Luxury Villas FAQ | Elegant Resorts

Villa FAQ

Why book a villa?: If you want a relaxed and hassle-free holiday, this is the way to do it. Villa rentals combine all the best parts of your favourite holidays and we know that, when you've tried a villa holiday, going back to a hotel just won't be the same. Our villas are private residences made available by their owners as holiday accommodation. The villas we feature cater for every budget and, whilst villa rates vary, depending on the number of guests in your party, the final price will be split between you, making it a more economical option.
What styles of villa does Elegant Resorts offer?: In general, the majority of the villas we feature are privately owned and, whilst they are well-equipped with most of the modern conveniences and ‘home comforts’ you’d expect, it should be noted that their interiors are usually a reflection of the owner’s personal taste and guests are asked to respect any personal possessions left by the owner for their enjoyment during their stay. By contrast, a resort villa has all the benefits of a private villa, but with the added advantage of being part of a five-star hotel or resort, including all the facilities available for use, including spas, restaurants and bars, kids' clubs and sports facilities.
How can I choose a villa?: All our featured properties are chosen with the utmost care, for their individuality and services available. However, standards differ from country to country and not all properties are necessarily highly sophisticated – some have been selected for the natural beauty of their location rather than their amenities. Choosing a property that is right for you is a very personal decision, but if you let us know your requirements, who you are travelling with (couples, family and ages), your likes, dislikes and interests, we will be delighted to assist you and our Luxury Travel Specialists will try to match your villa to your exact wishes and happily give you their personal recommendations.
How do I get in contact with you about renting a villa?: Renting a villa is simple. You can either call our Luxury Travel Specialists on 01244 897 441 or use the 'Request Quote' button on our website, where you can give as much details as you like about your travel plans. After which, we will check availability, book as required and assist you with any queries you may have.
What does the villa price include?: The villa rental price we show on our website does not include flights, transfers, food costs (unless there is a meal plan included), activities or gratuities.
Can you arrange my flights and transfers to the villa?: We can assist you with all of your requirements, including flights and transfers to and from the airport. Please speak to your Luxury Travel Specialists, who will provide prices and make all the necessary arrangements for you.
What additional services do you offer?: We will happily try to arrange any additional services you may require. Please click here to view our Villa Concierge page, which details the full list of services we can provide or contact your Luxury Travel Specialists.
Would it be possible to add extra guests at a later stage?: Yes, if there are sufficient bedrooms. However, we must be notified as soon as possible and, as per the contracts we have with our suppliers, we cannot accommodate any more guests than the property’s maximum occupancy. Reservations will only be held for those clients detailed in the original reservation. Elegant Resorts must be advised of any additional guests not included in the original reservation and these will be charged as extra. Only the guests named at the time of booking may occupy the property. If we, or the villa supplier, are made aware of additional guests occupying the villa, not named on the reservation, they will be asked to leave.
Do the villas have any restrictions regarding children?: It all depends on the villa owner and the villa location. Some owners may have age restrictions, require a nanny or ask for liability waivers. By selecting 'Family with children under 12 allowed' in the search panel on our website, you can quickly discover which properties will accommodate your family.
Is it possible to get married, renew our wedding vows or hold a private party at the villa?: Guests intending to use the villa for a private party or wedding must inform Elegant Resorts, who will seek any necessary permission required. Insurance cover is not included for private parties or weddings and you will be required to sign a disclaimer accepting responsibility for any damage caused. You are quite welcome to entertain your friends during your stay, however this must be within reason and not cause excessive workloads for the house staff. Properties that are happy to host weddings or events can be selected via the search panel on our website.
Noise Disruptions: While many of our properties are located in quiet grounds or in countryside areas, each location experiences different types of noise and at different times of the day – anything from agricultural sounds to traffic. As everyone has their own idea of what constitutes ‘noise’, we will assist in advising you, should you have any concerns (in addition, we will inform you, to the best of our ability, of any known scheduled works or events due to take place in the local vicinity).
Villa food and drink arrival packs: If not included in the price, we can provide details of food packs and, in fact, we highly recommend that you request one to be placed in your villa. A standard arrival pack includes drinks and food items suitable for your first dinner and breakfast, although groceries can easily be provided for weekend and holiday arrivals. Payable locally, prices do vary and full details will be given to you at the time of booking.
Is there a minimum night stay requirement?: Yes there is. During high season, the usual minimum letting period for all of our featured properties is one week (with the usual changeover day being a Saturday). During peak holiday periods, such as Christmas, the minimum letting period is usually between 10 to 14 nights. However, this may be more depending on the destination, so do please check with your Luxury Travel Specialists. During other seasons, there may be more flexibility, so shorter stays and different start days may be available, upon request.
