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Types and Stylings
Similar to hotel accommodation villas come in a range of prices
and stylings, from super luxury to basic economy. They can also
be found in a variety of locations and settings, from busy/beachfront
to eco/secluded.
From ultra exclusive mansions found on the “Platinum
Coast” of Barbados to eco friendly, budget priced, ‘up-in-the-hills’,
cabin-styled offerings found in Jamaica, there are villas available
to satisfy every taste and requirement.
Many of our featured villas are private, individually
owned residences that are available for rental a majority of the
year. Some owners do not actually reside in the Caribbean and only
occupy these properties while on holiday, especially during the
northern winter. However, some villas may be part of a villa resort
or located on hotel compounds. These are not usually individually
owned.
Pricing and Comparative Value
Ranging in price from super luxury to economy, villas (when compared
to equivalent hotel accommodation), offer very high value for money.
This is especially true for groups of persons travelling together.
Many villas have over two bedrooms (some as many as ten) and therefore
can accommodate from 6 to 20 persons. In such situations, room/per
person costs work out to be as little as half those of room/per
person costs for equivalent quality hotels.
Services
The services offered vary greatly depending on the category of villa
booked, since the categories range from fully self-catering to fully
staffed (i.e. chef, butlers, housekeepers, chauffeurs). It all depends
on what you are looking for and how much you are willing to pay.
How to Choose
Browse our list of villas and make a selection. If none quite fits
your requirements, contact us by email or telephone, outlining your
exact needs. We will take it from there and work to find
the ideal property within 1 to 48 hours. The key features, which
should be outlined, are:
Price
Number of bedrooms
Country of preference
Children/no children
Location and type (e.g. on beach, near beach,
secluded, remote, eco-type, “up-in-the-hills”, self
service, full service)
So, just inquire of us and even if we do not display in our
portfolio your ideal villa, we will work tirelessly to find it
for you quickly.
Booking
Contact us at info@mcmcaribbeantours.com,
use our Contact Form or give us
a call at one of our listed numbers. Be sure to leave a detailed
voice message if our customer service representatives are engaged
at the time of your call, a return call will be made to you within
the shortest possible time. You should also pre-book your transfer
from the airport as many villas are a challenge to locate for
unfamiliar persons.
Reservations & Security Deposit
Reservation requirements vary according to the owners/managers
of the villas; however, a deposit of at least 25% is usually required.
In many cases a higher deposit or full payment is required to
confirm the reservation. A refundable security deposit
is also required for most villas. The amount of the deposit varies
according to the owner or manager but will usually be at least
25% of the cost of the reservation or US$500 whichever is lower.
This will be refunded after confirmation is received by MCM from
the villa owner/manager that all is in order after your departure.
The security deposit will normally be held for at least four weeks
after departure.
Because of the very high winter demand it is
advisable that you inquire very early (many bookings are made
as long as a year in advance) about your Caribbean villa vacation.
You may still book at short notice but availability for the desired
dates is less likely.
Cancellations
Cancellations, as is the case with hotels, are subject to time
related terms and conditions. Given that a cancellation of a villa
booking represents a cancellation of 100% of the property’s
rooms for that period, penalties are applied much longer in advance
of scheduled arrival than with cancellation of hotel rooms. It
is therefore advisable to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
Other Expenses
MCM Tours will always quote you accommodation rates that are inclusive
of applicable taxes and service charges where they apply. We will
also be able to quote you for some items, such as food packages,
rental equipment and specially arranged events. We are, however,
not able to quote for telephone charges and other items that are
not pre-determined. For such items you will have to deal with
the villa manager during your stay. Many villas will require a
signed open credit card slip to open telephone lines for international
calls.
Methods of Payment
We prefer payment by wire transfer for villa bookings. Payments
by credit card will, nevertheless, be allowed subject to your
accepting being billed for the related card processing fees.
Airport Transfers/Transportation
If you have never been to the area where the villa you have booked
is located, it is better to let us arrange transfer from the airport
for you. This is because many luxury villas in the Caribbean,
because of their secluded/private nature are not known to the
general population. By arranging for transfer from the airport
you are guaranteeing being transferred by a chauffeur with knowledge
of the location. You can later arrange your own transfer to the
airport for your departure, however we can arrange this for you
as well.
If you are confident or familiar enough, it might
be helpful to hire a car for some or all of the period of your
vacation since many villas are away from main roads and areas
of high activity. In such situations, taxis would be more expensive
to use. You can speak to us about arranging special transportation
for you that will be less expensive than taxis. However, this
is not always possible, being dependent on the villa location
and time of your stay.
Click here to try
our advanced villa search!
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