Holiday cottages in the Isle of Man

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Customer FAQ's

Thinking of coming and staying with us? Have a few questions? We have provided a list of some of our frequently asked questions below.

I am thinking of making a booking with Island Escapes, can you tell me your cancellation policy?

We have tried to make our cancellation policy as flexible as possible, meaning you may alter your booking at any point up until 42 days (6 weeks) before staying with us. Please view our full Terms & Conditions to find out more about all our policies.

You recommend guests take out travel insurance. Where can I buy this?

Travel insurance can be purchased online quickly and easily through many providers. Island Escapes has partnered up with local insurance broker Cherry Godfrey Insurance Services who can offer our customers a quote for insurance .Find out more.

What happens if the Government imposes new rules that prevent us travelling to the island, for example like during the pandemic?

In the event of travel restrictions imposed by the Government we will be happy to move your booking to alternative dates, offer you a credit note (to be used within 12 months of original booking) or take a full refund less a £40 booking fee to cover administration costs. If you choose to cancel your booking, and there are no travel restrictions then you will not be entitled to a refund, but can claim a credit note up to 42 days before travelling.  

What happens if I test positive for Covid-19 before travelling and have to cancel my holiday. 

If there are no legal restrictions preventing you from travelling to the island then this will be treated as any other illness or cancellation and any amends will not be possible due to last minute cancellation. We always recommend customers have relevant travel insurance in place.

Will I receive medical care on the Isle of Man if I fall ill? 

As part of a reciprocal healthcare agreement, UK residents visiting the Isle of Man will receive free NHS treatment if they become ill whilst in the Isle of Man, apart from statutory charges which Isle of Man residents have to pay, such as prescription charges. Please note that repatriation costs to the UK would not be covered, and we recommend guests take out travel insurance.  

If I need to access health care whilst on the Isle of Man what do I do?

To help visitors understand the healthcare choices available to support you during their stay on the Island, Manx Care have produced a useful link that highlights the breadth of places that people can get support from, including the Minor Illnesses and Injuries Unit (MIU) at Ramsey Cottage Hospital, the Manx Emergency Doctor Service (MEDS), GPs and the network of Community Pharmacies. This can be accessed via this URL: https://www.gov.im/signposting. The signposting of services brochure also includes information on access to medical services for both UK residents and visitor from overseas.

Do you provide bed linen and towels?

Yes, all properties have bath towels, hand towels and bed linen. It is a good idea to bring beach towels with you if you would like them. 

Do you provide baby equipment?

Some of our properties have their own cots and high chairs, at other properties you can hire them from us and add them to your booking, we'll then ensure they are delivered to the property. At some properties it is not possible to provide baby equipment. Please check the individual property page for more information. Stair gates are generally not available unless advertised on the individual property listing.

Do you provide a welcome pack?

At most of our properties we like to provide a small welcome pack of local produce to get you started after your journey. We do not guarantee the contents of the welcome pack as this may vary across our property range.

Do you provide essentials, toiletries etc?

The house or apartment will be fully equipped with everything you might need for when you arrive, for example one or two toilet rolls are initially provided together with handwash and washing up liquid but as its a self catering property you'll need to stock up on the essentials for your trip.

Can I check in early or check out late?

Check in is typically from 16:00. If the property is available to check in earlier, we will let you know by phone or text on the day of your arrival. Check out is strictly by 10:00 on the day of your departure unless otherwise advised due to the logistical processes involved between bookings. We are sorry that we are unable to facilitate late check outs, but if you are visiting the island you may be able to leave your luggage at either the property or our office should you have a late flight or ferry, please contact us to arrange.

What are your check in days?

At most of our properties we have flexible check in days, not everyone wants to travel at weekends and we prefer to have all our properties checking in and out on different days of the week for logistical reasons. This means that we do not operate a Saturday - Saturday policy and welcome mid week check ins at most properties!

Why can't I stay for one night?

Unlike a hotel room, between guests an entire property is deep cleaned which includes all the rooms, this takes time and also a significant fixed cost. This cost is the same if a guest stays for one night or a week. We pass this cost onto our guest, but spread through the course of a few nights it is easily absorbed. If someone was to stay for one night they would need to pay more just to cover this changeover cost just to make it commercially viable. The stay would also be very short, because the property wouldn’t be ready til late afternoon, and we’d need guests to promptly check out at 10am.

Because of those reasons a one night stay would end up being very expensive for what wouldn’t even be 24 hours at the property. We’d hate customers to feel rushed and our experience shows that customers who stay for a few days enjoy it the most and settle into their holiday.

Can you guarantee the properties are safe to let? 

Each of our properties is fully registered by Visit Isle of Man each year. Registration of all visitor accommodation is a legal requirement on the Isle of Man under the Tourist Act 1975. As part of this it means that the owners have agreed to comply with the standards set by the Isle of Man Government. In addition Island Escapes ensures each of our owners complete a regular Health and Safety assessment for their property and our own team conduct regular spot checks. 

Why do your prices vary each night?

Prices fluctuate with demand and supply. Our booking software is linked to live market data which means our nightly prices will vary throughout the year across all our properties.

How far in advance do you take bookings?

We will take bookings 18 months in advance on a rolling basis. We are unable to take bookings any further in advance of that.

I have left lost property behind, what can I do?

All of your private property must be taken with you when vacating the holiday rental. Whilst Island Escapes cannot guarantee the return of lost property following departure, if you do contact us we'll try and get it back to you if we can! Please contact us as soon as possible if you think you have left something behind. It will be free to collect from our office in Castletown in person, but if you do wish us to post it back to you there will be a minimum charge of £30 applied. We will post back using standard postage. We have had to apply this charge due to the sheer volume of lost property left behind and to go part of the way to covering some of the costs and time incurred with trying to reunite it with its owner.  

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to get in touch.

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