Policies
Avalon, the Inn on Cuttyhunk - Policies and General Information
We want our guests feel at home. Please review this information and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Minimum Stay Requirements:
The Avalon has a two-night minimum stay for all guests - both single room occupants as well as whole house rentals (rooms 1-7).
For all holidays, there is a three-night minimum required (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Columbus Day weekends).
Cancellation and Payment policy:
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Payment must be received in full prior to arrival at the Avalon. We accept major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover through Paypal.
All reservations must be secured by a deposit of 50% of the total amount due. We accept reservations all year long, based on availability. Deposits are taken at time of booking. Reservations will not be secure until deposit payment is received. Total balance is due thirty days prior to arrival. Reservations made within thirty days of a scheduled stay require immediate full payment. Deposit may be paid via Paypal with personal credit card (no Paypal account required), and the payment process may be accessed via a link from our website: www.avaloncuttyhunk.com, by clicking on "contact" and then “rental payments”. Deposits are not carried over from one year to another.
Up until ninety days from the time of your stay, you may cancel or change your reservation (though a change fee may apply - see below). For cancellations more than 90 days prior to arrival, we can either hold your deposit for a future stay at the Avalon within the calendar year, or arrange for a refund of your deposit minus a 30% fee. If cancellations or date changes occur within the required 90 day period, regardless of the reason for the cancellation deposits will not be refunded or held for a future stay unless we are able to re-book the original reservation in its entirety.
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Please understand that our reservations and deposits policies have proven necessary for us to remain in business. Cuttyhunk Island is a remote destination and most people have to plan well in advance to make the trip, so careful advance scheduling becomes critical.
Arrival day cancellations, no shows, and/or early departures must still be paid for in full unless we are able to re-book the entire reservation. However, if the MV Cuttyhunk, our island ferry, is not running due to weather or mechanical problems, we will issue a pro-rated refund.
An email to info@avaloncuttyhunk.com ninety or more days prior to arrival may serve as a written cancellation notice.
Check-in/Check-out Times:
Our check-in time is 1:30 PM.
Our check-out time 10:00 AM (from bedrooms)
Because of the ferry schedule, there may be times when we will have incoming and outgoing guests on the property at the same time.
We welcome our outgoing guests to enjoy the first floor common areas until their departure. Incoming guests who arrive early will be invited to enjoy these same areas until we have their bedrooms ready for check in.
We ask that you let us know how and when you plan to arrive on island so we know when to expect you and so our hosts know where and when to pick you up. If you have a golf cart reserved this will enable us to have it waiting for you at the right place and time. All private boaters MUST rent a cart for at least their arrival day; the cart will be left for your arrival at the marina - you will meet our hosts at the Avalon.
Check-in/Check-out for Extended Stay Guests: (minimum: whole house rental for six nights and seven days).
The Avalon will be ready for you and your guests to check in as early as 10 AM. Our extended stay Guests will have immediate and exclusive access to the entire house including bedrooms.
On your departure day we ask that you vacate the bedrooms by 10 AM so our staff can begin to clean the bedrooms and the upper level of the house. For our Extended Stay Guests, there will be no incoming guests on your departure day; therefore you will have exclusive use of the lower level of the house until your departure.
Room Layout and Maximum Occupancy:
Our fire safety code allows sleeping only in beds located in the Avalon bedrooms. No tents are allowed on the lawn or in the house nor can we allow air mattresses of any kind. Pak-n-plays are welcome and need to be discussed at time of booking.
The following layout description will help you to plan which guests you will place in which rooms in order to ensure that all guests are comfortable. We also have two twin cots available for $25 per cot per night - but they must be part of your reservation prior to arrival (if they are used without discussing with the hosts or reservationist, we'll need to charge an extra fee).
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All bedrooms can accommodate at least one cot.
