Terms & Conditions

Booking Agreement

A reservation is confirmed only after Stripe verifies the required payment through our secure checkout. We then send written confirmation by email. After booking, we email the primary guest a separate link to e-sign the rental agreement; the agreement must be signed before check-in. By making a reservation, the primary guest (the person whose name appears on the booking) agrees to these Terms & Conditions on behalf of all members of their party.

The primary guest must be at least 30 years of age at the time of check-in. All stays are limited to families and responsible adult groups only. No sororities, fraternities, or non-chaperoned groups are permitted.

The maximum occupancy for Woodland Chalet is 20 guests. It is the figure on our Garrett County license and counts everyone at the property, day visitors included. Everyone staying overnight should be on the roster you give us when you sign the rental agreement; if your party changes, tell us and we will update it.

Payment Terms

Deposit & Balance

If your check-in date is more than 35 days away, a deposit of 30% of the booking total is charged at the time of booking, and the remaining balance is due 35 days before your arrival, which is before the last day you may cancel for a refund under the policy below. Keeping the booking card on file does not by itself authorize a balance charge. If the rental agreement you sign carries the separate balance-autopay consent naming that card, amount and date, and those details still match the booking, we email an itemized notice 5 days before making that one scheduled charge. Otherwise we send a secure payment link for the balance. You may also reply before the due date to pay another way; once the payment link is paid, nothing is charged to the card on file for the balance. If an authorized scheduled charge is declined, we email a payment link and may retry the same card twice over the following four days. A balance still unpaid 7 days after its due date lets us cancel the reservation, re-list the dates and retain the deposit. If your check-in date is 35 days away or less, the full booking total is charged at the time of booking. If a balance remains unpaid at check-in, we may cancel the reservation and retain the deposit.

Rental Agreement & E-Signature

After your booking payment, we email a link to e-sign the rental agreement. The signed agreement is a requirement for check-in: door codes and check-in instructions are sent only once it is signed. If the agreement remains unsigned at check-in, we may treat the booking as a guest cancellation without refund.

Accepted Payment Methods

We accept major credit and debit cards, processed securely by Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor. We never see or store your full card number. For direct bookings, as a condition of booking, the card you pay with is kept securely on file with Stripe, the way a hotel keeps a card on file. Storage alone does not authorize a later charge. Any later use is limited by the rental agreement you sign: one balance charge only under the separate balance-autopay consent naming the card, amount and date; or the documented actual cost of damage and the holdover charges described under Property Damage below, under their separate authorization. We never charge a flat or estimated damage amount, and the agreement preserves the stated ways to pay another way instead.

Taxes & Fees

Every quote is itemized before you pay. Your total includes:

• Nightly rental rate for your dates
• One-time cleaning fee
• Maryland sales and use tax (6%)
• Garrett County hotel rental tax (8%)

Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans can change. The following cancellation policy applies to direct reservations made on or after August 18, 2026. Reservations made before that date keep the cancellation terms in effect when they were made, and reservations made through Airbnb or another booking channel follow that channel's cancellation policy.

A cancellation request must be sent to us in writing (email to the address on your booking confirmation). The date we receive your written request, not the date you decide, determines which tier below applies.

31 Days or More Before Check-In

Cancel 31 days or more before check-in and we refund everything you have paid, less non-recoverable payment-processing costs (approximately 3%).

30 Days or Fewer Before Check-In

If we receive your written cancellation request 30 days or fewer before check-in, no refund is given. No-shows are treated the same way.

On or After the Check-In Date

No refunds are given for any reason on or after the check-in date, including early departure, eviction for violation of the rental agreement or House Rules, or dissatisfaction with the property. Refunds, where due, are issued to the payment method used for the booking.

Re-Booking Refund

If we are able to re-book nights you cancelled, we may, at our discretion, refund the rental value of the re-booked nights (less processing costs and any rate difference).

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your trip; it is your protection for illness, weather, and plans changing inside the non-refundable window, which begins 30 days before check-in. We do not sell or resell travel insurance; purchase it directly from an insurer of your choice.

Check-In & Check-Out

Check-In

Check-in time is 4:00 PM. Once the rental agreement is signed, check-in instructions, door codes, WiFi details, and your guest-app link are sent before arrival; the guest app goes live at check-in. Early check-in is not available at this property at any time of year. Preparing an 8-bedroom house between stays takes the full turnaround, so nobody can be admitted before 4:00 PM.

Check-Out

Check-out time is 10:00 AM. Late check-out is not available at this property at any time of year, for the same reason: cleaning and servicing for the next guests begins at the standard 10:00 AM departure. A party that stays past check-out without our written agreement owes the holdover charges in the rental agreement (150% of the average nightly rent for each day or part of a day, plus the documented losses the holdover causes), documented and emailed first, and chargeable to the card on file under Property Damage below.

Check-Out Responsibilities

Guests are expected to leave the property in a reasonable condition at check-out:

• Remove all personal belongings
• Place all trash in the designated garbage area
• Load and start the dishwasher
• Turn off all lights, fans, and electronics
• Close and lock all windows and doors
• Return any moved furniture to its original position

Minimum Stay Requirements

Minimum stays are set by arrival date:

• Summer arrivals: the nine Sunday-to-Sunday weeks running from mid-June to mid-August, as shown on the booking calendar. Whole weeks of 7 or 14 nights, with check-in and check-out both on a Sunday
• All other dates, holidays included: 3-night minimum, any arrival day, provided the stay does not overlap a summer week; a stay may end the day the first summer week begins, or start once the last summer week has checked out
• Maximum stay: 14 nights; contact us for longer stays

Current minimum stays and live availability are shown on the Rates & Availability page. Open dates that follow these rules can be selected, priced and booked securely online.

