Scroll Down to find the answers to these Policies:
 1.    Parties 
 2.    Check-in & Check-out Times
 3.    Location
 4.    No Smoking
 5.    No Pets
 6.    Damage Deposit
 7.    Excessive Cleaning 
 8.    What is covered by the cleaning fee
 9.    Where do I get the key
10.    Arrival
11.    Departure
12.   When you Depart
13.   Payments
14.   Cancellations
15.   Age of Primary Renter     
16.   Travel Insurance Options
17.   Weather & other Circumstances
18.   Swimming Pool / Hot Tub 
19.   Yard Maintenance
20.   Under House / Parking
21.   River Safety

Policies

 1. Parties
We do allow small parties, on a case by case basis.  The house is perfect for groups of responsible adults.  Loud, disruptive, drunken, foul behavior will not be tolerated by the neighborhood or owners.  That being said, if you're idea of a good time is dancing to the oldies and enjoying a few cold ones with family and friends, this is the place for you.  If the party you are thinking of having is something the local police would be interested in or resembles anything that might be seen in a wild music video or in a realty TV show, this is not the house for you and your group.  

Before booking, please FULLY disclose what kind of gathering you want to have.  Our posted rates and your quote (unless specifically stated), is based on the stay being a Family Vacation, Golfer's Outing, multiple day business meeting, and under the right circumstances, spirituality retreat.  We have had small scale parties and this can be accommodated, at an additional charge and under the right circumstances.  

Any Party (Reception, Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Sweet 16, etc.), Involving Amplified Music or Special Sound Systems, Live entertainers, etc. are required to have a Loud Noise / Party / Music Permit, issued by the City of Gulfport Police Department.  Attendance is limited and the Rate is generally between $1000 - $5000 extra, in addition to rental rate, depending on event & number of people in attendance.  

We rarely approve these events as This is a quiet residential neighborhood, populated by mostly retirees who enjoy the tranquility of nature, being on the River and peacefulness of this neighborhood.  

We're sorry, but we can not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES accommodate Swimming Pool Parties (see Swimming Pool / Hot Tub further down in Policies).

Please fully disclose any activities out of the ordinary vacation rental experience to insure that your vacation to the Gulf Coast is booked at the right house.  We strive to accommodate each individual groups needs.  For instance, if you plan to boil crawfish, most vacation rentals would discourage or not allow this, we not only allow it (with advance notice), but will set up extra tables and seating down stairs to help facilitate it.   We do ask that no seafood (or seafood remains) are on the wooden decking. As this will incur additional charges for both pressure spraying and treating the wood.   

 2.  Check-in and Check-out times
Check-in time is no earlier than 4 PM, and check-out time is no later than 10 AM. Early check-in or check-out maybe possible during off season, with an additional fee, and by prior arrangement only.  

 3.  Location
The Great Escape River house is located in Gulfport, Mississippi, just minutes off the I-10, off exit 38.  You will be sent directions to the home after receipt of Rental Agreement and payment.  The security code to access the house, will be chosen by you at the time you sign the Rental Agreement.

 4.  No Smoking
There is NO SMOKING in The Great Escape River House.   If we find that you have smoked in one of our homes, there will be a minimum $600 fine charged. If you smoke outside, please dispose of your cigarette butts properly in the trash.   You can smoke just about anywhere outside, including one of the covered porches, as long as the doors leading to the house our closed.

 5.  No Pets
There are no pets allowed at The Great Escape River House.  There are no fences and we just can't assume the liability for someone else's pet.  Small dogs are also in jeopardy as we have many large owls in the neighborhood who have been know to carry off pets weighing as much as 15 pounds.

