Ocean Keyes Rental Policies

Minimum Stay & Occupancy Requirements

Some Ocean Keyes units are rented Saturday to Saturday with a seven-night minimum stay for June, July, and August, AND some holiday periods during the off-season. There are also options for short term stays with a 3 night minimum throughout the year. Due to the nature of our rental properties and the contracts we have with our homeowners, Seaside Vacations does NOT rent to persons under the age of 25 years old and does NOT cater to groups (ie. graduation parties, sororities, fraternities, spring break groups, etc). Our rentals are for family vacations. Misrepresentation will result in immediate eviction from the property and forfeiture of all monies paid, including security deposit. Subletting is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate eviction from the property and forfeiture of all monies paid, including security deposit.

Reservations

There are several ways you can reserve a property. You can call our office during hours of operation and speak to a reservation specialist, or you can may book directly from the website 24 hours a day. In order to complete the booking process, you will be required to place approximately 50% down when making reservations. When reserving a property on our website via ONLINE BOOKING, you will be required to give a credit card number over our secure website. Your card is NOT automatically charged at that time, but a representative from Seaside Vacations will contact you within 24 hours to confirm your information, answer any questions you have, and process your payment. After a reservation is made and payment is received, a Confirmation Lease Agreement is sent via email (can also be mailed or faxed if time allows) as well as a receipt for payment. The Confirmation Lease Agreement must be electronically signed or returned to our office via email, fax, or regular mail within 48 hours of receipt. If your reservation date is less than 2 weeks from your arrival date, your signed confirmation lease agreement must be returned right away. NOTE: guests without signed contracts will not be allowed to check in. Advance reservations (for next year) are contingent upon your selected time period being made available by the property owner. Should there be a conflict with your desired dates, we will notify you immediately so you can make alternate plans. Since check-out days are extremely busy, please make your advance reservations during the week when we have more time to assist you. You are not automatically entitled to the same week next year simply because you reserved it this year; however, you DO have the first choice for renting the same property for the same week next year, as long as you make advance reservations before the first Monday after your departure. No properties will be held for specific weeks based on assumptions. Current rates are not applicable to next year’s reservations.

Method of Payment

Personal checks will be accepted up until thirty (30) days prior to arrival. For reservations within thirty (30) days of arrival, the only accepted forms of payment are: Cashiers Check, Certified Check, Money Order, Cash, Travelers Check, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. THESE PAYMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY SEASIDE VACATIONS WITHIN 48 HOURS IN ORDER TO CONFIRM YOUR RESERVATION. Any check returned for non-sufficient funds or stopped payment will not be re-submitted. A letter will be sent to you indicating full payment required within ten (10) days by money order, cashier’s check, certified check, or credit card payment. A fee of $55 will be charged for any returned check.

Property Protection Plan/Security Deposit

As part of your stay, you may purchase the Property Protection plan designed to cover unintentional damages to the rental property interior that occur during your stay. If purchased, the policy will pay a maximum benefit of $1,200. Any damages that exceed $1,200 will be charged to the credit card on file. This property protection plan can be purchased for $65.00 per rental. This is non-refundable. Please report any damage to the unit as soon as it occurs so that we may be able to access and/or minimize the extent of the damages. If you do NOT purchase a property protection plan, a security deposit of at least $500 will be paid in full when making your final payment and returned via check or credit card within 4 weeks after your departure. Furthermore, Seaside Vacations reserves the right to a charge of $100.00 per person security deposit. Such right is solely at the discretion of Seaside Vacations and shall be paid at the time of check-in.

Taxes

A 12% tax applies to all North Myrtle Beach properties. This is comprised of the standard 9% South Carolina sales tax plus 3% county and city hospitality tax. For rental items such as linens, TVs, cribs, etc., 12% sales tax will be charged. These taxes could change at any time.

Processing Fee

A non-refundable processing applies to each reservation.

