| Back to travel tips Some hints when renting a house or villa. Back to links | ||
| Renting a house or a villa has many advantages. The option of cooking your own meals, doing your laundry, being away from the hustle & bustle of a resort area, etc & if you are with a group, savings, but be careful when renting. | ||
| Some things to watch for when renting are key words. 1. Cozy. does to mean cozy or small. 2. distinguished/rustic might mean old 3. peaceful might mean remote, far from where you want to spend most of your time. | ||
| Things to be sure to verify are: how far the house is from town or attractions, does it come with heat, air-conditioning, stove, washer & dryer, electricity, phone, etc., does it come with staff, sometimes you can get a lower price if you don't want/need a housekeeper, chef etc. & the rental comes with them. | ||
| Do you really need a car. Unless you plan to take road trips, you might be able to get away with walking into town or renting a bike. This could be a large savings. | ||
| Does the villa have beach access or a swimming pool. Make yourself a list of things you'd like & see how many of them you can get. | ||
| Shop around, you'll be surprised at the amount of villas & price ranges you'll find. Think about what you want & your budget. Talk it over with your travel companions before making a decision. | ||
| Know or check out your realtor. How long have they been in business, what references can they supply, check with their local chamber of commerce. Here are a few reliable agencies. | ||
| Alpujarras Rentals: (Spain) | European Escapes (Europe) | Homes Away (France, Italy & Spain) |
| Rent A Villa (Worldwide) | Villa Europe: | Villas & Apartments Abroad |
| Villas of Distinction | ||
| An Even cheaper way then renting is a vacation home exchange, where you trade your home for a home abroad or elsewhere in the U.S. with another family for a short period of time. Below are some sites to check. You will get an idea of what V.H.E. is all about plus homes that are up for trade. | ||
| Home Link: (Worldwide) | International Home Exchange | Intervac (Worldwide) |