Recommendations for villa holiday
Discussion
Hi All
Looking at potentially doing a villa holiday this summer (August). We have 2 children, who will be 3 and 10 at the time of travel and the usual all inclusive hotel thing doesn't really appeal. We have only been doing UK holidays since the youngest was born.
We may also invite some other family members, but in the first instance we want to get an idea of cost and options etc. Don't really care what country, as long as it's warm, Spain and Portugal are the obvious ones, but France, Greece or Italy could also be considered.
I started looking at the usual websites and it is just too much, feel like I would be better off letting a travel agent sort it out rather than spend hours scrolling through stuff. Has anyone got any tips or pearls of wisdom on this subject?
The alternative we will consider is renting a nice place in the UK, something largeish with a pool table and things to do nearby. Any pointers on either option would be much appreciated.
Looking at potentially doing a villa holiday this summer (August). We have 2 children, who will be 3 and 10 at the time of travel and the usual all inclusive hotel thing doesn't really appeal. We have only been doing UK holidays since the youngest was born.
We may also invite some other family members, but in the first instance we want to get an idea of cost and options etc. Don't really care what country, as long as it's warm, Spain and Portugal are the obvious ones, but France, Greece or Italy could also be considered.
I started looking at the usual websites and it is just too much, feel like I would be better off letting a travel agent sort it out rather than spend hours scrolling through stuff. Has anyone got any tips or pearls of wisdom on this subject?
The alternative we will consider is renting a nice place in the UK, something largeish with a pool table and things to do nearby. Any pointers on either option would be much appreciated.
We have done this for years. I used to enjoy a nice hotel with my bed sorted, breakfast, etc. but after a few villa holidays I shifted my focus and being on our own in a huge amount of space is just amazing! Having a pool to ourselves is so much nicer, (for us).
We do it all ourselves using the usual sites like Vrbo.com, airbnb.com and for one of our faves in Cyprus we use Agnitravel.co.uk.
We book our own flights directly with whomever, (BA, Air France, etc.). Decent risk profile and/or holiday insurance is necessary in case things go wrong though. I am pretty relaxed to the risk but Amex are also quite good if things do go wrong.
The car hire gem, (usually necessary or at least very helpful in a villa), is arguscarhire.com. This tends to get cheaper closer to the time so usually leave that until the last 1-2 months before we leave.
That’s about it. Flights, accommodation and car hire are the main items. We usually book the flights and accommodation around the same time but generally flights first as you can always get a nice villa, (having said that we changed our flights after booking this year to get the same villa we’ve had for the last XX years in Cyprus).
We do it all ourselves using the usual sites like Vrbo.com, airbnb.com and for one of our faves in Cyprus we use Agnitravel.co.uk.
We book our own flights directly with whomever, (BA, Air France, etc.). Decent risk profile and/or holiday insurance is necessary in case things go wrong though. I am pretty relaxed to the risk but Amex are also quite good if things do go wrong.
The car hire gem, (usually necessary or at least very helpful in a villa), is arguscarhire.com. This tends to get cheaper closer to the time so usually leave that until the last 1-2 months before we leave.
That’s about it. Flights, accommodation and car hire are the main items. We usually book the flights and accommodation around the same time but generally flights first as you can always get a nice villa, (having said that we changed our flights after booking this year to get the same villa we’ve had for the last XX years in Cyprus).
If you want a nice villa Holiday with a great villa exactly as you want it, you'll have to do all of that "scrolling through stuff" side of things.
It's dead easy. Use the likes of James Villas or similar, find the one you want with dates that work. You'll immediately get the exact price, then search for flights. Book both, then your car hire.
If you use a travel agent then the price you pay for that is not getting the exact villa you want.
The reason the big villa co.s don't get involved with the flights is that adds the need for ATOL cover and a lot more customer support. With villa rentals you get the keys and they send a a cleaner once a week. That's it.
Had some superb holidays doing this.
Best bet is to decide where and exactly when first (flights might dictate this - costs for certain days can vary wildly), then that'll reduce your scrolling significantly.
I've never not been able to match flights with a villa booking.
It's dead easy. Use the likes of James Villas or similar, find the one you want with dates that work. You'll immediately get the exact price, then search for flights. Book both, then your car hire.
If you use a travel agent then the price you pay for that is not getting the exact villa you want.
The reason the big villa co.s don't get involved with the flights is that adds the need for ATOL cover and a lot more customer support. With villa rentals you get the keys and they send a a cleaner once a week. That's it.
Had some superb holidays doing this.
Best bet is to decide where and exactly when first (flights might dictate this - costs for certain days can vary wildly), then that'll reduce your scrolling significantly.
I've never not been able to match flights with a villa booking.
Edited by Griffith4ever on Saturday 7th January 02:49
Take a look at Simpson Travel and CV Travel - that will give you some ideas as to what specialist villa holiday companies can provide.
It's then up to you whether you book with one of those operators, or go independent and put your own package together using something like VRBO, James Villas or AirBnB.
It's then up to you whether you book with one of those operators, or go independent and put your own package together using something like VRBO, James Villas or AirBnB.
We pretty much only do villa family holidays and always use AirB&B, Vrbo, or Booking.com. the benefit is you get what you see.
Once we have the villa we do flights through sky scanner.
Last year we stayed on a lovely golf resort in Gran Canaria.
The last three are just general shots around the complex
Once we have the villa we do flights through sky scanner.
Last year we stayed on a lovely golf resort in Gran Canaria.
The last three are just general shots around the complex
Edited by 98elise on Sunday 8th January 13:59
GT03ROB said:
Decide basically where you want to go.
Go onto something like skyscanner.... find the best dates for flights (as in cheapest)
Go to AirBNB or similar find the villa
Book.
