Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What does it cost to use your service?

Nothing! Your payment goes directly to the villa owner so you know you are not paying out for tour operators, expensive glossy brochures and high-street travel agents.

Q: How long will it take to get an answer to my enquiry?

We aim to send you a response within a few hours. However, Villas of Spain deals mostly with private villa owners and they generally have other demands on their time as well as renting out their villa. In many cases we have control of the reservation list, which makes things easier, but please bear with us if just occasionally it may take a little longer.

Q: You've confirmed availability, how do I make my booking?

Just click into the Booking Form from the villa page. The booking form works on a secure server so all your details are safe, even if you are providing credit card details. Alternatively you can telephone us if you prefer, or e-mail us providing you are not sending credit card details. (We don't recommend sending your credit card details by e-mail as that is considered to be less secure for confidential information.) State your requirements clearly, in line with the availability information we will have sent you. If you have any special requests, include them too, and we will do our best to accommodate them. Don't make any irreversible travel plans until you receive a confirmation from us (probably about 24 hours).

Q: What sort of confirmation will I receive?

We will send you a confirmation e-mail with full details of your reservation. Just print that off and take it with you. Of course we and the villa owner will have full details of the booking anyway, but the piece of paper will give you the warm feeling that everything is in order. At the same time we will send you detailed directions to the villa.

Q: Who do I pay?

Payment is made directly to the villa owner. This is normally done by bank transfer a little while before you travel. In some cases, the villa is owned by one of the hotels on our Little Hotels website, in which case it may be possible to pay by credit card. Each villa page gives you the information appropriate to that villa.

Q: Does the owner require a deposit?

Usually, yes. The terms are given on each villa page. If it is necessary to pay the deposit by bank transfer (many villa owners are private individuals who don't have credit card facilities), the booking will be held to give you time to make the transfer and confirmed on receipt of the deposit.

Q: What if I need to cancel?

Once again, the policy on cancellations is particular to each villa. If you need to cancel, contact us in writing and we will follow it up for you. Make sure you receive an acknowledgement back. Within the chargeable cancellation period, it is up to the owner whether they charge you the cancellation amount. We do recommend that you have travel insurance which may cover this eventuality, among various other things that you would probably rather not think about. Unlike some other companies, Villas of Spain does not charge you an administration fee if you have to cancel.

Q: How do I find the villa, when I get there?

It's true that many of our villas are a little out-of-the-way. That's probably why you chose the location you did. When we send you your confirmation, we will also include the address, driving directions, and a contact telephone number. We try to give you real directions that work on the ground, and not just something taken from a map. Nevertheless, the minor roads of Spain are numerous and complex so a good map will be helpful when you're out and about. Watch out too, for variations in the spelling of place names: there are often small differences between the Castilian Spanish and the local (Catalan, Basque, or whatever) versions of a name.

Q: I have some mobility difficulties? How do I know if the villa will be suitable for me?

Unfortunately "character" in a villa sometimes derives partly from a design that uses changes of level, and that is likely to make it unsuitable for some people. However, there are many variations of "disabled" and some villas will be suitable for some people and not for others. Tell us your situation and we will do our best to recommend which villas to go for and which to avoid.

Q: Do all your villas take children?

Most, but not necessarily all. The villa pages on our website will tell you if children are not accepted, or if they are specifically catered for.

Q: Do all the villas have parking?

Generally, yes. Even if they don't have their own off-road parking, you can probably park on the road right outside.

Q: How can I find out what the weather might be like for our holiday?

Each of our villa pages has a link to show you the weather statistics in that area. Also, you can go to our weather page to get a quick comparison of different parts of the country

Q: Do I need travel insurance?

We strongly advise you to take out insurance suitable for your needs before you travel. Make sure that the insurance policy covers you if you have to cancel your flight or other holiday arrangements and for any emergencies which arise while you are away. It's not expensive if you buy it from the right place (try the Post Office, your insurance broker or our own travel insurance page), and it gives you peace of mind.

Q: How do I know my personal information is safe?

Villas of Spain complies with the Data Protection Act scrupulously. More importantly, we actually care about protecting your privacy. We don't pass any client information to any third party, except to pass the necessary information through to the hotel where you are staying. We have a secure server built in to this website to ensure your credit card details are safe.

Q: Why don't you have an automatic online reservation system?

Because human beings do the job better. You need an individual service and so does the villa owner. We use the internet as a convenient medium for providing and passing information, but everything here is driven by real people, who know Spain and generally know the properties concerned.