Tell me about your perfect (luxury-ish) rental villa: what are your must-haves and wow factor draws?

[entirelyidentifiable]

We have just put an offer in on a villa in the Algarve (hence the name change as several of my friends and family know about this!)

I want to run it in a business-like way for rentals as well as using it ourselves. So, with this in mind, what are your absolute must-haves for a luxury (think upper 4star/ 5 star equivalent but not rock star type place!) holiday villa and what luxuries/ fripperies/ things for children would win you over to booking mine not someone else's?

It has four bedrooms all ensuite, a smallish garden as well as three terraces, pool (with lowish wooden picket fence around the pool terrace but would help for safety for those with toddlers) and is very well-located (walking distance to gorgeous beach and some restaurants, two spas within a walk, golf and tennis galore, kids' club options, larger communal pool for those who fancy that etc).

The master suite with walk-in wardrobe, seating area and ensuite and a large terrace is on the first floor, with the other three bedrooms downstairs so not sure if this would be a problem for young families? Maybe nice if the grandparents can be upstairs and the others down though for extended families. I imagine this will not suit everyone. I could maybe have an option of a folding bed or travel cot for the master suite if that helps as there is space (just).

I do want to attract families but also adults playing sport and travelling in a group etc. The rental company I am intending to use will provide travel cots, highchairs etc. so no need to mention that but I could provide a microwave steriliser etc.

So far I have the following in mind: outdoor table tennis, basketball net (both out of sight of the pool area and with older children in mind), coffee machine e.g. Nespresso, juicer, hammock or swing seat (stylish) for outside, board games, maybe PS or X Box, big tub of Lego and blocks for younger ones, books for children and adults.

Beach and pool toys, beach towels.

What else? What makes you swoon at a holiday home?!

Annie, would you be happy to link to a couple of your favourite places you have stayed as this would be useful?
You can always PM me if you prefer.

We have some of that ticked with this one IF we get it. There is only a distant sea view from the top terrace but there isn't a view from the garden but it's very pleasant.
Might not do TVs in every room but that's a good point. Maybe I will do them for two of the four rooms. I think increasingly families use their own ipads/ tablets for viewing anyway but maybe I'm wrong. I'm biased as I'm not a big TV watcher so might be misgauging that.

No pool heating yet but I plan to add that and maybe a jacuzzi as time goes on and I can reinvest any profits. Do you use/ expect pool heating even in August in hot places? Just curious?

We would never book a place without heated pool - even in the height of summer a cold pool is too cold for the DC's to stay in for extended periods. And if the weather isn't all you hope for then it isn't appealing at all - one week in Menorca springs to mind that really was spoilt not just by weather but by not swimming and playing in the pool because the prospect was ! We stayed in a fabulous house in the South of France that had a pool heated to a wonderful 28deg + (so many 'heated' pools actually turn out to be not really warm, just not freezing ) - it was the end of August and the weather was scorching but pool was still heavenly and we were in there for hours.

Re TV as long as there's a decent one in the living room I'd be very happy. Tablets etc make it unnecessary in other rooms as you say (IMO). Having said that, the same place in France had a den type room as well as the living room with a standard TV and the den had an enormous TV with PS3 and very good cable TV and we all loved it. We provide access to our Netflix account in the holiday home we rent out, but it is in the UK, I don't know if it would work abroad, something to look into?

I sent you a PM link.

When I said view, I meant of anything nice, doesn't have to be sea - just not the back of another villa.

Yes, I think you're right that loads of TVs are prob not a necessity when there's wifi/iPads.

And I have just seen this is short haul, so possibly ignore me

Hi entirelyidentifiable and huge congrats on your new purchase! We did the same thing 2 years ago in France and are still working on it (heated pool nearly finished!) I agree with all the above posters!! Also for the little ones, 2 of everything (cots, high chairs, monitors, booster seats, baby bath etc.) If it helps take a look at our website bastide-esperels and see the list at the end which I took from a baby safe rental site.
The bikes we didn't bother with as I am a bit paranoid with children /maintenance of the bikes and sthg happening to a guest when they are out. But I do see the attraction.
Pichet is absolutely right too, lay my hat has been a brilliant source of info too. People want a hotel away from home, so a bit nicer than the houses we used to go to ;-) If ever you need anything give me a shout. Good luck!! Helen

Thanks hj! Laymyhat was great to look at.

I'm starting to think about budgeting for what will be missing as they have not rented it out before. It will be a bit of a nightmare finding the right shops locally but I'm trying to research what's there in advance online.

If you struggle with finding local shops consider shipping stuff from here, it is often much cheaper than you'd think. We have a property in S France and local furniture shops are awful and v overpriced, I was quoted £350 to send 2 sofas from London to there which would be well worth it.

Was that with a removals type company? Definitely interested in doing that as I have storage space here and then also can send a few things from home out there. Who did you use (or DM me if easier)?

Let me have a look though papers at home later and see if I can find it for you

Thank you! I guess it might be twice as much to Portugal though compared to a relatively quick trip to France!

I've seen so far that quite a few retailers now ship internationally - Debenhams, M&S and House of Fraser seem to include furniture but some others do furnishings. Sadly not a big fan of Debenhams but I will keep looking at who else delivers there.

