Terms of Conditions

for Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast

Special Safety Notes on our Social Distancing and Sanitizing:

We have always strove to maintain as clean and clutter free facility as possible. However with the COVID-19 epidemic we have extended and improved our policies. We are a new facility designed with modern (eg geothermal HVAC individual room controls) and effective cleaning/maintenance policies and facilities that are not generally available to re-built or modernized older facilities. Most of our exterior walls are glass and let in cleansing sunlight. Our black-out outdoor porch edge hurricane shutters, which also are routinely sunlight and sanitizer cleansed, are our window treatments that are open for most of the day to afford the guests grand 2nd and 3rd story views of our 30 acres of forest and fairways. We opened in December of 2018 as a new build facility with all theses and more unique and effective cleansing designs

Bienvenue Mon Ami has large common & private areas for you to bring restaurant take-outs for your social distance dining on porches, in game rooms or in picnic areas.  Our complimentary gourmet breakfasts & evening snacks are room specific for your room's private balcony or for any of our well-spaced 6 + ft. apart dining areas.  We change our pillows & linens between each guest to a new sanitized version.  While COVID-19 is an issue, all guest reading materials are discarded between guest stays and hand & appliance sanitizer liquids & wipes are provided for guests to use.   Staff routinely cleanse interior common area typical touch points (pool cues, switches, coded room & elevator door handles, foosball handles, shuffleboard pieces, air hockey hitters & all game lean-on points, +).  Check-ins & outs are all electronically performed from appropriate social distances. Our hot tub is generally scheduled for one at a time usage and is readily cleaned between clients. Interior window treatments are minimal and the few we have are cleaned between clients. When COVID is highlighted for extra precautionary needs , we UV treat our fabrics cushions between clients & we've extensive outdoor areas. Our extensive well sunlight areas increased effective sanitizing beyond our disinfectants. Our common area kitchen requires no guest to touch a point that is cannot be sanitized. All our appliance controls and handles are readily cleansed with disinfectants and we provide sanitizers for each guest to on the push buttons and handles of controls and cooking appliances. We provide guests the option of using disposable or very high temperature dishwasher cleansed tableware.

With all of these controls in place our environment should feel safe as we are taking extreme measures to insure cleansing is thorough. However, even with the most rigorous controls, guests could touch a contaminated atypical touch point and/or forget to use our provided sanitizers/disinfectants before touching a common space touch point between our cleanings. Hence, we include viral and bacteria exposures in the hold harmless clause listed below.

We monitor industry webinars for advice and rules. Rules and tactics can change so fast that we may be delayed or miss some elements that we should be controlling. If you have a suggestion or know of a procedure we have missed for our improving our process, please let us know.

By being at or purchasing from Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery you are agreeing to the Hold Harmless clause listed further down in this text.

1. DEPOSITS, FEES & PAYMENTS

Our standard policy requires a 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of reservation and is charged to the Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card you provide.   The remaining balance will be charged to the credit card on the arrival date of the reservation.  See our cancelation policy for refund and deposit timing if necessary.

Guests using our facility are expected to return the surroundings to a reasonable state. We provide clean linens, soaps and thorough cleanings between guests, clean towels, dish cleaning, breakfast set-upsevenings snacks and trash removal daily. Furniture and games are expected to be returned to an as found state before leaving and those in the common area are expected to be as such before retiring each night.  Numerous trash cans are provided and self generated litter is to be cleaned up by guests.  Paint and finish on doors and walls are to as found.  Common areas should be picked up each night before retiring or when leaving.  Ceiling fans are to be on when leaving a room as  this facilitates the HVAC systems.  Because several of our prior guests have not been considerate of these policies, we have had to initiate a clean-up fee that you agree to pay if you do abide.  A $250  per area clean-up fee can be charged to  your card on file for each the following areas:  Game room, common area living area/kitchen, general grounds, gazebo, and pond area.

We follow a rigid room stocking policy where we provide a set count of the finest quality linens , blankets and towels. Our game rooms, art gallery, guest kitchen,  furniture and library contain high quality elements where many are difficult and/or costly to replace.  For example, our large Comphy bath sheets have a $150 replacement cost if purposely damaged, uncleanably stained or accidentally taken. Any missing or damaged  element (due to client negligence) will be charged the guest card on file for the full replacement cost (including taxes and delivery charges) plus a  minimum of 50% of total cost restocking fee.