Most run of the mill travel agents offer little. I haven't used a travel agent for 30 years!
100% this. You absolutely know what you're going to get. I don't think I've ever used a travel agent.Go onto something like skyscanner.... find the best dates for flights (as in cheapest)
Go to AirBNB or similar find the villa
Book.
Most run of the mill travel agents offer little. I haven't used a travel agent for 30 years!
We're looking at a Canaries winter sun break in Feb. Took about an hour to find a nice villa with a splash pool (£850 for a week), and flights on sky scanner are about £70 each.
Stayed here a while ago, near Lucca flew into Florence.
https://www.podereconsani.it/index.php?lang=en
Pretty idyllic actually.
https://www.podereconsani.it/index.php?lang=en
Pretty idyllic actually.
Edited by PositronicRay on Sunday 8th January 16:05
98elise said:
GT03ROB said:
Decide basically where you want to go.
Go onto something like skyscanner.... find the best dates for flights (as in cheapest)
Go to AirBNB or similar find the villa
Book.
Most run of the mill travel agents offer little. I haven't used a travel agent for 30 years!
100% this. You absolutely know what you're going to get. I don't think I've ever used a travel agent.Go onto something like skyscanner.... find the best dates for flights (as in cheapest)
Go to AirBNB or similar find the villa
Book.
Most run of the mill travel agents offer little. I haven't used a travel agent for 30 years!
We're looking at a Canaries winter sun break in Feb. Took about an hour to find a nice villa with a splash pool (£850 for a week), and flights on sky scanner are about £70 each.
Job done, as flexible as you want, and usually cheaper than a full package.
One point though - we have a villa that’s rented out (completely hands off with a local management company dealing with everything) and I know our AirBnB prices for example are 15% more expensive than booking direct via our managers website because of the 15% that AirBnB charge. This fee structure is similar for all the big portal type sites.
Worth doing that scrolling and googling if cost is a factor.
Depends if you fancy a drive but the Dordogne in France is fantastic (you can fly to Bergerac then hire a car if you don’t fancy a long journey) - we book Airbnb’s most of the time (plenty of choice but you’ll have to do the search - search for Superhosts and make sure you tick “entire place to yourself”.
Around Sarlat-la-Caneda is pretty good with plenty to do (it’s not like Spain or the Canaries though!)
Temperatures around late June can get into the low 40’s but high 20’s/low 30’s is the norm - probably hotter in late July/Aug though.
We love the quiet lifestyle & slower pace - we’re off again in late June and we stop in Normandy on the way down & back.
Around Sarlat-la-Caneda is pretty good with plenty to do (it’s not like Spain or the Canaries though!)
Temperatures around late June can get into the low 40’s but high 20’s/low 30’s is the norm - probably hotter in late July/Aug though.
We love the quiet lifestyle & slower pace - we’re off again in late June and we stop in Normandy on the way down & back.
We (me, Mrs and 3 year old son) did the All Inclusive holiday last year in Turkey. It was great for the most part but sharing a hotel room and not leaving the enormous complex got a bit wearing towards the end..
So we're also thinking villa type holiday this time round but worried about keeping a 3 (or 4) year old happy all day. At least in these huge complexes there are no end of parks, slides, pools, entertainment etc.
I guess what I'd like is a resort type location, but a villa stay and plenty outside of the complex for day trips and a change of scenery. Or am I overthinking it?
So we're also thinking villa type holiday this time round but worried about keeping a 3 (or 4) year old happy all day. At least in these huge complexes there are no end of parks, slides, pools, entertainment etc.
I guess what I'd like is a resort type location, but a villa stay and plenty outside of the complex for day trips and a change of scenery. Or am I overthinking it?
justin220 said:
We (me, Mrs and 3 year old son) did the All Inclusive holiday last year in Turkey. It was great for the most part but sharing a hotel room and not leaving the enormous complex got a bit wearing towards the end..
So we're also thinking villa type holiday this time round but worried about keeping a 3 (or 4) year old happy all day. At least in these huge complexes there are no end of parks, slides, pools, entertainment etc.
I guess what I'd like is a resort type location, but a villa stay and plenty outside of the complex for day trips and a change of scenery. Or am I overthinking it?
This kind of thing would work https://cascaderesortalgarve.com/en/ - you can rent private villas onsite with their own pools, plus you've got all the facilities of a resort - restaurants, sports, kids play areas and the big communal pool, and on foot you're 10 minutes to the beach and 20 minutes from Lagos.So we're also thinking villa type holiday this time round but worried about keeping a 3 (or 4) year old happy all day. At least in these huge complexes there are no end of parks, slides, pools, entertainment etc.
I guess what I'd like is a resort type location, but a villa stay and plenty outside of the complex for day trips and a change of scenery. Or am I overthinking it?
justin220 said:
We (me, Mrs and 3 year old son) did the All Inclusive holiday last year in Turkey. It was great for the most part but sharing a hotel room and not leaving the enormous complex got a bit wearing towards the end..
So we're also thinking villa type holiday this time round but worried about keeping a 3 (or 4) year old happy all day. At least in these huge complexes there are no end of parks, slides, pools, entertainment etc.
I guess what I'd like is a resort type location, but a villa stay and plenty outside of the complex for day trips and a change of scenery. Or am I overthinking it?
So we're also thinking villa type holiday this time round but worried about keeping a 3 (or 4) year old happy all day. At least in these huge complexes there are no end of parks, slides, pools, entertainment etc.
I guess what I'd like is a resort type location, but a villa stay and plenty outside of the complex for day trips and a change of scenery. Or am I overthinking it?
Why didn't you leave the complex? What was the point in going to Turkey (or anywhere) if you aren't going to sample some local colour?
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