What a busy time of the year as we get ready to jump into a slew of Summer Events! We just had a lovely wedding this past week at our Valentino Estate that had fun elements like oversized Jenga and coral chevron prints. Check out the blog post below to see some photos.
Our blog posts this week were written in mind for brides currently planning winter time weddings- snowfall or not, your show will go on and it will be amazing!
Lastly our Executive Director/Co-Founder wanted to clear the air about some worries we’ve heard from homeowners interested in renting out their estate but worried about liability issues. The answer is easier than you think!
Please enjoy our latest post and don’t be shy!… We welcome your feedback and would love to hear any questions or comments you have. Have a wonderful weekend!
Nancy is a blogger and community manager for Estate Weddings and Events. When not typing away, she enjoys discovering new wedding trends and attending weddings and events to see all the people and private estates get dressed up! You can follow her on Google+ here, twitter here or linkedin here.
If you’re in the mood for a vacation experience with a different feel,
it might be time to explore staying in an authentic luxury villa.
Sometimes the hustle and bustle of a vacation defeats the actual purpose…pure relaxation!
Staying in a hotel is an option while on vacation, but it’s nothing like staying in a villa.
Luxuriating in a villa on vacation is like taking your home with you.
You have a kitchen, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, large family rooms and typically, a large outdoor relaxation area.
It’s truly the ultimate vacation experience.
But like anything nice, it comes with a price.
Thankfully, there are a few tips and tricks you can use that should help you get the most bang for your buck.
Travel in the off-season
Like weddings, there are also peak-seasons for traveling.
If you’ve always wanted to reserve a villa in Tuscany, but the high price tag scares you, try booking that same villa during the winter.
Sure it’s not wine harvesting season, but you’re still in Italy and it will be much more affordable.
Traveling to Italy and staying in a villa that sleeps up to eight guests in September could run you about $10,000 for the week, according to YourTuscany.com.
If you stay at that same villa with the same amount of people, but this time in January, the price drops to $8,500.
The same goes for other Mediterranean countries.
During the spring and summer, travelers flock to Spain, Greece and Monaco.
Try going to those same countries during what is considered the rain season in the fall and experience a significant price drop.
You’ll also experience less tourists and a cooler, more enjoyable climate.
One time flash sales
We live in a world today filled with Groupon, Living Social and Travel Zoo deals, so it’s a no-brainer to stay plugged into social shopping sites and find a killer deal.
The first thing to remember with flash sales is that they typically are last minute and have limited availability, so you’ll have to act quickly.
Make sure you can get time off from work and no other commitments before you buy.
Also remember that the flash sale typically doesn’t include the cost of getting you there, so have some money in the bank for plane tickets.
Now onto where you can find these flash sales.
When it comes to villas, you’ll be dealing with flash-sale sites dedicated to luxury travel and merchandise.
It’s pretty unlikely that Groupon, Living Social, or even Travel Zoo (which is great for general travel deals) will have last-minute rates for Mediterranean villas.
Signup for Vente-Privee, a luxury flash sale site owned by American Express.
They don’t always have travel deals, but when they do, they tend to be very nice.
Vacationist is another flash sale site that is very luxury-focused.
It can occasionally save you up to 60 percent off villa rentals.
Travel with a large group
Why travel with just your small family and stay in a large villa, when you could also invite extended family and close friends?
Most villas on the market that you can rent sleep 10-12 people on average, or more than twice the size of the normal family.
By inviting extended family or close friends, you could ask to split the cost right down the middle.
Now instead of paying $10,000 for the week, you’re only paying $5,000.
That’s a good deal.
Negotiate a better deal
Many villa rental sites are owned and operated by one or two individuals who live elsewhere but made an investment to own a villa.
Their goal is to keep the villa filled year-round — even if it means losing a few hundred dollars.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate a better rate with the owner of the villa that you’re interested in — especially in the off-season.
There’s a good chance that you’re the only person interested in that villa at the time.
The owner would rather take the money than let it stay empty.
Also don’t be afraid to offer something in return.
If you’re an artist, maybe offer to paint a landscape shot of the villa for the owner.
There’s wiggle room in every price.
Have your own way of saving money on villa rentals?
Make sure to share it with us below…
About the Author
Andrew is the luxury travel consultant for Estate Weddings and Events, offering readers the latest trends when it comes to high-end travel. When it comes to travel, he credits his expertise to his wife Erin, who has quite the understanding of the finer things in life. Living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, he enjoys the fresh mountain air, Colorado craft brews and relaxing with his cat Franklin.
When entertaining the idea of renting out your home, there are definitely many items to consider, such as potential perks (and negatives). We have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions from potential homeowners to bring some insight to the estate listing process.
How much can I earn from renting out my home for events?
Our estate rental fees range anywhere from $2,000 to $40,000 per event. Based on the value and features of your specific property and the client’s guest count and property usage requirements, pricing scales are developed to maximize “book-ability” and profitability for you, the homeowner.
Are there any risks with hosting events at my property?
With hosting an event at your property, there are always risks, however, The Estate Event Group knows exactly what to do to help you protect your property. For properties with a directory listing, our staff can give you specific permitting, curfew, and other restrictions for your area and educate you about property insurance requirements and security deposits for events. For exclusive listings, Estate Weddings and Events takes care of all of this for you. We obtain insurance policies and permits for the events, set and collect security deposits, and make sure that any vendor who works at your property is property licensed and insured. All of the specific requirements we have are present to severely lessen the liabilities and risks involved for our homeowners.
What is the difference between a directory listing and an exclusive listing (a new feature coming soon)?
Directory listings are on present on our website as resource for potential clients. With your property listed as a directory listing, potential clients will contact you directly and the rest is up to you. With an exclusive listing, The Estate Event Group functions as a full-service property manager for events. We take care of everything else for you, from pre-qualifying potential leads to setting up property tours to clean up following each event. With an exclusive listing, we also provide contracts, full service options for clients, and take care of all permitting and insurance requirements. Our specific knowledge regarding events at private estates ensures that your home will be fully protected with no hassles to the homeowner.
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If you’re in the mood for a vacation experience with a different feel,