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

[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.

 

[Atari]

https://www.homeaway.co.uk/lp/new-home-traveller/

Used to be Owners Direct - not personally used it but I know many people have as it cuts out the middle man generally and you deal directly in most cases with the owner.

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

 

[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.

 

[wesley]

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?

 

[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.

 

[EddScott]

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.

 

[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!

 

[skyripper]

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

 

[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.