If you are considering a villa holiday in Cyprus, or any other country for that matter, here are a few suggestions to help with the villa renting process:

1. Search the net for online reviews of the villa or the villa agent company, or ask for references. Bona fide villa owners or agents should be able to provide these promptly. It’s not a bad idea to actually follow up on references! And do ask past guests to give you their opinion of the local area and any tips on making your holiday an even more enjoyable one, such as tips on the best meze restaurant in the neighbourhood.

2. If you can, pay by credit card. Credit cards afford legal protection to consumers, to protect them from paying off debt they were not responsible for, or for buying mis-represented or faulty goods (including items such as holidays). Legal protection allows consumers to claim their money back from the credit card provider if there is a problem with goods or services that constitutes a breach of contract. This could include your villa being-double booked or the property being in a poor state (and not accurately described as such).

3. If it’s too good to be true it probably is! Villa rent that is significantly lower than what you see for a similar property in a similar location, or many “freebies” thrown in for no apparent reason, may just be scams. There are many unscrupulous individuals out there who will advertise properties they don’t own, or are not agents for, just to scam the deposit money out of unsuspecting holidaymakers. Please use your common sense and ask questions. What kind of responses are you getting? Are they detailed and honest answers about both the good and not so great characteristics of the property and the local area, or are they trying to give you the impression that everything is great? Unfortunately there are too many sad stories of people being too trusting only to find out that their dream holiday villa was only a shed in a field, or worse still, did not exist at all.

4. Will there be some type of support nearby in case they are needed? How quickly can they act? Or are you happy with renting a villa out in the wilderness – and this includes some of the new “tourist villages” which are nothing but empty ghost towns – and fending for yourself if a pipe bursts or the fridge packs up? As you will only be staying for one or two weeks, lack of a speedy response can really ruin your holiday! Check beforehand with the owner or their agent the level of support you can expect.

5. Ensure you understand what is included and what is not in the villa rent. For example, is maid service included or extra? Is linen change part of the overall cost or extra? Different villa owners will have different packages, and this is ok. What’s important is clarity. And there should not be any hidden costs. Look for villa websites or brochures that spell out exactly what you should expect, and which plainly and clearly explain the costs. Descriptions of the accommodation and local amenities should also be straightforward and unambiguous.

6. Please do stay away from villas where the only contact is a mobile phone number.

Villa rentals are a great way to enjoy a country, and experience life as a local. On a cost per person basis they can be substantially more economical than hotels and can also be the more attractive accommodation option, since they offer luxury of space and privacy. Please do exercise common sense and careful judgement when booking to avoid disappointment, and instead enjoy a great holiday in a lovely Cyprus villa, the memories of which you will cherish for the years to come.