Whether you’re paying $10,000 per month, $10,000 per week, or $10,000 per day, it’s always good to know that you’re getting the best price on villa rentals. Thankfully, our staff has been around the block, and is happy to share with you 8 great tips for making sure you never overpay on a rental, regardless of your budget:
8. Inquire about Villas with Proper Names
Most owners name their villas, and also market them through a number of avenues, all of which use (or are supposed to use) the price given by the owner (which is also supposed to be the best base price advertised online). That’s why I’d be suspicious of a listing which, instead of using the title of the villa (e.g. Estate Mariposa) as the title of the listing, uses a generic description, such as “Luxurious 5-bedroom beachfront villa in Punta Mita,” especially if the proper name of the villa does not appear in the description either. Of course, there are some rare cases where villas may not have proper names and the generic title can indeed can be considered the name of the villa, but in most cases it’s a pretty clear indication of a mark-up.
7. Google the name of the Villa and Compare the FINAL price
This may seem obvious following the previous tip, but it reemphasizes why villas with proper names are usually your best bet in terms of avoiding mark-ups. With that proper name, you can go ahead and check out listings on other sites and make sure that the rate you’re being quoted is indeed the best price for that villa. However, be sure to actually inquire with a reservations agent, property manager, or owner about the full price, including taxes, fees, and the security deposit, as often guests can be surprised with hidden fees that were not previously advertised that may be avoided by shopping elsewhere.
6. Work with a Full-Service Villa Rental Company
OK, now this step may seem a little biased, but working with a full-service rental company like Rental Escapes usually ensures that you’re getting the best price on villa rentals, since these companies would not stay in business very long if they got a reputation for marking-up their prices. Aside from being in an age of social media where such a reputation could quickly spread and sink a company, this industry is also rooted in repeat business (which is why Rental Escapes, for example, invests so heavily in its concierge services and Loyalty Points program, giving the customer even more value on their rentals), which makes it even less likely to see mark-ups on their end.
5. Ask for a Discount
Ask and ye shall receive – sometimes. Just make sure you have a pretty decent reason for asking, such as the villa genuinely being outside your budget, otherwise you may offend owners by implying that their price is too high. Proceed with caution, but at the right time (e.g. for a hard-to-rent week in low season), it could be effective.
4. Book Early
Villa owners raise their rates every year, but if you book a year in advance (and especially before they’ve posted the new rates for next year), there’s a great chance they’ll rent you the villa at last year’s rate, as well as even offer an early-booking discount (or accept your request for one).
3. Book Less Bedrooms
Lots of villas, such as Villa Oasis in Turks (pictured below) offer tiered prices depending on the number of bedrooms you rent (fewer bedrooms being less expensive, of course). The remaining bedrooms are then simply locked, meaning the villa is never shared with another party, and should your party size grow in the future, you can always pay to have the extra bedrooms unlocked in the future (just don’t try to sneak in extra people and think they can just sleep on the couch – owners hate that and prices are based on double-occupancy anyways, so you’ll still get charged for that extra bedroom).
2. Location, Location, Location
While beachfront villas seem high on people’s bucket-lists, many don’t realize that not all beachfront rentals are created equal, and that some may mean less privacy and more noise than you may have been expecting (not Oasis, mind you, but others). Meanwhile, for a few thousand less per week, there are usually beautiful villas in the hillside with amazing views, or villas that are just a short walk to the beach but offer much more privacy and relaxation. Bottom-line, choosing the right villa is obviously an important step when looking to get the best price, which is why the cardinal rule of real-estate should always be kept in mind.
1. Avoid the Holidays (and High Season, if Possible)
The best time to rent, price- and value-wise, is right before the Christmas holidays, and right after Easter. You still benefit from that peak-season weather, but you’re also right at the cusp of when low-season rates end/kick in. To bring in another real estate cliche, timing is everything.
Got your own Tips?
Traveler’s love sharing money-saving tips with each other, so go ahead and let us know your personal tips for getting the best prices on villa rentals – you may just save someone a quick K or ten.
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