Rental Policies

Reservations and Who Can Book

You must be at least 21 years old to book a cabin. The person who makes the reservation is the primary guest: responsible for the entire group, for all charges, and for making sure every guest follows these policies.

• Rates can change at any time. Once you complete a booking, your agreed price is locked in.
• All prices are in USD. Cleaning fees, taxes, and extra charges are shown clearly before you book.
• A reservation is confirmed once your deposit is paid. You will get a confirmation email with check-in details and property information.

Deposits and Final Payment

• A 30% deposit is required to confirm your reservation.
• The remaining balance is due 7 days before arrival.
• We accept major credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal. Payment processing is secure and PCI-DSS compliant.
• You authorize Vantage Stays to charge the card on file for repairs, extra cleaning, or property damage beyond normal wear and tear.

Cancellations and Changes

Our cancellation terms are straightforward. Without trip protection, all payments are non-refundable and stays cannot be rescheduled, no exceptions. With trip protection purchased at booking: cancel at least 60 days before arrival for a refund of everything paid minus the protection cost; one reschedule is allowed if requested at least 30 days before arrival. Cancellations inside 60 days forfeit all payments, though you may still reschedule once within one year when requested at least 30 days before check-in. Because our cabins are large group properties, we strongly recommend trip protection at booking.

• Requests to cancel, reschedule, or move dates must be made in writing to hello@vantagestays.com so there is a record.
• We strongly recommend travel insurance for any trip where a cancellation would hurt. It is the only way to cover illness, weather, and family emergencies.
• No-shows forfeit all payments made.

Check In and Check Out

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM Eastern. Please do not try to check in early; housekeeping needs the full window to get the cabin right. Check-out is at 10:00 AM Eastern. If you arrive after dark, take it slow on the mountain roads and follow the directions in your confirmation email.

• Please do not arrive before your check-in time. Housekeeping needs the full window to get the cabin right.
• On departure day: place all dirty dishes in the dishwasher and start it (or wash by hand); put towels and linens in the bathroom tub; set thermostats to 75 in summer and 65 in winter; place all trash in the outside receptacle; secure the hot tub lid; lock all doors and windows. A minimum $50 charge applies for excessive cleaning.
• Check out on time. Guests not vacated by 10:00 AM are billed $125 per half hour; anyone still in the cabin at 12:00 PM is charged for an extra day.

Occupancy and House Rules

• The maximum occupancy listed for your cabin is a hard limit, and it includes children and infants.
• All cabins are non-smoking. If the cabin has been smoked in, a fine of up to $1,000 applies.
• No house parties or events without written approval from Vantage Stays.
• Keep noise reasonable after 10 PM. Many cabins sit in quiet mountain neighborhoods.
• Fireworks are not permitted at any cabin unless the listing specifically says otherwise.

Pets

Pets are welcome only at cabins listed as pet-friendly. The pet fee is $75 plus tax per pet, non-refundable. Only dogs are allowed (no cats, birds, or other animals), up to 2 dogs at a time, with neither dog weighing more than 40 pounds. The fee does not cover damage or extra cleaning from shedding, fleas, or messes, which are billed separately.

• Service animals are always welcome and are not subject to pet fees.
• Do not leave pets unattended in the cabin unless they are crated.
• Pet owners are responsible for any damage or extra cleaning caused by their pet.
• A pet found in a non-pet-friendly cabin is treated as a policy violation and may end the stay without refund.

Damage and Property Care

• Guests are responsible for damage beyond normal wear and tear. Damage charges will be deducted from your deposit or invoiced separately.
• Please report any damage right away. Accidents happen; quick reporting keeps small problems small.
• Do not move furniture between rooms or take indoor furnishings outside.

Hot Tubs and Pools

• Never leave children unattended in or around the hot tub or pool.
• Children under 16 are not recommended to use hot tubs.
• Shower before and after using the hot tub, per Sevier County Health Department guidance.
• No soap, bath products, food, drinks, or other items in the hot tub or pool. Contamination found in the water is billed at $150.
• Damage to a hot tub cover is billed at $600. Covers are inspected after every departure.
• Keep pool rooms and gates locked when not in use, and follow all safety rules posted at the property.
• We are not responsible for jewelry or clothing damaged in the hot tub or pool.

Fireplaces

• Wood and gas fireplaces are closed from April 1 through October 1. Using a wood fireplace out of season results in a $25 cleanup fee.
• We do not supply firewood or fire-starting materials. Those are up to you.
• Never rearrange gas fireplace logs. A fine applies.

What We Supply

• Every cabin starts with fresh bed linens, one bath towel, one hand towel, and one washcloth per guest, plus starter toilet paper, paper towels, soap, and trash bags in each bathroom and the kitchen.
• Once the starter supply runs out, restocking is up to you. There is no daily housekeeping service.
• Plan on bringing laundry detergent, shampoo, dish soap, coffee and filters, and a hair dryer. Not every cabin has a washer and dryer; check your cabin's amenity list.
• All linens, towels, kitchenware, and utensils are inventoried after checkout. Missing items are billed at replacement cost.

Furniture and Decor

• Leave furniture in the arrangement you found on arrival. Put back anything you move.
• Do not disconnect cables or plugs from televisions or other electronics; it can knock out service and you may be charged for the service call.
• All cabins are individually owned and decorated by their owners, so furnishings vary by property.

Maintenance and Things That Break

• If something is not working when you arrive, tell us within 24 hours at (865) 408-1817 so we can fix it promptly.
• We will make every reasonable effort to repair reported issues during your stay. Refunds are not issued for temporary outages of amenities such as hot tubs, game rooms, or internet, or for acts of nature and utility outages.
• Our cabins sit in the woods. Occasional insects and wildlife are part of the Smoky Mountains and are not grounds for a refund; we will address genuine problems quickly.
• Mountain roads can be steep and winding, and winter weather can require 4-wheel drive or chains. We cannot refund for road conditions or driveway grades.

Questions

Before booking, during your stay, or after you are home:

• Phone: (865) 408-1817
• Email: hello@vantagestays.com
• Guest portal and report-an-issue links are in your confirmation email.