Any costs (labor, material plus 50% of all costs as a management fee) to repair facility damage caused by the guest will be charged to the guest reserving the room(s).

2. ROOM OCCUPANCY

Without additional fee, all rooms are restricted to a maximum of two person, single bed occupancy.   In our 3 larger, balcony suites, up two extra persons and/or a second bed can be added for a fee. Room enhancements and/or extra amenities can be added for a fee  (price may increase but as of May 2022 the fee is 49$ a head or 49$ for a second bed (when two people require separate sleeping beds).   RV rentals have a "number of persons" pricing component. Any RV's exceeding 4 persons / RV will require proprietor pre-approval and include further increased incremental charges.

In the event a child is brought on premise, the parents and party bringing them here will be responsible for the repair costs for any elements they break or cause to malfunction. Be aware that children have caused an elevator malfunction requiring a $600 emergency repair bill and a pool table felt damage that cost $400 to repair.  Addo\itionally, our guests need to be aware that we do not have smaller child proofing elements such as child lock cabinets, covers to our plugs and gates to our staircases.

Only animals allowed in our guest areas are service animals required by our ADA facility and RV guests. Prior approval even for service animals is necessary so that we can attempt to assure no conflicts exist with our other potentially allergy sensitive guests/workers. RV glamping is allowed to bring pets as long as the animals are well controlled, cleaned up after by their owners, and kept out of the main house covered balconies and indoor areas.  Any violations of these elements will suffer a fine equal to the funds paid to rent the facility for the day of the violation as well as any medical treatment fees that might result.

3. CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT POLICY

Check-In time is between the hours of 3pm and 6pm. Check-Out time is any time before 11am.  We can never guarantee a late check-out or early check-in time.  However, when feasible and within reason, we are fairly liberal with adjusting check-in and check-out times. However, any exceptions to these times will require proprietor pre-approval and may include incremental charges. We urge you to schedule extra nights if you are requiring  an early check-in or late check-out time.

4. SMOKING POLICY

All Bienvenue Mon Ami's indoor spaces are smoking prohibited areas.  Significant fines exist for any smoking in rooms or in common indoor areas. Careless smoking on balconies that is in any way a hazard to property or an annoyance to guests and staff will have to cease immediately without complaint or a fine will be imposed. Any damage to any property resulting from careless smoking will have a repair bill and a fine will be imposed on your bill.   When we are having events with more than 16 people in attendance, the common area covered balconies will always be re-classified as strictly enforced non-smoking areas.  Several designated smoking areas that are away from the main house will always be available and will be pointed out when requested.

5. EMERGENCY CALL-OUTS

Elevator and main lobby areas phones can summons emergency assistance. Dialing 911 and specifying your location as 20181 East Bell Road in Amite, Louisiana from any phone will get rapid response assistance. Emergency call pulls exist in many of the rooms near the main entrance doors. Pushing the seal in a downward direction to remove the seal and then lifting the switch will summons emergency response via our 24/7 security monitoring.  

First aid equipment is kept in the unlocked common area cleaning supply/ironing board louvered door closet next to the Lily Room entrance.

For when  a visitor is suffering from apparent heart problems, an AED machine with audible instructions is accessible in an alarmed cabinet at the bottom of the indoor staircase leading to the proprietors living quarters.

Also, emergency calls ambulance, fire and police are on the security code entry in the hallway across from the common area powder room on the guest rooms with balconies level. If any unnecessary summons is made to emergency services, there is a $1,000.00 fine imposed by the parish that will be added to your bills. If an inadvertent emergency call was mistakenly made, dial the owners at 985-634-7786 and explain what was done. We will then attempt to cancel the call out before it reaches the fine imposed criteria.

6. COMMON AREA FACILITY AMENITIES

Common areas include and are not restricted to the following areas: wrap around furnished/heated/shuttered common area 2nd story porch, common area ADA compliant powder room, anywhere under the ceiling designed with acoustics in mind encompassing the game room (pool/board games/foosball and more) and dining/sitting areas, guest access common use kitchenette with microwave/full refrigerator/oven/utensils/plates/cups, evening snacks, featured artist gallery area with for sale artwork and most all our 30 acres outdoor area that includes the largely private hot tub area, picnic and walking/trail areas. For a varied by location fee, dinners can be taken out and/or potentially delivered to our premises from local restaurant where they can be consumed in these common areas or in you private rooms. (If help is required, please try to coordinate through our on-site accessible concierge before 2 PM).

