Villa Holiday Booking FAQs
I may not be able to answer all of your questions but here are my answers to few frequently asked questions which I hope you find useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any specific questions you may have about the villas and my service.
VILLAS IN ITALY
Why book with Rachel and not direct with a villa owner?
In an ideal world, you would visit a villa before booking it. As this is usually an unrealistic option, you will need to rely on photos, descriptions and testimonials to find the best villa for you. Having worked in the villa rental business since 1998, I have visited well over 100 holiday villas and have many reliable contacts with good quality villas in many countries. If I haven’t visited your villa of choice, I will find out the necessary information from a trusted contact on your behalf, saving you time. In some cases, I can also negotiate a discount on your behalf.
Part of my job with CV Villas was to check up on potential holiday villas to decide which would be suitable for the Italian villa portfolio. I would reject many due to reasons often hidden from the villa owner’s own photos and descriptions such as too much road traffic or train noise, not enough garden space, not enough bathrooms for the number of bedrooms, intrusive neighbours or owners, poor layout, style or furnishings, high rental prices and poor location. I would only take on the best villas which I knew would be popular. It is a selection of these villas and those chosen by trusted contacts which I will endeavour to recommend to you.
How much are the villas to rent?
The rental prices vary depending on the season, location, facilities and style of villa you wish to book. If you are not tied to school holidays, the villa rental prices are often more reasonable. If the peak season is the only time of year for your holiday, then sharing the cost of the villa rental between a large number of guests can reduce the cost considerably and often work out as more cost effective than a hotel. For more guidance on budget contact me for advice.
How do bookings and finding fees work?
Each villa holiday booked through Rachel’s Villa Holidays is a booking between you, the client and the villa owner, tour operator or villa specialist. The villa specialist or owner acts as principal, and you will be bound by their terms and conditions, a copy of which is available at the time of booking. The villa finding fee is a separate payment which covers my time for the villa search. Once you have paid your deposit for your villa booking, my villa finding service is complete and you deal directly with the villa owner or villa company managing your booking.
Villa vs hotel?
The luxury of a villa holiday is all about having the privacy of living in your own home abroad with a private pool, lots of space, a kitchen where you can prepare your own food and a dining terrace and garden where you can truly relax, far removed from many of the daily realities of your actual home. You can be completely at ease knowing that you are not disturbing other guests, you can prepare your own food whenever you wish and you will never have to compete for the best sun beds.
This is bliss for the more independent traveller looking for privacy. For those who prefer luxury services such as an English speaking concierge, a spa, restaurant, bar, taxi service, a fully staffed luxury villa run by a hotel may be a more suitable choice of accommodation.
Choosing the right villa
Holiday villas come in all shapes and sizes in a variety of locations, reflecting the tastes and needs of each villa owner. Your idea of a perfect villa may not be the same as the rest of your party, but I will endeavour to guide you to one that you all agree on. Your holiday time is precious. It is really important that your choice of villa suits everyone in your party to ensure a really happy holiday.
Are the villas child friendly?
Some of the villas available for rental cater more for families with young children than others, providing cots, highchairs or even stair gates. Others have drops from terraces and infinity pools which, however beautiful, would not be ideal for families with toddlers. Please do not hesitate to let me know about your specific requirements.
Will there be staff at the villa?
This depends on the villa and destination you have chosen. There are villas with a full cook service or resident staff and others with a cleaning service once per week. Fresh linen and towels are provided in every villa and there is often a housekeeper who can prepare simple meals and provide an arrival food hamper for you.
Although there is usually an English speaking representative available for assistance if required, the only other people you may see at your villa are cleaners, gardener and pool maintenance people.
Do you still have questions unanswered?
Please do get in touch, I am always happy to have an initial no-obligation consultation.