Many vacationers don’t even bother checking beyond hotel prices for their accommodations. They might think that staying anywhere else – bed and breakfasts, guest houses or rented apartments – is too risky. Who knows what the place looks like, if it’s clean and charming or crummy and old, or if there will constantly be an owner chatting you up or ruining your quiet. A good idea for people who are willing to try something new is to rent villas. These accommodations, found throughout Europe, allow a person or group to have certain conveniences they give up at a hotel.
One good part of having a villa is that your time is your own. Since you have the run of the place, there aren’t any housekeepers bothering you to move so they can clean your room. When you rent villas, you don’t have to worry about locking up your possessions. No one can disturb your castle, even if it is only your castle for a week or two.
Many of the companies or people that rent villas do not live in them otherwise – they are solely rental properties. While they might have a few quirks, it is not like staying in someone’s home. They are well maintained, clean and convenient to the attractions. They are attended to by a person or staff that makes sure the place is clean and prepped before you set foot in the door. Some even have a staff person on duty during your stay, making sure that beds are made daily and everything is kept clean.
Many of the villas for rent are quite posh – the sheets are fancy, the views are amazing, porches and terraces abound. These are places meant to impress. The kitchens, gardens and beds are meant to mimic or surpass hotel accommodations. While this option might be more expensive, it can be a great and affordable way to serve a large group of people for a longer period of time.
One of the best parts of staying in a villa is that you can mimic or recreate the feeling of home while you are abroad. In a hotel, you share a room with one to three people; your family is divided up into small rooms. You head out alone at the end of the night to get ready for bed and fall asleep. In a villa, everyone shares and no one ever has to be apart, unless they want to. Its a great way to make sure your vacation is a bonding experience for the whole group.