For fast searches we offer selected self-catering accommodation booking engines for each country/region. But we also offer reviews and links to privately owned holiday houses, villas, apartments and chalets that can be booked direct from the owners.
Why book direct with the owners?
Our pages showcase a range of privately owned self-catering cottages, vacation rentals, villas, apartments and holiday houses can be booked direct with the owner. The benefits of this can include:
• the best and most thorough knowledge of the property itself
• genuine local knowledge of the location
• special requests more easily catered for
• sometimes better and more competitive pricing
• often character properties, unique non-standard decor and/or facilities
• sometimes unique offers and deals.
Why use a booking engine?
We also listing a few select self-catering property agents and booking engines that represent individual owners. Many private owners prefer to operate through one of these sites as they provide a wider reach and allow owners easy access to online calendars, secure booking services and credit card payment – things that are often beyond the means of a single independent villa or cottage owner.
A booking engine representing private owners will:
• often allow direct contact with the owner before booking
• make it easier to compare properties
• include availability calendars
• will often show their own and/or past guest reviews
• some allow/require direct bookings be made with the property owner
• others will facilitate on-line booking on behalf of the owner
• eliminate any worries about 'fake' properties.
Some property owners do not have their own websites and will only list on such sites – sometimes exclusively with one booking engine, sometimes on a number of different booking engines.
Tips for searching for and booking self-catering holiday accommodation
• Comparing accommodation – when comparing properties from different sources make sure you are comparing like-for-like, things like bed linen, fuel/heating/electricity or cleaning are included on some sites but added on as an extra on others.
• Best rates – Book in the low season (generally outside of school holiday times) or shoulder season (between the high and low seasons) for better rates and more flexible bookings, see our individual country notes for specific information.
• Accommodation reviews –Read guest reviews with caution and a pinch of salt!
While reviews can be extremely useful when comparing properties, be aware that, wherever they're placed – be it on an owners own site, a booking engine, or a third party review site – reviews can and are often manipulated. Sometimes by an owner trying to boost their business by placing favourable reviews, or placing poor reviews for competing businesses; sometimes by an ever-growing army of over zealous self-appointed 'reviewers' who are on the look out for faults however small; sometimes by guests who've been coerced or rewarded into placing good reviews. Always
be wary of anonymous reviews and remember that names and profiles can be faked too.
Also consider the date of any holiday cottage/villa reviews you look at, many are woefully out-of-date and things could have changed considerably since they were posted.
• Paying – Pay by credit card where possible as this will give you some protection should the business fold before you've taken your holiday. Some booking engines and a few independent private owners will protected your payment by placing it in a bond or trust account.
• Confirmation – Make sure you receive written confirmation of your booking, print that out and take it with you on your holiday. Also ensure that what you've received is confirmation of your specific booking; there have been cases where an owners website uses an automated booking system that issues an automated email 'thank-you' reply, resulting in several customers believing they've each booked the same week!
• Check the inventory – Some owners will ask you to pay a security deposit to cover any breakages. If you're charged this then ensure they also provide an inventory and check this over thoroughly on arrival. Document your check with photos if necessary, particularly on high value items or damage that was present when you arrived.
• Want more than self-catering? – Self-catering doesn't necessarily mean doing everything yourself, we have a special section for serviced accommodation which offers many of the services you'd normally find from hotels, things like: housekeeping services, concierge, reception, internet access, grocery delivery and airport collection. You'll also find that many of the properties listed in this self-catering section offer additional services as extras.
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VILLAS
Mountain chalet: Alpine-style chalet on the edge of the High Tatras National Park in Slovakia. MORE»
Cyprus villas booking engine: from coastal villas to traditional rural farmhouses. MORE»
Eco- friendly barns in South Wales: cottage-style accommodation in adjacent converted barns. MORE»
Thatched cottage for two: charming holiday cottage in West Sussex in an excellent area for walking. MORE»
Chateau Sommesnil: tastefully restored French Chateau in Normandy, for groups. MORE»
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