1. Terms & Conditions
These terms govern every booking made with Verdessa Stays ("Verdessa Stays", "we", "us"), reachable at hello@verdessastays.com. By confirming a booking you ("the guest") accept these terms on behalf of every member of your party.
Booking & eligibility
- A confirmed booking is a binding contract between the guest and Verdessa Stays.
- The lead guest must be 18 years or older and is responsible for all guests in the party.
- The guest count on the booking is the maximum occupancy — additional guests are not permitted without prior written approval.
House rules
- No smoking indoors. Smoking is permitted outside only.
- No pets.
- No parties, events or gatherings beyond the registered guests.
- Respect neighbours — quiet hours apply between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
- Property-specific rules in the welcome guide form part of these terms.
Damages & security deposit
- The guest is liable for any damage to the property or its contents beyond fair wear and tear.
- A refundable security deposit may apply depending on the property. The amount is confirmed at the time of booking.
- Deposits are released within 7 days of checkout, less any verified damages, missing items or excessive cleaning.
Liability
Verdessa Stays is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for personal injury, illness or loss of property caused by guest negligence, third parties, or events outside our reasonable control. Guests are strongly encouraged to take out comprehensive travel insurance.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
2. Cancellation & Refund Policy
Free cancellation up to 10 days before arrival. Bookings cancelled within 10 days of check-in are non-refundable. We strongly recommend that guests take out travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances.
Date changes
Requests to change dates are considered at the host's sole discretion, are subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. Any rate difference between the original and new dates is payable by the guest.
Host-initiated cancellation
In the rare event that Verdessa Stays must cancel a booking (including force majeure or the property becoming unavailable), the guest will be offered either a comparable alternative property or a full refund of all amounts paid. Refunds are processed via Payfast and typically reflect within 5–10 business days.
Security deposit
Where a security deposit has been collected, it is refunded within 7 days of checkout, less any verified damages or missing items.
How refunds are processed
All refunds (where applicable) are issued back to the original payment method via Payfast. Verdessa Stays does not issue cash refunds.
3. Privacy Policy
Verdessa Stays is committed to protecting guest privacy in accordance with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
What we collect
- Name, email address and phone number
- Billing details and booking history
- Any communication you send us (enquiries, support messages)
- Basic technical data (IP address, browser) for security and analytics
Why we collect it
- To process and confirm bookings
- To send check-in instructions and operational messages
- To comply with legal, tax and accounting obligations
- To improve our service
Third-party processors
We share the minimum necessary data with the following trusted processors:
- Payfast — payment processing
- PriceLabs — dynamic pricing
- Resend — transactional email delivery
- Supabase — secure database and file storage
We do not sell guest data, and we do not send marketing messages without explicit consent.
Data retention
We retain booking and billing records for as long as required for legal and tax purposes (typically 5 years), after which data is deleted or anonymised.
Your rights
You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information at any time by emailing hello@verdessastays.com. You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
5. Check-in & Booking Modifications
Standard times
- Check-in: after 3:00 PM on the arrival day
- Check-out: before 10:00 AM on the departure day
How you receive check-in details
Approximately 48 hours before arrival, the lead guest receives an email and WhatsApp message containing the property address, lockbox code (where applicable), WiFi details, parking information, and direct host contact.
Most properties offer self check-in via a lockbox, so guests can arrive on their own schedule after 3:00 PM.
Early check-in / late check-out
Requests can be made in advance and are subject to availability. A fee may apply.
Date change requests
Email hello@verdessastays.com as early as possible. Changes are accommodated where possible but are not guaranteed, and any rate difference is payable by the guest. Note that bookings cancelled within 10 days of check-in are non-refundable (see Cancellation Policy above).
Issues during your stay
If anything is not as expected, please contact your host immediately via the WhatsApp number provided so we have the opportunity to resolve it in real time.