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Here’s the problem: Renting a villa with all my friends is my favorite way to vacation, but finding a large place is a hassle. The two big players have a surplus of listings that are often overly-complicated to book, over-policed by hosts, downright ugly in person, or all of the above. Sifting through listings can remind me why travel agents exist, payment can be strange, and on-site service is a toss-up, if any is available
Recently, though, I found a solution: Oliver’s Travels.
At a Glance: Oliver’s Travels Review
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➤ Pros: Thoroughly vetted inventory, concierge service, hotel-like amenities & on-site service.
➤ Cons: Some communication difficulties between the company, property owners, and on-site staff.
➤ Bottom Line: Oliver’s Travels is a better way to book premium vacation rentals. See villas here.
Oliver’s Travels promises “the top 2% of vacation rentals – no compromises.” The company vets stays all over the world and approves very few, offering a curated but abundant inventory of properties. The promise is that any villa within your parameters (group size and location) will be a good one, and booking it is expertly managed by Oliver’s Travels.
I recently reviewed the company with a stay at Chateau Coeur in France’s Loire Valley, and I can confirm that Oliver’s Travels delivers on its promise of an exceptional experience. That’s not to say it’s perfect, but it’s the best vacation rental company I’ve ever used.
Read on for my full review of Oliver’s Travels.
Property Inventory
Oliver’s Travels’ best asset is its selection of villas. The company says it has 9,000+ properties, including places in 25+ destinations. Europe is where you’ll find the best selection, with thousands of villas in France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Croatia, but you’ll also find luxe accommodations in popular Asian destinations, Mexico, the Caribbean, and a few in the U.S. Soon to launch destinations include the Dolomites, San Sebastián, California, the Bahamas, and expanded selection of villas in Mexico.
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9,000 stays is obviously far fewer than Airbnb or VRBO’s millions, but here’s the thing: After hours of perusing the Oliver’s Travels site, I didn’t see a single villa that I wouldn’t stay in. The villas start at deluxe, and just get more special from there. You’ll find everything from historic French chateaus to castles in the U.K. to sprawling Caribbean compounds.
Pricing
The pricing on Oliver’s Travels villas is also relatively reasonable, given the properties’ luxuriousness and on-site services (housekeeping, cooking, etc.).
The chateau my friends and I stayed in, for example, costs around $13,000 a week. That seems like a big number, but really isn’t if you break it down. The chateau sleeps 14 guests, which means you could get the price down to around $130 per night (!), per person, with a full house. Nice hotels in the area, with similar amenities and service, run between $200-$500 a night for a single room.
Booking & Concierge
Once you’ve decided on a place, it’s time to book. You pay a 35% deposit to reserve your villa and the rest at least 12 weeks before arrival. Payment is all done securely through Oliver’s Travels, and the whole process is a breeze. As any seasoned villa renter will know, this uniform payment process is a breath of fresh air (I recently had a VRBO host ask for a sketchy PayPal payment, followed by a large cash payment).
After you’ve reserved the villa, the real fun begins. An Oliver’s Travels concierge will get in touch to help with logistics (like airport transfers) and options for booking local activities near your stay. You’ll usually also get to choose any food and beverages you want stocked at the house, before you arrive, and on-site services like private chefs or masseuses.
On-Site Experience
Oliver’s Travels’ villa selection and concierge service are excellent, but the on-site experience is even better.
During our stay at Chateau Coeur, we arrived late in the evening after a long and hungover day of traveling from Ibiza. Our spirits were raised as we drove up the regal chateau’s driveway, and they went stratospheric when we stepped into the chateau’s living room: A huge fire roared, champagne, beer, wine, and an endless stream of food were served, and we were given a tour of the massive estate.
This service continued throughout the stay. A fridge was stocked with beer and wine, and we could always request more if we ran out. One of the groundskeepers, Ana, made us breakfast every morning, cooked dinner two of the nights, and tidied our rooms while we were out during the day. Another groundskeeper, Carlos, made fires every evening, and we could call on him to ready the wood-burning sauna by the pool.
There was one minor hiccup during our stay. Between the concierge, the owner, and the groundskeepers, communication sometimes felt like a broken game of telephone. I talked with the remote concierge a few weeks out, but had issues contacting the local manager on the day of our arrival. The groundskeepers did the cooking, cleaning, making of fires, etc., so I ended up communicating with them in person (in broken English). It didn’t impact our enjoyment of the chateau, but made planning meals and activities a bit confusing at times.
Bottom Line: Oliver Is My New Travel Buddy
Oliver’s Travels’ curated inventory of properties, concierge, and on-site service combines the best elements of a private home and a luxury hotel into one experience. If you’re looking for a better way to book a villa, I highly recommend Oliver’s Travels.
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