Policies

Direct Booking: Room Rates, Deposit and Cancellation Policy

For your convenience and flexibility, three rate options are offered when booking with us directly: Non-refundable, Standard, and Signature Stays.

Non-refundable bookings require full payment at the time of reservation and the entire amount is immediately non-refundable regardless of reason for or time of cancellation.
Standard Reservations include a complimentary room upgrade if available and require a one-night deposit at the time of reservation. Fourteen (14) days prior to arrival, any balance due will be collected and the reservation becomes non-refundable.
Signature Stays include either a complimentary room upgrade or amenity. Signature Stays require a one-night deposit at the time of reservation. Fourteen (14) days prior to arrival, any balance due will be collected. The reservation becomes non-refundable 72 hours prior to arrival.

If you must cancel your reservation, please contact us right away. Excluding non-refundable rates, special offers, promotions, and/or bookings made through a third party, a full refund will be made if a cancellation is done properly, which will be communicated in a confirmation email. Without confirmation of the cancellation, the reservation is considered active.

If you cancel with less than required notice (14 days for Standard bookings, 72 hours for Signature Stays, shorten your stay (including early check-out), or do not arrive for your stay, you take responsibility for the entire cost of your reservation. By reserving with us, you consent to these policies.

We will automatically charge any balance due to the credit card on file no earlier than fourteen days before your arrival. If payment fails to process, we will attempt to contact you. Failure to respond in a timely manner may result in the loss of your reservation without refund of deposit.

All rates are subject to change and may change without notice. Cartier Mansion Bed and Breakfast and The Ludington House reserve the right to not honor promotional rates or discounts published on third-party websites.

Complimentary Room Upgrades

Complimentary room upgrades are offered by room tier and are subject to availability on date of arrival. Declining an upgrade will not result in a refund or discount.

Whole-Home Booking: Deposit and Cancellation Policy

When reserving The Ludington House as a whole-home booking, a 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. Thirty (30) days prior to arrival, any balance due will be collected and the reservation becomes non-refundable. On the day of arrival, a $500 authorization will be held on the credit card on file for the person making the reservation. This will be released after a check-out inspection to determine whether extra cleaning is required. Additional costs, beyond $500, may be charged if needed.

Travel Protection

Travel Protection is offered for an additional fee when booking with us directly and is available for both non-refundable and standard bookings made more than 14 days in advance. This covers a wide variety of issues that may arise, including health, transportation, and weather. More information can be found here and here.

Travel Protection may be available for whole-home bookings of The Ludington House. Please contact us for details.

Minimum Stays

On certain dates, a minimum-night booking requirement may be in place. Exceptions to this may be made at the discretion of the owner on a case-by-case basis.

Third Party Booking: Deposit and Cancellation Policy

Reservations made through third parties (Expedia, Booking, and others) may be subject to a cancellation fee up to and including an amount equal to the entire deposit.

Parking

We offer complimentary parking in our private parking lots. Additional street parking is available on Lavinia Street. Street parking in the winter months is prohibited. Oversize vehicles should park on the street unless prior arrangements are made. Please respect other guests and only use one parking space, staying within the assigned area. If you are uncomfortable navigating a tight parking lot, we encourage you to use Lavinia Street parking.

Arrival and Departure

Check-in starts at 3pm, but feel free to park in our lot any time after 11am and we'll help you make the most of your day. Please leave luggage in your vehicle until your room is available. Please adhere to the 11am check-out time to ensure rooms can be cleaned and ready for arriving guests.

Children–Adults Only

Since many guests are getting away for some respite and adult time, Cartier Mansion Bed and Breakfast and The Ludington House welcome guests aged 21 and older only. This restriction does not apply to whole-home bookings of The Ludington House.

Quiet Hours

As a courtesy to other guests, and in accordance with our neighborhood rules, please observe quiet hours both inside and outside between 10pm and 8am.

Occupancy

All rooms are strictly double occupancy and sleeping options are accordingly provided. Sleeping bags, cots, air mattresses, etc. are prohibited. Violating this policy by bringing in more than two guests will result in immediate dismissal from the property without a refund. Adjustments to this policy can be made for whole-home bookings of The Ludington House.