 6.  Damage Deposit
Although we never anticipate any damage, we do require a $600 refundable damage deposit.  This damage deposit is fully refundable within 14 days of departure provided the following:

1. NO damage is done to home, its contents, pool, hot tub, surrounding property, etc. beyond normal wear. 
2. NO charges are incurred due to contraband, pets or services rendered during the stay. 
3. All debris is placed in garbage Cans (downstairs) and all soiled dishes washed.          
4. NO artwork, pictures, or furniture is moved or damaged.  
5. All keys are returned to lock box (if applicable).  
6. All charges accrued during the stay are paid prior to departure. 
7. NO linens, bedding, towels or other household items are lost or damaged. 
8. NO Sand, grass, excessive oils, etc. has been put in the Hot Tub or Swimming Pool (be sure to rinse your feet before entering these areas)
9. The pool pump, pool liner, or hot tub, has not been damaged, by either abuse or leaving something in it (such as a plastic baggie) that could damage the pumps, filters, etc. 
10. NO damage is done to the outside furnishings due to misuse or neglect.  For instance, DO NOT put fire wood in the charcoal grill & when you are finished enjoying the pool side umbrellas, please put them down for they are not damaged by wind.
11. NO Early check-in or late check-out. Check-in is after 4 PM CST & Check-out is by 10 AM CST. 
12. The renter is not evicted by owner (or representative of owner) or the local law enforcement, 
13. The renter is responsible for any damage or excessive cleaning, not covered by Cleaning Fee.*
14. All doors and windows are left locked when Guests are not in house or have departed. 
15. NO one SMOKED inside the house. 
16. NO PETS were brought into the Vacation Rental house.
17. MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY- Based on your Rental Agreement & Occupancy List.  Including the number of over night people, daytime visitors, and car count. 
18. FALSIFIED RESERVATIONS – Any reservation obtained under false pretense will be subject to forfeiture of advance payment, deposit and/or rental money, and the group will not be permitted to check-in.
19. The renter agrees to be responsible for any damages exceeding the $600 damage deposit.

 7.  * Excessive Clean
TRASH:  If it wasn't at the house when you arrived, it needs to be removed.  Large trash cans are provided under the house; please put all trash there.  Please properly dispose of cigarette butts, plastic bags, etc.  Before departing, please double check behind your group on the grounds to make sure no cans or other debris has been left.
CHALK:  Lots of little artists come with tubs of colorful chalk and have a great time creating massive pieces of artwork.  Please be sure to hose these off before departing.  
SPECIALTY OILS:  Please do not use oils that will require extra cleaning of the tubs.  You have been provided with a "squeaky" clean tub, please don't use oils that will make it time consuming to deliver the same "squeaky" clean tub to the next guest.   This is particularly true of the Hot Tub, where these oils can damage it or "gunk" up the jets. 
CARPETING:  There are very few carpeted areas.  None in Major traffic areas.  Please take care to make sure you have either clean shoes or remove your shoes before entering these areas with dirty shoes.  This is particularly true of the small area of carpeting in the Great Room & the Master Bedroom.  When you arrive, the carpeted areas will be clean. After you depart, if necessary we do minor spot cleaning, but if it is major, there will be a charge back.    

 8.  What is Covered by the Cleaning fee:

• Freshly drained, cleaned, filled & treated Hot Tub
• Fresh Linens on beds
• Freshly laundered towels
• Clean Bathrooms
• Surface Wiped down, dust free
• Floors swept, mopped or vacuumed 

 9.  Where do I get the Key?  
On the Rental Agreement, you will have a spot to pick out your personal security door lock code.  This code will be programed into the Great Escape River House's Front Door lock, just prior to your arrival.  Please be sure to give the members of your groupy, that may arrive before or after you, this entry code.  This code will be good throughout your stay. 

10.  Arrival 
Check-in is after 4 PM.  Ideally we like to meet our guests, do a walk-through, and show our guests some the unique features of the Great Escape River House; they may not be familiar with.  It is very difficult to accommodate Check-in's prior to 4 PM.  Impossible on same day Check-in's & Check-outs.  Business meetings and other day function arrivals can secure a much earlier arrival time based on an hourly rate. 

11.  Departure 
Check-out is prior to 10 AM.  The Cleaning Staff is usually arriving around 9:50 AM.  The House takes approximately 14 man hours to prepare for the next booking and it is a very long day for the staff.  As most of our Check-Out's are on Sunday or Monday, a later checkout time, makes for a much later time home for the Cleaning staff on a Weekend night.  During the week, our staff has regularly scheduled accounts and based on our bookings, they are moving other appointments to give the Great Escape River House their full attention.  Because of this, Late Check-outs are quite disruptive.   Business meetings and other day function bookings can secure a much later Check-out time based on an hourly rate. 

