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How easy is it to book your own holiday direct with an owner?
Having spent years booking holidays through a travel agent it really is a leap of faith when you make the big decision to book your own holiday. Most of us have been brought up with the security of a major high street chain taking care of our holiday needs –isn’t that what our parents always did – let someone else do all the hard work?
Well, times have changed and are rapidly changing even further. Trends are now firmly set towards people researching, pricing and booking their own holidays. The sense of excitement and freedom when making your own travel arrangements is wonderful, and with the internet so readily available, it puts the world of Orlando holidays quite literally, at your fingertips! So where to start?
Good advice would be to search for an advertising site which puts you in touch directly with owners. This can be safer, even, than looking at an individual owner’s website because advertising sites such as the Orlando Villas family of sites have strict rules of verification – ensuring that the villas on offer are actually owned by the people who say they are the owners!
Dealing with an individual villa owner immediately puts you in control of your holiday as you start to build up your relationship together. You will be able to ask very individual questions to the owner and they will answer you with details about their actual home – the actual villa you will be renting. No generic, general details about some random villa you may be allocated on arrival. You will be dealing with a real owner of a real villa.
The owner will tell you precisely what your costs will be. Some owners will quote an all inclusive price. Others break down costs and itemise rental, taxes, pool heating and cleaning. Either way, you won’t find any last minute added extras or supplements. Make sure you and your family have decided what will be your priorities or wish list for a perfect rental home. For some, it is a south facing deck. For others it may be a gated community or a lake view. Whatever your wishes may be, there is a villa out there for you and the more specific you are when you make your enquiry the better.
If you are tied down to school holidays then you will need to start looking maybe a year in advance of your travel dates as these are the most popular dates on the villa calendar. For those of you with more flexibility, leave your search more open. You will get more responses to your initial enquiry and therefore lots more choice.
Each individual owner will have their own preferred methods for the formal booking procedure and payment but expect to have to pay a booking deposit, a final balance as much as 3 months before your departure, together with a refundable security bond payment. Booking forms can be online forms or paper copies which you will need to sign and return to the owner.
The advantages of booking direct with an owner don’t stop once your booking has been made and your balance paid. Private owners are often the best possible source of general information about all aspects of your holiday and they will be more than happy to give you advice and top tips about almost anything to do with Orlando holidays. It is all part of the service that makes booking with a villa owner direct such a special and unmatched experience.
Happy Booking!
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