Today the choice to rent a villa, offers outstanding propositions in the current markets. Today there are a number of 2nd-home owners that have made the decision to rent their homes out, and this increased supply has translated into far better deals. For example, a family of 6 or more can now take a vacation in a beautiful Tuscan villa for a cheaper price than the costs involved in staying in a 2 to 3 hotel rooms.
Here are some tips on the dos and don’ts of making the decision to rent a villa for your next vacation.
1. Know What You Are Interested In
You need to make a decision on the type of experience you are interested in, especially if you are taking your vacation in a group. For example, will you need every day housekeeping or are you prepared to clean up every day on your own even when there is no dishwasher included in the rental. Or perhaps you prefer an isolated vacation, or you want to be in walking distance to the closest town. If you are thinking about additional extras such as guided trips or an evening out to the opera, you need to make sure in advance that you are willing and able to pay for these additional fees.
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2. Make Sure You Phone The Agent Or The Owner Of The Villa
Beautiful pictures on a website may help, but when deciding to deal with these types of transactions you must speak to the owner or an agent on the phone. For example, there are few companies that won’t work with customers that they have not vetted themselves. You also want to ensure the agent such as Enjoymexico.net has first hand knowledge about the property so that they can answer any questions you have. This can include information on the closest grocery store, are the appliances in the villa new or in good working order, or even if the host is able to speak English. You will also find that most agents will have other rentals on offer, once you have outlined your requirements.
3. Taking Advantage Of Any Extras
Today many owners of villas are trying to stay competitive in the way of offering perks like the use of private chefs, a car or free housekeeping. When you make inquiries about a property, make sure you ask the agent or even the owner if they are prepared to offer anything else with the rental. It is also important that you confirm any other related fees before you proceed with the booking.
4. Put Everything In Writing
Signing a contract comes standard when you make the decision to rent a villa. Similar to any other type of agreement, this will protect, the agent, the owner and you. Ensure that the contract states in writing what expenses are not inclusive of the base-price like the taxes that include costs to heat the pool or air-conditioning. The basic contracts will outline the policies clearly in regard to property damages along what constitutes a stay that is unsatisfactory.
5. Avoid Ruining Your Trip By Getting The Details Wrong
It is very important that you conduct your own research about the location of the villa and how to get there. Unless the villa is located inside a resort, you will in most cases require a rental car in order to ensure your stay is pleasurable. You want to avoid finding yourself in a beautiful property, yet the access to the beach, shops or restaurants is limited. You should also think about the transfer time from the airport.
You also need to consider the check-in and the check-out times and then factor these times into your overall plans and your flight times. Try to avoid arriving too early or too late as you might risk getting lost when it’s dark or having to wait many hours before you can get into the property.
You will also need to make plans on how you plan to travel to the villa. Most people fly, so you may want to book the flights with the villa agent, so that you are protected under the ATOL scheme for these type of package vacations.
6. Do Consider Buying Insurance
Renting villas is usually a significant investment. Insurance may cover events such as medical evacuations or from unforeseen conflicts. It can also protect you against inclement weather delays as well as any errors that were made by a rental agency. There are certain policies that will allow you to cancel the booking if you lose your job unexpectedly, while there are some that will allow for canceling the booking for no apparent reasons. Keep in mind that you will still be liable for the premium of 5 to 11% of the nonrefundable costs.
7. Weigh Up The Pros And Cons
Forget about the luxuries of all-inclusive buffets or staff that are constantly waiting on you. You will also not have the luxury of obtaining organized entertainment for your children or daily maid services.
However, with a villa you will be able to gain accommodation that will be yours for the stay. This means avoiding having to compete with other guests for a sun lounger or a seat in the dining room. You will probably have your own pool as well as the choice on when you want to party, drink and eat. You will also be offered with the opportunity to kick-back and really enjoy your time on your terms.
8. Avoid Ruining Your Trip Because You Forgot Something Important
Once you have finalized your booking, it is highly advisable to make lists of everything that is needed for the break and have them ready for packing. Make sure all the paperwork needed for the trip is also in order, from driving licenses, boarding passes, passports, visas and the address of the villa. You also need to know beforehand where you can collect keys for the villa, and how and when you will need to pay for the deposit. Most importantly make sure you have the contact details of the person you can contact if faced with an emergency or when something in the villa breaks or gets damaged.
