how? what? when? can I?
We have gathered the most frequently asked questions at The Chettinad and coupled them with our best answers. Nonetheless, you are always welcome to contact us directly for any enquiries.
A Few Quick Facts:
Airport: Aeroport d’Eivissa
Airport Transfer Time: 15-20 min
Approximate Taxi Fare: 25€
Nearest beach: 15 min drive (and one of the nicest on the island)
Closest village: 3 min drive / 20 min walk
Catering
“How does it work?”
We refer you to one of our trusted chefs. Depending on which chef is available to cater you retreat, menus, rates and conditions may vary. Please confirm catering first before pricing your retreat.
“How much does it cost?”
Although rates vary depending on the chef, you can expect to pay a maximum of €55* per person per day for catering + 10%* referral commission *(For both fees, additional recuperable VAT charges apply. See ‘How and when do I pay for catering?’ below for details on VAT rates.)
“Are there any minimums?
Yes, the price is based on a minimum of 8 persons.
“What is included?”
A Welcome Bite on arrival afternoon, a daily Brunch + Dinner menu (dinner only on arrival day and breakfast only on departure morning) sourced from high-quality ingredients – fresh, plant-based, and organic (when available). Unlimited filtered drinking water is provided by The Chettinad.
“What if I prefer to have 3 meals a day?”
This is possible, however the overwhelming majority of retreat groups choose our brunch + dinner formula. Three meals have been reported as excessive when participating in a physically active program, and the additional mealtime limits leisure time to enjoy other activities on the island. Quotes provided upon request.
“Can I see a sample menu before I decide?”
Yes, we will provide you with a sample menu upon request. Please let us know of any dietary requirements and restrictions or if you have a special theme for your retreat...vegan, raw food, detox, fitness…
“What if I want a gluten free and/or dairy free menu?”
No problem, and the price is the same. Our chefs have been catering yoga retreats for years and specialize in gluten and lactose free menus.
“What if I have other special requests or dietary restrictions?”
Our chefs already take into consideration common dietary restrictions, allergies and preferences when planning retreat menus, but please enquire about your specific needs. This generally comes at no supplementary cost but depends on the nature of your request.
“What if I would like some meat and fish for some of the meals?”
Although we will gladly make a request on your behalf, the availability of this option, and pricing, is solely at the chef’s discretion.
“Does the price include service and clean-up after meals?”
This varies depending on the individual chef’s rates and conditions. As a minimum, all of our chefs set up serving dishes and clean up equipment and items used in preparation. For those offering a more comprehensive package at the higher end of the rate scale, waiter service, clearing the table, and cleaning guest dishes may be included. You also have the option of hiring the housekeeper to help in the kitchen. Please see ‘Housekeeping’ below.
“What if I want full service but my chef does not offer this option?”
You may hire the housekeeper to be on site to help with meal service and clean up. Her rate is €25/hour VAT inclusive (4 hour minimum, 12 hour maximum with breaks for meals). More details in ‘Housekeeping’ below.
“What if our group wants to eat some meals out?”
That’s fine, but this must be scheduled in advance. The number of meals per day must be confirmed when the catering deposit is paid. No refunds or deductions will be offered if the number of meals are subsequently reduced.
“Or what if I have a student who will not be in residence for the full retreat period?”
The retreat group is treated as an indivisible whole. In other words, the chef does not accommodate requests or offer a price reduction or refund for individual guests who are absent from any meals, and for whatever reason. More precisely, it is not possible for retreat leaders to pay partial board for individual retreat guests who will not be present for all meals or who will not be in residence for the full retreat period.
“How and When do I pay for catering? How much is the added tax (VAT)?”
A 50% catering deposit is payable by bank wire, directly to your chef, 8 weeks in advance of arrival, and the balance is due 2 weeks prior to start date. The VAT rate applied to catering invoices is 10%.
The Chettinad referral commission is billed separately and payable by bank wire directly to The Chettinad two weeks prior to start date. The VAT rate applied to commission invoices is 21%.
What are the cancellation terms?
All payments once made are non-refundable.
“What if one of my students cancels his/her retreat participation after I have confirmed the catering with a deposit?”
The student’s portion of the catering fee is not refundable and the full balance is still due. Exceptions may be granted by the chef for extenuating circumstances, but this is at the chef’s sole discretion. To avoid finding one’s self in the position of bearing the burden of a student’s cancellation, we highly recommend that retreat leaders collect full and non-refundable payment from their students prior to the chef’s deposit deadline. We encourage you to strongly advise your students to acquire travel insurance.
Housekeeping
“Is housekeeping included?”
Housekeeping is not included in the rental price. We found that we could offer a lower rental rate to give retreat leaders better control over their costs while tailoring housekeeping to their specific needs. Do keep in mind that the villa functions better and damages are kept at bay - thus protecting your security deposit - when our housekeeper is maintaining the property.
“What is the cost?”
€25/hour (VAT inclusive). The total number of hours agreed upon and reserved by email are considered confirmed and payable in full on arrival.
“What amenities are included?”
We leave a generous supply of amenities (toilet paper, hand/bath soap, dishwashing liquid and tablets) based on years of experience in running retreats. If extra supplies are required that seem excessive, we will retain the extra expense from the security deposit.
