Terms & Conditions

1. The agreement, and who may book

• You must be at least 18 years old to make a booking, and at least 25 to be the responsible renter of Chalet Bruin.
• The person who books is the responsible renter, must be one of the guests staying, must be present for the whole stay, and is accountable for everyone in the party, including minors and any pet.
• You must give accurate information. Booking on behalf of an undisclosed person or group, or misrepresenting the size or purpose of your party, is grounds for immediate cancellation without refund.
• There is no account to create. We identify a booking by its reference and the email address you gave us, so please keep both safe.

2. How booking works

• 1. You send a request. You choose a cabin, dates and guest count and give us your name, email and phone number. A request is an offer to book. It does not hold the dates and it is not a reservation.
• 2. We price and check it on our side. Availability and the total are always recalculated on our server from our own calendar and rates. If the figure shown to you differs from ours, ours governs, and we will tell you before you pay.
• 3. Identity verification. You complete a verification check through Stripe Identity. A failed or abandoned check means we cannot confirm the stay.
• 4. We review the request. Every request is reviewed by us by hand before any money is taken. We look at the dates, the party size and the information you gave. A request we have not reviewed expires after 7 days and is never charged.
• 5. Payment. If we approve, we email you a secure payment link that expires 24 hours after approval. Dates are held only for that window. You pay the total through Stripe's secure checkout; we do not handle or store your card details. If the window passes unpaid, the approval lapses and the dates are released.
• 6. Confirmation. Your reservation exists once we send the confirmation email to the address you gave. Check-in instructions and the door code follow before arrival.

3. Prices, fees and taxes

• Rates are advertised in US dollars per night with the mandatory cleaning fee included and spread across the stay: Chalet Bruin $461–$750 per night and Koda Loft $157–$257 per night. The per-night figure is highest at the two-night minimum and falls as the stay lengthens, because cleaning is charged once. Rates also vary by season and day of week on a published schedule that repeats every year: summer high season and ski-season weekends carry a modest uplift, and major holiday periods (Christmas through New Year, Thanksgiving week, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day weekends) are peak and require a three-night minimum stay. No night is priced below $450 at Chalet Bruin or $150 at Koda Loft before the cleaning fee and tax.
• Longer stays receive an automatic discount off nightly rent: 5% for stays of 5 nights or more, 10% for 7 nights or more and 20% for 25 nights or more. It applies all year, holidays included, and never applies to the cleaning fee, pet fee, other fees or taxes. The maximum length of a single stay is 28 nights.
• The total shown before you pay is the total: nightly rate, any cleaning or pet fee, and applicable taxes, itemised at checkout.
• Calaveras County transient occupancy tax of 12% is applied to the taxable rent for stays of 30 nights or fewer, after any discount, and is remitted by us. Stays of 31 nights or more are exempt from that tax. Where a stay is booked through Airbnb or VRBO, that platform may collect and remit instead.
• Any discount applies to nightly rent only. It never applies to cleaning fees, pet fees, other fees or taxes.
• Payment is due in full at the time of booking unless we agree otherwise in writing.
• We correct obvious pricing, availability or description errors. If an error affects your booking we will contact you and you may accept the corrected price or cancel for a full refund. We do not honour a price that is clearly a mistake.
• Any refund is returned to the original payment method. Card network and bank timings are outside our control.

4. Chalet Bruin Circle membership

• The membership costs $95 per year and renews automatically each year on the same card until you cancel. We tell you the price, the billing period and the renewal terms before you pay, and you must tick the consent box to enrol.
• While your membership is active you receive 10% off nightly rent on stays booked direct with us, one complimentary bottle of local wine per stay, and late checkout until 1 PM when no guest arrives the same day and you ask at least 24 hours ahead. Late checkout is subject to availability and is not guaranteed. The discount never applies to cleaning fees, pet fees, other fees or taxes, and it does not apply to stays booked through Airbnb, VRBO or any other platform. Member and referral discounts do not apply to a stay that includes any night in a major holiday period (Christmas through New Year, Thanksgiving week, or the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day weekends). The same holiday blackout applies to any member stay credit. We may update the blacked-out dates for future stays on notice.
• You can cancel at any time from your account page in two clicks, or by emailing us. Cancellation stops the next renewal; benefits continue to the end of the period you have already paid for.
• Membership fees are not refundable in part once a period has begun, except where the law requires otherwise.
• A membership is personal to you and cannot be sold, shared or transferred. We may end a membership for abuse of the benefits, and we may change the price or benefits on notice before a renewal.
• Membership does not guarantee availability, and it does not remove the review step in the booking process above.

