What site do you use to book a private Villa/apartment abroad?

[ScoobyDoo]

We are looking to do this next year so going to book soon, wanted to know what site people book through? have been looking on owners direct does anyone else know any other places please?

Where are you thinking of going? We tend to do something like a google search of villas and then area we're going to and thats how we've always found great places to stay.

E.g. 'villas Orlando' as a search and then loads of stuff comes up.

Not sure really, have been looking at Fuerteventura, cyprus, menorca, don't want to go to far as don't want a to long flight!

I find most villa companies dead expensive. Normally cheaper to book direct if you can. I have to say that villas are lots more expensive in Europe than if you go to Florida. We have this debate every year and always end up doing Florida because it works out cheaper in the end.

Blimey the thought of a plane to florida with our 2 kids is just to scary, dd would be trying to escape after about 4 hours max lol

Will have to keep looking, maybe owners direct is a good one to book through as it goes direct from the pwners so no middle company?

yeah two kids and a 10 hour plane trip.Ouch.
I just did a google search on villas in cyprus and a whole load of stuff came up so try that maybe? Sorry I'm not more help.

There's lots on Villarenters.com (this is good from the owners point of view as no fees upfront from them - hence there is more choice than with other sites!). Hope this helps.

Majorca Farmhouses - here are very good

Thanks for all the advice off to have a look see what i can find & to check out the recommendations on here.

HolidayLettings is another good site I use. TBH, I've always booked my accommodation fairly late - this year, I've left it with a fortnight to go and ended up booking my accommodation with a villa company since they offered me a 33% discount for a late booking without me even asking for one which made it £150 cheaper (which counts for quite a few ice creams in Tuscany) than my other owner advertised choice. I do buy my flights early though - accommodation is usually easier to find than bargain flights!

www.holiday-rentals.com

it has apartments and villas all over the world, we have booked a few times with them. they are an advertising site, and you deal with the villa owners direct.

a lot of (particuarly of the short haul) destination properties are the holiday homes of uk families who rent them out when they are not using them.

hth

Owners Direct is a good choice. Have used them twice for Canaries with no problems. You deal with the villa owner directly.

I have just booked a villa for next Easter in Majorca with Hoseasons.

www.holidaylets.net/
are very good value and mostly owned by families so very well equiped

We booked a gozo farmhouse through holiday rentals earlier this year, dealt with the owners direct. All went very well....

I've used holidaylets.net for the last 4 years and had very good value gites in France and not been disappointed by any of them.