Of course the other option is to find online retailers that operate in Portugal...

Nothing to add, but please will you pm me with the details when it's all sorted and ready to let. It sounds fab!

I would prefer to buy locally as it would be much better for several reasons but I keep hearing the choice is pretty poor in that area. Either MFI type stuff or ridiculously expensive and not much in between.
I will keep looking online.

Will do Marymouse!

So our offer was accepted! At the very last minute of the working week!

pm me details too please!

Here's another question: do most of you book such places via an agency or direct with a site such as Owners Direct?
If the former do you expect it to cost a shade more to cover the extra security of ABTA bonded etc?

Personally I prefer an agency I know of so that I can be sure the standards of accommodation have been checked and that if there's a problem I have someone to call but I guess lots of people do use the direct sites.

99% direct sites like owners direct for us.

iPod docking station
Some board games
Set of cards and poker chips

Good pillows, and lots of them on the beds.
Lovely bed linens and extra blankets if it gets cold
Lots of tea towels and clothes in the kitchen and napkins too. A few sets.

A really good welcome pack

A beach bag was a nice touch- it had a few buckets and spades, sand mould things, a big beach blanket and a stick in th sand parasol. All in a big tote. Was apey touch.
Reusable cloth bags for shopping
An ice making fridge

Good cooking utensils- I like yo cook in s villa and get irritated if the knives are crap, and there is only one sharpe knife for cutting and no bread knife!

We usually share a villa with another family so one fab bedroom and 3 not so fab puts me off.

Love garden swing/hammocks and lots of nooks and crannies to hide in.
Got to have a dishwasher.
Yes to a sharp knife - I have been known to take my own after years of frustration.
An essentials pack included makes everything more relaxed.
Heated pool - yes.
I chose this year's villa because we didn't have to go Sat to Sat. Halved the costs of our flights by letting us go midweek and meant we could pay a little more for the villa.
And I usually go through Owners Direct.

Love the beach toys/ big bag idea.

No idea what's there in the kitchen at the moment so that will be something for us to discover and then fill the gaps with. Agree on the knives - hate that too.

One of my own must-haves is a juicer! Especially for all that cheap fruit from the local markets! Yum!

entirelyidentifiable congratulations on buying your holiday home, it is a stressful time for sure.

Some further good ideas from other members above.
If I explain some things which we have experienced as an owner renter.

Should your agency add on commission to your rates this may put enquirers off due to the higher cost of a holiday. Payment by CC to the owner on a listing site gives the holiday maker cover should their be an issue. Ensure your T&C's are suitable for the country you rent it and that they protect your guests and their holiday and importantly protect your valuable property and contents from damage.

Board games required to be checked after each rental making sure all pieces are there as would card sets jigsaws etc for follow on guests.
Hammocks like sun lounger cushions should always be spotless for following on guest, not covered in ice cream sun screen, on the subject of sunscreen P20 is the worst thing for a pool owner to get off, leaves a thick coating around the waterline.

Beach parasols can and do get blown away and damaged by winds on the beach, require plenty of spares so next guest isn't disappointed, as do beach toys they get broken left on the beach. Pool inflatables do get punctured again spares required.
Juicer/blender we have as mums like to blend fruit/veg for their little ones.

These are some of the issues I have come across as an owner, if you do go down the agent route for house preparation, perhaps employ a house manager to look after the above at changeovers, that is what we do as well as good cleaners and pool guy.

Any booking over say 1week we supply a midstay clean and linen change FOC, just build that into your price.

A web site is a must, with a domain name that suits your area/property best, think of booking a professional photographer it does make such a difference to the quality of pictures on your www. Depending on what nationality of guests you are hoping to attract, adding different language translations.

Again dependant on your local airport flights, it may indeed suit guests pockets to fly midweek, will it suit you for staffing changeovers on these days? Will you be able to fill the gaps before and after a mid week booking, will you loose/gain income because of it?

As always it's the little things done correctly that take the time and your guests will receive a higher level of service than they were expecting.

I could go on, perhaps for another thread?

Pichet - that's so useful thank you!

Do go on please! You clearly have lots of experience.

Your welcome, go over to LMH great source of information for newbie rental owners; save derailing your original question on this thread.

I've joined LMH and will post on the thread about this thread on there as soon as approved by their admin. Looks really useful.

Having a slight wobble about all the expenses involved. I have a hefty spreadsheet model and it's fine but think we need to take it slowly in year 1 with replacing things and see how it goes.

Back again!

So we have decided against a hot tub on hygiene and cleaning grounds. Saw the story about someone's child going to the toilet in one and the aftermath and that is very offputting!

We will try and install pool heating as soon as funds allow. Might be straight away in the Autumn or in the new year.

I am thinking of taking our never really used ps3 out there but would people expect games?! We have only got two and they are old. Guests could bring their own if it were mentioned in the ad.

Also, coffee machines...if we had a Nespresso one, what would the deal be with capsules as they can be a pain to get.

Another question: if you have space for eight, would you expect 8 loungers if there was plenty of other seating eg outdoor sofa?

Well, sadly it's all fallen through after the survey and legal side. The search for the perfect villa continues...

I will be back to this thread one day hopefully!! It's all very frustrating and definitely harder than buying in the UK!