Some travelers who have never rented a villa or vacation home are naturally curious about the villa rental process and about the type of villas we represent. In our 40+ years as a leading villa rental company, we've heard almost every question you can imagine - here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about renting villas, from what services are available in a villa, to what features and amenities you can expect a villa to have, to what price range you can expect to see.
Please call 1-800-449-1553 to speak to a villa rental specialist if you have any questions that are not covered here.
| General Villa Vacations | Travel Questions | |
Making a Villa Reservation
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Service Questions |
Q: What are the price ranges of the villas?
Villa prices range from about $1,500 per week to $100,000 per week. The key factors in determining the price of a villa are the size, number of bedrooms, architectural design, décor, location of the villa, the island or region it is in, and the time of year you choose to travel.
Q: How is the price determined?
Since all of the villas we represent are privately owned vacation homes, pricing criteria can vary from house to house, from season to season, and from destination to destination based upon the villa management company & individual owner preferences. Location, quality, amenities, inclusive services, and popularity/availability of the villa are all price influencing factors. As a general statement, the average villa is priced at about $2000 per bedroom per week for a house with a pool.
Q: What is included?
Amenities and services vary from house to house and from destination to destination. Please check the individual villa description for a full accounting of which amenities and services ARE and ARE NOT included in each of the villas you are interested in.
Use the villa comparison tool to compare amenities and services of 3 villas at a time.
Q: What are some of the additional costs?
There are some add-on costs in a few locations, check with your reservations agent before booking a villa. These may include - utility costs such as pool heating, house heating, electricity consumption above a certain level (in Europe), long distance phone usage, internet hook-ups in houses with dial up, laundry services by the maid (client access to laundry facilities isn't always available).
Q: What are some of the advantages of a villa versus a hotel?
Privacy � in your villa, in your pool, with your family and friends. Freedom to choose your own pace and style. Cost savings when traveling with your family or larger groups. Freedom to cook and eat anything at any time � without depending upon hotel schedules. Space to spread out and enjoy a nicely designed, appointed and outfitted home.
Q: How far in advance do I need to book the villa?
The most popular villas tend to get booked several months in advance. Rule of thumb... if you are sure you want a particular villa for a particular time period, put a deposit on it. In most cases it is first come, first served. In some destinations you can put your name on a waitlist if your desired villa is not available.
To check to see which villas are available, use the villa search tool in the left hand navigation bar. Enter your travel dates and desired destination, and see which villas are available for your dates. You can narrow it down further by sorting by the number of bedrooms, or by price.
Q: When do I need to put a deposit down to reserve the villa?
In most cases, within 5 to 14 days of saying "yes I'd like to reserve that villa for my vacation", you need to provide WIMCO with a check, or check-by-phone. A reservation is not considered valid until the deposit money is received. A valid credit card number is required on all reservations at the time that the booking is made to guarantee the reservation until a check or wire transfer is received.
Q: How much of a deposit do I need?
Exact amounts vary from destination to destination, BUT, in general, a 30%-50% deposit is required to secure your villa reservation.
Q: When is the final payment due?
Time frames vary from destination to destination, but in general, full final payment is due 60 days prior to travel. When making a last minute reservation (within 60 days prior to arrival) 100% of your payment is due within 5 days of making the reservation.
Q: What are the forms of payment I can use?
Q: What are the cancellation fees?
Again, these vary from destination to destination, but in general...Cancellation outside of 60 days of arrival will result in a cancellation fee of 20-25% of the gross rental price, and a cancellation between 60-30 days of arrival will result in a cancellation fee of 50% of the gross rental price, and cancellation within 30 days of travel will result in a full forfeiture of the gross rental price. Please check with your Reservation Agent for the specific cancellation policy on your reservation.
Q: Can I reserve the same villa for the same time next year if I like it?
If you would like to reserve the same villa for the same time next year, WIMCO strongly encourages you to REBOOK that villa with WIMCO as soon as you return. The most popular villas get rented quickly. Your WIMCO Reservations Agent will call you upon your return to assist you in rebooking your villa, or to help you find another personalized villa vacation experience in another of our selected destinations.
Q: How many people can I bring with me?
Unless a maximum occupancy number is stated in the villa description (depending upon # of beds) it is assumed that the maximum occupancy for any villa is 2 people per bedroom. If you arrive with additional people above the maximum occupancy allowance, it is grounds for asking you to leave the villa and forfeit your rental. If you have last minute guests traveling with you, WIMCO will be happy to help you find supplemental villa or hotel accommodations for your guests, or if possible, to find you are larger villa (if we can replace your rental in your original villa rented.)
Q: Will I need to put down a security deposit on my villa rental?
Security Deposits vary from destination to destination and from villa to villa. Amounts are determined at the discretion of the villa owner. For instance, if a villa contains valuable antiques, artwork or electronics, the security deposit can be greater. Most villas require a security deposit of some kind (ranging from $500 to $10,000 depending upon the weekly rental rate). In many cases, a credit card # is taken as a guarantee for the security deposit amount, and the cc is charged only if there are damages or outstanding utility charges incurred during the rental period. If you rent a villa where a security deposit check is collected at the time of the final payment, this check is deposited at WIMCO and then refunded (less any utility or damage expenses) within 1 to 3 months of your return from your villa vacation.
Q: How do I get directions to the villa?
In the Caribbean: WIMCO will provide you in advance with Arrival Information for your destination and villa. In most cases, there will be a local representative who will meet you at the airport, direct you to your rental car agency, and then escort you to your villa, where they will acquaint you with all of the operations and mechanics of your villa.
In Europe: WIMCO will provide you in advance with Arrival Information and explicit directions to your villa from the airport. (Note: when renting a car, also rent a GPS. It will prove invaluable if you get off course, and especially at night when road signs and landmarks are not as visible.)
Because of international time changes and the fact that many of our European villas are 1- 2 hours away from major airports, we highly recommend arranging for an airport transfer via Limo or van to your villa, where your rental car will be awaiting you or delivered to you the following day.
Q: How do I get the key to the villa?
You will either be met at the airport or at the villa by a local representative who will give you your keys to the villa as well as a house tour to familiarize you with all aspects of the villa.
Q: Should I buy Travel Insurance?
We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.
Click on the link below to get a quote
Q: How much does Travel Insurance cost and what is covered?
The cost of your Travel Insurance policy is dependent upon the gross cost of your vacation and the amount of coverage you desire. You can utilize WIMCO's on-line tool for Travel Insurance pricing and explanation of benefits by clicking here.
Q: Who do I contact in the event I have a problem at the villa?
Every villa offered by WIMCO has a local housekeeper, villa manager, or local villa management company who is accessible round the clock to respond to any problem you might have at your villa. You will be supplied with their contact information, along with other important local phone numbers.
Q: What services does WIMCO provide other than booking the villa?
Your wish is our command! Routinely, WIMCO provides for such services as:
Hotel Reservations
Wimco represents a number of distinctive hotels in some of the most exclusive destinations in the Caribbean and Europe. Booking a hotel through WIMCO is easier than doing it yourself, and there is no extra cost.
Destination Concierge Services
...And so much more, depending upon where your villa is located!
