Health and Safety
Having an enjoyable and safe holiday at your villa
All reasonable steps have been taken to ensure you have an enjoyable and safe holiday with The Thinking Traveller. It should be noted, however, that safety standards and regulations do vary from country to country.
The Thinking Traveller has its own set of standards, and safety levels in all our properties are assessed in accordance with these. Wherever possible, the risk level of hazards are eliminated or reduced and communicated to clients. The information set out in this policy applies to every villa in our portfolio, however please refer to the “Considerations” section on each villa page, and your ‘House Guide’ to find specific information relevant to that property.
We recommend that all clients take precautions to safeguard their own safety and that of their family and guests, especially children, people with disabilities and the elderly.
If you have any specific Health & Safety questions about any of our properties, please speak to our Villa Specialists, who have visited our villas and slept at many. They will be only too pleased to answer your queries.
Rest assured!
All our villas undergo Health & Safety inspections by The Thinking Traveller's local staff. Here are some of the fundamental elements of our Health & Safety policy, designed to give you peace of mind:
- Safety Notices can be found in every villa. Please refer to these at the start of your stay.
- Emergency contact and information: each villa is provided with a sheet of emergency contact details and the number of a Local Manager available 24/7 in case of emergency.
House Guides
Before you even depart on your holiday, you will be able to download a House Guide for your villa. House Guides are individual to each property and are designed to help you get the most out of your accommodation and the local area. They include all the contacts you may require during your stay and highlight any health and safety elements specific to the villa. Please read carefully before and during your stay.
We would like to highlight the following safety recommendations:
General Safety
As a general rule, please exercise the same care and cautions that you would at home. On arrival at your villa, take some time to familiarise yourself with all areas. In particular:
Take care to look around the garden of the villa in daylight to familiarise yourself with any low walls, drop-offs or steep descents. Please also take care with any steps inside and outside the villa and be mindful of any trip or slip hazard. Remember to keep feet dry as this can cause slip hazards for yourself and others.
Remember that children may be less careful than adults in new surroundings – so please take extra care with children on balconies, stairs and around water at all times, but especially during the first day when everything is unfamiliar. There is no substitute for parental vigilance.
Many villas are located in the countryside and the surrounding area may be unfenced and may contain uneven terrain, slopes or drops and which could result in a slip or fall if the child, or adult, does not take care. We urge caution at all times.
Please report any concerns to your local specialist.
Fire Safety
On arrival take time to familiarise yourself with the emergency exit routes where applicable. Make a note of the nearest exits and how to raise the alarm in case of fire.
Each villa is provided with fire blankets and smoke detectors.
Smoking is not permitted at any of our properties. Please ensure that all cigarettes/cigars are fully extinguished safely before you arrive at the villa and always be mindful of the risk of wildfires.
If there is a fireplace in your villa, please use any fire grill or guard (if provided) at all times, and ensure that fires are not left burning or unattended and ensure they are fully extinguished when you go out or go to bed.
Make sure all candles are extinguished before going to bed or leaving the property.
In the event of fire, leave your villa/room immediately.
Do not stop to pack or collect your belongings.
Stay calm and do not panic.
Exit the building as quickly as possible closing all doors behind you.
Electricity, Gas and Air-conditioning
Please respect gas and electricity as you would at home and follow any instructions given.
Please ensure that all gas and electric devices are turned off at night or when you are not in your villa or room.
Do not tamper with any related fixture or fitting and report any faults immediately.
Balcony Safety
Take extra care on balconies and keep shutters/doors/windows securely closed whenever terraces/balconies are not in use.
Children should never be left unsupervised or be:
- Allowed to climb on furniture.
- Allowed to climb on railings.
- Allowed to sit on or lean over balconies, terraces or railings.
Glass Doors
Where large glass doors are fitted please take extra care especially in bright sunlight as it is not always obvious whether they are open or closed. Serious injury can occur if care is not taken.
Child Safety
Cots provided in villas may be travel cots.
Please exercise caution as children will be sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings.
Highchairs may not have harnesses. Please ensure that all children are secure and do not leave a child unattended in a highchair.
Please make sure all highchairs and cots or travel cots are locked in position.
Some villas may contain ponds or water features that are unfenced. Please familiarise yourself with these upon arrival and keep children supervised at all times.
Please do not allow children to explore the grounds and villa unsupervised.
