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1 . Know what to expect
Whilst there are many virtues and benefits of renting a villa , you need to remember that one of the main disadvantages is that there will not be room service . You will need to shop and prepare your own meals ( which is for many part of the appeal ); wash your own dishes , do your own washing – you will still experience those everyday chores that the need to be undertaken .
Ask lots of questions to make sure you know what to expect – for example – how far is the closest village / shop ; are sheets and towels provided / what other fees are there ( e . g . cleaning & security )
2 . Know what you want
Be clear about your wish list and what ’ s not negotiable . Where you want to be based ? Do you want to be village based or to be situated in the countryside ? How many bedrooms do you need but also what configuration do you need . Double or Twin ? Do you want a pool ( is this negotiable ?).
3 . Know who you ’ re travelling with
Many travellers will plan to stay with family or friends to share the costs of a villa , making it possible to rent a somewhat more luxurious or larger villa with better amenities . In situations like this it is important to have very clear communication about how arrangements will work . Have a travel planning session to work through the villa stay – for example who will get the main bedroom with balcony and ensuite – how will the bedroom selections be made ?
Agree how you want to travel together during the villa stay – will each couple / family go about their own explorations or will you all explore together ? What are the things you want to see , do and experience during your stay ?
Remember to allocate someone to be the main contact for the villa booking and arrangements so that there is no confusion and that all communication is centralised .
4 . Book Early
Yes , perhaps booking last minute may mean you grab a bargain , but your choice of dream villas will be a lot less and perhaps non existent if you are focused on a specific area .
We ’ d recommend booking at least 6 months in advance , even more if you ’ re planning to travel in high season ( e . g European summer ) Allow yourself sufficient time to research and book the right villa and be prepared to book straight away when you find the right one .
5 . Buy Travel Insurance
We all want the dream holiday to live up to our expectations but sometimes things go wrong . Make sure you book travel insurance as soon as you make your first holiday booking ( whether that ’ s flights or accommodation ) to ensure you ’ re protected .
Talk to the insurer about what ’ s covered to ensure you have the correct coverage for your holiday .
Written by the Getaway Guru www . getawayguru . com . au
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