Tips for Renting a Villa in the Algarve with Friends

If you are planning on renting a villa in the Algarve for your holiday this year, why not consider teaming up with another family and sharing a large holiday home?

Sharing a villa rental with another couple or another family can be a great way to save money on your holiday. Splitting the cost of the rental means that you will be able to stay in a larger and more luxurious place in a better location for less than it would cost to stay in a hotel room or a resort. You will have all of the advantages of the villa, such as more space, increased privacy; your own pool and the ability to self-cater. Having your friends around means that you will be able to socialize when you feel like it, but also break off on your own and enjoy some quiet time as well.

However sharing a holiday space with your friends can also cause a lot of stress if both parties are not on the same page. Making sure that you are aware of the proper etiquette for this situation will ensure that no one feels like they are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to their holiday experience. Here are some etiquette tips to keep in mind when sharing a villa rental in the Algarve with others:

Be Honest About What You Want

If one family wants to have a villa close to the beach and the tourist hotspots and the other wants to be out in the rural Algarve countryside for some peace and quiet, it can be very difficult to find a location which will make everyone happy. This is why you have to be clear about what you want from your holiday in the first place to make sure that your wishes are compatible. Identify the “must haves” about your experience right from the beginning.

Avoid Kitchen Clutter Conflicts

How many thousands of arguments have been caused throughout history because of unwashed dishes? The trouble usually stems when people who have different attitudes to cleanliness are both using a shared space. At your home, you might leave the dinner dishes to soak and do them in the morning and be somewhat lax about leaving your things lying around in the common areas. However, your villa rental mates might enjoy having the common areas clean and might find it endlessly frustrating to have to work around your mess. This can cause a lot of friction in a shared space and it doesn’t need to.

If you are sharing a space with someone, make sure you are considerate of them and tidy up the common areas after you use them. You might have to keep them a little cleaner than you would at home, but it is better than making everyone stressed out.

Give Each Other Some Space

Spending a holiday in a villa in the Algarve is a great time to connect with your friends, but everyone needs a little alone time as well. You don’t have to do every activity with them, so give yourselves some chances to split up for a while and do your own thing.

If you have kids, you can take turns watching the little ones while the other couple goes off for a round of golf, a spa treatment or a walk on the beach. You can then swap over so everyone gets a chance to have quiet “adult” time as well as family time.

These are just a few etiquette pointers to keep in mind when sharing a villa in the Algarve with another family. 

Sharing a holiday villa with friends can be fun, as long as you don’t get on each other’s nerves. Here are some tips to keep in mind when renting Vale do Lobo villas.