| Author |  Topic  | |
Dinky
![]() 15 Posts
Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Status: offline |  Posted - 22 Mar 2008 : 20:53:33  
| Hi all,
So we just got back from Orlando and we're hoping to get away again in November for two weeks  . We're thinking of booking the villa directly rather than the whole package but anyone got any advice as to costs or how it affects our coverage -read previously that safer to book everything together?
Only one quote so far and that was around £1K for a 4 bed villa for two weeks. Am I likely to get this cheaper if I go direct?
Thanks again  | | Report this post to a moderator |
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luckylady
 United Kingdom
3976 Posts
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Mar 2008 : 21:36:21
| quote:
Originally posted by Dinky
Hi all,
So we just got back from Orlando and we're hoping to get away again in November for two weeks . We're thinking of booking the villa directly rather than the whole package but anyone got any advice as to costs or how it affects our coverage -read previously that safer to book everything together?
Only one quote so far and that was around £1K for a 4 bed villa for two weeks. Am I likely to get this cheaper if I go direct?
Thanks again
Hello Sue
Welcome to the OV forum you are so lucky to go to Florida twice in one year
I would recommend booking your home, your flights, car hire and your park tickets via OV website. What could be better, all you require on one website? You will have full control, please browse through the links above they are all well worth the time and you will be able to see for yourself many beautiful homes that offer value for money and the luxury is unbelievable.
Please note all the homeowners on the links are all verified, therefore you can rest assured your home is genuine,
These are the links for car hire, park tickets and flights
http://www.orlandovillas.com/car_hire.aspx
http://www.orlandovillas.com/tickets.aspx
http://www.orlandovillas.com/cheap_flights.aspx
The answer to your question “Am I likely to get this cheaper if I go direct?” my answer is this will depend on you and your families need and what degree of luxury and amenities you require for your Florida holiday.
Good luck and enjoy the experience of organizing your own Florida holiday from start to finish 
|
Barbara
http://www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/1752.aspx
http://www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/2087.aspx |
Edited by - luckylady on 23 Mar 2008 18:28:36 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Snapper
 United Kingdom
4160 Posts
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 23 Mar 2008 : 12:04:20
| Hi Sue,
I can give you a bit of an insight into the costs. I don't know if it will answer your question fully but it will try to explain what happens behind the scenes when you book a villa (or as a package). It also will illustrate why you will get much better value by booking direct. That's not necessarily cheaper, but definitely better value.
When you book a villa direct with the owner you are getting that home at the price the owner chooses to set; which is usually around about what it costs to operate the villa.
If you book it through a travel company the story is quite a bit different. Almost all villas are managed by local management companies. These management companies will have deals with either tour operators, or bulk consolidators, to provide a certain number of villas. The consolidators then will have deals with the likes of Virgin, whe then sell the holiday to you.
So if you take my villa as an example (and it's a bad example because you cannot get it through a travel agent - it's far too exclusive!!) my management company would take the rate I set and then add on maybe 10% for their profit in the deal. They would then give this price to a consolidator who would then add on their 10% for their profit. Virgin then add on whatever profit they want to make, say another 10%, and that's the price you pay. You aren't just paying the owner for the villa but you are also paying for layer after layer of profit for all the companies in between. That's not necessarily a hugely bad thing if they are all adding something for you (like setting up a package that includes flights, cars, insurance, and other add-ons); but from the villa point of view you do end up paying heaps more.
One thing you might notice when you start putting your own trip together is that it works out similar price-wise to a package deal. At that point you might ask yourself what's the point? Why not just go with the package? If this happens remember what is going on behind the scenes with all those different layers of profit. If you are paying the same for the package deal what it means is that once all the layers of profit have been taken out what you are paying for the base products (villa, car, flights, insurance) is less. Villas, cars, flights and insurance are just like everything else in life. You get what you pay for. So while it might work out similar in price to put everything together yourself, what you should experience will be a step up in quality. Especially in the villa. And with the villa being where you will be spending most of the time it doesn't half make a difference.
Have fun! |
Steve.
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1418.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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JaneB
 United Kingdom
55 Posts
Joined: 09 Oct 2007
Status: offline | Posted - 23 Mar 2008 : 15:37:25
| | The huge advantage of booking independently is the chance to choose a specifc, single villa that has every single facility you require for your own circumstances - even down to choosing the view you like to look out on from the pool. That's what swung it for us - although it's actually costing us a couple of hundred pounds more than a package, we're getting exactly what we want, in the community we want. |
Jane
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Dinky
![]() 15 Posts
Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Status: offline | Posted - 23 Mar 2008 : 18:26:04
| Thankyou for the replies. You're right, we are so lucky to be able to go twice in one year - am sure Im addicted!!
This is one of the reasons sites like this are invaluable, so nice to be able to ask questions and get honest answers. The only thing that has ever stopped me booking directly before is the fear that if something goes wrong who do you call?! Paying extra isnt the overriding factor but obviously it feels easier to just do it all via one company -however, if there's a deal to be had then Im all for that! I do love a bargain (am sure all you shoppers out there will agree with me)
I'll def. check out the links so again thanks for tip, and see what comes up. We absolutely loved where we stayed last time so may try to get back there. Quite interested in a games room too
Again, thanks all. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Kazzie
 United Kingdom
4153 Posts
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 23 Mar 2008 : 18:51:22
| If you do come across a problem when you are staying in a villa that you have booked direct you will be given details of the managament company that looks after the home and they will do their utmost to sort out the problem.
quote:
Originally posted by Dinky
Thankyou for the replies. You're right, we are so lucky to be able to go twice in one year - am sure Im addicted!!
This is one of the reasons sites like this are invaluable, so nice to be able to ask questions and get honest answers. The only thing that has ever stopped me booking directly before is the fear that if something goes wrong who do you call?! Paying extra isnt the overriding factor but obviously it feels easier to just do it all via one company -however, if there's a deal to be had then Im all for that! I do love a bargain (am sure all you shoppers out there will agree with me)
I'll def. check out the links so again thanks for tip, and see what comes up. We absolutely loved where we stayed last time so may try to get back there. Quite interested in a games room too
Again, thanks all.
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Karen
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2185.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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DLB-GOUROCK
 United Kingdom
89 Posts
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Status: offline | Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 16:08:03
| Sue,
I too am like you and have booked my first villa style holiday through a tour operator, for similar reasons.
We go towards the end of May and if we like this format of holiday, going with a very open mind will the full intention of having a good time, I definitely will revisit this web site for my next holiday.
I have spent some time browsing through the pages here and as they say “if I knew then what I know now”. Steve’s description of the layer cake is an eye opener.
I trust you had a good experience or you would not be going back so soon.
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David & Jan | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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domster
 United Kingdom
5779 Posts
Joined: 02 May 2004
Status: offline | |
Solana
 United Kingdom
745 Posts
Joined: 30 Aug 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 21:03:55
| I am sure that what puts many people off is the 'what do I do if it goes wrong?' All the villas on this site are verified and it is quite a small close knit community so if there are any villas that are not up to standard or owners who are not delivering what they say then the management of the site will remove them.
As this is one of the best sites around and there are huge lists of people wanting to get on it we will not jeopardise our reputations by taking any chances.
The difference between a package and this direct booking is the support you get from owners on here. We all have local management companies and caretakers who take very good care of our homes and who are on hand for guests 24/7 in the case of an emergency.
We all want the absolute best holidays for our guests and will provide the individual touches and support that a large company cannot possibly give.
Have a  great second trip and I promise you will never book a package again, |
Jocelyn And Alistair
www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/2189.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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