Travel Protection Insurance

Seaside Vacations has contracted with Red Sky Travel Insurance in order to offer Travel Protection Insurance to our guests. Your Lease Agreement will include this optional coverage, which will cost only 7.75% of your total rental amount. The insurance coverage not only protects your vacation investment against hurricanes, but also covers other unanticipated circumstances which could cause cancellation/interruption of your trip. Please refer to the policy for exact coverage. Travel insurance premiums are non-refundable. https://www.redskyinsurance.com/

Maximum Occupancy

The maximum occupancy is listed with each property’s description as MAX. This number indicates the bedding accommodations and/or the limit set by the property owner. If you have an extra adult, child, or baby (yes, children are people too!), let us know; some property owners will permit an extra person or two at 10% of the total rental amount per week per extra person (minimum of $50). Overcrowding or misrepresentation will result in immediate eviction from the property and loss of all monies paid, including security deposit.

Cancellations

Your deposit, which constitutes approximately one half of your balance is for the rental unit and period listed on the front of your Confirmation/Lease. This deposit will be applied to the total rent. To receive a refund, cancellation must be received 30 days prior to your arrival. A $150.00 service and handling charge will apply. If cancellation is received less than 30 days from arrival, you understand that the deposit will not be refunded unless the rental unit is re-rented at the same rate for the same period. You further understand that if the unit is re-rented, your deposit will be refunded less a $150.00 service and handling charge and the travel insurance premium, if purchased.

Refunds

There will be no refund of any kind due to mechanical failure of non-essential items such as air conditioner, TV, Internet, dishwasher, washer/dryer, or other luxury items. However, we promise to make every effort to have such items repaired as quickly as possible. You can be assured that, with Seaside Vacations, your vacation will be as trouble-free as possible. Due to constant growth in our community we cannot refund any money due to interruptions from neighboring properties that may be under construction.

Check-In/Check-Out

Check In: On your arrival day, you will receive a text alerting you when your vacation rental is ready for check in. The check-in process begins at 3 pm. Please do not contact our office regarding check-in prior to 3 pm. When your rental property is ready, you will be texted. Please wait for the text. All check-ins occur at the office of Seaside Vacations. No check-ins occur at the rental property itself. We will have a check-in package ready for you which will include keys/entry instructions, amenity passes, Wi-Fi instructions, driving directions from our office to your rental location and any other important information required for your stay. We ask that just one person for each reservation come to our front door. Your driver's license or state ID must be presented at time of check-in. Upon arrival to your rental, you will have a Seaside Vacations Goody Bag as a starter for paper products that may be necessary after a long drive. You will need to supply your own paper products, etc. Other things you will need to bring include beach towels, food and condiments, personal Toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.), cleaning supplies (washing detergent, dishwashing liquid, etc.), paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues), beach equipment, alarm clock (if you need one), baby equipment (unless rented), flashlights, radios, and batteries.

Please do not go to the property before checking in with our office. Weekends are extremely busy. If people or cars are seen at the property, it will delay its cleaning and inspection and thus your check-in time. Keep in mind that it is difficult for us to prepare every property between 10 am and 3 pm. Check-in is between 3 pm and 5 pm.

Late Check-In

If you will be arriving late, please let us know and we will give you the necessary information in order to obtain your keys from the late check-in box. You must be paid in full for us to leave keys secured in the key box, have a signed contract in our office, and a copy of your driver's license. If you have any questions or problems, please come into the office the next day.

Check-Out

Check-out is at 10 am. NO EXCEPTIONS. When preparing for your departure, please clean up your unit (empty trash, place dishes in dishwasher and start dishwasher, and place all dirty linens in the bathtub. Leave bedspreads and mattress pads on beds. When departing, leave the thermostat set at 74 degrees during the summer and 55 degrees during the winter. When leaving your rental, make sure the entry door is completely shut. DON'T FORGET to make sure you have not left any personal belongings behind. You need to return your keys, pool wristbands, and gate cards to Seaside Vacations' office at 501 Main Street when you depart. If you do not have a key but have a code for your rental, you still need to return gate cares and pool wrist bands. If you have nothing to return when checking out, you must call our office at 843-280-2063 to let our staff know that you have departed your rental. If you call goes into voicemail, please leave a message including your name and rental that you have departed from. If we have not heard from you by 10:15 am, our housekeeping staff will enter to begin cleaning. There is a $10.00 key fee for those keys not returned. There is a $10.00 pool wristband fee for those not returned. There is a $50.00 fee for any gate card not returned and a $100.00 fee for any unit entry card this is not returned.

