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Original poster

Booked a Villa - no extra guests allowed

22 replies

Bartlebum · 25/02/2023 12:33

I have a villa booking with my brother next month in Spain, which has four bedrooms and 8 beds. There are 7 of us going including kids. My sister has just booked a last minute flight to come join us for a couple of days, I said she could stay in the spare bed, no problem.

The only issue is, I just noticed a stipulation on our villa booking that in no circumstances should anyone not on the original booking come to the villa. I assumed this was to prevent house parties etc, which is fair enough, but I am confused if there is a legal implication to letting my sister stay in the spare bed a couple of nights.

Should I just do it and not say anything, or do I need to call and ask permission from the villa? My main concern is potential extra cost, or if they say no to me then she has nowhere to stay and the perfectly good bed is unused.

OP posts:

MmedeGouge · 25/02/2023 12:48

I would check with the owner.
We stayed in a villa in Italy last year and the guests in the next villa were forced to leave as they over occupied.

ApolloandDaphne · 25/02/2023 12:50

I would e mail the owner and let them know. It's not taking you over occupancy so o doubt it will cost you more.

Ireallydohope · 25/02/2023 12:52

I wouldn't bother if it's just one person and your sister

WinterMusings · 25/02/2023 12:52

I'd play around on the booking site to see if changing numbers, changes the cost (just a random date, not your date) & take it from there.

ifits just a couple/few nights I'd just ignore it to be honest.

pristinesurfacesGBTD · 25/02/2023 12:53

Did you have to name each individual guest in the original booking, or specify how many people were coming?

Viviennemary · 25/02/2023 12:53

You need to tell the owner. It may affect their insurance.

Ireallydohope · 25/02/2023 12:54

She could be staying at a villa down the road for all they know and just kipping over whilst visiting family

No one going to object to her staying

Elphame · 25/02/2023 12:57

Ask the owner. They will almost certainly agree.

It’s usually an insurance thing. I am required to know the names and number of guests staying in my holiday let. For example -In the event of a fire, the fire brigade need to know how many people they need to account for.

nurseynursery · 25/02/2023 12:59

If you've paid for Villa and just given names you'll just need to add one more name on. If you've paid per person you may have to pay a little extra. It can't be much more.

YankeeDad · 25/02/2023 13:21

Can you check the cancellation policy and also see what it says about pricing?

In case you are still early enough to cancel penalty-free, you still have a bit of negotiating leverage with the owner, even if you do not wish to use it, because you could cancel and then they would be out the rental income.

You might consider something like sending an email with the subject "small change to our booking" and the email could say something like "Just to let you know, my sister, name , has been able to book a flight so she will also be staying with us in your villa for from X February to Y February and using the 8th bed. For the rest of our stay, it will just be the 7 of us as previously indicated. We look forward to staying with you.

darjeelingrose · 25/02/2023 13:46

I don't know Spain at all. Do they have a tourist tax? In many European countries you have to pay a tourist tax per night during your stay, a couple of euros, and it depends on the number of guests and also sometimes the age, so kids might be free or not, for example. There're fines attached if it is not collected correctly, and implications not for the tourists but for the owners. I would amend the original booking to include your sister. Also wouldn't you want bedding?

AuntieDolly · 25/02/2023 14:24

I think the villa owner has to register visitors prior to arrival. Let them know - you will need bedding anyway

Choconut · 25/02/2023 14:30

I would just contact them and let them know there will now be 8 people.

SheeshPawowa · 25/02/2023 15:00

"For example -In the event of a fire, the fire brigade need to know how many people they need to account for."

I love this idea that the fire brigade just take someone's word for it that there couldn't possibly be anyone else in the building because a random hotel or villa owner says so. Utter nonsense

2bazookas · 25/02/2023 15:11

You must let them know before hand, then as long as she is family and within their occupancy limit I'm sure they won't object. .

If you don't, they WILL find out ( from the agent, keyholder, cleaner, neighbours) and be highly suspicious . Worst scenario they throw you all out.

Secret inclusion of nameless casuals is an eternal ongoing issue for letting hosts because the "extra bodies" may be a cover for underage sex workers, trafficking etc.

Elphame · 25/02/2023 16:41

SheeshPawowa · 25/02/2023 15:00

"For example -In the event of a fire, the fire brigade need to know how many people they need to account for."

I love this idea that the fire brigade just take someone's word for it that there couldn't possibly be anyone else in the building because a random hotel or villa owner says so. Utter nonsense

We don't ask for details for fun you know......

Havanananana · 25/02/2023 16:49

SheeshPawowa · 25/02/2023 15:00

"For example -In the event of a fire, the fire brigade need to know how many people they need to account for."

I love this idea that the fire brigade just take someone's word for it that there couldn't possibly be anyone else in the building because a random hotel or villa owner says so. Utter nonsense

In many countries there is a legal requirement for hotels and villa and apartment owners to register guests - this is exactly what happens every time someone checks into a hotel.

As for the Fire Brigade, they are not asking a "random hotel or villa owner" how many people are in the building. Before they risk the safety of their own crews, they want an idea of how many people there might be in a burning building and whether or not everyone is accounted for.

Clymene · 25/02/2023 16:55

It depends where you are in Spain. The Balearics have introduced a tourist tax and I think some other regions in the mainland have.

You need to tell the villa owner.

TheHillsAreAliveWithTheSoundOfMystery · 25/02/2023 18:03

"We don't ask for details for fun you know......"

I am one of these "we" you refer to and the reason "we" ask for guest information is not because the fire brigade are in any way reliant on it or require it.

Of course they will ask anyone in the vicinity if there are people inside and if they know how many. That's just basics. If you think they're taking that as the final word then you are deluded.

TheHillsAreAliveWithTheSoundOfMystery · 25/02/2023 18:04

Tourist tax, however, is a valid reason.

You just need to message and say my sister is also coming to the villa and give her details at the same time they request yours.

TheHillsAreAliveWithTheSoundOfMystery · 25/02/2023 18:05

Sorry, just noticed I NCd. I was Sheesh earlier in the thread 😅

Original poster

Bartlebum · 26/02/2023 16:48

Thanks for feeding back on this. I will get in touch with the owner to make the request. I think we can still cancel so I can always look at alternatives if it's a huge issue.

OP posts:

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