You are ready to book this trip to the Caribbean, which you talked about so long. You go online to get tickets. Easily.
But here's the hard part ... where to stay? So many options. You can book a hotel, condominium or holiday villa. How do you decide which one suits you and your family or group?
Well, the best place to start is by asking what amenities and services you are looking for. What are the most important options to consider before you put your hard earned money on deposit?
Space? Convenience? Confidentiality? Cost? Let's look at all four functions.
SPACE
As a rule, hotel rooms and villas do not provide you with a lot of space unless you have booked a penthouse room. Many people justify this by not spending much time in their rooms. But unexpected bad weather can quickly change this forecast. And although one of the reasons why they do not spend much time in the room is that there is no place for the group to gather! Because of this reason, many people choose a villa. As a rule, there is a living area or a family room where everyone gathers for drinks and conversation ... unless they are outside on the deck of the pool. And sometimes the size of one bedroom of a villa can be as big as the whole hotel room. (Tip. If space is important to you, always check the square foot of your room before booking!)
CONVENIENCE
Let's face it, there is a lot to say about the convenience of staying at a hotel and, as a rule, in the store, activities, concierge and restaurants right on concessions. However, if it’s not all inclusive (which many people find is the way, especially with children), you pay for all these dishes, and this adds after a while. Since the villas and villas have kitchen utensils, they give you the opportunity to buy food at the local grocery store and prepare food back to your place ... be it snacks or full lunches. Many villas also have the advantage of providing or organizing chefs on the island who you need to bring so you don't have to worry about culinary matters. Most villas also have a barbecue grill for the outdoor chef in your family or group.
CONFIDENTIALITY
If you are struggling with crowds, this is not your idea of a vacation, then renting a villa can be a way. If you are not traveling in the off-season, you can spend more time trying to find a chair to relax by the pool, rather than relaxing in the sun. Some people do not mind sharing their holidays with strangers, but others see it as a time to spend exclusively with family or friends. Add to the fact that many of the villas are located on or near secluded beaches, and holiday homes win in solitude. One of the compromises may be that, as a rule, villas do not set up sun beds for their guests on the sand; however, many provide beach chairs for borrowing.
COST
It is difficult to calculate, because there are such wide ranges of prices and services from island to island. At first blush, anyone who looks at renting a villa can dodge because of prices. But usually, as soon as you break it down, you can rent a four-bedroom villa for about the same price as the two standard rooms in a hotel or condominium, and everything is the same. Compare apples with apples and see how it will cost for those places that you are considering ... income - in fact you pay the same price, but you get much more space and privacy by renting a villa! (Tip: make sure that it is included in the specified rate. In many Caribbean countries, hotels, villas and villas must collect a hotel tax. Some hotels and villas also add a service charge, which may have another 20% on your account . Oh!)
So ... villa, condo or hotel? You can see that where you are in the Caribbean, a little planning is required. The first step is to decide which functions are most important when you are looking for your paradise. For an increasing number of groups, couples and families, renting a Caribbean villa provides the comfort, privacy and space they desire.