What are the check-in and check-out times?: As with most hotels, villas have a standard check-in time (usually from 3pm to 7pm) and check-out time (usually between 10am and noon). However, depending on whether or not the property has been occupied by other guests prior to your arrival, an early check-in may be available. Similarly, if the property is not expecting guests on the day of your departure and your flight isn’t until early evening, arrangements can be made for a later check-out. Usually, extra charges will apply. Alternatively, if the property is located close to one of our featured hotels, we would be more than happy to try and arrange a day room on your behalf. All these details should be discussed, and necessary arrangements made, at the time of booking.
What is a villa manager?: This is usually a representative who resides in the destination and will be on-call to answer questions you may have. Villa managers very rarely live on the property itself, but are always available to help you during your stay and will leave a contact number for you.
Who cleans the villa?: Most, if not all, of our villas have the services of a maid included in the price. The days and hours worked vary from property to property. Minimum duties include cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms and communal rooms, though not always making the beds. Most maids can be hired for extra hours and for laundry services, payable locally. Generally, maids do not work on Public Holidays.
Am I able to arrange for additional staff to come in while I am staying at a property that only has a maid service?: We will happily try to arrange any additional staff services on your behalf. All your requirements can be discussed, and necessary arrangements made, at the time of booking.
What is the difference between a chef and a cook?: A villa that includes the services of a chef usually refers to someone who is professionally trained and whose job it is to prepare sumptuous meals for guests. Cooks, on the other hand, can often double as housekeepers and usually have no formal training. As a general rule, their dishes are local specialities.
Meals and meal times: If you have any particular dietary requirements, such as vegetarian meals, we would ask you to let us know in advance. Otherwise, we highly recommend that the morning after your arrival, you discuss your dining preferences, including preferred meal times, with either the housekeeper or cook. Most menus tend to be planned around local produce and the staff are best placed to know which shops and markets are suitable for such purchases. In some cases, the housekeeper or the cook will do your shopping for you, however, please note that you may well be responsible for their transportation to and from the supermarket. Food and drink can either be paid for at the end of every shopping expedition, on a weekly basis or at the end of your stay. To prevent any unwelcome surprises, though, it is always a good idea to keep track of amounts spent. Supermarkets will accept major credit cards, but please note that if you are paying the staff directly, only cash or traveller’s cheques are accepted.
Staff tipping: Tipping the villa staff is always welcome, although not always mandatory on most islands or locations. However, as is customary in the travel industry, recognition for a job well done is very much appreciated. Gratuities are normally calculated as a percentage of staff salary. Further details and guidelines on tipping will be given to you at time of booking/quoting.
Rather than taking our baby equipment, would any be available to rent?: Where possible, we can arrange the rental of cots, highchairs, car seats, playpens, pushchairs and most other infant equipment. We are usually reliant on the suppliers for this and, whilst you can expect items to be clean and checked for damage where available, such items may not always conform to British Safety Standards, therefore we advise that you inspect the items before use. Charges for cots include delivery and collection, but exclude bedding. We recommend bringing your own travel cot/s if possible.
Can I rent a car?: We can arrange for you to hire any size of vehicle, from a Mini Moke to a fully loaded 4x4. For your convenience, it is better to pre-pay for the vehicle and we will arrange for the car to be delivered to your villa to coincide with your arrival.
Are the villas equipped with air-conditioning?: Some villas are fully air-conditioned, whilst others only have air-conditioning in the bedrooms. This information is available on the appropriate villa page on our website.
Is there internet access?: Most of the villas that we feature have internet access, however the connection speed, costs and equipment available varies from property to property. Please visit the appropriate villa page for information or speak to your Luxury Travel Specialist.
Is there cable or satellite television?: Television connections and channels vary depending on the location. If the information is not available on the appropriate villa page on our website, please ask our Luxury Travel Specialists to enquire on your behalf.
Are there any cats/dogs (pets) on the property grounds?: A few of our properties have either a resident cat or dog. If the property has, it is noted on the appropriate villa page on our website (additional notes). If you suffer allergies triggered by animals, please discuss this with your Luxury Travel Specialist at the time of booking, as they may be able to request that the animal is housed elsewhere during your stay.
Can I bring my pet to the villa?: Pets are generally not permitted in most of the villas. However, we do have some properties where pets are welcome - please check with your Luxury Travel Specialist at the time of booking.

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