We all love our home. Nothing can ever beat the feeling of sleeping in your bed, having a lazy Sunday morning breakfast, drinking from your favorite coffee mug, or chilling out on the sofa after a long and busy day, with little time to spare. But, if you’re reading this blog, then we know that you also love to travel, and that’s great because we do too!
So, how do you choose the perfect high-end home rental? How do you find that home-away-from-home, and how do you avoid making the wrong choice that could make or break your stay in a big way?
At Omnifique, we’re first and foremost experts in high-end home rentals. Still, we’re also seasoned travelers with years of experience spending time away from home and with a particular flair for hunting some incredible homes that we know many of you will fall in love with. We’re also incredibly good at matching homes with people, skilled at knowing what each guest will need and love, even before they do. So, how do you pick the perfect home for your ideal getaway, whatever the reason for travel and whichever time of the year you choose to go?
Let’s get started…
1. Location is EVERYTHING
We always recommend that you begin your search by focusing on where you want to go. Not only because of weather conditions (if you don’t want snow, but you travel to Aspen in winter, for example, means you’re already off to a bad start) but also because of the kind of vacation you’re hoping to experience.
Do you want to visit somewhere new or somewhere you know you already love? Are you traveling for work or pleasure? Are you on the move with family or friends, or maybe you’re planning a solo trip? Will you be traveling at Christmas, Easter, in the winter, in the summer? Do you want to be in the middle of all the action, or are you looking for 100% seclusion and privacy? All these questions are good ones to ask yourself when deciding where to travel to.
2. Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Playrooms, Pools?
The next question you need to ask yourself relates to the infrastructure of the property you’re looking to rent. How many bedrooms or bathrooms do you need? Are you looking to rent a home with a pool? Does it have to be an indoor pool, or would you be happy to stay in one that only has an outdoor facility? Do you want that pool to be heated? What about playrooms, office space, a cinema room, or a quiet spot for reading? Will you be hosting a party, and would it be useful to rent a home with a large terrace or a fully stocked bar? Will stairs be a problem, and do you want to be close to the kids at night, or with a fair amount of distance and privacy between you all?
We could keep going, but you get the idea. Design the ideal property in your head and make note of the characteristics that you might be willing to go without and those that are paramount to the perfect break.
3. Style
Is style important to you? Will it ruin the overall experience if you end up staying in a great location and a fantastic home but surrounded by furnishings that are so modern and minimalist that you can’t get comfortable? Do you love art deco or country cottage? Do you fall in love with neutrals or go wild for daring color schemes?
Once you know where you’re going and the type of property you’ll need to be comfortable, start asking questions about the property’s look and feel, particularly if this is important to you and your vacation experience.
4. The Basics
Next on the list are all the essential comforts that we know we can’t live without. Do you need high-speed WIFI? If so, don’t assume that the property comes along with it. Not every single home in the world is equipped with Internet access. There’s a deliberate decision not to include it to offer an experience of complete and total shutdown in some properties. Some of us need NOT to have WIFI access to fully take a break from our busy lives.
Another example might be your morning cup of coffee. Not everyone is a coffee expert. Some people are happy with any coffee machine, while others need to have a state-of-the-art, put-Italy-coffee-shops-to-shame, kind of a coffee machine. If that sounds like you, then ask what type of coffee provisions the home you’re about to rent has to offer. Never be shy about asking about those little pleasures, however absurd they might seem to someone else.
5. The Extras
On a final note, the deal sealer for us are the added extras that each high-end home has to offer. We’re talking about those unique features that set one home apart from all the rest. This might be anything from an incredible bookcase filled with exciting literature to an entire in-home gallery curated with examples of creativity to feed your soul.
You might want a home with a great sound system, fabulous outdoor spaces, wild gardens, or wall-to-wall windows. You might want to rent a home that comes with cleaning services, a private chef, a personal trainer, or the opportunity to organize special events and local tours.
Again, the key here is to ask. Find out what each home has that no other can offer, and if the house doesn’t have what you want right now, make the inquiry to see if something can be arranged so that it does. At Omnifique, we make anything happen for all our guests. It’s the mantra we live by. So, just ask.