Sunbathing
Please avoid the sun’s strongest rays during the middle of the day and make use of the shade. Always use a high factor sun protection suitable for your skin type and re-apply often, especially after swimming.
Children should always wear a hat and have their shoulders covered.
Avoid exposing babies under six months to direct sunlight.
Swimming Pool Safety
Diving is not permitted either from the side of the pool or from diving boards.
Walk and do not run around the pool.
Please check the pool depths shown on The Thinking Traveller villa page and/or the pool notice situated by the pool or in the villa.
Please make sure to thoroughly dry your feet and body before re-entering the villa.
Swimming at night is not recommended. Take extra care should you choose to swim at night.
Eating and drinking do not mix with swimming.
No breakable items, e.g. drinking glasses, glass bottles, etc. are to be used around the pool.
Inside furniture is to be kept inside the villa and not taken to the pool.
Do not lift or remove the pool filter covers or try to adjust the chlorine levels or pH controls balance.
Pool Safety for Children
Children should be supervised by a responsible adult at all times when around the pool area.
Please take special care during the first few hours after arrival at the villa when children are using the pool for the first time.
Armbands, rubber rings and buoyancy aids are not a substitute for parental vigilance.
Ensure you check the depths of the main pool and any children’s pool, and take note of where the pool changes depth.
Please protect your children and ensure that they remain in view at all times, especially small children and weak swimmers.
The “no diving” and “no running around the pool” rules applies to children as well as adults.
Infinity Pools (also called Horizon Pools)
Infinity pools are increasingly popular as they offer incredible views from within the pool and its surroundings. Due to their design however, some have significant drops from the far edge. Please be aware of these, particularly with children, and observe the above precautions. Inflatable items, such as pool floats must not be used in infinity pools. Walking along the perimeter is not permitted.
Jacuzzis, Steam Rooms & Saunas
Please do not use these facilities if:
- You suffer from heart disease, circulatory problems, an infectious skin disease, sores or wounds.
- You are taking any medication unless you have checked in advance with a medical professional that it is safe to use these facilities.
- Suffer from an illness causing an inability to perspire.
- Have eaten a heavy meal and/or alcohol within one and a half hours.
- Are feeling unwell.
- Have recently exercised. Please allow time for your body temperature to return to normal.
How to use these facilities safely:
- They can operate at high temperatures, so ensure that they are set at a comfortable temperature for you before you enter the water.
- Do not wear contact lenses, glasses, make-up, jewellery, watches or any other metal items.
- Stay in for no longer than 10 minutes at a time.
- Take a cold shower between sessions.
- Staying for long periods can result in sickness, dizziness or fainting.
- If you are pregnant seek medical advice first.
- Avoid jumping in or fooling around. Take note of the steps, as it’s easy to slip.
- Ensure you know where the controls are, particularly any emergency shut-off buttons.
- If there are any faults or damage, do not try to fix these yourself, but report them to your representative who can call in a professional.
- Children under 12 should not use these facilities.
- Always replace body fluids which will have been lost during the session by drinking plenty of liquids – but not alcohol.
Animals
Do not feed, pet or play with any wild or domesticated animals.
Keep children from playing near wild or domesticated animals.
Please use litter bins provided and replace lids where fitted, thus discouraging wasps and vermin.
Many of the villas in our portfolio are located in the countryside, and therefore attract bees, wasps and other insects particularly in hot weather and often near the pool area or wherever there is water or food. Although insect repellent is provided in all our villas, we recommend bringing your own as well to ensure the brand matches your requirements. Please let your villa specialist know if you have any allergies.
Personal Safety
Look after your personal belongings – please take advantage of safety deposit facilities where available and ensure that personal items are not left on display in cars or at restaurants. Beware of potential pickpockets when exploring local areas.
Remember that when crossing the road, cars may drive on the opposite side. Please pay particular attention at pedestrian crossings and take extra care, as in some regions, these can be more dangerous than those that you are accustomed to at home.
Please do not try to fix anything on your own. Please contact your local representative to report any breakages or damage.
If you have any medical requirements or allergies that The Thinking Traveller should be aware of, please let your Villa Specialist know ahead of your stay.
Beach Safety
Even the safest beaches can be dangerous in certain weather conditions.
Be aware of depths, tides and currents.
Check local advice and respect any warnings of strong currents.
Swim along the shore and not out to sea.
Do not swim alone or at night or allow children to swim unsupervised at any time.
We do not recommend using inflatable boats or pool floats on open water.
