How far out do villa owners usually offer discounted rates ?

[djpositivek]

When (if at all) do most Villa owners start offering "last minute" or "late offer" deals ? I need a 4 bdrm pool home for Feb. 1st - Feb.8th (7 nights) and have e-mailed a few owners but they just gave me their standard rate off the website. I know it's expensive to run these homes but I would have thought that a month and a half out, that owners would have started lowering their price a little. When does this start happening usually ? I would think they would rather get a discounted rate then nothing. Not looking for huge discounts as I realize it's good value but maybe something like free pool heat or $200 off, that kind of deal.

 

[momto4obkids]

Why don't you go on www.fabvillas.com and do a general enquiry. This is how i found our villa this year and the one i am booking for june 2007. Alot of the owners gave me a discounted quote. Our quotes ranged from $700-$1400 for 10 days. Most were around $900.

One owner gave me a quote that was $1000 less than their normal fee!! I was shocked,but didn't take them up on their offer because the home was too far out for us.

I ended up picking a home in rolling hills that was about $300 less than their website had their rates for that time.

hth!
Amanda

 

[Acklander]

I've used www.rentalo.com for a general inquiry and then usually get back tons of responses. I'm not sure if it's soon enough for February discounts, usually I check about a month beforehand and have gotten some great deals.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

It's a difficult one to answer as the owner's vary, some will give discounts and others will not - it all depends on how they see things really.

 

[isla bonita]

The rental villas are individually owned so there is no hard and fast rule.

What I do personally is when the month has booked and there are dates in between I drop the rate.

The longer the stay the cheaper it is.

When it is the end of the previous month and I still have weeks I also drop the rates.

All fellow Diser's get a discount.

It is all up to the owners. When some one is looking for a home and decide on it usually it is because they have gotten what they want for the price they want.

At times if it is a slow month you might find some bargains, openings still during the month it is you might be able to get a better price, its a buyers market and there is a rentor out there for every one. That I am convinced of. If I found a home I like and it fit our group I would ask all they can say is no thank you.

 

[Sunrisedream]

I guess it depends how popular the villa is. Many owners do not have to discount, as if they have less weeks booked at published rates, the income is the same as having more weeks booked at a low rates, then less wear and tear, lower maintenance costs.

 

[sandisk]

go to a disney hotel

 

[JohnnySharp2]

go to a disney hotel

why exactly?

 

[horseshowmom]

When you do your request, be sure to add that you are looking for a reduced "last minute" rate and comment that if they would be interested in submitting a quote to you, you would be interested in looking at it.

They need to know that you are looking for a cheaper rate. When I did this the first time, I actually had some who thought they could get full rate, because they insinuated that at this late date, I couldn't find anything else. They were wrong.

After I added the statement about looking for a cheaper rate, I got some great offers (including a 3BR/3BA in Windsor Hills for $500). I took a 4BR/3BA house in a gated community (with a pool) for $480.

Good luck!

 

[FLParadisevilla]

Well some owners can't afford to discount thier homes to the rates that other do. It sometimes depends on when they bought the home, how much thier expenses are, and the cost of up keep on the home.

 

[5mins2disney]

Yes, and some people won't discount at all. Keep in mind, you do get what you pay for! If it seems to good to be true....sometimes it is! That being said, there's no hard and fast rule... I recently put everything through next spring on 10% Sale since we were pretty much booked solid... I was trying to fill a few small 3 day openings left in our calendar.

It also really depends on the time of year. We get 15-20 emails a day now for people looking for a place in Windsor Hills on Xmas/New Years...and everything I know of has been booked for weeks now! Same situation in March/April (peak season)...so if you're looking for deals in the peak season (this also applies for Thanksgiving / Easter), you're going to have a lot harder time finding them, than say, in Feb when it's not as busy.

The rates charged usually correspond as well. Honestly though, the best thing to do is pick a place you like and then ask nicely. Owners get offended (I hear it from other owners on boards all the time) when people put out inquiries like "willing to pay $500 for your place" instead of "what kind of discount would you possibly be offering me?". The old saying "you attract more flies with honey" kind of thing... we found as rentors in the past that by asking people many were willing to work with us, and you would be surprised how few people ask!!

 

[FLParadisevilla]

I agree George you do get more flies with honey! I have had people come back and offer me half of the price I quoted and it was an insult. I however responded very nicely that I am sorry that I could not meet that price.

You do get what you pay for most of the time, and I agree if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

 

[djpositivek]

Thanks everyone for your input (except sandisk). I've e-mailed a few owners stating that I was looking for their BEST rate and had e-mailed a few other owners and was going to take the best quote. It seems most are still reluctant to reduce their rates. That's alright, I understand and will eventually find the right villa for a price I want to pay.

I actually found a few good deals on the link that momto4obkids posted. Thanks for that ! There are so many websites and villas to look at, one could go crazy.

I've spent countless hours browsing and eventually I guess I'll just have to book one. I'm sure we'll have a good time regardless of what villa I choose.

 

[OhioFamily]

Why don't you go on www.fabvillas.com and do a general enquiry. This is how i found our villa this year and the one i am booking for june 2007. Alot of the owners gave me a discounted quote. Our quotes ranged from $700-$1400 for 10 days. Most were around $900.

One owner gave me a quote that was $1000 less than their normal fee!! I was shocked,but didn't take them up on their offer because the home was too far out for us.

I ended up picking a home in rolling hills that was about $300 less than their website had their rates for that time.

hth!
Amanda

I agree with Fabvillas.com
I recently sent a general inquiry to all the owners and had 60 people email me with quotes. You can greatly narrow down the search by entering in specific things that you want in a home, even price range. I found one perfect for our family. Good luck!!

 

[FLParadisevilla]

You can try some sites like
www.onlinefloridavillas.com
they have a great maps to show you where the different neighborhoods are. You may save some time if you know which neighborhoods you like and don't like.
www.VRBO.com
www.Villas2000.com
www.indiancreekflorida.com this is all Indian Creek.
www.windsorhillsrent.com is Windsor Hills
I can't remember the site for Emerald Island...
Sit back and enjoy and to see what you like and don't like in homes you have some time and I am sure you will find the best home for your trip at a price you are happy with too!

Its kind of fun to see how all the different homes are decorated etc. I find that a lot of fun!
Enjoy!!!

 

[isla bonita]

Here is a site with just Emerald Island homes on it if you are interested.

http://emeraldislandresortvacationhomes.com