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GENERAL AND FERRY TRAVEL INFORMATION
Reservations
Reservations may be made at 1-800-432-RENT, or online at www.baldheadisland.com.
Tentative 2009 reservations are subject to changes in rates and
availability. Renters must be at least 24 years old.
Ferry, parking and taxes are not included in
the published rates. Taxes and ferry will be charged at time of booking. Published
rates include BHI Club and Shoals Club temporary memberships.
Minimum Stay Requirements
There is a two-night minimum on island homes. Exceptions include
a one-night minimum for The Elements and Star & Moon, and
a three-night minimum on observed holidays (Easter, Memorial
Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Year's). There is a seven-night minimum during Summer
Season (6/13-8/14), however, select accommodations offer a minimum
stay of three nights if booked two weeks prior to arrival.
Deposits and Payments
A deposit of 50% of the total account balance, including all applicable
fees and taxes along with a signed Guest Rental Agreement, are
due within 14 days of reservation. Upon receipt of your deposit
and Guest Rental Agreement, a confirmation will be mailed. Your
account balance is due in full at least 30 days prior to your
arrival date. Reservations made fewer than 30 days in advance
require payment in full at time of booking. Deposits are held
in an interest-bearing account with accrued interest payable
to Bald Head Island Limited. Accepted methods of payment include
MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, traveler's
cheques, personal check or cash. All checks must be issued in
U.S. funds and drawn on a bank that operates within the U.S.
Federal Reserve System. A $35 fee will be assessed on all returned
checks.
Security Deposit
A credit card number is needed to book reservations. Guests are
responsible for any damages, other than normal wear and tear,
that occur to accommodations, electric vehicles or household
furnishings as a result of their occupancy. Bald Head Island
Limited reserves the right to charge the renter's credit
card for any damages found, as permitted under N.C. Statute.
Cancellations and Refunds
A 45-day cancellation policy is in effect. The party in whose name
the reservation is made must make cancellations. If your reservation
is canceled 45 or more days in advance of your arrival date,
90% of any monies paid will be refunded. If the reservation is
canceled fewer than 45 days in advance of your arrival date,
no refunds will be made unless the accommodation unit is re-rented.
If the unit is re-rented at the same rate, 90% of any monies
paid will be refunded. If the unit is re-rented at a discount
rate, the difference will be applied to your refund. Subject
to availability, reservations may be rescheduled one time only
for a later arrival date within the same calendar year if notice
is given 30 days or more in advance of the originally scheduled
arrival date. Any deposits or prepayments may be applied to the
rescheduled reservation, and all other reservation requirements
are applicable. No refund or rate adjustment will be made for
malfunction of air conditioners, TV, appliances or construction
noise. Repairs will be made as soon as possible after notification,
or other comparable accommodations will be provided, depending
upon availability.
Taxes
Your account balance will include a 1/2% Brunswick County tax,
a 6% Village of Bald Head Island accommodations tax and 6.25%
N.C. sales tax. Any changes in current tax rates will be applied
on the effective date.
Check-in and Check-out Information
Our guest check-in and reception area is located inside the Indigo
Plantation & Marina ferry landing in Southport. Ferry tickets,
property keys, temporary membership cards to the BHI and Shoals
Clubs, along with a welcome packet, can be collected from the
Front Desk adjacent to the waiting area inside the terminal building
at the appropriate check-in time.
Check-in and check-out times vary according
to each accommodation (3 p.m./10:30 a.m.; 4 p.m./11:30 a.m.; 5 p.m./12:30 p.m.,
check-out day depending). Ferry reservation times will be indicated on the
guest's Rental Confirmation. Arrival and departure ferry reservations
will be made by a reservationist for times that closely match assigned check-in
and check-out times, based on ferry and tram availability.
The check-in time listed on the Rental Confirmation
indicates ferry departure from Indigo Plantation & Marina. Guests should
arrive at Indigo Plantation & Marina at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled
check-in time to allow time for the check-in process, parking, and any security
processing. Guests who do not allow adequate time may miss the ferry.
Ferries will depart on time. Upon arriving at Indigo Plantation & Marina
drive directly to the ferry terminal to check-in to your rental accommodation.
Once you have checked-in, place baggage on the luggage racks, and proceed to
an available parking lot. When entering a parking lot a parking ticket
will be issued. Keep the ticket in your possession as you will need to present
it to the attendant at Parking Lot B to pay and obtain a code to exit the lot.