Room #1; "Maids Quarters": accommodates two people
(one king size bed; uses one of the two shared baths downstairs)
Room #2; "Linen Closet": accommodates two people
(two twin-size beds; uses one of the two shared baths downstairs)
Room #3; "Doubles Room": accommodates four people
(two double beds, has a half bath (toilet and sink), uses one of the two shared baths downstairs)
Room #4; "Master Bedroom": accommodates two people
(one king bed, private full bath, handheld shower)
Room #5; "Balcony Room": accommodates two people
(one queen bed, private full bath)
Room #6; "Library": accommodates two/four people
(two twin beds, private full bath) this room also has 2 extra twin beds that can be added for a fee of $25 per twin per night when renting as a SINGLE ROOM, all 4 twins come with a WHOLE HOUSE rental.
Room #7; "Four Poster Room": accommodates two people
(one queen bed, private full bath)
Cleaning fee for whole house rentals:
For guests booking a 5-7 day whole house rental there is a cleaning fee of $250 that will be added to your reservation total.
For guests booking a whole house weekend or 3-4 night stay there is a cleaning fee of $150 that will be added to your reservation total.
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Cleaning fee for single room rentals:
For guests booking a single room there will be a clean fee of $25 per room per stay up to 3 nights.
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Dog Policy:
Guests at the Avalon are welcome to bring their dog(s) with them during WHOLE HOUSE RENTAL ONLY. There is a fee of $100.00 per stay, per dog. For large dogs that have extra hair we do charge $200 per dog.
We hold all pet owners financially responsible for any and all pet stains/damage to the Inn premises/property. To minimize the chances of such damage, the following house rules apply.
Dogs must be trained and well-behaved. As a courtesy to our neighbors, we cannot tolerate barking or howling dogs inside or outside the Inn. Please be respectful of the other guests in the house if you are a single-room renter.
If it is determined that your guest room or the public areas of the Inn, or any personal property belonging to the Inn, has sustained damage or loss because of your animal's behavior, we reserve the right to charge you for the full amount of the loss or the cost of repairing or cleaning the damage.
Dogs are not permitted on any furniture, including beds, sofas and daybeds. Dog beds are available; please ask housekeeping.
Guests with dogs are asked to be in the company of their dogs at all times. Dogs are at no time to be left in rooms alone, tied to the porches, or allowed to roam Cuttyhunk on their own. Cuttyhunk has and enforces a leash law.
All dogs must be fitted with a flea/tick collar while at the Avalon.
Please note there are NO VETERINARIAN services on the island.
Smoking and Smoke Alarms:
The Avalon is a smoke-free environment. There is no smoking allowed anywhere inside the house or on the porches. (as well as no open flames, candles, etc., due to fire hazard)
The Avalon has a smoke and carbon monoxide detector system. In compliance with the Massachusetts State Board of Building Regulations and Standards (780 CMR), Chapter 9: Fire Protection Systems, subsection 901.3 … “No person shall shut off, disconnect, obstruct, remove or destroy… any part of any …device used for fire protection or carbon monoxide detection and alarm in any building”.
Laundry:
The Avalon has a washer and dryer. We ask that prior to using the machines, you contact the hosts, to ensure the machines are available for guest use. The staff will also provide you with instructions on their use.
Common Refrigerator and Kitchen:
The refrigerators and kitchen are available for use by our guests. Please be courteous and thoughtful of your fellow house-guests. The Avalon has a well-equipped kitchen; you should find all the pots, pans, utensils, and small appliances needed for meal preparation. (There are also a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer, coffee makers, toaster, waffle iron, blender, etc.) Our 1909 pantry is stocked with a comprehensive set of tableware, flatware, glassware, and serving platters and bowls.
Use of Common Areas:
Common areas are intended for the enjoyment and comfort of all our guests. When the house is rented to more than one group, we ask that visiting, non-resident guests be kept to a minimum, so that Avalon guests do not find themselves inconvenienced.
When the entire house is being rented to one group, the house and grounds are kept solely for their use.
At times, the Avalon does rent the house and the lawn for events for which policies and fees are tailored specifically.
Damage/Theft:
Missing guest room items, or damage to rooms and/or furnishings above and beyond normal usage, will result in charges being added to guest bill up to and including full replacement value of the item(s).
This includes damage caused by guests' children and dogs, as well as by non-resident guests visiting renters.