View Full Version : Booking a villa - what safeguards are there
catherineK
15-02-2007, 23:54
hello,
I have been to florida a few times now, and have always used an agent to arrange me travel plans, however this time I have decided to do it myself as I know the area I want to stay in etc, however can anyone tell me what safeguards you have when it comes to booking a villa, are there any guarantees etc should the owner of a villa go bust etc.
Many thanks in advance for your help[msnsmile][msnsmile][msnsmile]
christhear
16-02-2007, 00:48
If you book through this site you can gaurantee that all the villas on this site are owned by the people that say they own them. The owners of this website make all owners verify their villas every 6 months to prove they still own them.
The main thing I would say when choosing a villa is that if the price looks too good to be true it probably is. The cheaper priced villas normally belong to the owners who are probably trying to sell and therefor emay not exist when your holiday is due.
It may be worth looking at villas from owners who regularly contribute to this forum, these are definately the most relaible owners.
Also like any holiday you should still have travel insurance to cover any hic-cups that may ocur.
Most owners will build up a repor with future guests and giv eyou plenty of details regarding their vilas.
HAve fum choosing your villa.
For a few more ideas Catherine, once you have a shortlist of villas don't be at all worried about putting the owner's on the spot to answer any questions or worries you might have. Ask them what their plans are for the villa, ask them how often they visit personally (to make sure it is kept in tip-top condition), ask for references from previous guests, etc.
No genuine owner should worry about answering a few questions to put your mind at ease. Have fun choosing.
As well as the above, to give you piece of mind why not pay for your villa by credit card? That way, the credit card company would be liable in the event of any non-provision of service (ie accommodation). The verification process is very strict, current proof of ownership must be provided by each owner every six months or the advert is pulled - immediately.
By booking direct, you have the best of it. You choose where you stay!
Cruella DeVilla
16-02-2007, 01:38
Also Catherine there has to be a degree of trust on both sides as most owners are entrusting you with an expensve property and they don't know the guests from Adam either. It is natural to worry but as the others have said booking through this site and the sister sites provides you with a verification process. Also these owners will help you with any queries you have and offer advice without hesitation etc.
Welcome to the forum btw:D
mfairhurst
16-02-2007, 01:55
We look after our guests as we would like to be treated and have made friends with people who have stayed .
In the past we have had some holidays from hell and conplained but got nowhere so we know how we would feel ,As it can be a holiday of a life time you are going on .
If you have been to FLORIDA before you get hooked and look forward to going again and a again .
As already been said before all the villas on these sites have to be verified so good enjoy your holiday .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx
DiannaUK
16-02-2007, 02:14
I would endorse everything that has been said above. I would also say that one of the biggest advantages of booking your villa direct with the owner is that you know exactly what you are getting, where it is, what facilities it has, etc, etc.
You can see actual pictures of your particular accommodation, often see a VR tour of the whole property, you can ask as many questions as you like (our guests do and we're happy to answer them) and you can be confident that what you see is what you will get.
Any responsible owner (i.e. an owner on this site and it's sister sites) will be happy to reassure you and give you references if you want them from previous guests.
On the other hand, when you book through a tour operator, all you are guaranteed is the number of bedrooms. You dont know the size of the bedrooms, the pool area size or situation, where the villa is located - and the price you pay will include a cut for the tour operator.
It's no contest really and I don't know of anyone who has booked direct with an owner going back to booking with a tour operator.
Have fun choosing your villa and I hope you have a wonderful holiday in Orlando.
Dianna
LiesaAnna
16-02-2007, 02:16
Hi Catherine
welcome to the best place ever for florida other then being there!!!
hope you have a great time choosing your holiday villa!
ShirleyD
16-02-2007, 02:32
Welcome to the forum Catherine :D
As usual, great advice above. Don't ever worry about asking your villa owner questions. Owners on these sites take pride in participating in giving our guests the best ever holiday
:D
Christine, you are so right. One of the things that would concern me most would be a cheap price - we might all like a bargain but in our heart of hearts we know that there has to be a reason for cheapness.
