How to villa in Pollensa, Mallorca  A Q&A with Morgan and Morgan

Morgan And Morgan Founders and Managing Directors

Pille and Leigh Morgan answer some of my questions. 

 

I am definitely a hotel kind of gal. A week with friends in Mallorca, though-my first real holiday in at least a decade – called for something else: a villa. But what did this hotel junkie know about renting villas?

In general, what are the great advantages of a villa over a hotel? 

First, it’s a home from home, with total privacy and space galore. Our villas are welcoming, personal environments in which families can live as they please. You have freedom: in a villa, the kids can play without fear of disturbing others and you can play your music (your choice of music!) at whatever volume you like. The bar never closes and the fridge is always open—if you’re still enjoying yourselves in the early hours, no-one will call “time”; you’re not constrained by hotel bar and restaurant opening hours or by limited menu choices. The villa is yours so you call the shots.

Villas also offer better value for money both in terms of price per bedroom and the overall price for what you get. In terms of food and drink, by staying in one of our villas you can avoid spending €10 at the hotel bar each time someone in your group wants a coca-cola, an ice-cream, a beer or a glass of wine. You can opt for as much or as little service as you like: it is possible to organize daily maid and cooks every day or a few days a week. We can also arrange breakfast / brunch preparation, in-villa wine and hamper deliveries, in-villa massages and yoga/fitness instructors, and in-villa cookery lessons, your own private Sommelier to come to the villa and / or pick you up for unique visit to a vineyard. We can organize transfers to and from your villa and arrange to have your hire car delivered to your villa. For special celebrations like milestone anniversaries or birthdays, we can organise special dinners, live music—jazz band, string quartet, DJ, cover band, opera singer—tailor-made cakes, special garden lighting. Guests staying at our villas can also call upon the service of our on-the-ground support team: part concierges, part trouble-shooters.

What considerations should one consider when choosing a villa? Are there any major Do’s and Don’ts? 

Choose a reputable villa rental company, one that offers security and specialist knowledge. Stay away from mass tourism villa companies (ones with thousands of listing all over the world) or vacation rental marketplace websites. Both of these types offer very little service and are prone to scams. Speak to someone who actually knows the villa and its surroundings. If the person you’re speaking to has never been to the villa or the destination, ask to speak to someone who has. If nobody has, try another company. Ask questions: about the pros and cons of the villa depending on your situation (is it suitable for toddlers, is there a tub, how many sun loungers are there, is there a microwave?). Ask about the location: Is it near a road? Is it easily overlooked? Can you walk to a restaurant, shops, beach—and what’s the walk like? Explain the make-up of your group; give lots of information about what each member of your group likes doing on holiday. If you’re travelling with young children or people with reduced mobility, ask about health and safety. Are there any drops? Are there a lot of stairs? Are there bannisters? How far from the accommodation is the pool? Is there a shallow end? How shallow? Is a risk assessment available? Read the villa description carefully and look carefully at the photos. Ask if there’s anything that doesn’t make sense. Why is there no mention of air-conditioning, for example? There is no mention of private parking—is it available? And definitely check the terms and conditions before booking. What’s the cancellation policy? Who is your contract with – the villa owner or the agency you’re booking through? If it’s with the owner, what might the complications be?

You are also offering “Experiences” with your villas: one-of-a-kind excursions. Can you tell us more?  

We want to enhance your holiday by offering creative excursions that enrich your time. All experiences range from the perfectly practical to the utterly inspirational. One of our favourite’s is the breakfast experience. Waking up and having a tasty breakfast prepared for you. 

You are highly selective about the villas that make it into your collection. What makes a villa unsuitable for the collection? 

There are many, many things that rule out a villa for us. Here are a few of the many aspects of properties we take into account. Location: no noisy roads nearby, not overlooked, a beautiful view, privacy, tranquil, unspoilt area, no pylons. All villas must have a good range of amenities including modern, fully-equipped kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, fast internet, smart/satellite TV. All properties must also have a pool. Villas must have good-sized, beautifully tended gardens with areas for al fresco living and dining. For a villa to make it into our collection, it must have high quality fittings and furnishings, and stylish décor. In summary, it should ooze class, charm and elegance. If we feel that improvements need to be made, we work with the owner and our interior designers to bring it up to a level that our clients expect. There must be plenty of well-designed space, both inside and outside. We generally know as soon as we step into a property whether it will meet our clients’ expectations. There’s an atmosphere, something magical in the air that seduces us. And we try to work with like-minded owners, those who share our values, our vision for the future and our pursuit of excellence. They also have to be happy to work exclusively with us! Prospective owners often come to us with plans, either for a new build or for a full restoration of an existing property. If the location is right, we work closely with them in the realisation of their projects, advising, consulting and offering practical support and ideas. It’s always rewarding to see the final product and watch as it fills up with happy clients

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