Holiday villa insurance/villa tips

dee.

Hi all,
can anyone advise the best place to get holiday insurance for a villa holiday?

Also if anyone can offer any advice about booking a villa holiday I would appreciate it as we have never done this before and a little bit worried about sending so much money to a stranger! She wants 25% upfront and the rest 8 weeks before holiday, which seems to be the standard thing. I can send it through paypal and she said she can send me former guests email addresses if I need to ask about their experience there.

Things I have "researched":
- Owner/villa is on facebook. Lots of other villa owners and businesses from that area added and they seem friendly so I have no doubt that she owns the house
- Has been registered on holiday lettings and ownersdirect for 3/4 years
- She wanted payment by bank transfer but is willing to accept paypal if I cover the fees (i'll just send it as a gift payment so she doesnt get charged fees)
- There are 5 reviews of the property, all positive
- Other guests uploaded holiday pictures of the villa and it looks just how it does in the professional photographs


..is that basically everything covered?

Thank you

Fratton Fred

I've booked through owners direct several times and always come up trumps. You seem to have done all the checks. It might be worth ringing the owner and having a quick chat as well, they are usually happy to take a call.

Paypal gives you some protection and I think owners direct check for bogus owners.

As for insurance, any travel insurance should cover you for a villa.

Good luck, once you start booking villas you will find it hard to go back to hotels.

dee.

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I've booked through owners direct several times and always come up trumps. You seem to have done all the checks. It might be worth ringing the owner and having a quick chat as well, they are usually happy to take a call.

Paypal gives you some protection and I think owners direct check for bogus owners.

As for insurance, any travel insurance should cover you for a villa.

Good luck, once you start booking villas you will find it hard to go back to hotels.

Thanks a million We are getting 12 nights in a luxury villa for just 400 euro more than we paid for 8 nights in a hotel last year (which ended up having the worst staff, awful beds, etc) very excited already!

The owner seems very helpful so far. Just a question about security deposits - did you ever pay them when you booked a villa and did you always get them back? Thank you!

Fratton Fred

dee. wrote: »

Thanks a million We are getting 12 nights in a luxury villa for just 400 euro more than we paid for 8 nights in a hotel last year (which ended up having the worst staff, awful beds, etc) very excited already!

The owner seems very helpful so far. Just a question about security deposits - did you ever pay them when you booked a villa and did you always get them back? Thank you!

I've never paid them, but I believe they are quite common. I think it depends on where you are going and what your party is like. A group of six same sex people might have to pay one, but a family might not.