Owners Direct villla website safest way to pay?

ebaybaby

Hi all, Just wondered if any-one has used this site before?
Im just on the verge of booking a villa Ive seen on this site for next year. It does as it says, and you contact the owners direct. Im just a bit wary of sending off a deposit, then later on a balance.
Any tips on safety would be greatly appreciated.

missile

I have considered it, but would not be happy paying by cheque in advance.

Some owners accept Paypal which gives you some protection.

You could buy insurance @ an additional 7% which includes cover against fraudulent advertising.

johnnyroper

ebaybaby wrote: »

Hi all, Just wondered if any-one has used this site before?
Im just on the verge of booking a villa Ive seen on this site for next year. It does as it says, and you contact the owners direct. Im just a bit wary of sending off a deposit, then later on a balance.
Any tips on safety would be greatly appreciated.

I recently booked a villa off owners direct for florida next year paid balance by paypal and the remainder will be due by paypal nearer the time.
although booking directly the owner had to get confirmation from the site people at bahama resort as i assume they can make bookings also so had to check dates or something?
anyway i researched it first and found loads of good reviews on the internet including people on the DIBB site that used it.

ebaybaby

johnnyroper wrote: »

I recently booked a villa off owners direct for florida next year paid balance by paypal and the remainder will be due by paypal nearer the time.
although booking directly the owner had to get confirmation from the site people at bahama resort as i assume they can make bookings also so had to check dates or something?
anyway i researched it first and found loads of good reviews on the internet including people on the DIBB site that used it.

I would feel ok with that because its in a resort/complex. Unfortunately, this is not. It is just a single villa in Spain.
Starting to panic now as I really dont know what to do?

delwynshd

Where is the Villa, the big tour operators and UK based brokers will do Villas too

How much are you paying etc etc

ebaybaby

The villa is in Calpe, Costa Blanca, Ive been through all the major travel agents and all their villas are further out than I want.
Its £1200.00. £300.00 deposit payable now the rest 6 weeks before.

Ive just been looking on the Owners direct website, and they do offer insurance like missile said for mis-representation or if Im unable to use the villa etc. It also covers the standard stuff like health etc. If I was just to insure the villa it would be £84.00.
I have my own insurance though through my bank but I doubt that would cover me just sending £1200.00 off to some-one I dont know!

SUESMITH_2

we've just come back from a wonderful holiday i booked via owners direct - i paid the deposit via bank transfer into their account and then the rest in cash when we arrived.

EllaKeat

We have used owners direct four or five times now, never had a problem. We paid deposit by bank transfer, and balance the same way. Our last villa requested a damages deposit, but said to just send him a cheque which he would not bother to bank (unless there was a disaster obviously)!
We have always had fantastic villas and very very nice owners to deal with. We may have just been lucky, but I would heartily recommend:)

spurs24

HI

We have just come back from a great villa, the best we have ever stayed in, and one we could not normally afford through james villas or something like that.

We paid the deposit in cash, and the balance 4 weeks before we went, they arranged for a taxi to pick us up from the aiport and take us to the villa, we we was met by a lady that looked after a few villas, she arranged for the villa to be cleaned mid stay and was at the end of the phne if we needed her.

It really was the best place we have ever stayed in, and will never do a package holiday again, the villa we stayed in was so good, when the taxi drove up the drive i could not believe we was staying there, far better then the pictures on the website.

I spoke to the owners on the phone before i paid full balance, which was also good to do, and there was also some reviews on the villa.

I will deffo book this way again.

delwynshd

Was the villa close to the beach or something?

SUESMITH_2

our apartment was fantastic, i couldn't have afforded it if we had booked through a holiday company - the person who looked after the place was amazing and we even got a welcome pack of all sorts of things which was great as we arrived late in the evening.

i will certainly book through them again