Traps to avoid when reserving accommodation in Malalcahuello, Chile
Protection for the consumer in Chile
In order to enjoy a glass of wine by the fireside in your holiday accommodation, it is recommended that you investigate well prior to making your reservation.
There are various traps to avoid when reserving accommodation in Malalcahuello, Chile. You can take some comfort that there is legal protection for the consumer who makes a reservation in an establishment that is accredited. To ensure that you are protected it is recommended to check that the establishment has a valid commercial license to operate (patente comercial) issued by the municipality and that is not expired. Feel free to ask to see a copy of the license.
All establishments that have sanitary authorisation to operate have been inspected to make sure that they comply with the regulations and basic hygiene standards, as well as protections against fire. They have also been inspected to ensure that the installations are functioning to an adequate standard.
When you make the reservation, you should receive a rental contract. This contract provides greater protection than a reservation without any contract. Family hostals are very common in Chile. Many families in tourist areas rent rooms in their family home or in an extension to their family home. Many of these are informal without the commercial license. It´s always a good idea to ask, even when the establishment seems formal and of reasonably good quality.
If you experience difficulties in terms of failures to honour the rental agreement or other irregularities, there are formal channels where you can submit your complaint. One of those channels is vía SERNAC (National Service for the Consumer). The contact details for SERNAC are as follows: phone – 800 700 100 Monday – Friday 0900: 2100 & Saturday 0900: 1900; complaint form on their website : https://www.sernac.cl/portal/617/w3-propertyvalue-518.html, although they don´t seem to have and English translation of their website and they require you to register in order to enter your complaint.
In the case of fraud, the other option is to report your case to the Police Detective Unit, called the PDI (Policia de Investigaciones).
Value Added Tax or Sales Tax (IVA)
The goods and services tax in Chile is called the IVA. It is 19% and is applied to most goods and services. In the hotel sector, if you pay in USD or some other foreign currency, you are exempt from paying the tax as a non-resident of Chile. You may be asked to show your passport and visa status in order to prove you are a non-resident.
Only those establishments registered with the tax department to receive foreigners can charge non-resident visitors without the tax in foreign currency.
Recommendations for reserving accommodation in Malalcahuello, Chile
- Reserve vía tour operators known or with a traceable history, or that are accredited with the Tourism association of Chile (Sernatur) or directly with well known hotel chains.
- If you have doubts, ask to see the commercial license.
- Read the terms and conditions of the reservation, paying attention to the refund policy.
- Verify that the establishment actually exists. For example, look for it on Google Maps or other internet search engines.
- Revise the evaluations for the establishment online
- Ask friends or family for recommendations if they have been to the same area.
Things not to do when booking accommodation in Malalcahuello, Chile
- Avoid booking in establishments that are not accredited to operate commercially.
- Don´t rely solely on Whats app to communicate and reserve your holiday
- Don´t pay the full amount prior to verifying that the place exists and that the evaluations and checks produce good results.
- Don´t book without reading and receiving a written copy of the conditions of the booking. If possible, inspect prior to paying.
Are you ready to make a booking? For quality, accredited cabins in Malalcahuello, close to the ski centre Corralco & Conguillío National Park, you can book here: https://www.chilewild.com/chalets/
