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Holiday accommodation articles
Villa or Package holiday – A Comparison
If you’re not sure whether to book a private, self-catering holiday villa or an all-inclusive package holiday, try comparing a single day during each type of holiday and the differences will soon become clear.
Morning
Breakfast is provided on a package holiday, but usually only for a set period of time. If you like to be up and about at the crack of dawn you’ll have to wait for your first meal of the day, but if you oversleep you might miss it! When setting your alarm don’t forget to allow time for washing, dressing and making your way to the communal dining room. The best time to have breakfast will also depend on what you want to do afterwards. If you’re hoping for a good place by the hotel pool you’ll need to get there early.
On the other hand, if you’ve chosen a private holiday rental you can eat whenever it suits you, so there’s no problem if your children are ready for breakfast at 7am but the adults would rather wait until later. Prepare what you want in your own kitchen then eat indoors – nobody will mind if you’re still in your pyjamas – or catch some morning sun while breakfasting beside your private pool.
Afternoon
Most package holidays include excursions to places of interest, but you might find that you can’t enjoy a boat trip and a visit to an archaeological site because they are both scheduled for the same time.
You won’t have to make such choices on a villa holiday. You’ll have the freedom to plan your own sightseeing tours, travelling at your own pace and taking a break, or a detour, whenever you want.
Another option with a package holiday is to stay at the resort and try some of the sports or other activities that you’ve already paid for as part of the package deal, although you might find there’s a waiting list for some of the more popular activities.
Many private holiday lets supply children’s play equipment and items such as bicycles, fishing rods or tennis rackets at no extra cost. If you want to spend time enjoying water sports, golf or any other activity ask the owners of your holiday villa for up-to-date information about local facilities where you won’t have to compete with crowds of other holidaymakers.
Evening
Where will you have your evening meal? On a hotel-based package holiday you might have a choice of two or three restaurants. Renting a private holiday home means you can go out to dine somewhere different every evening if you wish, including smaller restaurants that serve authentic local specialities. Or rustle up a simple meal and eat it on your terrace while watching the sun go down.
Package holidays usually include a programme of evening entertainments, which can be great if you’re participating but difficult to ignore if you want a few hours of quiet relaxation or are trying to get children to sleep.
Holiday villas give you a much wider choice of entertainment: clubs, bars, concerts, theatres, funfairs and festivals – or host your own barbeque party. Having your own spacious holiday accommodation means children can have their own bedrooms and sleep undisturbed by late-night revellers. Similarly, adults can be out partying until the early hours without having to tiptoe back and face complaints from strangers in adjoining rooms.
The best holiday is one that is exactly right for you in every detail. Renting a holiday villa, cottage or apartment gives you complete freedom to ensure that every day of your holiday is perfect.