Catch/release fishing is here in our Bass and Brim stocked pond. We typically feed the fish in the evening just before sunset and invite our guests to either help or watch the school of fish at that time.

A top-of-dam edge picnic area with an outdoor grill and wood burning fire pit leading to our growing number of trails is available. We recommend watching the sunsets and lighted fountain appear in the pond after dark from this location. A cover is being planned to allow a more comfortable, shaded mid-day usage of this area but is currently not available..

We have recently added a unique Spa style massage therapist service. We can arrange for a single or couples massage in any of our second floor guest rooms or on their private balconies. You simply must try a sunset covered private porch preferably couples style massage. If you are staying in the ground floor Hydrangea room which does not have a private porch area, we can offer a space in either our game room area or on one of our other porches

Items to look forward to at Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery with Sculpture Garden:

On-site exercise and cycling facilities are in an evaluation phase. We can typically facilitate local access to others' facilities with reservations/fees required.  A very unique octagonal swing surrounded fire pit with flue and roof with an adjacent picnic and outdoor game area is being rebuilt after a recent fire believed caused by a lighted candle and wild animal incident in an adjacent attached building.

7. EVENTS, GUEST VISITORS AND IMPROVING OUR FACILITIES

Larger weddings and other events can be accommodated if the entire facility is rented for the event. On infrequent occasions, small event gatherings may temporarily limit some guest accesses to parts of our facility for a short duration. We strive to limit the impact to our overnight guests caused by periodic construction efforts, maintenance activities and small short duration events as they might interfere with the guest experience of staying at Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery. We are almost always in an expansion of amenities/facilities mode, but our rooms and building is so well soundproofed that any construction/improvement/maintenance disturbance should be minimal. Meeting/team building areas are available but generally require the facility be fully rented for the event to happen.  When events happen or our guests have visitors, only guests who are  pre-designated as overnight client's are to have access to our overnight guest amenities which include but are not limited to bottled water, ice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apples, oranges, juice,  soda,  snacks, gourmet breakfasts.  Whenever non-overnight pre-designated guests utilize any of these services, the extra guest fee per person charge will be imposed  for ALL non-designated overnight guests in attendance.

We will attempt to inform all overnight room guests of any non-routine events or activities happening at Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery..  

Contact proprietors to determine feasibility, cost, and timing, if you are considering us for an event facilitation.

8. HOLD HARMLESS

Introduction with Cautionary Examples of Risks at Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery:

In order to enjoy life, there are always elements of risk. Examples that are feasible at Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and and Art Gallery include the following that all clients need to be and are now made aware of by reading this text.

Avoiding injury from any animal on Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery's facility whether wild or tame requires some caution or avoidance when approaching an animal. We are required by law to allow all documented service animals on site. Also, we allow glampers to bring a pet on site (but not in guest area of the main house). The owners have normally well controlled pets that we try to only allow in certain areas.

Our forest is a natural habitat where trees fall in wind storms or when age/disease weaken them. Falling trees could damage you or your property. The potential for cuts exist with remnants of thorny plants, barb wire and other fences that are on our boundaries and in our forested areas. Our normally shallow stream could flood deep enough to become a drowning hazard when roaming our woods and fields. We have extensive parking lot areas and gravel roads that could have accidents from things like thrown rocks or collisions with other vehicles.

We have a nominal acre+, reasonably deep pond that can represent a drowning or fishing injury risk where we allow some small boating (for example paddle boats) with life preservers.   Visitors here have access to our picturesque 30 acre grounds and trails where all sorts of wild and potentially dangerous snakes, birds, and other animals roam freely in fields, pond, stream and forests.

We have a water filled hot tub that requires no glassware near them for cut concerns and that could be a drowning hazard. Our elevator can be stopped with improper operation and may require some time to get going again.

We take extreme cleaning precautions. but a recent bacterial or viral exposure may be encountered by a guest between cleansings.  

