How to Make Renting a Villa in Europe a Reality By Suzanne Pidduck
So you've been fantasizing about renting a villa in Italy... or Greece... or Spain... But how do you turn that dream into a reality? It's easier than you think. Here's my step-by-step guide to making sure that ultimate dream vacation doesn't disappear in a puff of smoke!
1. Plan Ahead. Way Ahead. The first thing to understand is that renting a villa is not a spur of the moment decision. Most European villas are now booking up nine months or a year in advance, which means that if you call in a month before your departure date, you'll be stuck with whatever you can get-- if anything. So get out your calendar ASAP and mark off the month when you think you'd like to travel (your trip doesn't have to be this long, but starting with flexible dates is the best). The good news about booking this far in advance is that you have a lot of time to plan-- so you can arrange all of those special little details in advance. You'll also have plenty of opportunity to dream about the adventures ahead!
2. The More the Merrier - And Cheaper! Having more people in your party will enable you to rent a larger, more private estate, and will also reduce individual costs. A good, convenient group size would be anywhere from six to twelve people. This step is often the most difficult, as you struggle with deciding who to ask... and then try to get them to "commit!" My recommendation: Make a list of friends and family and order them according to shared interests such as outdoor activities, architecture and museums, cooking, etc. Ask the first six or eight people on your list if they would like to join you for a "two-week Italian vacation in June of 2007." Make it clear that each person has only so much time to decide-- for sure. If, at the end of that time period, they are still wavering, thank them politely and move on down your list.
