Villa Pool Heating?

[cerigirl]

We are staying at a Highlands Reserve villa from November 5th for 14 nights this year and I suddenly wondered if I should be asking for them to heat the pool :erm:

The prices look very high for pool heat - I know it take a few days to warm up, but is it cheaper to pay out there at all? I guess pool heat is needed in November????? We do plan to use the pool a lot for early morning swims and late night dips, so we don't want it chilly!!!! :wavey: :wavey:

[Fiona]

You will definitely need the pool heated at that time of year. We always stay in a villa and pay for pool heating before we go out there. Whatever time of year we go, we always have the pool heated. :-)

[WindwardGal]

You will definitely need it. It will be too cold to use without!
Did you book through an owner? If you did the price will be cheaper before you go as MC charge to come out and put it on in most cases.

[sparrow]

Agree with above we stayed at highlands reserve end of october to beginning of november and definately needed pool heating. Tried without first day and quickly went to management to get it turned on.

[Mrs_Dazzle]

In my experience, any time after late September will need pool heating. Nothing worse then getting in a cool pool and it not getting any warmer :cry:

[Malcolm]

As Lin said arrange it with the owner rather than the MC as could save a call out fee. Also very important is if they have a pool cover ensure it is on whenever the pool is not being used as it will help keep the warmth in for the early and late swim.

[cerigirl]

Thanks for your replies - I guessed it would be needed at that time of year, but looked on the Virgin website, who we booked with and they state it will be approx $250 per week!!! I think that is really expensive - is this right??

[Jedi_Angie]

We always go in October and wouldn't consider not having the pool heated. The going rate seems to be about $150 per week, so $250 does seem a bit expensive, but we book direct with the owner, so that could just be Virgin's rate. You could try giving them a phone and see if they'll drop the rate at all.

[sparrow]

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[kirstielou]

You really need the pool heat. Price seems about right and if you didnt have it and ordered it out there it might be 2-3 days before it was warm enough to use.

[MARL]

We go 3rd April and haven't booked pool heat. Contacted company we booked with and villa management company and price was exactly the same - £360 for 3 weeks- not dollars!! We have decided to wait until we get out there to see if we really need it as cant really afford to pay that amount out just now!

I know a lot of dibbers say that they would always get pool heat anytime after Sept - May but I also have spoken to a few couples we know who have gone out in April (sorry I know its Nov your going but thought weather may be similar) and said they didnt need pool heat???

Have contacted company and thy are happy to turn it on if we feel we need it although it does take a day or so to heat up..

Will wait and see
x

[sunsetlakes]

Yes you will need pool heating in November. $250 per week is very expensive.

[cerigirl]

Yes you will need pool heating in November. $250 per week is very expensive.

I am so glad you are saying that $250 per week was expensive, as I thought I looked a bit of a skinflint!!! Think I will ring Virgin and double check in the morning, as $500 on top of our holiday price is a lot of money! What do you villa owners charge? :wavey:

[janeprice]

$250 per week is very expensive, that is the problem with "middle Men" in the equation, they all have their mark up!

We charge $175 per week, that is about the going rate for most owners direct.
Sadly thew owners will not see much of that,

Gas and electricity is really expensive over there. Our gas bill for the month of December is $560. We charge just to cover our gas pool heater costs and I know most owners do so too.

[athurstance]

You will definitely need heating in November. I would say April is the one month it is really hard to tell in advance but we go in October and absolutely need the heating.
I'd agree that $250 is a bit on the high side unless its a huge pool but rates do vary as villas have different heating systems.

[carolmc]

Get the pool heating - nothing worse than looking at a lovely pool and not being able to use it. Whatever the cost - and yes $250 per week is a bit steep, don't spoil a wonderful holiday.

[solo]

I would definetly heat the pool, especially if you plan to use it in the mornings and evenings!! We go in August/September and find the pool cold in the morings and evenings, so we have the pool heated!:cool2: But yes, I think $250 per week is a bit much, we usually pay between £75 and £100 per week!:wavey:(direct with the owner)

[Kimberley Halfo]

We go May 31st - June 15th and haven't booked the pool heating as it's about £200 for the 2 weeks and we're trying to go as cheap as possible (6 of us!). Do you think we will be warm enough? Is it worth pulling cover over when not in use to preserve the heat? I'd hate to not pay and it be too cold and then have to wait a couple of days for it to warm up.

[athurstance]

You'll be fine in May/June without pool heating. Some people do have it but although the water may feel cool in relation to the air temp it won't be cold as the sun will warm it.

You also don't need to use the pool cover in the summer as the ambient temperature means the pool doesn't lose the heat. Also pulling the cover over in the summer can encourage the pool to go green and it gets too hot underneath it.

[Ros & Jim]

All depends on your preference. Personally, I have the pool heating on no matter what time of year I go as I like being able to go straight in without shivering. Others would probably find it too hot. It really is your decision.

