Good website for renting a Villa in EU or Villa Holiday.

[Gibbo]

Hi there


Couple of years ago I stayed in a couple of incredible Villa's in Thailand on the island of Koh Samui, one was called the "The View" and it was appropriate named.

Now I normally leave booking of holidays to someone else, but next year is my turn and I need a Villa ideally that conforms to the following as its my turn to pay:

- 4-5 double bedrooms ideally some with en suites
- Large pool, infinity pool would be bonus as would jacuzzi
- Sea views
- Any EU country that is warm in September, ideally 25c minimum maximum of 4-5hr flight time from UK.
- Length 14 days
- Budget upto £10,000 just for the Villa, flights booked separately by the guest.


Now I know of James Villas and booking.com, I was wondering if there of any other good sites or any villas people here can personally recommend and share contact details please, or maybe even a nice large villa owned by a forum member and you want to rent it out.

Portugal, Corfu, Cyprus, Italy, Menorca, Mallorca, Croatia, Egypt, Tenerife, Spain and Turkey are all options and more all that really matters is its hot in September, dry/sunny and less than 5hr flight ideally.

It shall be more a relaxed holiday rather than a crazy party as I am going Thailand in June to celebrate my 40th so that shall be crazy party which someone else is booking and this shall be more a chilling relaxing holiday, more chill at villa, beach, go to nice restaurants and boat trips.

So any website or suggestions, please shoot.

 

[Gibbo]

If you find something on there be sure to check other sites and see if same place listed

The one we stayed at above was 20% cheaper on homeaway than it was on Airbnb

Yeah my shortlist on homeaway is still around 20 Villa's, what an epic site it is, so much selection and good prices.


The villas I've found are in:
- Crete
- Rhodes
- Cyprus
- Corfu
- South Italy
- Spain, Alicante
- Corsica
- Turkey
- Croatia


As we shall be going middle September, Turkey and Cyprus are favourite for warmer weather, ideally 25c plus as the other places can drop to high teens or low twenties. Turkey particular Kalkan seems nice and Cyprus also very nice with lots of offerings.

 

[Gibbo]

Thanks for the advice, the sites suggested here helped and a villa has been chosen, just sorting some finer details with owner and then shall be booked.

 

[Gibbo]

https://www.cvvillas.com/Destinations/Greece/Corfu/St-Stephano/Thalassa

Stayed at this villa last year. Fantastic view. With private beach. Short distance walk to lovely little village St stephano. Deffo recommend!

That is really quite nice, also very cheap with some weeks at only £1100, might book that for 2020.

I have however booked the villa now, got a really good deal on two weeks in this one:
https://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/r...zcgNPyYDcgXai5CIXsmvpPqNgy-IElR4aAh2uEALw_wcB


Having two pools, several hot tubs and walking distance to the town, beach clubs nearby made it a favourite. Also has a private chef on hand which we shall use a couple of nights and there is plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs not far, some lovely coastal roads to drive as well.


Also booked this for a full day:
http://www.lunarkalkan.co.uk/


So quite excited, 2019 shall be a fun year, first trip is VEGAS, then Vietnam and Thailand, followed by this and no doubt a few trips in between.

 

[Gibbo]

Even though you're already booked, I can definitely recommend Home Away - used them in the past to rent a villa near the Nurburgring. Good service on their part

I found the villa via that site, I then booked it through trip adviser as it had a better price and after discussing with the owner directly. I've also got them to throw in pool heating, fresh bread and water every morning for free.
Also got the chef, masseuse and driver available should we need them, but taxis are plenty and very cheap.

Now the dilemma is do I convert some GBP to Turkish money now considering right now one pound gets your 7 Lira or hold out to see if Turkish currency weakens further.

 

[Gibbo]

how did you find a private chef? this is something id consider next time, preparing foods for 9 people is not something i enjoy. do you have to pay extra? or someone the villa owner knows?

Owner of the Villa gave me details, here they are:
http://www.chefsathomekalkan.com/

Of course that is for Kalkan, price is roughly around £25 per head which is cheap to be honest.

We shall probably use him a couple of times, but were only staying 14 days and the area has a lot of restaurants, bars so will probably dine out a lot, plus the boat is a 10am - 10pm so shall eat on that, 14 days seems quite a long time but you quickly fill it up with things to do.
Definitely want to stay at the Villa a few days also to make use of having somewhere so nice, otherwise one might as well just booked a top hotel for how much it cost.

This cold weather really makes me want to go somewhere warm, I'm off to Taiwan in a couple of weeks for some business and personal vacation but would not mind maybe just getting off somewhere warm in February, am off to Vegas and LA in January, last year went California in January and got so lucky with weather as it was sunny and warm, though I was the only person walking in the sea on the beach.

I am not doing PCH this year, just stopping in Vegas for CES then a few days holiday in LA, so am thinking need to go somewhere nice and warm in February is such a place exist, don't want to go Asia as will be spending 2-3 weeks in Asia travelling in June.

 

[Gibbo]

Have used AirBNB a few times now. Never had an issue, however...

I recently had to call on AirBNB to sort out an issue with a booking. Booked a 5 bed apartment in Kiev for a long weekend. On arriving at the airport and putting in my local sim, I have missed calls from the letting agency saying there is something wrong with the place we have chosen. Knowing Ukraine and it's "ways" very well I wasn't entirely surprised.

They offered an alternative which wasn't up to the spec of the apartment we had chosen so as a group we decided to book into one of the hotels. The agency were still helpful and arranged a taxi for us and were very apologetic. I came to conclusion the issue had probably been genuine.

Anyway, by the time we'd sorted our rooms, AirBNB had been on the phone and agreed a full refund which was on it's way before I put my bag down in the hotel room - the girl I spoke to also made sure we did have somewhere to go etc. Have to say I was impressed with how they handled the situation.

That is good, used AirBnB a lot, particular with my stays in Asia, but can't use them any more in Taiwan due to government essentially banning it. So now gotta pay more to stay in hotels!

 

[Gibbo]

Stayed in Kalkan last year and this. The views with the sunsets coming in over the bay can be amazing.
Its hilly and quite a quiet place compared to the bigger resorts.

Must say I'm quite envious of that mansion you've rented

Yeah the views are very important, hence that villa as every room has the sea view. As I am paying the master room is mine.
Yep read its hilly, but taxis are cheap and not looking for a totally crazy party venue, were a group of 6 of varying ages, but no kids! Good views, warm weather, eating out, boat trips, beach clubs with nice beaches and good sea for swimming is priority.

But yeah it was important to get a really nice villa, I've been spoilt on previous villa holidays of staying in such incredible villas that cost several thousand euro a day (I was not paying), so wanted to find something similar but without the crazy cost, now its not cheap at close to £500 a day but I think its a fair price for its size and facilities, a big pool was a must as I am a keen swimmer and though I am quite happy to swim in the sea it can be full of hazards namely jelly fish, or worse sharks.