Thinking of booking a villa for a week or two....

[Heathwood]

The wife and I are looking to get away from it all for a week or two and have been looking at Greek Islands and Cyprus. Quite fancy hiring a car and dictating the pace ourselves. Not interested in busy overcrowded resorts with neon lights and R&B.

Now, we've previously only stayed in Apartments / Hotels as we always assumed that Villa's would be too expensive, especially considering it would just be myself and the wife. However, a quick look on the net reveals very reasonable prices. Almost to the extent that I'm looking for the catch. We're talking about those costing up to around £1k a week based on June prices.

So, what are typical villa's like? Is it most likely that it will be one of a couple of hundred identical villa's on an estate several miles from the coast? Is it likely that a car will be essential to do anything? Basically, is there anything I really need to know or should investigate before I go and book something??

[Puggit]

Heathwood said:

The wife and I are looking to get away from it all for a week or two and have been looking at Greek Islands and Cyprus. Quite fancy hiring a car and dictating the pace ourselves. Not interested in busy overcrowded resorts with neon lights and R&B.

Now, we've previously only stayed in Apartments / Hotels as we always assumed that Villa's would be too expensive, especially considering it would just be myself and the wife. However, a quick look on the net reveals very reasonable prices. Almost to the extent that I'm looking for the catch. We're talking about those costing up to around £1k a week based on June prices.

So, what are typical villa's like? Is it most likely that it will be one of a couple of hundred identical villa's on an estate several miles from the coast? Is it likely that a car will be essential to do anything? Basically, is there anything I really need to know or should investigate before I go and book something??

It really depends - there are lots of villas within walking distance of amenities/beaches, but as you fear, often in new developments.

Try www.jamesvillas.co.uk - we've found the ads tend to be honest and feature distances to towns/supermarkets.

[cs02rm0]

I've stayed in these a couple of times before: http://www.pissouri-villas.com/Levanter.html

Couldn't recommend the villas or the location enough. Air-con was an optional extra, don't think there were any other costs not included.

Edited by cs02rm0 on Wednesday 20th May 20:24

[schmalex]

We have always used www.villaselect.com and without exception, the villa's have been exactly as described on the website / brochure. They tend to be unique houses (as in not in a big complex of '00's of other identical villa's) & have all the facilities you could possibly need.

I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them.