Are you thinking of going through villa rental ads to find the perfect lodgings for a vacation? You mustn’t miss out on these tips if you are. Aside from saving you some search time, you’ll also be saving a lot of money if you follow this guideline closely.
Look at the figures closely
Renting out a European villa might not be as impractical as it was before. As a matter of fact, it could actually help you save a lot of money compared to booking a room at a five-star hotel in the center of the city. This is simply because the economy is down, and as a result, a lot of second-homeowners are more than willing to rent out their properties.
This means that there are a lot of villas in the market today to choose from. If you look at the right websites, you might even find the competition fierce among these villa’s second-homeowners. Should you be traveling at an off-peak season, it’s more than likely that you’ll be given discounts by the villas’ homeowners. Some even throw in free nights into the package, so consider your options well.
To make your search easier, start from multi-destination websites. Then, you can choose to branch out once you’re familiar with the pricing trends.
Narrow down what you really want
Some people spend an inordinate amount of time looking for villas to rent because they haven’t actually figured out what they want from it. Most of the time, they end up having to pay for rooms they don’t actually need, or amenities which add up a lot to the price of the rent but which don’t really maximize their enjoyment of the place. For example, if you’re renting out a villa next to the beach, do you really need a big pool?
To make your search more effective, list how many people are traveling with you, how many rooms you prefer, how many baths you need, and so on. You should start with the very basic features first: rooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, and maybe a fireplace if the location has cold weather. Then, you can add in the Jacuzzi, pool, steam baths and other luxuries according to how much you prioritize having them there.
This way, if the villa you wanted turns out to be too pricey, you can cut down on the excesses and settle for a more practical one which can stretch your vacation budget. Don’t stop at the property’s face value, though. 55% of second-homeowners agree to discounts, so you might just be able to haggle your way through.
Talk to the Owners on the Phone
You can’t really get far with bargaining unless you talk to the owner over the phone. While a face-to-face negotiation is ideal, this is pretty impossible if you’re miles from one another. The email is just too personal and too slow for gritty price negotiations, so opt for the closest alternative and start dialing their numbers.
Of course, if the villa second-homeowners didn’t leave their numbers, and if calling overseas seems impractical for you, you can always contact an agent. You might want to choose those who know the properties first-hand just in case you have questions about the neighborhood you’d like to ask about. Popular ones include the proximity of grocery stores from the area, emergency hotlines you will have to know about, etc.
When it comes to the house itself, you will want to know how many of the appliances are brand new and whether or not the local host speaks fluently in English. This is especially important if you’re visiting areas outside of London and your handle of the European language is poor.
Grab the Extras
If the villa you’re eyeing offers extras like housekeeping services, a chef, or maybe even free use of the family car, grab it. When you’re in a foreign country, it can cost you a lot of money to get all of these added benefits on your own. A local host who already has a car to begin with, or an in-house chef and housekeeper, could give you a sweeter deal. Although a bit of it will eventually reflect in your rent, do your research. You might actually save more money if you rent the villa with a “service package”.
Put everything in black and white
After talking to the agent or the second-homeowner, you might want to put everything you’ve agreed upon in writing. This will protect both you and the owner in the long run. Remember, you’re not booked with a hotel, and unless everything is on paper, certain fees could change. Avoid conflicts like this by authenticating everything through a written contract.
You should try to be very specific about your arrangements in your written agreement. Feel free to include the use of the air conditioning, the pool, the family car, the bathrooms, etc. in your document. Make the contract serve both you and the owner, and include things like how you’re planning to pay for damages somewhere between the terms that will protect only your end of the bargain.
Buy an Insurance
While renting a villa seems temporary, it’s still an investment, and you might want to pad up the financial damage just in case you come across an unexpected financial conflict. You will need an insurance in any event that you’re held liable for an error that was actually made by the rental agency. Expect to shell out a little extra cash though (in most cases, 5% to 11% of the total cost of the rent) if you want this financial padding.
The cost of the premium will depend on the ages of your travel companions. Most insurance companies charge more when you’re traveling with children to high risk areas.
Explore emerging destinations
If you’re willing to take your chances and take off from the beaten path, away from blue-chip locations, you might actually find much better deals. Try less popular regions of Europe, for example. There are a lot of deals to look forward to in European countries like Slovenia, Montenegro, and Bosnia. Look for countries which are still trying to boost up their tourist industry. Apply the basic economic rule of supply and demand you’ll be fine.
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