The check-out time listed on the Rental Confirmation
indicates ferry departure from the island. Check-out procedures for the
accommodations are posted in the homes. When departing the island, make
sure all luggage is placed at the end of the driveway at least 30 minutes prior
to scheduled ferry departure time. Once on the mainland, proceed to Parking
Lot B to pay for parking and receive a code to exit the lot. Shuttle service
between the parking lots and ferry terminal is available seasonally.
Please note that ferries depart the mainland
on the hour and depart the island on the half hour unless otherwise posted.
No provisions are made for rental guests' early
arrival or late departure from accommodations. Failure to check-in as scheduled
may result in a delay of arrival to your accommodations. Failure to check-out
from accommodations on time will result in an additional half-day rental fee.
Ferry & Tram Information
Passengers will be sold tickets in two parts; one ticket will be
used for each leg of the round trip to and from the island. Those
attempting to depart the island who do not have their ticket
must buy another ticket at the lost ticket fare. Tickets are
absolutely required to board the ferry.
Regularly scheduled trips to the island are
made every hour on the hour starting at 6 a.m. and continue through the evening.
Trips to the mainland are made every hour on the half hour from 6:30 a.m. and
continue through the evening. Tram service begins at 8 a.m. No provisions are
available for guests arriving or departing during times tram service is not
availableÑisland carts may not be parked at the ferry terminal. There
are two schedules, one during the winter, and another during the remainder
of the year. Additional supplemental ferries may run during the peak summer
season. Details of the schedules are available by calling 1-800-432-7368, by
logging onto our Web site at baldheadisland.com, by viewing posted schedules
at the ferry terminals, and on page 173 in this publication.
Small gas-powered trucks with passenger
trams are used to transport arriving passengers and their luggage from the
island ferry terminal to their accommodations and from their accommodations
to the island ferry terminal when they depart. Guests are required to make
ferry and tram reservations that coordinate with their check-in/check-out times
when booking their accommodations. Ferry arrival and departure reservations
for Bald Head Island Limited guests will be booked simultaneously with their
accommodation reservation to ensure tram availability and to synchronize with
check-in and check-out times.
Guests may call their reservationist to make
any necessary changes to ferry reservations to the island and from the island.
Guests should have their ferry reservation confirmation number available when
changing ferry reservations. Transportation personnel will not be able to change
arrival reservations pre-booked by a reservationist. Pre-booked reservations
will be made to coincide with your accommodation check-in and check-out times.
Visitors going to BHI should plan to arrive
at least 30 minutes before their scheduled ferry departure time and drive directly
to the baggage area. This procedure allows the time necessary for dock staff
to assist in loading baggage onto the ferry baggage dollies. During the 2008
season, security procedures may be implemented that have the potential to lengthen
processing time. Guests who arrive near the time of scheduled ferry departure
will risk missing the ferry and subsequent island appointments. Upon departure
from the island, make sure all luggage is placed at the end of the driveway
at least 30 minutes prior to ferry departure time. Please note, neither smoking
nor the consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted on any BHI ferry or
tram.
Click here to take a virtual tour of the ferry landing in Southport
Click here to download ferry schedule:
Winter Schedule (3/1 - 11/30)
Summer Schedule (12/1 - 2/28)
How to Pack
Bald Head Island's baggage handling system is similar to
that of an airline, so guests should pack as if they were flying
to their destination and exercise restraint in what they choose
to bring. Please note that a crib and high chair are provided in
each accommodation, and other items such as beach chairs, beach
umbrellas, boogie boards and bicycles may be rented on the island. When
guests arrive at the mainland ferry terminal, they should place
their baggage on the baggage racks, and notify an outfitter. Nametags
are required on all luggage and boxes, and are available at the
ferry terminal. Please limit luggage to no more than three checked
pieces and two carry-on pieces per person. Loose items such as
open-top bags or boxes, grocery bags, Styrofoam coolers, jackets,
shoes, tennis rackets, surfboards or fragile items such as video
cameras must be hand-carried. Such items may be subject to security
screening.
Large, bulky items such as bicycles will require
a Special Cargo Ticket that can be purchased for an additional fee at the mainland
ferry terminal. These special cargo items will not be transported in trams
due to size, sharp edges and grease. Cargo space on the ferries is limited;
therefore, it is possible that during peak periods cargo items will not be
transported on the same ferry as passengers. Every effort will be made to transport
special cargo within six hours of the guest's ferry time. Special cargo
may be claimed at the island ferry terminal and transported by the owner using
a golf cart provided with the accommodations. Special cargo departing the island
should be brought to the island ferry terminal two hours prior to the guest's
departure so it can be transported to the mainland for timely pick-up by the
guest. Expensive bicycles are not recommended on the ferry system as
they can become damaged in transit. Please note: Bald Head Island Limited
and Bald Head Island Transportation accept no liability for road bicycles damaged
in transit.
