Should I just chill out? WWYD

[palmtree80]

DH and I have planned to go away with 2 other families on holiday to a Greek island in July. We've all been on holiday together before and had a great time.

We had a chat about our expectations for holiday and agreed on a self catering villa with pool, 10 mins walk or less to a town with shops/bars etc, close to beach. We would also like to do some exploring of the island but are all happy to get taxis or hire car for that.

The two other families live next door to each other and are constantly socialising with their kids etc whereas me and DH live further away and see them a bit less, but we are still close. We have a WhatsApp group together. Since our last "planning meeting" one of the group has shared a villa she has found and wants us to book. It looks absolutely stunning and I don't blame her for choosing it, but a few things have concerned me. I have issues with it as:
The company I have never heard of and there are no reviews anywhere online, or on tripadvisor so I can't find any more than what the company says about it.
The location says "10 minutes drive" to the nearest village- I think that's going to be a longish walk in the heat to get groceries / water etc and isn't what we agreed on anyway (close to town / restaurants etc). Am I right in thinking a 10 minute drive is a fairly longish walk- in the Greek summer heat?

Because we are at a distance the villa has been presented as a 'fait a complit' via WhatsApp and the text from our friend said "this is the villa preferred by me, friend2, friend3 and friend4" - essentially saying that me and DH are the only ones left to agree.

I have raised the above concerns. Was I justified in doing this, or should I just chill out and let them book this villa, which does look stunning.

Present a few alternatives instead, rather than just saying no.

I think I’d raise the same concerns tbh as long as you did it gently!

No I would have the same concerns as you can you have a look for another one that ticks all the boxes today and send them a "that's nice but I've found this one as well what do you think?"

Fully justified - 10 minutes drive actually probably means more like 20 minutes drive and potentially in the middle of nowhere. Could you find a suitable alternative that matches what was originally agreed as an alternative?

Of course YANBU for raising concerns. Hopefully you were tactful and said "wow it looks beautiful but I'm concerned about XYZ". This is your holiday if you're all going together you all get a say and you'd be crazy not to voice your concerns.

As long as you present some other options. Nothing worse than people saying no without doing any work to find an alternative

Google the address of villa and find out its exact location and actual distance to nearest village/town.

Ten minutes’ drive can be a loooong way! Let’s say it was ten minutes by car at 30km/hr (which is slow), you’d still be looking at 5km which is a long walk. Then you have to walk back again.

I would say something like ‘It looks lovely, but it’s a LOT further away from town than we agreed, so we need to keep looking I’ll make some time on x day to see what I can find too. Whatever we find, it needs to meet the criteria we set & needs to have external reviews as well’

It might cause feathers to be ruffled, but it’ll cause far more than that if you pay a lot of money to be in a villa in the arse end of nowhere and have to hire cars for the entire trip just to go & get fresh milk! You don’t want to be anywhere that’s not an easy walk to civilisation when you’re sharing a villa with friends. You won’t be friends at the end of that!

There are so many scams around hiring villas that I'd be very unsure. If there are no reviews anywhere at all, I'd be reluctant to go ahead. Ask her to get more information about it, and yes, google maps the whole area and have a good look.

It may be a new listing and that's why you can't find reviews online. Re the 10 minute drive, I'd check out Google maps/street view to see how long the walk is likely to take. If they're rough country roads you might only be driving at 20 milès an hour and there might be a shortcut on foot but it is likely to be more than 10 minutes walk. How old are the children and how will they cope if the walk is 30 or 40 minutes (or more) each way? Do you know if your friends have considered this or maybe not read the small print?

If you can find some other options to suggest that would be good, while acknowledging that the place they are suggesting is stunning. Also, it can be hard work to trawl through the internet for holiday accommodation so don't be too blunt saying "no".

Can you do a google map search to see exactly where it is?

Google maps should tell you the location and vicinity

Just as an example my vet is about a ten minute drive but recently I decided to walk there to pick up medication.

All downhill, in a city so an easy walk.

It took me 40 bloody minutes to get there on foot! And coming back was uphill so it took even longer!

Hi OP, with regards to the no reviews i can shed some light on this.
I work for a holiday company and we rent villa's and apartments etc..
If we have a new villa there are no reviews, and the only way we can get a review is if we have guests stay and then they leave feedback etc..

So it doesn't mean it's a scam. Just google the company or ask them if it's a new rental etc..

Our nearest town is 10 min drive - it would be about an hour to walk. Certainly not something I would consider as walking distance to pop out for groceries.

The unknown company without any reviews sounds very worrying. there are so, so many holiday rental scams around. Is it at least through some website that offers guarantees and protection?

My office is an 11 minute drive. It's five miles away.

10 minutes drive could be 5 miles. I think you'd have to let go of the idea of walking there for groceries.

Just as an example, it is ten minutes drive from our home to local supermarket here in England but the walk as the crow flies is 5 miles, by driving is 7 miles. There's no way I would want to walk it even in ideal weather conditions let alone with the sun bearing down.

Are the friendships strong enough for you to pull out? Could it be the person suggesting this is deliberately trying to put you off as the "outsiders"?

It would be a bit too far out for me unless you are on a bus route. The villa may be gorgeous but I would soon feel trapped.

I think if a house is advertised as a ten minute drive away it's really saying you need a car to stay there. Is a car for the week an option? You might miss out on some lovely villas if being in a village is a requirement.

It does send up a red flag that you will be the weak link in the group - in the sense that the others see each other a lot more and plan things without you. I think their reactions to your concerns will be telling. If they take them onboard and listen, fine, but if they try and push you into forgetting your concerns and booking, I'd be hearing alarm bells.

Am I right in thinking a 10 minute drive is a fairly longish walk- in the Greek summer heat?

That is likely NOT to be a walkable distance...

Get your own hire car so you don't eel trapped. Enjoy the stunning villa :-)

I agree about finding exactly how far it is.

I’d say something like ‘looks fabulous, see it’s xx miles from supermarket though, do we need a cunning plan for how that will work?’

Have you asked why they want this villa if it was agreed only a 10 minute walk to the town and this one isn't clearly?

Most of the villas close to amenities will be booked up by now - check out what options you have first maybe?