If you’re planning a vacation, then there are tons of details that you need to take care of, from booking the air tickets, to the hotels and attractions. However, in amidst all of the bookings you make, you might not have realized that there is more than one accommodation type that you can take advantage of. For your next holiday, you should consider booking a villa, as it means you get to rent an entire property, not just a room in a hotel. This adds a lot more convenient to your trip, as you’ll have a kitchen to use and you’ll still have access to housekeeping.
Here’s our tips for renting villas:
1. Know what you want
The kind of villa you rent largely depends on the type of experience that you’re looking for. For instance, if you’re travelling with a large group of friends, you might insist on housekeeping as you probably won’t have a lot of time to clean up after yourselves. However, if you’re travelling with your family, then you might want to have a private experience with no outside intrusions. Either way, by reading up on the list of amenities on your short list of potential home stays, you’ll be sure to find one that ticks all your boxes. There are many websites offering villa rentals, like ClassicVillas, and by doing your research you’ll be sure to find the right one for you. Just make sure you look at reputable sources to make sure you know what you’re signing up for.
2. Put it in writing
A lot of people renting out their second homes as villas are first timers. What this means for you is that you’ll get a really good rate on a villa, but it may come with some unintended issues. For instance, if details about your stay aren’t communicated to you properly, you might be in for a big surprise when you arrive at your destination. Most villa rentals will do this anyway, but just in case they don’t, you should insist on getting a rental contract in writing. This means that both you and the rental agent are held two terms that will make your stay go smoothly. Without this, you may be out of luck if things turn south.
3. Try an emerging destination
There are so many destinations to choose from, and each of them have differing levels of established tourism. The places that see millions of tourists each year will be super expensive and that goes with the territory. So what are you supposed to do? One thing you could consider is holidaying in a vacation spot that is off the beaten track. There are many beautiful towns that don’t see as many tourists as the major cities, and these could be the key to turning your holiday into an experience you’ll never forget.
4. Make sure you buy the Insurance
As with any holiday you take, you should always have travel insurance of any kind. This will help you in situations where things don’t go as planned. Not only can it help with flight delays and luggage loss, but if you rent a villa, it can help protect you against anything that goes wrong. Villa rentals are big investments so it’s a good idea to have some kind of assurance that will help you in the rare circumstance that something in your villa goes wrong. These things do happen. In fact, I once stayed in a villa where a water main burst and all of my clothes were ruined. Luckily, insurance is there exactly for that purpose. Make sure you compare insurance policies as every single one is different.
5. Get on the phone
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all of my travels, it’s that sometimes the pictures just don’t do it justice. What I mean by this is that just because you read up on a potential villa, you might not be getting the full picture. The websites might show you what the property looks like, but will tell you nothing about nearby services or if the host can speak enough English to help you. By calling up, you can essentially vet your potential rental so that you know you’ll be well looked after for your stay.
For your next vacation, consider renting a villa. There are many advantages to renting villas over hotels, and it will ultimately make your experience far more homely. Just remember, not all villas have been long established, and there may be hidden problems that you run into. By following this guide, you will ensure that your villa rental goes as smoothly as possible.