We have hot elements like towel warmers, coffee makers, microwaves, hot pots, heaters, stoves, grills and more where clients or their belongings could suffer a burn.

We periodically allow on our facility firearm and bow target practice that could result in numerous injury potentials even though we have controls in place and any current guests are made aware.    

A stalled elevator can be mentally challenging to claustrophobic individuals.

Our facility does not have cabinet child locks, plug covers or gates at our staircases. Children oversite and safety is totally the responsibility of the guests bringing them on site.

The stairs, elevated decks and game rooms require guests to maintain a  reasonable  height awareness and caution to avoid a serious fall injury.  

We offer occasional transportation services that suffer the same potential for accident that any roadway has.  

Users of our drives and parking areas assume full responsibility for any incidents that could damage vehicles, contents or personnel. Lawn Care and Mother Nature via erosion, plant growth, animals, or otherwise has made some of our fields and forests have uneven ground with numerous tripping hazards that could result in hiker or biker injuries. We work hard to make your stay as safe and enjoyable as possible.

We have taken great care to provide you a safe and secure environment. The three main floor rooms have emergency call buttons and all our buildings have a security system that is continuously monitored on a dedicated independent network where all devices are connected to uninterrupted power sources. We have a monitored and self-activating fire suppression system throughout our Guest Room building. Our common area has FIRE/POLICE/AMBULANCE monitored service call buttons.  We have two guest accessible phones (one on elevator and one in common kitchen area) that are on different carriers. Hence, if one phone is not working, try the other. Our website is HTTPS:.   All our entry and potential entry points to the buildings are camera monitored and recorded. Valuable safes are in every room. If you desire further secure storage, we have same available. Just ask us when you feel you have the need. All our doors to your rooms and the gates to our drives have lock code access. All exterior entries to our main building also have locking capabilities. Your rooms are provided with door closers, but you may need to assure they are pulled that last little bit to be fully locked and closed.  We have generator back-up power to attempt to assure all our electrical equipment (emergency and otherwise) is always available.   Elevators, many of our common area elements and our Rose of Sharon Room were designed to meet 2017 American Disability Act requirements. Our shutters protect our glass walls and meet the most stringent Florida coast hurricane protection specifications. Our exterior lighting in the parking area is dusk-to-dawn always on unless a bulb is temporarily burnt out and the house exterior lights are left on as a general practice. Our water system uses limestone beds to assure a neutral pH, water softener to make the bathing more comfortable, and UV filters to for elimination of any potential residual bacterial elements. Our sinks and refrigerators have reverse osmosis filtered water available to remove any residual or added minerals from your drinking water.  See above for how we cleanse and control the environment to attempt to prevent disease transmittal.  All this and more is to provide you a safe and secure feeling. Even though we are posting that Bienvenue Mon Ami and Art Gallery and those affiliated with it are not responsible for any damage or theft of you and your valuables, we will cooperate with any law enforcement agencies to resolve any issues you have encountered.

However, certain elements are a primarily a result of your or other guest actions, elements beyond our control (e.g. uninsured or hit and run motorist collisions, breaking and/or entering theft issues, and recent bacteria/virus contamination) , or beyond reasonable maintenance and safeguard expectations. The hold harmless agreement outlined below would hold Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery and associated entities and corporations harmless for these items which would not be limited to items discussed above but would at least include all elements discussed above..

Purchases, Reservations, Support Concurrence and/or Attendance Implies Your Agreement:

Because we are trying to reduce the insurance costs that we would have to pass onto you; clients, employees, and contractors; we are compelled to require your agreeing to a hold harmless agreement with Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery with Sculpture Garden (short name for element defined below).   The agreement is in force starting on the earliest date that you make a reservation with Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, come onto Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery facilities, participate in any Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery function, agree to purchase anything from Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, or commit to provide or accept services or products from Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery.  By attending a function associated with Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, by coming onto property owned and/or operated by Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, by buying Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery products, by renting anything from Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, and by working with or for Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery; you are agreeing to that agreement as presented below:  

Hold Harmless Agreement:

This Hold Harmless Agreement (this "agreement") is made effective from the date listed in paragraph above by and between Mon Ami BnB Corporation and any entity or personnel supporting, leasing, loaning or renting assets to or on the property being operated by Mon Ami BnB Corporation (in addition to these entities themselves the personnel definition also includes officers, owners, personnel, employees, contractors, invitees , and volunteers associated with Mon Ami BnB Corporation and their leasing, supporting, loaning or renting entity) (hereafter, "Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery" or "BMA") of 20181 East Bell Road, Amite, Louisiana 70422.

and

any personnel or entity attending a function associated with Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, coming onto property owned and/or operated by Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, buying Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery products, renting anything from Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery, and working with or for Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery (in addition to these entities and personnel themselves the definition also includes officers, owners, personnel, employees, contractors, invitees , and volunteers of the entities (hereafter "Client" or "Clients") of addresses provided when becoming a client.

