Top Ten Things To Ask Your Villa Rentals Company Before You Book

Booking a holiday villa is really exciting, but that excitement can turn to complete panic when you realise you’ve rushed your booking and have paid a deposit on something that isn’t right for your family. Fear not, this is easily avoided! You just need to make sure you take the time to do your research before you commit to book. And as a priority, ask the villa rentals company everything and anything. The least they can do is not give you the information, and the most they can do is give you important information that influences whether or not you make a booking with them. Here are the top ten things to ask your villa rentals company before you book: Are You A Real Company? OK this isn’t actually a question you should ask, but it should be the very first thing you look into before even considering contact with a company. Unfortunately there are a lot of fraudulent villa rental companies out there and a few families have travelled all the way to their holiday destination to find the villa they booked into doesn’t exist. This is very rare so don’t be scared, just be savvy. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Check review sites and read forums and if anything doesn’t quite add up, move on. And now for the real questions… Where Abouts Are You? Ask for specific details on where the villa is located. Ask for a map showing where it is and an address if possible. This will help you see if the property is where you thought it was, and if it still suits your needs. What Are The Extra Costs? You know how much you will be paying to rent the villa for the week, but how much are all the extras? These could be; pool heating, tax, cleaning and extra deposits. If you’re booking through an agency they will probably be adding a fee as well. Ask for the actual amount you will be paying with all of the extras included. You should also ask when you are expected to have paid in full for the villa and how your money is protected – IE what is the refund policy? How Is The Property Kept? You should only ask this if there aren’t enough photos of the property listed, or if the photos look dated. Just be tactful and ask when it was last renovated or how often it is redecorated. If you’re speaking to an agency they may not have all the details but should be able to find out. If you’re speaking to the owner directly it should be clear in their voice how much they care about their property. If you’re still unsure about the property at the end of the phone call, ask to see some recent photos. Do You Have References? It’s all too easy for a villa rentals company to direct you to a site with reviews that they have moderated, but you should also have access to references that will tell you the truth. Obviously Trip Advisor is something to look at first as people can be very honest on there. However, the best villa companies will give you lots of different websites and details where you can get honest reviews of their villa(s), because they have nothing to hide. Can You Send Me A List Of What Comes With The Villa? Often after you have booked a villa you will then get a list of everything that comes with the villa as part of your booking package. This list will detail the furniture in the villa and all of the cooking equipment and amenities inside. However, if you can get this list before you book you can find out if the villa has everything you need before you commit. What Are Your Cleaning Rules? Sometimes the cleaning is included in the price, sometimes guests are expected to clean, it all depends on the villa. Often you will pay for cleaning as part of the overall rental cost, however it is likely you will be expected to leave the villa clean when you leave. It’s good to find out what the cleaning rules are before you book so you know what to expect when you get there, and know what you need to do before you leave. What Are The Parking Facilities? It is important to find out what the parking facilities are at the villa, especially if you’re hiring a car during your holiday. Some villa rentals also provide passes to local facilities like private beaches or beach clubs, so it’s important to find out if they are included as well, especially if your villa is right near them. How Do I Pay The more secure your method of payment, the more protected you are. Many villa rental firms will offer BACS, Paypal, Credit Card or Cheque, so you should always ask the question and ask how your payment is protected as well. What Documents Do I Need For Check In? The last thing you need is to arrive at your villa and find you needed a specific document with you to check in and you haven’t got that with you. Ask what time check in and check out are, where you need to go to check in and check out and what you need to have with you and / or give back to the owner or rental company. Can I See The Contract? You should be able to see a copy of the contract before you sign it as the owner will use a standard contract for all guests. Make sure you keep a copy of the contract and where possible, a record of all the conversations you have had with the villa company or owner, just in case you need them at a later date.