We all love our villas and spend an awful lot maintaining them to very high standards, but you cannot do that if you charge low prices. If a villa is cheap you need to ask yourself why that is? Why are they only able to charge low prices?
A villa holiday is very different from a holiday in a hotel, it becomes your home whilst you are there, and it can make or break your holiday. You want a home that you can't wait to get back to, one that fulfills its promises. It is certainly one area of your holiday that you should not try to economise on.
When you have made your final choices, ask as many questions as you like. We, like many other owners love talking about our homes, and about Florida itself. Look closely at photos, ask how new they are? Ask how often the owner visits their home, never feel afraid to ask to see more photos, they can tell you so much.
I am sure you will have a fantastic time in Florida and that, once you have stayed in a villa which has been personally chosen by you, you will never want to go back to an agent again. There is nothing like walking into your chosen villa for the first time and thinking, 'Wow' I have made the right choice.
You will have a great time looking at all the villas and choosing one. Have fun!:)
ON the flip side, what guarantee do you get from a Travel Agent? When you arrive to a tatty villa -they have provided you with your chosen number of beds, in ORlando -but where in Orlando, and is the pool south facing? Etc etc
The reason I ask that is because I booked villas through leading tour operators myself before, and they were always well used and out of the way. After 3 such bookings in a row [and umpteen inconvenient hotel stays] we bought our own home, so we knew it would be to our standards. Good quality bedding, essentials and extras in the kitchen -cleanliness -a home from home.
So now to explain why this site and we villa owners are different.
We have a quality product for our second home -we nurture and care for these homes, and as we spend time in them, we ensure they are comfortable. We pay a great deal to upkeep these homes with Management companies, pool keepers, maids and so on.
When you take a booking from a client, the homes is booked. Fullstop. You know where you ar going, and can plan for it. When you book through a TA [up to 18 months before] what do they do? They wait until a week or two before your guaranteed vacation, and they start phoning round for a cheap leftover bargain and book it. You have paid top dollar for an inferior product that they do not own, and have no responsibilty for. And they have had your money a good while too.
We do not take Travel Agents bookings, and would not consider it. Most of us would be booked solid a year in advance for the dates we wish to book out.
So beware the TA booking. Take charge of your cash, control of your valuable holiday and book the home you want, in the area you want, and have the luxury of a home owners experience.
ONe last bit of advice. In this life, you only get what you pay for, no more no less -and we all know on here that the cheaper homes are not going to be looked after. We know furniture is expensive to replace, carpets and alls need redecor/replace, and all that comes at a price. So if you want lack of cleanliness, worn home etc, look cheap [but that would be one expensive vacation of valuable holiday time]
Have a great time whatever you decide to do.
Pegasus928
16-02-2007, 16:30
Our last 2 Florida holidays have been with villas booked through this site, and we have nothing but good things to say about all of the owners for the service and advice that they give out.
While it is important for peace of mind that you are able to obtain some sort of safeguard - and reading all the posts above will give you an idea of what is available - I have found the best advice to be independant advice.
So speaking as a guest, and not a villa owner, be assured that when you book through this site you will be able to sleep at night and look forward to a fantastic holiday.
Pegasus
It's wonderful to be able to pick your own villa and know that what you see is what you'll get unlike the gamble that it is when you use a tour operator. I totally agree with the advice you've been given here. Once you have entered into a good dialogue with the owner of the villa you choose, I feel certain that your mind will be put at ease.
florida4sun
16-02-2007, 19:52
Having worked in the wholesale villa trade for a few years (no longer do) I can tell you how the system works when you book through a TA.
All ta bookings are allocated as 'slot ins' this is that they are fitted in around owners and MC bookings (most owners now do not atke ta bookings anyway). So this usually means the booings end in the houses least booked (that is teh house the MC wouod use last to put there won guests in). During busier times the bookings get passed around varios MCs until the booking is taken. It has happened wehere no villa is available and guests end up in a motel. You are much more secure bookig direct with an owner through reputable site.
Take your time to book the right villa for you and your party, ask the owner a lot of questions, Make a list before you phone or email them your phone number and get them to call you. Good luck with your search you will have fun finding the right villa but will feel great when you do. Have a great time.