With hotel prices rocketing over recent years, some holiday makers prefer to consider the option of luxury villa rentals instead. This can be an especially good idea if you are travelling as part of a group or are a larger family with children. The ease of being in a villa rather than scattered across a number of hotel rooms can make it easier to set up your 'home away from home' comfortably and affordably.
With so many websites now popping up across the internet advertising luxury villa rentals, how do you know you are getting value for money and, perhaps more importantly, that you are booking through a genuine site? There are a number of things that you should consider before parting with your money and we are here to explore these for you.
Maybe one of the most reliable ways of checking out your luxury villa is through reviews. What do other people say about their booking experience and stay in this particular accommodation? With review sites aplenty, you should have no trouble finding out both the negatives and positives about your booking site as well as villa, especially as many luxurious self catering accommodations will be advertised on multiple sites. A good website will always allow guests to leave their reviews and usually for the villa owners to openly respond to any issues for future guests to see. The reviews will also give you a clear idea of what to expect when you arrive at your destination, the ease of accessing the villa, etc. Take your time to do your research here as reviews are one of the top indicators of a good booking site and accommodation.
Check how many bedrooms and bathrooms are available. Can the bed arrangements be modified if possible? It is always worth asking, especially if the villa you are looking at holds the correct number of people but you need less/more single or double beds! You should find that luxury villa owners will be a little more flexible, especially as you are paying for an exclusive accommodation.
Be sure that you know about the location of your villa. Pictures can make it look luxurious, but remember a good photographer can sell even a property which is placed in the worst location – if you don't do your research. Now that you can view most properties on Google Earth, you have a way of looking around the rental property at the street or area it is in. Check local landmarks and accessibility to places you hope to visit. Is there a local supermarket? You may not think to check this but in a self catering accommodation, you will rely on this! Look at local transport links if you are not hiring a car. Or if you have a car, are there parking facilities? Ensuring you have the exact address allows you to check all of these.
Study the photos and description of the rental villa. Is it equipped with the things you will need – for example, if you are planning barbecues, is there facilities for this? Are there enough chairs? If you require disabled access, does this exist? How many sets of plates, glasses and cutlery do you require? Compare photos of your chosen villa with those listed on a different website if the villa is listed in different places. If there are any discrepancies, can these be explained after contact with the lister?
Finally, something which is a must for some and not so important for others – do you require internet access? Is this provided? What speed is it? Tell the listed what your needs are so that you can be advised if these can be met!
Martin Wynn
