Terms & Conditions

By requesting a booking and/or making any payment, you confirm you have read, understood, and accepted these terms on behalf of yourself and everyone in your party.

Definitions

In these terms, "we," "us," and "the owner" mean Villa Esmeralda Aruba and anyone we authorise to manage, service, or represent the property. "You," "guest," and "your party" mean the person named on the booking and every person they allow onto the property. "Booking" (or "reservation") means a confirmed stay at the property. These terms are binding on every member of your party, whether or not each person has personally read them — the lead guest is responsible for making sure everyone follows them.

Payment & Cancellation Policy

Choose your rate at booking

Every reservation is booked under one of two rate options, which you select and agree to at checkout. The option you choose determines both your price and what happens if you cancel:

• Non‑Refundable Rate — our lowest price. If you cancel, no refund of amounts paid, at any time.
• Flexible Rate — a higher nightly rate. If you cancel, a partial or full refund of amounts paid, according to the cancellation schedule shown at checkout and confirmed on your booking.

Your cancellation rights are governed by the rate you selected and agreed to at the time of booking. The exact refund schedule that applies to your reservation is displayed to you before you pay and is recorded on your booking confirmation. Nothing on this page overrides the specific policy attached to your booking.

Non‑refundable booking fee

A non‑refundable booking fee applies to every reservation, regardless of the rate you choose. The amount is shown to you at checkout and recorded on your booking confirmation. This fee is charged when you book and is never refunded on a guest cancellation — including under the Flexible Rate. It is only refunded if we cancel your stay (see Owner Cancellation Rights below). The booking fee secures your dates and reserves our time; please be sure of your plans before you book.

How payment works

Your booking is paid in scheduled installments — a deposit when you book, with the balance split into further payments as your arrival date approaches. The exact schedule and amounts are shown to you at checkout before you pay and recorded on your booking confirmation, since they depend on your rate, the season, and how far ahead you book. Bookings made close to arrival are payable in full at the time of booking.

Failure to complete payments by the due dates may result in cancellation, with refunds (if any) determined solely by the rate you booked.

How refunds work

The refund you're entitled to depends on the rate you choose, and the exact schedule is shown to you at checkout before you pay — and recorded on your booking confirmation — so the precise terms for your booking always live in one place.

In short: the Non‑Refundable Rate returns nothing once paid; the Flexible Rate returns part or all of what you've paid (excluding the booking fee) on a sliding scale, with less returned the closer you cancel to arrival. No refund is given for late arrivals, early departures, or unused nights under either rate. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect against unforeseen events.

All cancellation and change requests must be made in writing, by the lead guest, by email.

Reservation Terms

Maximum occupancy is 12 guests (children aged 3 and over count toward this limit; children under 3 do not). The number of guests confirmed on your booking is the number permitted to stay. The lead guest must be 18 or older and must be staying at the property for the duration of the booking. The lead guest is responsible for all members of the party and their conduct.

If more people stay than were declared on the booking, or the property is otherwise over‑occupied, we may cancel the stay without refund and require everyone to leave. Please book for your full party.

Check‑in & Check‑out

Check‑in from 4:00 PM. Check‑out by 10:00 AM. Early check‑in or late check‑out is available for USD 125 each, subject to availability and confirmed close to your arrival date. Any change to arrival or departure times must be agreed with us in writing at least 24 hours in advance.

Unauthorized late check‑out: USD 500 charge or an additional night fee.

House Rules

Noise. Quiet hours 11:00 PM – 8:00 AM. Please respect our neighbours.

Smoking. No smoking inside. Outdoor areas only, with doors and windows closed. If there is any evidence of smoking indoors, a USD 500 fee applies, plus any additional cleaning or deodorizing costs for carpets, furniture, and furnishings.

Pets. Prior approval required. USD 250 / pet / stay (max 3). Unauthorized pets: USD 500. Guests must clean up after their pets, indoors and out. Pets are never allowed in the pool.

Events. Written approval required. Unauthorized events result in immediate termination of the stay.

Parking. 2 private spaces, free.

Damage Deposit

A USD 500 damage deposit is pre‑authorised 7 days before arrival and released after check‑out provided there is no damage and the property is left in good condition. This is separate from the booking fee and your rate payments.

Any damage, loss, or extra cleaning that exceeds the deposit — and any costs not covered by it — will be charged to the payment method on file. Linens and towels are counted before and after each stay; missing or stained items, and stains or damage to furniture, walls, or carpets, may be charged. If the property is left needing excessive cleaning (for example un‑bagged trash, leftover food, or belongings left behind), an additional cleaning fee may apply.

