Can I book a villa for less than a week?
Most villas are rented on a weekly basis, and if you require a stay for an increment of less than 7 days, you may have to pay for the unused days. In some destinations, stays of 4- or 5-nights can be arranged.
Isn't a villa better than a hotel?
That depends on what comforts and services you rely on. Many villas, being older buildings, may not have certain amenities and comforts most of us take for granted, such as air-conditioning, limitless hot water, high-speed internet access, and daily turn-down service. Then there's the whole element of cooking and cleaning, and shopping for groceries. Of course, fully staffed villas are available, too, and defining the level of services you require and wish to pay for is important.
How do you figure out what you want?
If you're inquiring about a villa vacation, you're usually traveling as part of a family, or as part of a small group that will be sharing the villa. Before contacting us for quotes, it's best to do a little homework at your end and determine how many [private] bedrooms you will need, how many bathrooms, whether a pool is important, whether you need TV with cable access, internet connection, and so forth. You should also assess how much staff you want: a housekeeper, babysitter, cook, etc. (Even though you will pay for staff such as a cook, if you plan to take most meals at the villa, the cost may be far less than eating out in a city restaurant each day.) Will you want the refrigerator stocked upon arrival? Will you be providing your own bathroom amenities? Then, you should determine how you will be spending your time -- will you spend a lot at the villa relaxing, or will you be doing frequent daytrips sghtseeing. Will you require a car rental or do you want to be close to a railway station.
What kind of staff is available and what are their functions?
Different companies provide different levels of support, based on requirements. Below is a list of common staff positions available, and what services each performs. Overseas, staff may have limited knowledge of English.
Cook: generally prepares breakfast and dinnner. You select the menu and prepay for the cook to grocery shop. If lunch is required, it is prepared for an extra fee.
Maid: provides daily cleaning and laundry service, including folding and ironing.
Houseman: oversees the villa, and available for select errands as needed. Usually only available in the mornings.
Full staff: where available, includes maid, cook and houseman.
Partial staff: may include maid service daily or once a week, with additional services for a fee.
Additional staff for a fee: can include a private chef, private butler, and/or private driver.
If you're ready to start planning, you can go to cntraveler.com/villarentals and download Wendy Perrin's helpful worksheets. We look forward to arranging your home rental or villa vacation.