12.  When you Depart

Check-out is no later than 10 AM. Before your departure, we would appreciate if you would take care of the following:

• Leave any bed slept in, unmade.  This way if there is a new member of the cleaning staff, they will see where what bedding goes with which bed. 
• Start one or both Clothes washing machines with towels. A small amount of Laundry Detergent will have been left for you.  The most time consuming thing about preparing the house for the next arriving guests, is the laundry, by starting this batch of towels, it will make it possible to launder all the bedding, towels, etc. in the 5 - 6 hours we have before the next group arrives.
• Throughout your stay, please stay up with the kitchen.  You will find a kitchen abundant in everything you could possibly need.  The Cleaning fee would double if the staff had to clean all that.  We rely on our guest to clean the utensils, serving ware & cookware they use during their stay. Please before leaving, fill the dishwasher and start the final breakfast load.
• Return all furniture and accessories to their original locations
• Gather all trash and place in one of the large trash cans under the house, near the stairs
• Please do NOT leave 1/2 eaten food or open containers of food or drink.  If you have an opened container of ice creme, alcohol, popcorn, etc. the Maids will probably take it home, if you leave it.
• Set thermostat(s) to 78 degrees in the warmer weather or to 62 degrees in the cooler weather
• Please turn off all lights & fans (except those for night time illumination under the house)
• If you haven't already let us know of any issues, please leave us a note if you had one.  In a house this size, that often has back to back bookings, it is really appreciated if you notice something, like a burned out light bulb or a door that sticks when closed, if you could let us know so we can quickly get that fixed.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY:   Check all doors, slider doors, and windows to be sure that they are locked

13.  Payments
Personal checks, Bill Pay Checks, & most Credit Cards are accepted. 

Credit Cards Payments:
Our electronic payments (Credit Cards) are processed through PayPal, one of the most secure ways to make electronic payments.  We do NOT take your credit card or banking information from you.  If wishing to pay electronically, we will send an invoice, through PayPal, that you will pay directly on line - to PayPal.  They will then deposit your funds into our account, minus their processing fee.  This processing fee, must be paid by the renter.  In the case of a USA Credit Card, its usually 3.5%.  This is the amount that will be added to any electronic invoice.  Should this not be enough to cover the electronic charge, such as in the case of a foreign credit card, then the difference will still be owed.  Most bookings are done in two payments and the 2nd payment will be used to clear up the difference.   Differences that are not corrected on the 2nd payment, will be corrected on the return of the Refundable Damage Deposit.   

The signed Rental Agreement and 50% of rental (Rental Rate, Cleaning Fee, Taxes, & damage deposit), is due within 7 days, and balance is due before 30 days of arrival.   Reservations made more than 30 days prior to arrival but less than 50 days, require full payment within 7 days of receipt Rental Agreement.  Reservations made less than 30 days, but more than 14 days in advance, need to be paid within 5 days of receipt of Rental Agreement.  Reservations made less than 14 days in advance, will need to be paid by credit card and those fees will apply.    Your reservation is not secured until the signed Rental Documents, copy of your Driver's License and your payment due at that time (either 50% or total amount, depending on arrival date), has been received and funds are good. 

14.  Cancellation
Cancellations made prior to 45 days of arrival will be refunded, less a $299 cancellation fee, and only when your dates are booked by another party. No refunds for cancellations within 45 days of arrival or for early departure. ~ Why? ~ Because we mainly accommodate large groups of family and friends, and it is difficult to arrange a vacation for a large group within a short period of time. If your dates are booked by another party, we will gladly refund your payment.

If you have made your initial 50% payment and cancel before making the remaining payment and no one books your stay, you will not receive a refund.  If you you have completely paid in full and have to cancel, and no one books your booked time slot, you will be refunded the deposit & cleaning fee.  We strongly encourage our guests to invest in travel insurance.  Considering the factors that can affect one person, multiplied by the 15 - 22 you are possibly bring to the Great Escape River House, it just makes good sense to have Travel Protection.

15.  Age of Primary Renter
Primary renter must be 28 or older.  Copy of the Driver's license is required when booked.  

16.  Travel Insurance Options
There are many options for Travel Insurance.  We encourage you to purchase Travel Insurance.  Many Companies offer it.  www.AccessAmerica.com offers a policy that even includes "required to work" coverage.  Another source:   http://www.insuremytrip.com     Protect your vacation dollars.