Items Left Behind

If you leave personal items behind and would like them returned, we're happy to help — a USD 15 handling fee plus shipping costs apply. We can't accept responsibility for loss or damage during shipping.

Fees & Taxes

All fees and Aruba tourist tax (12.5%) are included in the quoted price. The non‑refundable booking fee and any optional add‑ons (early/late check‑in, pets) are shown separately at checkout. No hidden fees.

Date Changes

One date change may be permitted prior to your final payment deadline, subject to availability and any rate difference. The non‑refundable booking fee is not returned or credited on a date change.

Property Access & Maintenance

The pool is serviced twice per week, and the grounds are maintained regularly. To keep everything running safely, we and our authorised contractors may access the exterior of the property during your stay for pool service, landscaping, pest control, inspections, and repairs. Except in an emergency, or where immediate access is needed to protect people or property or to meet legal requirements, we will not enter the interior of the home without giving you notice first. We'll always do our best to keep any disruption to a minimum, and no compensation is due for routine scheduled maintenance.

Property Description

Our descriptions, photos, and listings are provided in good faith and kept as accurate as we can. Minor variations do not entitle you to a refund, and we accept no liability for occasional errors or omissions.

Pool & Safety

The pool is a wonderful part of Villa Esmeralda — please enjoy it responsibly. There is no lifeguard on duty, and use of the pool and the property is entirely at your own risk. No diving, horseplay, or running in the pool area. Children and anyone who is not a strong swimmer must be supervised by a capable adult at all times. Children under 18 must never be left unsupervised at the property. Please report any issue with pool safety equipment to us immediately.

Cleaning, Pests & Food Care

Aruba's climate means uncovered food attracts insects quickly. Please keep food covered and dispose of trash properly. Any pest‑control costs that arise from food being left uncovered or trash being left out may be passed on to you. If you ever notice a maintenance or pest issue, tell us within 24 hours so we can put it right.

Security & Responsibility

Guests are responsible for securing the property during their stay. We are not liable for lost or stolen items — if something is lost or stolen, please notify the local authorities first and then let us know. Baby equipment, games, BBQ, and appliances are all used at your own risk.

Liability & Force Majeure

Villa Esmeralda Aruba, its owner, and its representatives accept no liability for personal injury, illness, accident, or loss or damage to personal belongings or vehicles during or after your stay, except where the law does not allow this to be excluded.

We are not liable for events beyond our reasonable control — including weather, hurricanes, floods, fire, pandemics, civil disturbance, airline delays or cancellations, or travel restrictions — nor for the failure of public services such as water, electricity, internet, gas, or the air‑conditioning, pool heater, or household appliances. If something stops working, please tell us within 24 hours so we can try to fix it as quickly as reasonably possible; no refund or compensation is due for temporary interruptions or for maintenance that is outside our control. Refunds in force‑majeure situations remain governed by the rate you booked. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Complaints & Disputes

If any problem arises during your stay, please contact us immediately so we can put it right — we can only help if we know. Any problem must be reported to us within 24 hours, and email is the only valid form of notice for complaints. If a problem is not reported to us within 24 hours of it arising, we cannot accept responsibility for it.

Before starting any chargeback, formal complaint, or legal action, you agree to give us at least 30 days' written notice by email and a fair opportunity to resolve the matter. In any dispute arising from your booking, the prevailing party is entitled to recover reasonable legal and administrative costs, including the cost of defending against chargebacks.

Termination

If these terms or any law are broken, or the property is used for any unlawful purpose, we may terminate the stay immediately, require everyone to leave, and forfeit payments as permitted by the rate you booked — with no compensation for unused nights. Repeated or serious breaches may also mean we decline future bookings.

Owner Cancellation Rights

In rare circumstances the owner may cancel a booking due to force majeure or necessary repairs. In such cases all payments — including the booking fee — are refunded in full.

Identity Verification

A valid ID is required within 48 hours of booking. Failure to provide it may result in cancellation, with refunds (if any) governed by the rate you booked.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by Aruban law, and both parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of Aruba.

General Provisions

If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the rest remains fully in force. If we choose not to enforce a term on one occasion, that does not waive our right to enforce it later. These terms, together with the policy attached to your booking, are the entire agreement between us and replace any earlier discussions. Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect the meaning of the terms.

Acceptance

By booking and/or making any payment, you confirm that you have read and accepted all of these terms on behalf of your whole party, that you are 18 or older, that you are responsible for all guests, and that you understand and accept the cancellation policy of the rate you selected — as displayed to you before payment and recorded on your booking confirmation. You further acknowledge that the booking fee is non‑refundable on any guest cancellation, and that these terms bind everyone in your party whether or not they have personally read them.