Has anybody booked a holiday with an owner directly?

[KathH]

This is really sad but am thinking of doing this for next year. Have only booked a package type holiday before but as there's me & dh + ds x 2 & dd x 2 cant really afford to do this anymore. Plus sis & her other half want to come as well. I've seen load of really good apartments on Daltons & other direct companies but am a bit scared of handing over my cash in case they do a runner in the meantime. I'm sure its not very likely but just have a small nagging doubt at the back of my mind.

You know, this crossed my mind once when I booked direct though Ownersdirect. I don't know how to reassure you really. I suggest you have a telephone conversation with the owner if poss. Some owners send contracts so at least you have something on paper to refer to. Keep all email correspondence. Trust your instincts. If you're really cocerned, contact the company you through which you found the contact to see if there would be any come back if it all went wrong. Good luck. We've found some real gems by booking direct - even went back a second time to one place because it was so nice.

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We advertise on holidaylets.net ans here on mumsnet and I am also a mumsnetter obviously and I really recomend rending directly form an owner - the houses are cheaper and really well equiped
here

Yes, we've done it a couple of times and never had a problem. I agree that emailing or phoning to get a "feel" for the owner can help to put your mind at rest.

Yes lots of times with Chez Nous - you get a brochure but all the bookings are made direct with owner, either by phone or over the internet. Never had a problem

We booked direct with the owners on a recent trip to Australia. I did suddenly think a week or so before we went "oh hell, I hope it's ok" - we had sent a fairly hefty deposit - but the same house was on a lot of different websites and I had corresponded with the owner by e-mail quite a bit with different queries. It's definitely the cheapest way to go - I saved £2000 on our Oz trip by booking everything myself (flights, hotels, house for a week, car hire) rather than using an agent.