Furnishings and Equipment
All rental accommodations have fully equipped kitchens, washers
and dryers, vacuum cleaners, color TV, central heat and air conditioning,
telephones, cribs (generally pack & plays), high chairs,
bath towels and bed linens. Linens for cribs and sleeper sofas
must be requested when reservation is made. Each unit has one
or more electric golf cart(s). Complimentary initial supplies
of cleaning products, paper towels, bath tissue and soap are
provided at check-in. Additional supplies can be purchased at
the Maritime Market. Locked closets are maintained by homeowners
for personal use. Please respect these areas.
Housekeeping
Accommodations are thoroughly cleaned before each guest's
arrival. Additional housekeeping services can be requested at a
special rate, based on availability. Reservations of two weeks
or more in duration will receive a mid-stay cleaning.
Accommodations Capacity
The number in your party should not exceed the maximum occupancy
as stated in each listing. Private functions/parties are not
allowed in rental accommodations without prior approval.
Attire
Although the BHI Clubhouse is a casual facility, a dress code is
in effect. ÒResort casualÓ attire is appropriate.
Appropriately collared shirts are required in the Clubhouse as
well as on the golf course. Golfers are required to wear soft
spikes on their golf shoes, which are permitted only in designated
areas. (Replacement spikes are available for purchase at the
Golf Shop). Appropriate footwear is required in the Clubhouse,
on the tennis courts, and in the fitness center. ÒCut-offÓ shorts
are not permitted in the Clubhouse. The BHI Club discourages
denim jeans during dinner. The Clubhouse offers a smoke-free
and cell phone-free environment. All other facilities, including
the Shoals Club, are casual.
Telephone
Long distance calls from rental accommodations phones must be made
collect, by credit card or calling card.
Pets
Pets are allowed only in rental accommodations designated pet-friendly.
No pets are allowed in rental accommodations not listed as pet-friendly,
except for service pets. We reserve the right to terminate any
rental, without refund, if pets are found on the premises, and
charge an additional $500 to treat the property for fleas. Pet-friendly
accommodations require a non-refundable fee of $200 plus tax.
Pets are not allowed inside the passenger cabin of any Bald Head
Island ferry.
Safety
The Village of Bald Head Island is an incorporated municipality,
and ordinances are in place which are intended to protect the
island and its inhabitants. Information about Village ordinances
pertinent to your visit and activities can be found in the in-room
directory provided in each rental accommodation or by contacting
the Village at (910) 457-9700. PLEASE NOTE: Grilling is restricted
on wooden decks, patios and under houses. Propane gas grills
are generally permitted, but some communities restrict grilling
entirely. Please check with your reservationist for further information
about grilling. PLEASE ALSO NOTE: Electric golf carts are not
toys, and their misuse can lead to serious adverse consequences.
They are subject to all laws and ordinances applicable to operation
of a motor vehicle on a public road, including the requirement
that operators must possess a valid driver's license,
be at least 16 years old, and not under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Be sure to read and follow all instructions provided
in the vehicle and the in-room directory for golf cart operation,
including the precautions suggested for the safety of drivers
and passengers. Whether biking, hiking, swimming or riding, please
take care and make this a safe vacation trip for you and your
family on Bald Head Island.
Construction
Unfortunately, we cannot predict the location of construction activity
on the island and may not be able to inform you at the time you
make your reservation whether your accommodations are near a
construction site. We will not make refunds because of construction
activity.
Severe Weather
If hurricanes or other extreme weather conditions occur, the Village
of Bald Head Island may declare a voluntary or mandatory evacuation
notice. In either event, the lodging portion of accommodations
charges will be prorated from the time of departure from the
island until the island is reopened, or until the end of your
reservation period, whichever comes first. If no evacuation notice
is issued, and you choose to leave the island before the end
of your reservation period, no refunds will be made. Ferry tickets
back to the island will be charged at full rate.
Please Note
Information contained in the accommodations section of the Armchair
Guide is based, in part, upon information provided by the owners
of the premises described herein. Bald Head Island Limited has
endeavored to ensure the accuracy of this information; however,
we cannot be responsible for misinformation or typographical
errors. All prices, fees, specifications, configurations and
availability are subject to change without notice. |