17.  Weather and other Circumstances
Although we do everything possible to make your stay as pleasant and carefree as possible, we cannot control or be responsible for the weather or any other unforeseen circumstance that may affect your stay; however, should a mandatory evacuation order be given for Gulfport, MS, for any of the dates during the time frame you have booked or if you had to leave early because of such an order, you will receive a full refund for unused dates.

18.  Swimming Pool / Hot Tub 
Both the Swimming Pool and Hot Tub are for the exclusive use of the vacationers staying at the Great Escape River House.  These amenities can be used at any time of the day or night throughout your stay, except for an hour or so after they have been chemically treated.

Neither is for the use of "Day Visitors" to the Great Escape River House.  This is because we have found that it is impossible to get the pool water quality back to pristine condition for the next arriving group and the hot tub properly cleaned in a timely fashion, if it is overly used.  

It is for this reason that we do not rent the house for pool parties.  After a large party, its just impossible to bring back the pool water to the quality that we want for your group as well as the next.

Specific to the Swimming Pool

• Throughout your visit either the Caretaker, Contracted Pool Maintenance Man, or an Owner will maintain the pool (during warm months - pool is NOT heated).
• Pool maintenance is done as much as 7 times a week.  It is not always possible to do this maintenance after hours, before guests awake, or between bookings.  We ask that for your safety, you wait an hour after Swimming Pool has been treated to enter the water.
• October 15th - April 15, unless otherwise specified in writing, the pool area and its deck will be closed.  This is for the safety of young children and to prevent older children from do mischievous things at the pool.  More damage has been done to the umbrellas and pool area in off season by a few unsupervised pre-teens than from 100's of people during peak season.  Should you wish for the pool area to be open during your off season stay, these arrangements should be made in advance. 

Specific to the Hot Tub
Unlike the Swimming Pool, the Hot Tub is open and ready for use year round.  The following are some things you should know:

• Hot Tub is completely emptied, scrubbed clean, refilled and treated between guests.
• Hot Tub is left at 85 degrees between guests, if you plan on using the Hot Tub, adjust the temperature to degree you find comfortable 
• Hot Tub will not stay Hot if cover is left off over night or for a long period of time; but there is a pure HOT water hose near the Hot Tub that can deliver up to 140 degrees of water (so be very careful!) for an instance boost of Hot Water should the Top be accidentally left off

Required Maintenance of Hot Tub during your stay
Even with a completely cleaned and treated Hot Tub, with every use, daily maintenance is required.  This is because of body oils, make-up, hair products, lotions, etc. and that as more people enter & exit the Hot Tub, some of the water will escape.  Every night, when you have finished using the Hot Tub, we ask that you or a member of your group

1. Add water to about the 1/2 way point of the intake, filter area, about 4 inches from the top of the Hot Tub
2. Add a predesignated amount of treatment to the hot tub (this will be left for you in individual containers for daily application)
3. Turn on the jets to allow the chemical to be disbursed throughout the Hot Tub
4. Cover the Hot Tub.  Its OK to cover while the jets are running they will automatically turn off in about 20 minutes.  

After you have added the chemical treatment to the water, we ask that you allow at least an 1 hour, before entering the Hot Tub water.  That is why we suggest adding the chemical & additional water, right before you are ready to call it a night and cover the Hot Tub. 


19.  Yard Maintenance
Ideally yard maintenance is done on Thursday.  Weather or other factors can & do affect the exact day of the week this task is accomplished.  During the hottest months of the summer, it is done very early to prevent the yard man from succumbing to heat stroke. 

20.  Under House / Parking
The house provides excellent covered parking.  Under the house is well lite by florescent lights that come on at dusk.  We ask, however, if you have a vehicle you know leaks oil, that you do park it to the south of the house in the gravel area or a grassy area.

21.  River Safety
If choosing to swim in the river, do so at your own risk.  We encourage our guests to wear water shoes in the River and an inexperienced swimmers to bring and wear a life preserver.  This is especially important with children.  Never swim in the river when there is a strong current or alone.