flexibility is key

Owners of self catering holiday villas around the world are seeing buoyant bookings for 2009, despite, or perhaps because of, the financial downturn.
People turning their backs on expensive cruises and four and five star hotels are looking at the cheaper and more flexible option of renting a holiday home direct from the owner. And they’re liking what they find, according to a magazine and website specialising in private rentals.
“Villa owners are reporting an increase in inquiries for holidays in 2009,” says John Kerswill, publisher of Holiday Villas and www.villaseek.com.
“People planning to holiday abroad are finding that by speaking to villa and apartment owners direct they get more flexibility with dates, which means they can tie in with non weekend starts – when cheap flights are more plentiful,” he said. “And booking direct saves money anyway.
“Before booking their flights, travellers can ask villa owners, or their agents, about things like washing machines, hair driers, books and toiletries. Well equipped villas and apartments can lead travellers to decide to take hand luggage only – checking in a suitcase is what usually bumps up the cost of flying with no frills airlines.
“When you have a dialogue with owners by phone or by email, you can usually find a degree of flexibility over start and finish dates. Many owners do their best to get in provisions like coffee and tea bags and even shampoo and soap, if asked, so their visitors can travel light.”