Please kindly note that although we provide a starter stock of amenities, these items are only restocked during the week if housekeeping services are reserved.
“How many hours of daily housekeeping would I need?”
Four hours a day to keep the bathrooms, floors, and common areas sparkling clean. If you would also like the beds made, 5 hours a day. As an absolute minimum, we recommend 4 hours twice a week to keep the property in a comfortably clean state.
If you would like additional services such as kitchen cleanup, mealtime service, clearing and washing dishes, for example, more hours would be necessary. It all depends on what kind of retreat you are offering...full service luxury, or more family-style with everyone helping out with setting the table and cleaning up after meals.
We recommend hiring the housekeeper from 8h-10h on departure morning to handle the breakfast clean-up. Final cleaning on departure day is included in the rental rate, however the kitchen must be left reasonably clean, and dishes and kitchenware put away.
“Can I hire the housekeeper for just an hour or two? Or can she come in the morning, and come back again in the afternoon?”
Housekeeping hours (4 hour minimum, 12 hour maximum with breaks for meals) are contiguous and cannot be staggered throughout the day.
Rooms
“How many rooms are there? And how many persons per room?”
There are 7 bedrooms (and 5 bathrooms) :
3 double rooms (Cocoon, Zen, Terra Cottage), twin or queen : 6 persons
2 double rooms (Yin, Yang), queen only : 4 persons
1 quad duplex room (Nest - Perch), twin or queen (Nest) + twin only (Perch) : 4 persons
1 designated teacher’s room (Haven), queen only : 1 person
Occupancy is limited to 12 students + teacher therefore not all rooms can be filled to maximum capacity.
“Can a supplementary bed be added for an extra guest, retreat facilitator, or assistant?”
Sorry, no. Our occupancy rules are strict. No supplementary beds, cots, makeshift bedding, or inflatable mattresses are allowed. We do not allow guests to sleep on sofas, in common areas inside or outside the villa, or in the dome. The layout of beds and furniture is not modifiable.
“Can all the beds be separated into twins or joined to make a Queen bed?”
Twin beds can be made into queen beds in Zen, Cocoon, Nest and Terra Cottage only. Rooms with queen beds only (Yin, Yang, Haven) or twin beds only (Perch) are not modifiable.
“Is there anything that I should know about the rooms in particular so that I can advise my students well?”
Yes.
1. Perch/Nest, the quad room.
Nest and Perch are two levels of a duplex (garden level and mezzanine respectively), and should be considered as a quadruple room and not as two separate bedrooms.
This room has beautiful architectural details with its soaring beamed ceiling and medieval meurtrières.
It is important to note that Nest and Perch are open to each other, share the same room entrance, ensuite bath, and rooftop terrace. A mezzanine wall and wood lattice panels surround the upper floor for added privacy.
To access the ensuite bath, guests in Perch must pass through Nest. And to access the private rooftop terrace, guests in Nest must pass through Perch. In the interest of harmonious co-living, it is important to make the room design - and quad concept of sharing the space - clear to students before they book.
This room is suitable for a group of 4 same-sex guests or for those who don't mind mixed accommodations. It has more privacy than a classic quad as the two sleeping areas do not share the same floor.
This room is generally considered as not suitable for couples.
2. Yin and Yang
These 2 rooms do not share a common wall with the main house, are situated in the garden and separated by a stone patio, and share an exterior bathhouse that is accessed by stepping a few paces from each bedroom door. These rooms are quite charming, wonderfully private, and typically Ibicencan. It is not for those who want to be near the kitchen or who are skittish about being in a detached room. But they are literally a few steps away from the main house along a quaint lighted pathway so it’s not a question of being isolated or far-flung !
3. Terra Cottage
Also a detached room but with ensuite bath and perfect for more privacy as it stands alone and has its own shaded terrace and lounge areas. This room also has a very cozy Ibicencan feel and is generally loved by all. In winter it is heated by a reversible air conditioning unit.
“Do you have any suggestions about how to price the different rooms relative to each other?”
There is no right answer since personal preferences vary considerably. However, based on previous feedback from teachers, the categorization of the rooms (or more precisely the price of a bed in a particular room) from most expensive to least expensive generally goes like this when based on double occupancy :
Zen Suite, Terra Cottage, Cocoon, Nest/Perch
Yin & Yang, Haven: These rooms have queen beds only and are better suited either for one person or couples only. If sold to couples, Yin & Yang would have higher value than Haven. If sold as singles, Haven might be considered the higher priced room.
Dome / Villa
“Is it OK if I invite local friends or yoga students who are in Ibiza, or other non-occupant guests, to attend my yoga classes in the dome? Or to share a meal with us? Or to hang out with us at the property?”
Sorry, no. We do not allow others to attend classes/events in the dome or to spend time at the property. The Chettinad has been carefully designed and outfitted for optimal functioning at maximum occupancy. Exceeding the guest limit leads to additional wear and tear, increased risk of damages, difficulty in controlling the actions of an expanded group, as well as increased and undesirable car traffic coming and going from the property. This is a disturbance in the quiet countryside, and The Chettinad prides itself on its stellar relationship with its neighbors.