If the beach has a flag system, please learn and follow it.
Please do not swim at any beach that isn’t a designated public or private beach.
Sea Access
Some of the paths from villas to the sea access are steep, uneven and may not always have handrails. Please take care at care at all times on uneven surfaces, with unfenced drops.
We do not recommend swimming in the sea during windy, choppy or unpredictable weather. If the access to the sea from your villa is via rocks, please remember that it may be easy to get into the water, but much harder to get out and therefore not suitable for children, the elderly or those with limited mobility. Even strong and confident swimmers can be at risk so we urge caution at all times. Some water can be immediately deep.
Water shoes are recommended to protect feet from cuts.
Children must always be supervised by an adult.
Barbeques / Fire Pits and Wildfire Risks
If the villa has a barbecue, this will be electric, gas or charcoal. Please note that charcoal barbecues are not to be used in windy conditions, when the temperature is very high, or in areas that are known wildfire risks. Please refer to your House Guide before using any barbecue and familiarise yourself with the environmental risks. The same guidance applies to fire pits using charcoal or solid fuel.
Please always make sure the BBQ or fire pit is at least 10 meters away from vegetation, on a non-combustible floor (such as stone or cement) and make sure a bucket or source of water is always close by should you need it. It is not permitted to have any BBQs or fires outside of the grounds of the villa, in the countryside.
Dietary Requirements & Allergies
Sea Access
Some of the paths from villas to the sea access are steep, uneven and may not always have handrails. Please take care at care at all times on uneven surfaces, with unfenced drops.
We do not recommend swimming in the sea during windy, choppy or unpredictable weather. If the access to the sea from your villa is via rocks, please remember that it may be easy to get into the water, but much harder to get out and therefore not suitable for children, the elderly or those with limited mobility. Even strong and confident swimmers can be at risk so we urge caution at all times. Some water can be immediately deep.
Water shoes are recommended to protect feet from cuts.
Children must always be supervised by an adult.
Air Conditioning Comfort & Fair Usage Policy
At The Thinking Traveller, we carefully select villas that offer the highest standards of comfort appropriate to their location, architecture and local infrastructure. Many of our properties are historic buildings, architect-designed homes, or villas situated in remote Mediterranean locations where environmental conditions and power supplies differ from those found in purpose-built hotels or modern urban developments.
Our Commitment
Where air conditioning is advertised, it will be maintained in good working order and designed to provide a comfortable indoor environment for normal residential use.
Under typical operating conditions, guests should reasonably expect air-conditioned bedrooms and living areas to maintain temperatures approximately 8–15°C below the prevailing outdoor temperature, subject to external weather conditions, occupancy levels, building design, and sensible use of the system.
As a general guide, when outside temperatures are exceptionally high (35–40°C or above), indoor temperatures of approximately 24°C should be considered normal and comfortable performance for many Mediterranean villas.
Reasonable Expectations
Air conditioning systems in private villas are domestic or light-commercial installations and are not designed to operate to the standards of large hotels, commercial buildings or specialist climate-controlled environments.
Accordingly, we cannot guarantee:
- Specific indoor temperatures chosen by guests.
- Continuous maintenance of temperatures below 22°C.
- The ability to achieve or maintain temperatures significantly below prevailing outdoor conditions.
- Uniform temperatures throughout all areas of large properties, particularly those with extensive glazing, open-plan designs, high ceilings, traditional stone construction, or frequent opening of doors and windows.
Responsible Use
To achieve the best performance, guests are asked to:
- Keep external doors and windows closed while air conditioning is operating.
- Use systems in accordance with the villa handbook and local instructions.
- Avoid setting thermostats to excessively low temperatures, as this does not improve cooling performance and may impair system efficiency.
- Report any concerns promptly so that assistance can be arranged.
Exceptional Weather Conditions
During periods of extreme heat, heatwaves, high humidity, or local power supply restrictions, air conditioning performance may be reduced. Such conditions are outside the reasonable control of both The Thinking Traveller and the villa owner.
Provided the air conditioning system is functioning as designed and delivering reasonable cooling performance for the property and prevailing conditions, this will not be regarded as a defect in the villa or a failure to provide advertised amenities.
Service Response
Should an air conditioning system cease functioning, we will work with the villa owner and local contractors to restore service as quickly as reasonably possible. Response and repair times may vary depending on the property's location, availability of specialist engineers, local infrastructure and the nature of the fault.
Updated 17 Sep 2026