Please understand that it is difficult, at best, to prepare our properties between 10 am and 3 pm. for the next guests. Your assistance in leaving the property by 10 am. and completing our CHECK-OUT procedures is greatly appreciated. 10 am is a firm check-out time. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Kitchens

All kitchens are adequately stocked for every-day meal preparation and serving. You can expect to find the following items for at least the maximum occupancy: coffee maker and toaster, dishes, glasses, coffee mugs, flatware, serving dishes, pots and pans, cooking utensils. Some properties provide extra kitchen equipment, others do not. Extra kitchen items are provided according to the individual owner’s preferences, not according to the size, location or price of the property. Therefore, if you are planning special meal preparations, you should bring with you items such as: blender, food processor, extra large or specialty pots and pans, chef’s knives, specialty cooking utensils, etc.

Linens/Cleaning/Rental Items

Linen service and bed making are provided for all rentals and included in the published rates at Ocean Keyes. Cleaning is also provided in the published rental rate for all rentals at Ocean Keyes. We also recommend North Strand Beach Service for your equipment rental needs. They have items that may be rented such as cribs, high chairs, car seats, umbrellas, beach chairs etc.

Housekeeping

Your vacation rental will be cleaned prior to your arrival and again after your departure. You should find your unit cleaned upon arrival. If you find that your unit is not cleaned properly, please call us and we will have housekeeping come and take care of the problem. DO NOT wait until your departure to advise us that the rental was not cleaned when you arrived. No discount or refund will be given for unsatisfactory cleaning. You will be responsible for leaving the unit in good condition at checkout. Cleaning fees will be charged to your account if excessive cleaning is required after your departure. We respectfully request that you remember that you are staying in someone else's home. Please give it the care and respect that you would give your own home.

Maintenance

Seaside Vacations will assist you with any maintenance required to your rental unit during your stay. Please call Seaside Vacations at 843-280-2063 to report any maintenance issues pertaining to the rental unit. Service calls are billed to the individual owner of the property you are renting. Any unwarranted service calls will be charged to the guest. Units are in "as is" condition. TVs, appliances, air conditioning equipment or any items of electrical or mechanical nature are not guaranteed. Repairs will be made as soon as possible. There are NO refunds issued for maintenance required during your stay. Seaside Vacations, building management, and approved Vendors reserve the right to enter the property during your stay for maintenance reasons including emergency, routine, and preventative maintenance.

Construction

Seaside Vacations is not an on-site company and cannot predict construction plans or be held responsible for any inconvenience. Refunds WILL NOT be issued for any inconvenience due to construction, road repair, property renovations, etc.

Amenities

Seaside Vacations is not responsible for any building amenities. These amenities are provided and serviced by an HOA or management company. There will be NO refunds issued for any loss of use of building amenities during your stay.

Rental Units' Furnishings

All vacation rental properties are privately owned and are furnished and equipped by their owners. Seaside Vacations cannot make any changes to the furnishings or equipment provided by the owner. If you require special appliances or equipment, such as hair dryers, please bring them with you. Furnishings and equipment are subject to change without notice. Furnishings and equipment many not be moved or relocated. Please leave the property as you found it. Charges can be incurred. Refunds will NOT be issued for a change that has occurred in the unit. We do not warranty bed sizes or furnishings to any rental.

Internet Issues

Seaside Vacations will not issue refunds for internet issues; however, we will do the best to get the internet working in the event of an issue. Many of the homeowners associations handle the internet and we have no means to control the connectivity of the internet in the actual unit. We can generally provide service calls between 9 am and 5 pm Monday-Friday. We do not consider this an after-hours emergency. If you do access any internet content during your stay, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for ensuring that any accessed material does not violate any law. Rentals for malicious or unethical activity will be reported and dealt with swiftly.

Lost and Found

Any food items or products left behind, non-food or perishable, will be disposed of immediately by housekeeping. If any other personals are left behind, please notify our office within 7 days of your departure. There is a $35.00 service fee plus shipping and postage that will be added to your credit card if you ask for any personal items to be returned to you. After 7 days from your departure, these items will be discarded. Depending on the size of these items, they will be mailed via USPS or UPS.

