Villa question

[redz]

Hi all,
we are looking to rent a villa for the first time next summer, (a bit early for this i know) but i have been looking to book direct with a villa owner on some of the various sites available, but the wife wants to book a villa through a travel agent, her reasoning! travel agents are ABTA protected, where as booking direct means we a paying a total stranger for a villa she doesnt even know belongs to this person!
where as we could call a travel agent if things go pear shaped when we get there, and they are duty bound to help us!
has anyone had any experience of shifty villa owners selling their villas with less than honest descriptions or the like?
any info appreciated,
thanks in advance,
redz.

 

[Dimplenose]

Hi all,
, but the wife wants to book a villa through a travel agent, her reasoning! travel agents are ABTA protected,

That's as maybe but in 2005 we chose an ABTA bonded villa company to book our villa with. Alarm bells started to ring when they were unable to take our final payment by credit card. We paid by cheque and then found out 2 weeks before we travelled that they were no longer tied to the ABTA scheme.

We should have received details of our villa 2 weeks before travel.

We spoke to ABTA and they said that we would be covered if they went out of business. This would have protected our money for the villa, but not the whole holiday as we had booked a fly drive seperately.

After much fuss and worry (where I has even considered booking a hotel room for 1 night just to have an arrival address to put on my Visa waiver form) we received details of our villa 2 days before we were due to travel. It wasn't even the villa we had requested, but it was on the same development so we were happy with it. But I had 12 days of stress when I should have been getting excited.

The villa company went out of business shortly after our return.

What I'm trying to say is that even an ABTA bonded company won't protect your holiday, just your money.

 

[matty624]

We've only ever had positive experiences booking direct. In fact, the only time we had a problem was when we booked via a travel agent. We'd booked a 4 bed pool villa on an estate (cant actually remember which now), and were given a 2 bed condo, on the 3rd floor on the same estate (great with a baby and toddler!), eventually we were moved, a few days later, to a 4 bed villa with pool, but not on the estate we'd booked, and we were much further away from the parks. After that experience, we have never, and will never book anything via anyone. The travel agent couldn't be reached the day we arrived, due to the time difference, and then was shut the following day (being Sunday). When we did finally manage to speak to someone, they couldn't have given a damn!
We always book direct now, check on the florida real estate sites that the owner does actually own the property in question, before we send any money. And so far, so good! But ask plenty of questions of the owners, assume nothing!!!
Matt

 

[wayneg]

Never booked a villa but booked a 2 bed Condo at Windsor hills. Did it thru VRBO.com great site for villa listings but there are more.
I had no idea who I was renting from but I picked a condo with all the features I wanted, Free internet access for one and it had recieved good reviews. I paid £60incl/night for Easter school hols. Which was a little OTT but I got exactly what I wanted and like the email convo's with the Owner who was from Honduras living in US.
I could have booked thru Hotelopia for half the price but all I knew was it would be at Windsor resorts and 2 bedroom, no idea of features etc.
Personally I would never use a T/A for a Villa but nor would I for anything, much prefer doing it all myself, have done about 20 times now.

 

[powerranger]

most of the time you can do your own enquiries to see if a villa advertised actually belongs to a person, the counties ie, Orange, Polk etc have the owners details registered on their websites for starters, you can also check out previous guests to see if they had a good experience, also renting from one of the companies such as Villas2000, would they keep somebody on their books who don't actually own a villa, i doubt it, basically the majority of owners are advertising in good faith and with a little bit of enquiry it should set your mind at ease

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Having rented many villas I have never had a problem.

If you rent off a reputable website such as the one's below you will be fine as owner's details are kept up to date and any enquiries or communications go through the website anyway.

www.villas2000.com
www.vr360homes.co.uk
www.holiday-rentals.com

 

[deejay-55]

There is always an element of trust involved - you are trusting the owners to rent you their vacation home, and they are trusting you to treat it with respect. Mostly everything works out fine.

 

[Netty]

Have a look at the links Johnny as listed, you should have no worries getting a villa from them. We have always rented villas and for the last few years have booked through these sites as well as www.villas2go4.com
never had a problem.
Booking through a travel agents will be the same as booking from any of these websites, but travel agents prices will be a lot dearer.
I can also recommend this management company, now they own the site and manage the villas, he is american and she is british. you will again have no problems what so ever booking with them as with the other sites mentioned.

www.sunnfunusa.com

hope it puts your mind at rest

 

[UKDEB]

As Libby says, using an ABTA bonded company will safeguard your money, but it could be some time before you'd actually receive compensation. Just because a TA is ABTA bonded, it doesn't mean it can't go out of business just as your holiday falls due, and it doesn't by any means guarantee that you'll get value for money or a decent property in a good location.

Like Matt, our only bad experience was when booking through a Tour Operator (the first time we stayed in a villa back in 1998). We'd paid big money for their top-of-the-range class of villa. Whilst it had obviously once been very nice, it had clearly seen better days. It was dirty and damaged. To be fair, the agents over there dealt with it very well. Someone came out the very first night to look around and she promised she'd sort something out the next day. Sure enough, when we phoned from Epcot the following afternoon, she gave us the address of another property. It was quite a bit further out, but it was brand new - we were the first occupants and had to remove plastic wrapping from lampshades, amongst other things. Even so, it was hassle that we didn't need in the first 24 hours.

Ever since, we've booked independently. I'm very fussy about where we stay and I want to know every last detail before we travel. I want to choose the location, the facilities, number of master suites, style of furnishings - the list goes on and on. In my experience, the great thing about booking directly with owners is that they're extremely proud of their properties and always do their utmost to be helpful. Most of them aren't business people in it to make a profit - they're just trying to cover the costs of having bought their dream holiday home. Whilst I wouldn't want to undermine the obvious benefit of booking with an ABTA bonded company, you get far more bang for your buck by booking direct.

 

[Tony Toon]

Book direct! Get what you want where you want. We've never had a problem.

 

[LaraB]

We've booked villas a couple of times directly on the internet - and had no problems. This time we've gone for a villa from www.holiday-rentals.co.uk and had good communication so far. Will be paying up the balance next week, so will let you know further then.

I'd make sure that you get receipts for everything, and email as many times as possible to keep in communication if you have any doubts.

 

[redz]

Thanks for all the valuable info folks, some great links there and i will be exploring them all over the next wee while, i think you guys have even managed to convince the wife that booking direct is the way ahead, and thats no mean feat.
I think the dis rocks for any info you may need, thanks again folks.