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One of your favorite spots on earth is probably your home. Beyond a place to store all your stuff, your home is where you can be completely yourself, in a style of your choosing and with the kind of amenities you like most. Rent a vacation home for your next trip, and take that great feeling of home with you, wherever you travel.

Finding a villa rental is very similar to finding a home or apartment—there are a vast number of options (depending on your desired destination) and it can take some time to find a place that’s just right for you. Enter an experienced travel agent! Working with a travel agent can make the process a pleasure—we will help you discover what you want most in a villa rental, and then will provide choices that best match your “wish list”. To get you started, here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a villa rental.

Know the Basics

A “villa rental” is a catch-all term that encompasses more than just a villa (or a private vacation home that’s available for rent). You can rent a condominium, city-center apartment, beach house, country house or even a castle that is privately owned and you can also rent a villa or condo from a villa resort or hotel managed condominium. When you rent a private home or villa rental, you’ll probably find yourself in a place full of unique personality (like the owner’s favorite books on the shelves and music in the CD player) as well as a truly local experience. When you rent a villa or condo from a resort, the rental cost will often include resort amenities like spa services, kids’ clubs, restaurants and more.

Know the Benefits

Whichever villa rental option you choose, there are many benefits you’ll enjoy with this style of vacationing, like:

• A Sense of Style: Take your time to pick the villa rental that best reflects your personal style . . . or try a different style on for size . . . or take your style up a notch (or two) and opt for the ultimate in luxury—whatever you’re looking for, chances are there’s a villa rental to match.
• The More, the Merrier: A villa rental is a great option for families and groups traveling together—you can most likely find a vacation home for rent that has the space and privacy you require.
• Think Local: You travel the world not to leave your mark on it, as much as to have the world leave its mark on you, and there’s no better way to do that than to completely immerse yourself in a local experience. Like trying the destination’s signature dish, using as many native words as you know, following the customs as best you can.

Know Where to Go & What to Get

Popular choices for villa rentals include cottages in Ireland and England, apartments in London, Paris and Rome, villas in Tuscany and the Caribbean and condos in Hawaii, Costa Rica and Belize. This is a vacation, of course, and you might not want to make the beds each morning or make dinner each night; if that’s the case, ask about staffed villa options  – in destinations like Jamaica, staffed villas are common and, for a reasonable fee, you’ll find yourself in the company of your own cook, housekeeper and gardener. Need help picking your perfect place? That’s where we come in! Not only do we have experience coordinating condo & villa rentals but we also enjoy staying in rentals ourselves. We’l work with you to find out what’s most important to you, and where you can find your best match.

Know a Few Tips for Renting a Villa

1.       Be Flexible: There might not be a villa rental that’s a perfect match for all of your criteria. Think about what’s most important to you, and start there.

2.       Think Real Estate: With villa rentals, price often reflects location—a beachfront villa, therefore, will often cost more than a similar villa located up the hill.

3.       Think Amenities: When comparing villa rentals, look beyond number of bedrooms and find out if the homes have the amenities you most desire, like air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, outdoor living space, onsite staff and a pool.

4.       Buy Insurance: Most villa rental reservations are non-refundable, so getting appropriate travel insurance will cover your investment in the event that you have to cancel for covered reasons.

5.       Be a Good Guest: You might be fine with putting the kids to bed on the couch, but the homeowner may not approve, or there might be local fire codes that prohibit such behavior. Know the homeowner’s rules, and then follow them.

Ready to get started?

Travel by Darcy specializes in upscale vacation rentals and works with reputable property management firms in the following locations:

Apartments in London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice
Villa/Cottage/Castle rentals in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Spain, Greek Isles
Villa rentals, villa resorts & condos throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii

Most apartment rentals have a 5 night minimum stay (surcharge for fewer nights). Villa rentals are available on a weekly basis from Saturday to Saturday.

Unlike websites like homeaway, flipkey, vrbo etc. where an owner can list their property without going through any type of vetting process whatsoever, I only work with professional property management firms for apartments and vacation rentals. This is essential to ensure my clients are staying in a legal vacation rental and that the home is routinely maintained and inspected. In addition to this level of quality control, this means there is a local office available to assist you should you have any questions or issues during your stay.  Professionally managed homes do tend to be slightly higher (10-20%) but the peace of mind is truly priceless.

 

Contact me today with your group needs. You’ll want to have an idea of:

-Where you want to go
-When you want to go
– The budget you’d like to work with for the week
– The number of people in your group including any children
– Any special needs or requests (ie. location, view, # of bathrooms, pool or any other must-have amenities)

 

There’s more than just safety when it comes to numbers—there are travel discounts and other special perks to be had. Welcome to the benefits of group travel! We can help you with every aspect of your group’s trip; in the meantime, here are some things to keep in mind when planning for your next group vacation.

