposit.
Your calls are metered and charged according to usage at the rate for that villa. These costs may
be settled locally, or on return to the UK as individually agreed.
Villa check-in and check-out times
On your first day, your villa or apartment is ready for your arrival at some time between 2.00pm and
4.00pm (depending on the villa) or later by arrangement. Let us know your expected arrival time so we
can plan to minimise any delay to your check-in. On your departure day your villa checkout time is
10.00am unless otherwise arranged with our local agent or house manager. We always try to arrange
check-in and check-out times to suit our customer's flight times but cannot guarantee times outside the
normal.
Changes to your accommodation
We always inform you of any changes that may have taken place since descriptions were written/checked,
or since you made your booking, just as soon as we are made aware. Holidays are planned well in
advance, and there may be times when our villa owners alter or temporarily withdraw services or
advertised facilities, without prior warning to us.
Building Work
In most resorts, in all countries, there is new building work taking place. We take steps to monitor this and advise you if any building work affects your villa, apartment or hotel. Should we consider that a neighbouring building plot or plots would seriously affect your property with either noise or dust polltion or both, then we will use our best endeavours to find an alternative property for you under the terms of our booking conditions as stated in Section 7, or offer you a refund.
Where roadwork's or public works occur at short notice or without notice, and which are outside of our control, we cannot be held liable for any inconvenience to you, but will act to seek recompense from the property owner to compensate you, and when this is agreed, pay this to you on behalf of the property owner.
Staff
A maid cleaning service is included in all of our properties. The service will always include: clean
bed-linen on arrival and a full change at least once weekly; clean bathroom towels, and a full change
twice weekly. The frequency of cleaning varies according to the property. Additional cleaning is
normally available on request for a small charge. Pool and beach towels are usually excluded.
Personal Health
Please tell us at the time of booking about any medical condition or infirmity of any member of your
party that might be relevant to your holiday.
Passports
A full ten-year passport is required for travel to countries in our programme. Children require their
own passports. For further information please contact your nearest passport office.
Insurance
Members of your party must be adequately insured. Sun-hat can recommend insurance companies with
competitive rates. Crimes against people and property are a reality abroad, as they are in the UK, so
we advise you to be vigilant whilst on holiday. Should you lose any property whilst abroad, you will
need to obtain a police report for any insurance claim you make.
People in your booking
Should you wish to accommodate more people in the villa or apartment than the number booked, you should
notify us in advance. There is usually no extra charge except when you need an extra bed.
Children
Children's high chairs and cots are usually available at a weekly charge, and should be ordered at the
time of booking. The very young should be supervised, as there are always risks.
Cancellations
The charges, should you cancel your holiday, are listed in clause no 6 of our
booking conditions. Should you be forced to cancel for reasons
covered by insurance, cancellation charges may be reclaimable from your insurance company. We always
recommend you take out insurance at the time of booking.
