Caribbean Villas Sample CaribeanVillas.com

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FAQ

Here are the most common questions we are asked about renting villas for vacation. If you don't see your question here please email our Villa Consultants and we will be happy to find the answers for you. We may even add your question to this list in order to help future renters!

 

QuestionAnswer
What is a vacation villa?A vacation villa is a privately owned home or condominium that is available for rental on a weekly basis. All of the properties we represent have been personally inspected by our staff. The condominiums are all part of complexes with pools and every free-standing home has its own private pool or is located directly on the beach. Properties range in size from one to eight bedrooms.
Is housekeeping included?Yes. All our properties include housekeeping at least once per week during your stay. Many include daily housekeeping. Frequency varies by island and individual villa. Additional housekeeping is available at all homes at the renter's expense. If you require additional housekeeping please inquire when making your reservation.
What other services are included?Most condominium complexes have a common gardener and pool maintenance and some have security in place on the premisis. Privately villas typically have gardening and pool service one to three times per week. All services provided at the property are listed on the individual villa page. Please inquire with our Villa Consultants if you have questions about these services.
Why do some villas have different rates for each bedroom?Many of our larger villas do have lower rates for clients that do not need all the bedrooms at the house. For example: Two couples requiring only two bedrooms can rent a four bedroom home at a two bedroom rate. You will not have access to the additional bedrooms unless you have paid for them. All other rooms in the house will be included in your rental. WE NEVER RENT VILLAS TO MORE THAN ONE PARTY AT A TIME.
What is the maximum occupancy at each villa?As a general rule, the maximum occupancy of each villa is two people per bedroom. A 2 bedroom villa, for example, would allow up to 4 guests. There are situations in which the maximum occupancy is greater than the number of bedrooms; if the villa offers hide-a-beds or trundle beds, or if some guests are children. Your CaribbeanVillas.com Villa Consultant can advise you as to which villas allow additional guests and if any extra charges will apply.
Are the rental rates listed on CaribbeanVillas.com per person?No. All villa rental prices are listed per bedroom per week. The rate listed is how much your entire travel party will have to pay per week for your villa rental. A villa rental with 2 bedrooms might be listed at $2000 per week. This cost could then be divided by the number of people in your party, for instance 4 guests, giving a per person rate of $500 per week before taxes. Prices on our villa rental listings are subject to change without notice.
Is there a minimum night stay requirement for a villa rental?Yes. Most villas have a minimum stay requirement of 7 nights during high season and 5 nights during low season (high & low season dates vary with every villa rental). If you are travelling during Christmas and New Year's a higher minimum stay (typically 10 - 14 nights) is required. If you stay longer than the minimum rental requirement the weekly rates are divided by 7 for a nightly rate.
What is the difference between high season and low season?Because the Caribbean has beautiful weather year-round, the difference between high and low season is simply price. Most travellers to the Caribbean are from North America and Europe which creates more demand for villa rentals during the winter months therefore the price of travel is more expensive. Villa rentals are less expensive in the other half of the year when fewer people are traveling to the Caribbean islands. The high season typically begins in early to mid-December and continues until mid-April or early May leaving the rest of the year for low season. Seasons do vary on different islands and sometimes vary by individual villa. Seasons for each villa are posted on their CaribbeanVillas.com page and are subject to change at any time.
In addition to the villa rental rate are their other cost to factor into the price of our vacation rental?Yes. Every villa rental is subject to the taxes and/or service charges required by the country in which it is located. A tax rate of 7% - 9% is required by most of the villas we represent and will be added to the base weekly rental rate. Tax and service is subject to change at any time.
Are security deposits required to rent a vacation villa?Yes. Many villas require security, damage, or telephone deposits. All deposits are refundable provided that no damage or charges were made during your stay such as outstanding phone bills. Some villas require cash deposits upfront and others require credit card imprint upon arrival.
Is tipping the villa staff required?Tipping can be a delicate issue when travelling and is always at the discretion of the villa guest. If you are satisfied with your service received at your villa gratuity is always appreciated. A good guidline to use when tipping the villa staff is 5% - 10% of the villa rental rate.
How much does food cost and is chef service available?Most villa rentals are self-catering, meaning that guests are required to do their own grocery shopping and food preparation. Some of the villas we offer do have staff chefs included or at an additonal cost. Most islands also have wonderful catering services that can provided chef service if requested. Provisioning of villas before you arrive can be arranged with a shopping list provided well in advance at the guests own expense. Food costs vary depending on the island.
How do I pay for my villa rental?A deposit totaling 50% of the entire rental fee is required and must be received within one week (7 days) to confirm your reservation. The remaining balance is required no later than 60 days (90 days for holiday rentals) prior to the arrival date of the villa rental. Reservations made within 60 days (90 days for holiday rentals) prior to the arrival date are required to be paid in full within one week (7 days) of booking. CaribbeanVillas.com accepts Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, personal or business checks, money orders and wire transfers.
Are villa rentals suitable for families with children?Renting a private villa is a wonderful choice for families and can often make traveling with small children much less stressful and much more enjoyable. Most villas welcome children of all ages. However, some villa owners may set restrictions if their homes include expensive furnishings or have exterior entry bedrooms that do not open inside the main living space of the house. If you are traveling with young children we recommend that you contact one of our Villa Consultants who can help determine which villas are most suitable for your entire family.
How do I get to my villa when I arrive on the island?In most cases you will be met at the airport by the on-island management team for your villa. They will escort you to the house and help you settle into your vacation. It is very important that you provide CaribbeanVillas.com with accurate flight or boat arrival information as well as car rental information at least 30 days prior to your arrival in order to ensure a smooth transition to your villa. Detailed arrival instructions will be provided to you before you arrive which will included contact information in case you are delayed enroute to the island.
How do we pay for additional services or charges incurred during our stay?Each villa is managed on-island by staff that can arrange excursions, reservations, etc. Any charges incurred should be paid directly to this management team or to the service provider directly before your departure from the villa. Credit cards and cash are typically accepted.
How far in advance should we reserve our vacation villa?All of our villas can be booked up to one year in advance. We recommend that you reserve your villa as early as possible in order to ensure that your preferred villa is still available for your travel dates. Most villas do accept last minute rentals even up to a few days in advance of arrival but we do not recommend waiting until the last minute to book your travel if it can be avoided. We want your vacation to be special and prefer to have ample time to help you make all the arrangements you require for your perfect holiday.