Weddings

We want you to have fond memories of staying with us for this important event. Your understanding and adherence to these policies will go a long way in avoiding an unpleasant situation. Specific to weddings, we do not offer spaces for wedding parties to get ready and only registered guests are permitted on property, both inside and outside. Hairspray, bobby pins, and other frequently used items can cause damage to century-old wood and furniture and should be avoided or minimized. As it compromises the security of our property, sharing door codes with outsiders is prohibited. Our fire pit and outdoor space is for the exclusive use of registered guests and quiet-hour rules apply between 10pm and 8am every day.

Outside Visitors

All spaces at Cartier Mansion and The Ludington House, both inside and outside, are for the exclusive use of registered guests only. Outside visitors are prohibited without the specific permission of the owner.

Smoking, Damages, and Cleaning Fees | SMOKE FREE CAMPUS

Due to the historic nature of our properties and for the health and safety of our guests and staff, smoking, vaping, or anything of this nature is strictly prohibited anywhere, both indoors and outdoors, including private balconies. Any evidence of smoking, including any noticeable odor brought in on clothing will result in a $300 cleaning fee and immediate dismissal from the property without a refund. No candles or open flames are allowed anywhere. All rooms are outfitted with a smoke/CO detector. Carriage House rooms have a sprinkler system. It is a Federal offense to tamper with fire safety equipment.

Normal wear and tear is understandable but damage caused by negligence or inappropriate behavior which requires repairs, replacement, or extra cleaning will be the financial responsibility of the guest registered to the room. Many historic items, irreplaceable antiques, works of art, and pieces of historical significance are present and must be treated carefully.

Any additional fees will be charged to the card on file for the reservation.

Pet Policy

While we love dogs, we must respect the experience of all guests and therefore have policies in place to ensure everyone can enjoy their stay. Ultimately, our policy is tied to the comfort and safety of all guests and staff. Due to the historic nature of our property and presence of a resident pet, all pets are prohibited from entering the main buildings at Cartier Mansion or The Ludington House; however, the Carriage House is small dog friendly (up to 40 lbs) and dogs may join you on the first-floor porch at any time, including breakfast! Dogs staying with us must have our prior approval and be up to date on their vaccinations. All dogs need to be on lead (or held) anytime they are on our grounds outside of the guest room. Pet parents must minimize or prevent barking, marking, defecating, jumping, or unwelcome friendliness towards other guests. Please remember, others may have allergies or hesitations about dogs and will not want to be around your dog. Any "accidents" must be cleaned by the pet's owner immediately.

There is a daily pet fee of $50, which includes several items and covers the cost of normal cleaning. $300 will be charged for extra cleaning necessitated by having an unauthorized pet in a room and excess cleaning/damage fees may apply. Your dog may not be left unattended in the room to minimize the possibility of disruptions to other guests, causing damage, or being in distress. Pet sitting services may be available with ample advance notice. Bona fide service dogs are not considered pets and must accompany their owner at all times.

Safety, Security, and Your Privacy

There is a balance in providing a safe space for our guests while protecting this historic campus and enhancing your comfort by offering modern conveniences, all while maintaining privacy. Cameras can be visibly seen at each exterior entry door, overlooking the parking lot, and in various public areas, providing video and audio that can be viewed remotely and recorded. There are no hidden cameras, cameras in guest rooms, nor are any positioned in a way that could see into any guest room. Smart Devices (Alexa) are in the dining rooms primarily for the purpose of providing ambient music. Smart Locks are updated daily to correspond with guest reservations, meaning old codes are deleted for the security of in-house guests. Staff access is limited to certain hours as needed. Only owners have master keys and the ability to set and change codes. Leak Detectors help prevent water damage and are small white boxes that can be seen under most sinks and toilets. They alert us when water comes into contact with the metal probes. If this happens by accident, you can simply dry the detector off. These devices have no audio/video or recording capability. Smoke/CO Detectors are in every guest room and public space. They are networked and actively monitored, so your alarm may go off due to an issue in another room. Please take appropriate steps as warranted and listen for directions; if you have any concern for your safety, please exit the building immediately.

ADA Compliance

We are committed to facilitating the accessibility and usability of this website for all people with disabilities. Over time, we will continue to implement the relevant portions of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA (WCAG 2.0 AA), or such other standards to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On a periodic basis, our website will be tested with assistive technology such as screen readers and screen magnifiers, and by individuals with disabilities who use these technologies. Please be aware our efforts are ongoing. If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any webpage on our site, please email us at info@ludingtonhouse.com or call 231.845.7769 If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the webpage URL in your email, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page accessible for you.

A room reservation constitutes your consent to all policies. Violation of any policy may result in immediate dismissal from the property without a refund.

Slide title