I need to post this thread about luxurybreaks.co.uk because previously I rather memorably and unintentionally besmirched their reputation ...

[handlemecarefully]

in this thread...www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2411&threadid=345352#7019314

Anyway just returned from this holiday which was causing me so much unfounded angst. Was met at airport by a contact of the Mr luxurybreaks and guided through the car rental pick up, plus shown to the villa (much easier than muddling through ourselves)

The villa itself was excellent. Outside, it had a pool, a choice of quality sun loungers, a pool side shower, table football, table tennis, a slide and swing combo, and a dedicated levelled off playing 'field' area for playing boules, football etc. Also the pool had a metal safety cover which could bear the weight of a (slim) adult (fine since it was the children we were concerned about rather than their porkier parents)

Inside, the owners had left everything you need. Huge array of crockery and utensils, clean teatowels and towels. Not the bare minimum you can often find in villas etc

The extra fridge in the garage was stacked to capacity with beer and wine with an invitation to help yourself!

There was a pc with internet access (and fax machine should you require it), and Sky tv!!! - so could get all the British terrestial channels plus all the sky channels. Great when the kids awoke early because sent dh to lumber sleepily downstairs and put Scooby Doo on to buy us extra sleep.

So I think I've redressed the balance a bit there...

and I would recommend, based on my experience, a villa with 'luxurybreaks'. We plan to use them again

(I'm not advertising them, just recommending them! before anybody takes me to task)

I think this should be kept bumped because the last thread went very Nancy Drew.

Yes, thanks - I agree

I'm glad it all went so well.

glad you had a good time. I remember the thread, but didn't hear the outcome.

so you went by plane in the end?

Thanks lapsedrunner and belgo. Yes we did go by plane in the end (3 hour delay coming home!)

I've bookmarked the webpage as I'm always on the look out for good holidays

Well based on our experience they are definitely worth trying out. I believe the owner or his wife visit each villa before placing them on their database (actually quite an enjoyable line of work I should imagine!)

Having come back from a holiday we are all fired up for planning next year's trips. Any personal recommendations Belgo? (since you might have had a nice break or two whilst looking out for good holidays)

Sounds fab, we want a French villa type holiday next year so I will bookmark them. Thanks!

Well if you go, consider the Cote d'Azur - we had a lovely time there

I am pleased you you had a good holiday and maybe the exposure to mn did some good.

I see they have corrected their T&C's and added more contact details.

changed from
For the purpose of the Terms of Letting Luxurybreaks shall mean Luxurybreaks Limited.

to
For the purpose of the Terms of Letting Luxurybreaks shall mean Luxurybreaks LLC

Hence confusion and doubt as a Limited company that didn't exist!

Well thanks for your input on other thread onlyWotz anyway

I have read all that previous thread with interest as I also run a small company renting holiday cottages in northern Spain and all those comments could have applied to my company! We only offer accommodation and there's no obligation to be registered with ABTA or ATOL if you only offer one thing. If you offer more than one, i.e. travel, accommodation, car hire, travel insurance, etc. then you become a tour operator and do need to register. I looked into registering with ABTA for customers' peace of mind, but they required a bond of something like £10K which is just completely unaffordable for the majority of small companies like mine. It's difficult to know what the best way would be to reassure customers, especially after reading all your comments - they were quite scary! In the 3 years I've been trading I've only had a couple of customers getting nervous about how real we were before they parted with their money, which is totally understandable. The only thing I can do in those occasions is to explain the rule about not needing to be with ABTA if you only offer accommodation and to give details of our registered company, our details in company house and even offer our accountants' contact details for them to verify our existence, although no one has gone that far, I don't think, and they've all been reassured after my emails. Sorry for the essay. I was genuinely very interested in all your comments and would welcome ideas on how to make a business seem more trustworthy even if run as a one-woman band!

So glad you had a good holiday - we also have villas in Spain Portugal and Italy and we are opening an office in Dubai for next year.

"onlyWotz" - for the record only the LLC was changed on our website NO other details have been added as you suggest.

Vacaloca - call me and I will help you address some of the issues you raise after all we should stick together and I might be able to put some business your way.

Mumsnet members are hereby offered an early bird deposit terms - i.e. 10% only secures your property for 2008 and also a 10% discount on selected properties.

We value our reputation and we are pleased HMC has taken the time and trouble to note her experience. We wish you and your family well......mine is down is with raging red sore throats and temperature of the end of the thermometer and throwing up - off their food completely! Doctor did the usual - "ITS A VIRUS - here's some penecillin"!

Some things never change.

What a nice end to that thread. Glad you had a good holiday HMC. And glad Mr Luxurybreaks got to redress the issue (and hopefully get some business!).

I'd like to bookmark this company, too, but I can't get into the link on the first post. What is the actual web address of the company. Please write it as www... and don't do a link. I'm having pc problems tonight.

Hope you all get well soon Mrluxurybreaks and family!

MrsMuddle: www.luxurybreaks.co.uk

I can't believe its been nearly 3 years since this thread. My kids are 4 going on 14 and 5 going on 15 and the business has grown like a "weed" as well! Living in Bath now - moved out of London. Boy what a great decision that was!
We have a blog now feel free to drop by.
:-)

Once again Mumsnet plays its role in helping us mums in making informed decisions.

In recent months the press has been full of warnings about booking holiday villas as many poor souls have turned up to find no villa existed.

I was at the point of booking my summer getaway with the 'rugrats' and was naturally worried after hearing all this.

I was in the middle of booking with Luxurybreaks.com and found this article which completely set my mind at ease.

And let me tell you the service all outlined here hasn't changed - if anything our experience was even better. We stayed in a villa behind Marbella in a lovely private upmarket estate on the hills overlooking Marbella and the coast and we ended up in the villa next door to Peter Andre - who had also booked with Luxurybreaks!!

The Luxurybreaks country manager 'Jeremy' was amazing and managed to get my daughters a few minutes to go and say hello and get autographs. What a lovely sweet man Peter Andre is - very patient and very genuine with both my girls.

So thank you Mumsnet - you played your role in our 'mums community' yet again and so credit where credit's due......oh and thanks to Luxurybreaks and Mr. Andre of course (so glad he got rid of you know who - whom I can't stand...enough said)