Know the ABCs of Group Travel

If you’re traveling together with a number of people—typically, 10 or more—you might qualify for group travel privileges. Group types are traditionally family members, friends, colleagues, club members, church members, corporate incentive groups and seniors. Group travel discounts and special perks often apply at:

• Resorts: You may qualify for a group discount based on the number of people traveling together (expect a 10-room minimum); This is a great option if you’re looking to plan a corporate retreat, extended friends & family trip and for Destination Weddings.  Resort options vary so talk to us about your group makeup so we can recommend a perfect fit for your group experience.
• Cruises: This option typically gives you the most bang for your group buck, especially if you select a cruise that departs from a port in the United States, as airfare will then be more affordable;  You can also usually book more than a year in advance which gives everyone more time to budget for their vacation
• Condo and Villa Rentals: Both are a smart choice for groups as they generally afford more space and flexibility;
• Custom Tours with Your Own Private Car/Bus and Driver: This option—which allows you to get a highly personalized destination experience—is popular in Europe and is growing popularity in the United States and Canada;
• Existing Tours: You can join an existing group tour to get in on the savings—there are dozens of group tour companies that offer motorcoach tours around the world;  while often more affordable, these tours are not for everyone (up to 50 people per tour) so small group travel (fewer than 20 people) and themed group trips (hiking, biking, walking, food and wine, etc.) are becoming more popular. A few of our favorite group tour companies include Globus Journeys, Insight Vacations, G Adventures, Tauck and Abercrombie & Kent for those looking for something more upscale.

Pick a Group Leader

The organizer of the group—the head of the family or the business owner—is often identified as the group leader, and is typically the one to contact the travel agent for assistance in negotiating the group travel discounts and other special perks. The leader, who typically does a lot of leg work, will often enjoy special privileges, like cruising for free when planning a group cruise.

Plan Your Group Trip in Advance

We recommend planning your group trip six or more months in advance, when possible, to ensure good pricing and to give everyone a chance to budget for the trip. For more must-know tips like this, contact us and then get ready to enjoy the privileges of group travel.

If you live in the Seacoast New Hampshire area and are a member of a local club (Historical Society, Business Network Group, Garden Club, Golf Club etc.) or a friends & family group thinking of taking a trip – contact me! I’ll be happy to speak at your local meeting or put together a presentation for your group.  

When it comes to cruising, you have a virtual sea of cruise lines, ships and itineraries to choose from! The good news is that, with this vast number of options, there’s something out there just perfect for you. The bad news is that it might take you a significant amount of time to find the proverbial needle in your vacation haystack . . . unless, of course, you work with an expert travel agent like us!

According to the Cruise Lines International Association, almost 70  percent of travelers book their cruises with a travel agent. And with (very) good reason:  We will get to know you—your travel style, your vacation wish list, your budget, etc.—and will then match you with your ideal cruise line, ship and itinerary. To get you started, here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a cruise.

Know the ABCs of Cruising

One of the reasons cruising is such a popular vacation option is that it is truly one of the most personal ways to travel, and that’s ultimately because of the many options you can customize to reflect your preferences, like:

• Ship Type: Take your pick between mega ships, small ships, expedition ships, yachts, barges and river cruisers—each type includes its unique set of pros and cons (for instance, a big ship might have more people, but it will probably also have all manner of conveniences, like a barber shop and a place to buy provisions, and fun extras, like a casino and a rock climbing wall);
• Voyage Length: You can be gone for a long weekend, or most of the year;
• Itinerary: Beyond simply getting you from here to there, today’s cruises are all about your best experiences, including itinerary elements like adventurous shore excursions and on-board food and wine classes;
• Cost: Cruising costs range from budget to moderate, premium and luxury;
• Pre- and Post-Cruise Options: Bookend your cruise with hotel stays to best take advantage of your time away and to get a different perspective on the destination(s) you’re visiting; and
• Cruise Deals: Okay, this might be your favorite part—there are great cruise deals to be had, you just have to know where to look (that’s where we come in) and when to book . . . cruise deals often include a reduced rate, free airfare, 2-for-1 prices, free excursions, pre- or post-night lodging accommodations and onboard credits. It’s also smart to look for all-inclusive cruising options!

Know the Benefits of Cruising

Truly, there are too many cruising benefits to mention, but a few favorites include the chance to sample many ports without having to repeatedly pack and unpack, quality entertainment options, enriching and educational activity programs and diverse dining (whether you’re into endless buffets or 5-star gourmet cuisine, or both!).

Know a Few Good Tips for Planning a Cruise

1. Do Your Homework: Consider the destinations you want to visit, the time of year you’re going to go and the budget you have available.
2. Speak Up: To help us narrow down the cruising options to those that are best for you, tell us what you like to do on vacation and be clear about what you’re looking for so our recommendations best reflect you.
3. Respect Your Budget: Sure, opting for a balcony stateroom is definitely worth it, but only if you can afford it. If you can’t, don’t fret! The size of the stateroom—from inside to verandah categories—is usually the same; what you’re paying for is often the view (no window, window or balcony) and there are typically many places on a ship where you can take in an unforgettable view!
4. Compare Apples to Apples: Don’t just look at the bottom line price when making a cruising decision. Know what is included in the price (meals, gratuities, entertainment, insurance, etc.), and what isn’t, and make sure you’re comparing apples to apples when looking at different cruise options.
5. Trust the Experts: It’s perhaps most important that you trust the advice of your travel agent when making a decision. An expert travel agent often has personally experienced the different cruising options, and knows firsthand the differences between the many cruise lines, stateroom choices, onboard amenities and more.