5. Member referrals and rewards

• A referral qualifies only after the referred guest's stay has been paid for, completed, and a 7-day settlement period has passed without a chargeback, refund or dispute.
• A qualified referral earns one 10% single-use discount on nightly rent, valid for 12 months from the date it is earned. It cannot be applied to a stay that includes a major holiday night, and a holiday booking does not use it up.
• You cannot refer yourself, your own household, or a booking made in your own name or on your own payment method. We may void any reward we believe was obtained by self-referral, duplicate accounts or other abuse.
• At most two referral rewards may be applied to a single stay. Combined with your membership discount, discounts are capped at 30% of nightly rent in normal use and can never exceed 50% of nightly rent.
• No more than 10 referrals may qualify per member per year.
• Rewards are single-use, non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and cannot be applied to cleaning fees, other fees or taxes. Unused rewards expire at the end of their 12-month term and are forfeited if your membership lapses or is cancelled.
• We may suspend or end the referral programme at any time. Rewards already earned remain valid for their term.

6. Support contributions

• A support contribution is a voluntary one-time payment toward the care and improvement of the property. It is final and not refundable.
• Chalet Bruin is a privately owned short-term rental, not a charity. Contributions are not tax-deductible, are not an investment, and give no ownership, equity, security, interest, return, stay, credit, discount or other benefit.
• There is no fundraising goal, deadline or perk tier. We decide how funds are used, and planned improvements may change or not happen.
• If you ask us to, we may show your first name only on the support page. Ask us and we will remove it.

7. Merch and shop purchases

• Merch is a sale of goods by Rambling Media LLC. It is not a donation, is not tax-deductible, and gives no stay, credit, discount, equity, security or ownership interest in the property.
• Prices are shown in US dollars, exclude sales tax, and are charged once at checkout through Stripe.
• Washington State retail sales tax is destination-based, so sales tax is calculated from the address where you receive your order and applies to digital downloads as well as physical goods. We are registered in Washington and add sales tax to orders delivered there, and to any other state where we are registered to collect it; the amount is calculated and itemised at checkout before you pay. Where an order is delivered to a state in which we are not required to collect, no sales tax is charged and any use tax owed is the buyer's responsibility.
• Digital items (the Vacation OS loading screens and Adopt Bruce) are delivered by a private download link shown after payment and emailed to you. The link is personal to you and works for 30 days and up to 10 downloads; ask us and we will re-issue it. Because they are delivered immediately and cannot be returned, digital purchases are final and not refundable once the link has been issued.
• Digital files are licensed to you for your own personal, non-commercial use. You may not resell, redistribute, sub-license or share your download link, or use the files or artwork commercially, and we keep all intellectual property in them.
• The Vacation Mode browser extension is sold as an early-supporter licence for software still in development. Your licence note and artwork download immediately; we will email your install link when the extension is released. If we never release it, we will refund that purchase.
• Physical items (made-to-order apparel, hats, bags, mugs and prints) ship to United States addresses only. We do not ship internationally, and we cannot ship to addresses outside the United States even if a payment is completed — in that case we will cancel the order and refund it in full.
• Physical items are made to order: nothing is pre-made or held in stock, and each one is printed and assembled for you after you pay. We normally ship within 7–10 business days. Risk of loss passes on delivery to the carrier.
• Because every physical item is printed for you individually, we do not accept returns or exchanges, and we do not refund for a change of mind, for ordering the wrong size, colour or design, or for an address that was entered incorrectly. Please check your size and address before you pay.
• We will replace or refund an item that arrives damaged or misprinted, or that never arrives, if you tell us within 30 days of delivery (or of the last carrier update) and send photos of the item and packaging where it is damaged. Our full terms are on our Returns and Refunds page.
• Shipping is charged at the rate quoted at checkout by our print partner, and sales tax is calculated for your delivery address. Both are shown as separate lines before you pay, and delivery charges are taxable where the goods are taxable.
• For mailed items we collect a delivery name, United States address and phone number at Stripe's checkout, and use the phone number only for delivery questions.
• Orders are sent to print shortly after payment, so we cannot guarantee a cancellation. Ask us straight away and we will cancel and refund if the item has not gone to print yet.
• Messages you ask us to print on a card must be lawful and must not be threatening, harassing, obscene or infringing. We read every message before it is printed, and we may refuse and refund any order we are unwilling to send.
• Our merch is novelty and gift material. It is sold as-is for entertainment, is not a financial product or investment advice, and is not suitable for children under 3.