[bob_day69]

We go May 31st - June 15th and haven't booked the pool heating as it's about £200 for the 2 weeks and we're trying to go as cheap as possible (6 of us!). Do you think we will be warm enough? Is it worth pulling cover over when not in use to preserve the heat? I'd hate to not pay and it be too cold and then have to wait a couple of days for it to warm up.

You really shouldn't need the pool heated in may/jun. Having said that it's a matter of preference and we did have guests in August last year who requested pool heating, But they were the only ones in 5 years of renting our home.

I have to agree that $250 is expensive. We charge $175 per week which just about covers the increase in the gas bill when heating is on. Utilities are incredibly expensive in the US. I suspect that there may be a middlemans bonus included in there.

[tomnj]

Gas and electricity is really expensive over there. Our gas bill for the month of December is $560. We charge just to cover our gas pool heater costs and I know most owners do so too.

For comparison ... my gas bill for home and water heating for December was $220. No pool. Electric was $97. I live in the Northeast where temp yesterday was 23F.

[robbinsretreat]

Hi

Like all others have posted - i think the quotes you have are a rip off!! We sharge $20.00 per day.
My suggestion would be to wait until you are ther and then contact the management co that look after the house directly ( the number will be in the villa) ask them to do it and pay them directly ( if our guests want pool heat when they get there they still pay our sensible prices (it is a to that you have booked with and not directly with an owner)?

Phil

[bob_day69]

Hi

Like all others have posted - i think the quotes you have are a rip off!! We sharge $20.00 per day.
My suggestion would be to wait until you are ther and then contact the management co that look after the house directly ( the number will be in the villa) ask them to do it and pay them directly ( if our guests want pool heat when they get there they still pay our sensible prices (it is a to that you have booked with and not directly with an owner)?

Phil

Be aware there could be a issue doing this if the pool is electrically heated as it takes a lot longer than gas to warm the pool. Although electric heating charges should be rather less than gas.

[bubbalee]

First Choice want to charge us £180 per week for pool heat in April!!! :mad2:

We called them today and that is the set price, no arguments!
That is a silly amount of money to pay for pool heat, we usually book the villa direct with the owner and pay about $175 a week (we know what we'll be doing in future)!

We don't know whether to just book at the horrific rate before we go (you pay locally), or just book the first week @ £180 and then see if the management company will charge less when we're out there for the second week, or just wait 'till we arrive and speak to the management company then and see if they wanna do a 'deal'!!
What do you guys think? Any opinions??

We're not tight, and definitely want the pool heat, just hate to be ripped off!!! :angry:

[andyhayley]

Im afraid some of the tour ops seem to see pool heat as another way to make some money, in a similar way to only letting you have a 15kg limit on luggage without an upgrade.

My concern would be if you dont have a specific villa booked (e.g. you know the resort and home size, but it could be one of say ten homes), if I didnt pay the tour op upgrade I could end up in a home without a pool heater at all!

Quite a few homes dont have pool heaters for one reason or another, so its just a gamble, it may be part of the extra charge is because they need to put you in a better villa.

[bubbalee]

Im afraid some of the tour ops seem to see pool heat as another way to make some money, in a similar way to only letting you have a 15kg limit on luggage without an upgrade.

My concern would be if you dont have a specific villa booked (e.g. you know the resort and home size, but it could be one of say ten homes), if I didnt pay the tour op upgrade I could end up in a home without a pool heater at all!

Quite a few homes dont have pool heaters for one reason or another, so its just a gamble, it may be part of the extra charge is because they need to put you in a better villa.

We've paid for a 4 bed executive villa @ Windsor Hills, it's allocation on arrival (which is scary)!! So i'd hope the pool did have a heater....but hey, who know's!!
I think we'll book at least one week pool heat then, just to make sure we get a pool with a heater!!

And next year i may have to look at your villa....it looks lovely!! (Although there's only 2 of us going)!! ha ha!

[tomnj]

First Choice want to charge us £180 per week for pool heat in April!!! :mad2:

:angry:

Despicable! Hopefully, you got a great deal on the rest of the package.

[bubbalee]

Despicable! Hopefully, you got a great deal on the rest of the package.

Yeah, i guess not a bad deal, but if you add the £360 on top of it for 2weeks pool heat it bumps the price up a lot!!
Friends of ours have decided to come along too, and have booked a 3 bed townhouse with splash pool & heat included for £630 for 2 weeks!!!!!
I'm thinking we'll go back to booking direct next time!!

[solo]

We had AOA in September 2006, we didn't book pool heat, but when we got there we found the pool to be very cold in the mornings and evenings, so we contacted the managment company to have the heat switched on......BUT, there was no pool heater!!! We didn't get to use the pool much that year, it was far to cold!! We only book direct through the Dibb now!

[tomnj]

I'm thinking we'll go back to booking direct next time!!

Good idea! And may get a good price here on the Dibb from the villa owners.