WHEREAS, Clients desires to hold harmless Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery from any claims and/or litigation arising from Clients actions and participation in connection with encountering, presenting and interfacing to animals of all sorts, hiking, walking, boating, fishing, jogging, running, exercising, participating in spa treatments, cooking, drinking and drink preparations, hot tubbing, being transported to/from dining and events, swimming, game room usage, stair usage, elevator usage,  bathroom usage, elevated area and areas below elevated area usage, furniture usage, shutter usage, hot equipment usage, firearm and bow target practicing and being on site when warned of target practices in progress, slipping on wet floors in baths, near fountains and on walkways, encountering broken glass not known by BMA to be there, driving on BMA roadways, using BMA parking lots , using BMA gates, being around lawn and ground care activities, walkway usage, viewing or being near fountains, consuming beverages and foodstuffs.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions contained herein, BMA and CLIENTS hereby agree as follows:

TERMS:

CLIENTS shall fully defend indemnify and hold harmless BMA from any claims, lawsuits, demands, causes of action, liability, loss damage and/or injury, of any kind whatsoever (including without limitation all claims for monetary loss, property damage, equitable relief, personal injury, illness recovery or mitigations and/or wrongful death), whether brought by an individual or other entity, or imposed by a court of law or by administrative actions of any federal, state or local governmental body or agency, arising out of , in any way whatsoever, any acts, omissions, negligence, or willful misconduct on the part of Clients, its officers, owners, personnel employees, agents, contractors, invitees, or volunteers. This indemnification applies to and includes, without limitations, the payment of all penalties, fines, judgements, awards, decrees, attorney's fees,and related costs or expenses and any reimbursements to BMA for all legal fees, expenses,and costs incurred by it.

Further Viral (eg Covid-19) and Bacterial Element Specifics of the Hold Harmless Agreement:

As a guest, visitor, client or contractor of Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast, you agree to release and hold-harmless Mon Ami BnB Corporation, any of it's affiliated corporations (such as it's landlords) or individuals, its innkeepers, employees, and vendors from and against all claims for damages and liability resulting from exposure to any disease-causing organisms, such as COVID-19, and contaminated objects.

Guests, visitors and clients understand and agree that the risk of disease exposure will still exist. If symptoms begin during guests', they are required to inform the Innkeepers immediately and leave to return home if possible. If departure is not possible, guests must self-isolate for the remainder of their stay and the Department of Health must be contacted immediately. If a guest is exposed to COVID-19 or any other disease or contracts same during their stay and has to self-quarantined at the Bed and Breakfast, additional charges based on the original nightly rates will apply.

Only registered guests listed on the reservation and those pre-approved by innkeepers are allowed on the property grounds and in guestrooms. Visitors who are unregistered guests or unapproved by the Innkeepers are not authorized to enter the property at any time. For any client's guest  the clients  are required to inform them of all terms and conditions (including hold harmless clauses)--Note: All client's guests must first be pre-approved by Innkeepers.

All clients, guests and visitors may not enter the premises if they have symptoms of respiratory illness. If a guest has signs of sickness, such guest must reschedule their visit and/or paid stay.

Unless mandated differently by local authorities, guests are not required to wear masks in common indoor areas but may do so for personal reasons. Additional guidance may be provided in the courtesy reminder email sent prior to the scheduled arrival date.

During your visit/stay at Bienvenue Mon Ami Bed and Breakfast and Art Gallery:

-         Sanitize hands with alcohol hand wash provided in the common areas (especially before touching and handles and buttons in the common areas)

-         Use tissues to capture any coughs or sneezes.

-         Regularly wash hands.

-         Keep a sensible distance from each other and avoid contact.