8. Cancellation and refunds

Standard stays

Holiday stays

Other cancellation situations

• No-show or early departure. No refund is due for nights not used once a stay has begun.
• If we cancel. If we have to cancel for a reason within our control, you receive a full refund, and we will help you find alternative dates or a comparable cabin where we can. That refund is the limit of our liability.
• Force majeure. If wildfire, evacuation order, road closure, extreme weather, loss of power or water, government order, or another event outside either party's reasonable control makes the stay unsafe or impossible, we will offer a credit for equivalent dates or a refund of nights not stayed. We are not liable for your travel, insurance or other costs.
• Travel insurance. Weather, road conditions, chain controls and illness are not grounds for a refund outside the schedules above. We strongly recommend travel insurance, particularly for winter stays.
• How to cancel. Email us from the address on your booking, quoting your booking reference. The cancellation takes effect when we receive it.

9. House rules

• Check-in from 3:00 PM, check-out by 11:00 AM. Self check-in with a unique code sent the day before arrival.
• Guest verification and damage protection through our partner Truvi is a condition of every direct booking. After payment the lead guest receives a secure link from Truvi and must complete verification before arrival. If it is not completed, or if Truvi declines the booking, we may cancel the stay and refund you in full.
• Minimum stay of 2 nights, and 3 nights over any holiday period.
• Maximum occupancy is strictly 12 guests at Chalet Bruin and 4 at Koda Loft, infants included. Exceeding it is grounds for immediate termination of the stay.
• No parties, events, commercial photography or filming, and no subletting or re-listing the property.
• No smoking, vaping or e-cigarettes anywhere on the property, indoors or out. Evidence of smoking incurs a specialist cleaning charge.
• Dogs only with our prior written approval — up to two at Chalet Bruin, one at Koda Loft. Dogs must never be left alone in the cabin, must be house-trained, and you are responsible for any damage or extra cleaning they cause. Undisclosed pets incur a fee and may end the stay.
• Quiet hours from 10:00 PM. This is a residential neighbourhood in the forest; please respect the neighbours.
• The wood-burning fireplace may be used with the supplied logs only. Never leave a fire unattended, never close the damper on a live fire, and dispose of ash only in the metal container provided.
• Hot tub use is at your own risk. No glass, no unsupervised children, and keep the cover secured when it is not in use.
• Keep the property secure, do not tamper with locks, alarms, exterior cameras, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, and follow all posted safety notices.
• Fires, fireworks and open flames outdoors are prohibited at all times, including in fire pits and grills during any local fire restriction.
• Park only in the designated spaces. Winter tyres or chains may be legally required on Highway 4 and are your responsibility.
• A Koda Loft booking does not include access to the main chalet, the hot tub or the bocce court.
• Leave the cabin as you found it: rubbish and recycling out, dishes done, furniture back in place.