Property Damage

No refundable security deposit is collected for direct bookings, and no damage-waiver fee is added; your quote is what you pay. Instead, like a hotel, we keep the card used for your booking payment securely on file as a condition of booking, chargeable only as described below.

Damage Responsibility

Guests are responsible for any damage to the property, furnishings, fixtures, appliances, or equipment caused during their stay beyond normal wear and tear. Damage costs are always limited to the documented actual cost of repair or replacement (photographs plus invoices or estimates), never a flat amount. We email the itemized documentation to the primary guest before any charge to the card on file, and any damage cost may instead be paid by another method on request, in accordance with the signed rental agreement. The same card on file, the same itemized email first and the same choice to pay another way apply to the holdover charges in the rental agreement if a party stays past the 10:00 AM check-out: holdover rent of 150% of the average nightly rent for each day or part of a day, plus the documented losses the holdover causes (housing or refunding the incoming party, extra cleaning). House Rules surcharges (such as the pet-evidence and smoking-evidence fees) are invoiced separately and are never charged to the card on file.

Reporting Damage

If you notice pre-existing damage on arrival, or if accidental damage occurs during your stay, notify us promptly at woodlandchaletdcl@gmail.com. You will not be charged for pre-existing damage that is promptly reported.

Liability Limitations

Guests use the property and all amenities, including but not limited to the indoor pool, hot tubs, fireplaces, game room, deck areas, dock slip, and lake access, at their own risk. Almost Heaven Escapes, its owners, agents, and representatives shall not be held liable for:

• Personal injury, illness, or death of any guest or visitor
• Loss, theft, or damage to personal property
• Interruptions to utilities, internet, cable, or water service
• Malfunctions of appliances, hot tubs, pool equipment, or HVAC systems
• Acts of nature, wildlife encounters, or weather-related issues
• Conditions at the lake access area or dock slip, which are community-maintained and not owned by the property owner

There is no lifeguard on duty at the pool or hot tubs; all swimming and hot tub use is at your own risk. Guests assume all risk associated with use of the property, including the walk to the lake, and are responsible for the supervision of all members of their party, including children.

The limitations above apply to the maximum extent permitted by law and do not apply to the extent any loss is caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct. Nothing in these terms limits rights that cannot be limited under Maryland law.

Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform obligations under this agreement due to events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, severe weather, government actions, travel bans, pandemics, utility failures, or other acts of God.

In a force majeure event we will work with you in good faith; remedies may include rescheduling, a credit for a future stay, or a partial or full refund, evaluated case by case.

House Rules

All guests must comply with our House Rules during their stay. A serious or uncorrected violation of the House Rules may result in termination of the rental without refund; for a minor or first problem we will ordinarily ask you to put it right. Key rules include:

• No pets
• No smoking indoors
• No parties or events
• Primary guest must be at least 30 years old
• Families and responsible adult groups only
• Maximum occupancy: 20 guests

Please review the full House Rules page before your arrival.

Security Cameras

Exterior security cameras operate at the property: a doorbell camera at the front entrance, a spotlight camera at the trash-can area (wildlife deterrence), a driveway camera, and two cameras facing the woods behind the house (one on each side). All cameras record exterior areas only, and the doorbell camera may also capture audio at the front entrance. No camera can view the outdoor hot tubs, the indoor pool, or the interior of the home, and there are no cameras inside the house.

Recordings are used for property security, guest safety, wildlife deterrence, and verification of compliance with the occupancy and event rules. By booking, the primary guest consents to this recording on behalf of all members of their party. Please do not disable, cover, or reposition the cameras. See our Privacy Policy for how recordings are handled.

Nature of Your Stay

Your booking is a license to occupy the property for a short-term vacation stay. It is not a lease and does not create a tenancy, and no landlord–tenant relationship is formed. Guests acquire no rights of occupancy beyond the booked dates, and the booking may not be assigned, transferred, or sublet.

Right of Entry

We (or our service providers) may enter the property during your stay for emergencies at any time, and for necessary repairs, maintenance, or safety inspections with reasonable notice.

Indemnification

The primary guest agrees to indemnify and hold us harmless from claims, damages, and reasonable costs arising from their party's use of the property in violation of these terms or applicable law, except to the extent caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Severability & Entire Agreement

If any provision of these terms is found unenforceable, the remainder stays in effect. These Terms & Conditions, together with the House Rules and your booking confirmation, form the entire agreement for your stay.

Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms & Conditions or your stay at the property, both parties agree to first attempt to resolve the matter through good-faith negotiation by contacting woodlandchaletdcl@gmail.com.

If the dispute cannot be resolved through direct negotiation within 30 days, either party may pursue mediation through a mutually agreed-upon mediator in Garrett County, Maryland. If mediation is unsuccessful, either party may pursue legal remedies in the courts of Garrett County, Maryland.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the property owner reserves the right to pursue immediate legal action for property damage, unpaid balances, or violations of these Terms & Conditions.

Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms & Conditions at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Terms in effect at the time of your booking will apply to your reservation.