Smoking

All of our units are non-smoking, including the balcony. If evidence of smoking is found in your rental, there will be a minimum fee of $500 and you may be evicted from the rental property without a refund.

Lock-Out

If you lock yourself out of your rental and it is necessary to call the after-hours emergency line and have someone take a key to the property or meet you at our office to get a key, there is a $75.00 lock out charge that will be added to your credit card on file.

Pets

Pets are not allowed on the property. Many properties allow OWNERS to have pets with them, but renters are NOT allowed to have pets on the property. If you have a pet with you, you will be asked to leave or remove the pet immediately. You will incur an additional charge for carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, and flea spray if evidence of a pet is found. When you check in, if you have a pet with you, you will not be allowed to check in and your money will not be refunded.

Golf Carts

Golf carts at Ocean Keyes are only to be rented at certain buildings within the complex. Please check with Seaside Vacations or in the descriptions of each unit to see if a golf cart rental is allowed in the building you plan to rent in. Golf carts that are rented must be registered and retain a parking pass from the Ocean Keyes management office on-site. The Ocean Keyes management office on-site will explain the rules and regulations for the City of North Myrtle Beach and tell you where to park the golf cart. There is a fee for a parking pass. Seaside Vacations is not liable for any happenings pertaining to a golf cart rental or use at Ocean Keyes.

Additional Rental Items

If you need items such as cribs, highchairs, beach umbrellas, rollaway beds, port-a-cribs, etc., these items are available from outside vendors. For beach equipment and baby furniture rentals, contact North Strand Beach Service at 843-272-3259 https://northstrandbeachservice.com/. Beach umbrellas and chairs are also available for daily and weekly rental from the City of North Myrtle Beach (Beach Services) located conveniently near the lifeguard stations. For local ordinance including tents, please visit City of NMB website. https://www.nmb.us/176/Beach-Services

General Information

Hurricanes

When hurricanes threaten the area it is imperative that you adhere to the instructions of Seaside Vacations and the local authorities. When a Hurricane WATCH is issued, you should begin preparations for possible evacuation. Seaside Vacations will monitor the storm along with local authorities and the National Hurricane Center. When probability of a hit becomes likely, Horry County will issue a MANDATORY EVACUATION. EVACUATION IS REQUIRED WHENEVER A MANDATORY EVACUATION IS ISSUED BY HORRY COUNTY OFFICIALS. You should pack all belongings, including food, and evacuate immediately. Neither Seaside Vacations nor the property owner will be responsible for any items you may leave behind. Exit the area via the Hurricane Evacuation Routes. Police will direct you to the quickest safe route. Prior to leaving the property, complete the ‘Hurricane Preparation Checklist’ which includes:

tightly lock and secure ALL doors and windows
Bring all deck furniture inside and anything which may be blown
Set thermostats to OFF position
Close all blinds, make sure door is locked behind you and screen door is tightly latched
Return keys to office

Your help in completing these items is needed and greatly appreciated by the property owners and Seaside Vacations. Upon leaving the area, you may either stay at a motel or return home. Keep in mind that the first people to evacuate will get the closest motel room and avoid traffic tie-ups. The longer you wait, the farther you’ll have to travel to find accommodations. After the storm passes, you may call our office or local authorities to see if you can return. If so, we’re glad. Come back and enjoy the rest of your vacation. During periods of evacuation, you may call Seaside Vacations for frequent updates of the storm and important information. There will be NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS FOR HURRICANE EVACUATIONS. Whether you own property, run a business, or rent property, the threat of a hurricane is always present and we all assume this risk. Therefore, we suggest you consider Travel Protection Insurance to secure your vacation investment.

Miscellaneous

Grilling on balconies, decks or walkways is prohibited. This is in violation of local fire ordinances.

Fireworks are prohibited by local ordinances.

Campers, trailers, boats and motorcycles are not allowed on the premises at Ocean Keyes.

Parking is limited to two cars. If you have any special parking needs, please contact our office prior to your arrival.

Price Adjustments: Seaside Vacations reserves the right to adjust pricing at their discretion prior to a reservation being made.