Villas and holiday homes

Whole houses rented to one party, usually with a private garden and often a private pool. The appeal is exclusivity: no shared corridors, no neighbours through the wall, and space to spread out. The cost per person falls quickly as the group grows, which is why a villa can undercut four hotel rooms.

Before you book, check

• Whether staff are included: many villas come with a housekeeper or a cook, and some do not.
• Whether the pool is heated, private, and how it is fenced if children are coming.
• The distance to a shop and a restaurant. Villas are frequently rural.
• The security deposit, how it is taken, and when it is returned.

Worth it for: Groups, families travelling together, and longer stays where you want a base rather than a room.