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Booking a Villa - how to choose

16 replies

Lavendersquare · 08/11/2021 07:50

We are planning on booking our first villa holiday for next summer probably to one of our favourite Balearic Islands. We have a resort/area in mind and have a shortlist of 3 villas in our price range and now need to settle on one.

There will only be the four of us, DH, DS18, DD10 and myself. We will be hiring a car for the duration of the holiday.

So far our shortlist has on it:

(1) Huge amazing villa with fantastic large pool approximately 3 miles from the resort. Plus points will be quiet, loads of room, amazing pool and views of the spectacular countryside. Downside is that we can't walk anywhere and would need to be using the car for everything, taxis would be needed to go for a meal out in the resort if we didn't want to drive. Price is the cheapest of the three villas on our shortlist by £900 .

(2) large villa, not as stylish as (1) with lovely pool situated in a quiet lane, on the edge of the resort, with lots of room. The resort centre is, according to google, 17 minutes walk from the villa, the beach would be a 25 minute walk, or very short drive. We could walk into the town/resort but would probably need a taxi back due to the the location, costs £900 more than (1].

(3) lovely villa, stylish and well kept although smaller than (1) & (2) with a small/medium pool, situated in the heart of the town, 300m from the beach and restaurants etc. Same price as (2). Has everything we need although due to size of garden, there are less outdoor seating areas and neighbours are closer, one of the bedrooms is a single as opposed to (1) & (2) which are all double/twin rooms.

The price of all three is in budget, our children both want (1) or (2), DH thinks (2) is best although agrees the position of (3) is the best. I seem to be the only one plumping for (3).

My reasoning is that (3) provides us with most flexibility, easy to get to the beach, alternately can use the private pool. Restaurants and shops are a maximum of 10 minute walk, which is along the well lit promenade rather than a maze of dark lanes and backstreets. DS can wander off on his own, into the town or to the beach if he wants to. In the evening we wouldn't have to choose villa or town, due to the proximity we could eat at the villa and wander along the prom to get an ice cream, have a beer and easily walk home. My children unfortunately don't get on that great, DS sees his sister as an inconvenience and is therefore unlikely to do a lot of playing in the pool with her and there's no chance of him playing a board game in the evening, so evening entertainment would fall to DH and I.

So looking for opinions, which one would you pick and why?

OP posts:
wavingwhilstdrowning · 08/11/2021 07:53

3, to me location is everything on holiday

StartupRepair · 08/11/2021 07:54
  1. Offers much more flexibility. In 1 you will always be planning how to go out and how to get back.
bigbluebus · 08/11/2021 07:59

It would be 3 for me in your circumstances. DS needs to be able to go off on his own easily and it sounds like you both like to have a drink in the evenings so the convenience of being able to walk home would be no brained. Your 10yo will manage fine in a single room.

Mumdiva99 · 08/11/2021 08:05

I wouldn't want 1 as I would be driving. So 2 or 3. I can see all the benefits of 3 but will it be quiet enough for you to also relax? If so then it does sound better in terms of popping to the beach beach an hour, coming back for lunch, pool, back to beach etc.... your older son can be self sufficient if he wants and doesn't want to be with you all the time.

On the other hand £900 is a really nice long weekend away in the UK.....even if you pay for some taxis..... and it might be a completely different kind of holiday....your kids might be forced to interact more...I know you say no board games but dobble and uno can be enjoyed by you all.....
I suppose it depends why you want a villa and not an apartment?

Lavendersquare · 08/11/2021 09:03

Thanks for the replies. I think DH is coming around to (3) being the most flexible options. I have a few questions to put to the owner and hopefully the answers will help up finally decide.

OP posts:
IsThisNameTaken · 08/11/2021 09:06

3 definitely. Location most important in my opinion as long as it has everything you need.

ArtfulScreamer · 08/11/2021 09:36

3 without a doubt

AnyFucker · 08/11/2021 09:40

In your specific circumstances, 3

Lavendersquare · 08/11/2021 14:41

Thank you for the replies, I've shown DH this thread and he's agreed that villa (3) offers the most flexibility for what we need. I'm booking it this evening and then trying to find suitable home boarding for Ddog, but that's a whole other thread.

OP posts:
usernotfound0000 · 08/11/2021 20:48

I've just gone through this process! Our essentials are a pool and walking distance to shops and some restaurants as we don't like to hire a car. Other than that, we want nice outside space and decent kitchen. Nothing else really matters as long as we all have a bed. Our process involved a spreadsheet with a rating system!

LocalHobo · 08/11/2021 20:58

100% 3. I like to have a glass (or two) without worrying about driving.

Lavendersquare · 08/11/2021 22:12

It's done and deposit paid on villa (4), yes that's to right villa (4). I found one we had discounted earlier in the process because it had too many bedrooms, on a street adjacent to villa (3). It's lovely bigger pool than (3) and a slightly longer walk to town but the beach is only 400m and more importantly everyone likes it. Phew! Thanks for all the helpful comments, now I just need to lose some weight 😂

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 09/11/2021 21:39

Lol!! I love you booked a different one. Have a fab holiday.

languagelover96 · 10/11/2021 08:16

Option 3 I love to drink too

Lavendersquare · 10/11/2021 16:51

@Mumdiva99 I know, it's one I disregarded early on for having an extra bedroom that we don't need. We haven't tried a villa holiday before so it was important to get the location as good as we could within budget.

But at least everyone is happy which is the main thing.

OP posts:
zafferana · 10/11/2021 16:57

Def. (3) for two major reasons:

  1. because otherwise you'll have to either drive or take taxis, which is a PITA and will mean one of you not being able to drink if driving; and

  2. your 18-year-old DS, who is bound to want to go into the resort on his own, and if he can do so on foot, all the better.

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