10. Damage, cleaning and your responsibility

• You are financially responsible for loss, damage or excessive soiling caused by anyone in your party, whether deliberate or accidental, beyond ordinary wear and tear.
• Please tell us about breakages during your stay. Accidents happen and are handled far more easily when reported.
• We may charge the card on file, or invoice you, for documented repair or replacement costs, additional cleaning, lost keys or fob replacement, undisclosed pets or guests, or smoking. We will send you an itemised account with evidence before charging where practicable.
• Where a security deposit or damage authorisation is taken, it is released after check-out once the cabin has been inspected, less any documented deduction.
• Please do not leave valuables behind. We are not responsible for items left in the cabin, though we will make reasonable efforts to return them at your cost.

11. Mountain risk, and what you are accepting

• You acknowledge that the property and its surroundings carry inherent risks: uneven ground, decks, stairs, snow and ice, falling trees and limbs, wildlife including bears, wood fires, the hot tub, altitude, and remote forest terrain.
• Roads may close and chain controls may be in force. Power, water and internet may be interrupted. None of these is a defect in the property.
• You are responsible for supervising children and pets at all times, including around the hot tub, the fireplace, the deck and the driveway.
• You accept these risks on behalf of yourself and every member of your party, and you release us from liability for injury, illness, loss or damage arising from them, except where caused by our own gross negligence or wilful misconduct or where the law does not permit that release.
• You agree to indemnify us against claims, losses and reasonable costs arising from your party's use of the property or breach of these Terms.

12. Bookings made through Airbnb or VRBO

13. Tour links, affiliate disclosure and third-party content

• Tours and activities are sold and operated by Viator or its suppliers, not by us. Viator is the merchant of record, and its terms, pricing, availability and cancellation rules apply to what you buy there.
• Prices, availability and descriptions shown here come from Viator and can change at any time. Always confirm the details on Viator before booking.
• We are not responsible for the conduct, safety, quality, cancellation or refund handling of any third-party operator, and any dispute about a tour is between you and Viator or the operator.
• Snow, weather and trail information on this site is drawn from public data sources and is provided for general guidance only. It is not a safety forecast. Always check official sources such as Caltrans, the National Weather Service and the relevant land manager before you travel.
• Links to other websites are provided for convenience and do not imply endorsement or any control over their content.

14. Using this website

• Submit false, automated or fraudulent booking requests, or use the site to test or reuse stolen payment credentials.
• Scrape, crawl, harvest, mirror or systematically copy the site or its content, or use it to train a model, without our written permission.
• Probe, scan, overload or attempt to bypass any security, authentication or rate-limiting measure, or access any part of the site or database you are not authorised to reach.
• Introduce malware, interfere with the site's operation, or impersonate us or another person.
• Use the site in breach of any applicable law, or in a way that infringes anyone's rights.

15. Intellectual property

16. Reviews and anything you send us

17. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

18. Disputes and governing law

Talk to us first

Which law applies

• Stays and the property. Any dispute about a reservation, a stay, the cabins or the property is governed by the laws of the State of California, and the state and federal courts in Calaveras County, California have exclusive jurisdiction.
• The website, its content and affiliate links. Any dispute about your use of this website, our published content or our affiliate arrangements is governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and the state and federal courts in King County, Washington have exclusive jurisdiction.
• In each case, the conflict-of-laws rules that would apply another state's law do not apply.

Small claims and class actions

19. General

• Changes. We may update these Terms. The version in force for your booking is the one published when we confirmed it, and the date at the top shows the current version. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated Terms.
• Privacy. Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information and forms part of this agreement.
• Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, the rest remains in force and the unenforceable part is narrowed to the minimum extent necessary.
• No waiver. Not enforcing a provision on one occasion does not waive it.
• Assignment. You may not transfer your booking or your rights under these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a sale of the business or the property.
• Survival. The sections on damage, risk, intellectual property, disclaimers, liability and disputes survive the end of your stay.
• Entire agreement. These Terms, our Privacy Policy and your booking confirmation are the whole agreement between us about your stay and this site.

20. Contact