Villa or an Island Rentals

For anyone who's read anything by Frances Mayes or Peter Mayle the idea of buying a villa, restoring it, and living the life of an expat has an undeniable romantic appeal. But not all of us are prepared to cash in our retirements and sink them into a crumbling, centuries-old country house that may or may not work out. Luckily, for the rest of us, there are alternatives.

Renting a Villa in a foreign country has its advantages:

First and foremost, a villa rental offers the luxury of space with several options being capable of comfortably housing several people for a long period of time.

Secondly, depending on what you're prepared to pay, a villa rental may offer several amenities such as a personal chef, private pool and grounds, airport transfers, maid and concierge services--essentially what you might find at a hotel.

Thirdly, location and variety. Whereas you'll more than likely be able to find a villa in the countryside for anyone wanting to explore the finer points of great cities apartment rentals offesr many of the same amenities as a villa rental with similar prices and all the advantages of location in a city.

To learn more about Villa rentals:

Seven Steps to Villa Rental Success

Travel + Leisure's Villa Rental Checklist

Though we can help you find a villa that suits your needs ideally we recommend Abercrombie & Kent Villas.

© Tommy Schultz - Fotolia.com

Renting a Private Island:

For many the idea of staying on a private island is the domain of multimillionaire playboys and socialites. But, like renting villas, staying on a private island is actually more practical than it seems.

Any vacation of any length of more than a few days is likely to cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Staying in a hotel is costly and, unless you're traveling with a tour or manage to find a really great deal, it isn't practical for most people.

One might immediately expect island rentals only to be available in the Caribbean but they're actually found throughout the world with a wildly different set of amenities.

Here is our recommendation for island rental:

Toberua

What to expect from Villa and Island Rentals:

1. Break it Down: When planning to rent either and island or a villa prices are offered on weekly basis. Although the price tag of a few thousand dollars a week sounds expensive break it down over seven days and the cost becomes much more realistic.

2. Know What You Want: There are several factors that will affect the price of your rental. Among them are the destination, the time of year you want to travel, the amenities you want, and the size of your rental. All can mean the difference of several thousand not to mention the experience.

3. Be Realistic: Any vacation is going to cost money. Although being practical and knowing what you want can save you money if you want to rent a villa or an island enter the process expecting to spend at least a few thousand dollars.

Filed Under: Destinations