Version 2.0 · Effective 10 October 2026
This policy applies to reservations booked directly with Dora Canal Court — on this website, by phone or by email.
If you booked through Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com or Expedia, this policy does not apply to you. That platform’s cancellation terms govern your reservation, they differ from ours and from each other, and you need to cancel through them. Please check the terms shown on your booking confirmation.
Cancelling a reservation
Stays under 30 nights. Cancel free of charge up to 5 days before your arrival date for a full refund. Cancellations made within 5 days of arrival are non-refundable.
Stays of 30 nights or more. Cancel free of charge up to 14 days before your arrival date for a full refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of arrival forfeit 50% of the total reservation amount, excluding taxes.
To cancel, call (352) 978-3914 or email contact@doracanalcourt.com with your name and your reservation dates. Your cancellation takes effect when we receive it — not when we get round to replying. We will confirm it in writing, usually the same day.
Changing a reservation
We will always try to accommodate a change of dates, and we would far rather move you than lose you. A change is not a cancellation and we do not charge a fee for asking. Where a change is not possible, the terms above apply.
Payment
Bookings made on this website are requests. We confirm each one personally, and when we confirm we tell you how and when payment is due. We accept credit card, bank deposit, check or cash. We do not store card numbers — see our Privacy Policy.
Taxes
Your reservation is charged Florida sales tax, the Lake County discretionary sales surtax and the Lake County Tourist Development Tax — currently 11% in total on stays of six months or less. Where a cancellation results in a refund, the tax on the refunded amount is refunded with it.
If you booked through one of the platforms, that platform collects and remits these taxes on your booking rather than us.
Refunds
Refunds are returned by the same method used to pay wherever practicable; where that is not possible we will agree a method with you. Card refunds typically appear within 5–10 business days, depending on your bank.
If you disagree with a charge
Please contact us first on (352) 978-3914 or at contact@doracanalcourt.com. We will look into it and respond within 7 days. We would much rather sort it out with you directly than have you go to your bank, and in our experience it is faster for you too.
Hurricanes and severe weather
We are in Central Florida, and we would rather be plain with you than leave you guessing.
Severe weather does not by itself entitle you to a refund. That includes hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, and forecasts of any of them — whether they affect Tavares, your route here, or your home. If you decide not to travel, or you cut your stay short, the standard cancellation terms above are what apply.
There are two exceptions, and both run in your favour:
- If we cannot give you the cottage you booked because it is damaged or unsafe, we will cancel and refund you in full for the nights we cannot provide.
- If a mandatory evacuation order covering the property is in force for any of your booked nights, we will refund those nights in full. We cannot lawfully house you during an evacuation, and we are not going to try to keep your money for nights you were barred from staying.
This is what travel insurance is for. Buy it when you book, before any storm is named — once a storm has a name, cover for it is generally no longer available.
Travel insurance
For stays booked well ahead, for stays during hurricane season, or simply where the cost matters to you, we recommend travel insurance bought at the time of booking. It covers the circumstances our policy cannot. We do not sell insurance, we do not recommend any particular provider, and we receive nothing if you buy it.
Shortened stays and early departure
Rates are charged for the nights reserved. Departing early does not entitle you to a refund for the unused nights.
If we have to cancel
If we cannot honor your reservation — because of maintenance, damage, or any other reason on our side — we will tell you as soon as we know, offer you another cottage where one is available, and refund you in full if we cannot accommodate you.
Charges that are not refundable
The extra-guest fee and the Cottage 34 pet fee follow the reservation and are refunded on the same terms as the rest of it. Charges for damage beyond normal wear and tear, missing items, excessive cleaning, or putting right smoking or an unapproved animal are not refundable. How those charges are assessed is set out in section 10 of our Terms & Conditions, which gives you notice, an itemised account with photographs, and a chance to respond before anything is charged.
Questions? Call (352) 978-3914 or email contact@doracanalcourt.com.