Are you having a hard time finding THE ideal holiday rental that can promise you an unforgettable holiday and especially no bad surprises? Or perhaps you’re getting confused and even discouraged by the sheer amount of deals you have seen online. How to avoid falling for any fraudulent deals in Côte d’Azur and where to turn to not end up paying an exorbitant amount of rent for your holiday home? Also, how to evaluate the various holiday rental agencies in Côte d’Azur?
Here are 5 tips that will help you organise and spend a really good holiday on the French Riviera.
1- First off: the offer!
These days, it’s a lot more than just choosing an agency. Meaning, your whole research is guided by your desires and expectations from a holiday rental. You might search, for example, a villa with a swimming pool which is close to the sea as well as the city centre. You then look for what’s available that fit these criteria. This approach comes with some risks, mainly as you are drawn primarily to the pictures of the property rather than a whole realm of other things that must be evaluated before zeroing in on a property. Make sure that theagency offering the rental is very well an agency and not an individual. Check that the agency has a physical address.
Next, learn about the overall offer proposed by the selected agency. Having some options is good but if those options resonate with your expectations, then that’s ideal! It’s easy to come across an apartment in the city centre these days, that overlooks a courtyard but with no sight of the beautiful sun, no cleaning, no service and a price that hits the roof! And all these nasty surprises could be waiting to greet you at arrival after a long day of travel. Your holidays have, unfortunately, not begun the way you had imagined!
That’s why agencies that specialise in tourist rentals, carefully choose everything and make sure that it all meets with their clients’ expectations, however different they may be. Often the goal is to acquire properties with the most beautiful views of the French Riviera, absolute comfort, great location with easy access to amenities and an all-inclusive price.
2- Check customer reviews
It’s equally important to look at all the customer reviews. Opinion System is a great tool for this. It ensures the truthfulness of the testimonials left on the website. It is a leading customer reviews system in France for companies that are ISO 20252 certified.
Here’s an example of a customer review on the Riviera Holiday Homes website via the Opinion System:
June 2017,
“Excellent apartment with breath-taking views of the Villefranche Bay and proximity to shops”
3- Customer service
In addition to the rental accommodation itself, the agency must offer a wide range of services to ensure your stay is even more enjoyable. Some points to consider:
– Possibility of viewing the apartments beforehand if the client so requests.
– Transportation arrangements from the airport to the apartment – this service helps take away the stress of resorting to public transport right from the very first day of your holidays.
– Availability of housecleaning services upon arrival, at departure and also during your stay.
– Furniture rental (high chairs for babies, cots for babies, etc.).
– Provision of clean linen upon arrival and laundry services during your stay.
The agency must position itself as basically a ‘sales rep’ for the region where you wish to spend your holidays. It must be able to provide good and tailored advice on sightseeing and touristic activities that you can do based on your interests to make your holidays exciting and memorable.
4- The agency’s responsiveness can be the game changer!
Responsiveness is key! Holidays are time-bound, days are counted and you really cannot waste any moment of it. A seasonal holiday rental agency is there to make your stay perfect – that’s its role and priority! The ‘human’ side is therefore essential for a good agency to be able to meet its customers’ requests.
When there’s a problem, a good agency is one which makes itself available and approachable at any time (within reason), on any communication channel and in several languages. Multilingualism is an important concept for tourism. It’s the key to opening itself up internationally and welcoming holidaymakers from all walks of life. Again, customer reviews are a good starting point in evaluating an agency’s professionalism.
Here’s an example of a customer review on the Riviera Holiday Homes website via the Opinion System:
July 2017,
“Our original apartment had been damaged by water a few days before our arrival. Lucienne offered us six replacement apartments to choose from, many of which were new. Lucienne’s professionalism and readiness to help us are commendable! I highly recommend Riviera Holiday Homes.”
July 2017,
“There was always someone available to answer to our queries, be it in person, by text or at the reception. All our questions were answered quickly and accurately and if we had any serious issues, the team was there to help us out.”
5- And of course the price!
The uberisation of tourism has greatly altered the seasonal rental market, particularly because of the rise of rental “supermarkets” which emphasise mass over quality services? This often explains the difference in prices. It is therefore important to ask yourself why a certain property is more expensive or on the contrary, why it is so low-priced. Ask yourself: How will you be treated if you face a problem during your stay?
Here’s an example of a customer review on the Riviera Holiday Homes website via the Opinion System:
June 2017,
“Staff at the office in Nice were exceptional. We had a problem with the Wi-Fi and it was taken care of immediately. Lucienne was so helpful on our last day, she made it possible for us to stay at the apartment. Keep up the good work and I will certainly book my stay with Riviera Holidays again.”
LE DOMAINE DE BELLET – NICE
Read also > The finest villas on the Côte d’Azur are ready and waiting for you!