Sharing a villa with strangers?

[steve@mac155.f]

Don't think DW would like me calling her strange so I will have to say no, hope you enjoyed the wine.

Steve

[Susan Coleman]

[QUOTE=Melvin Pearce;9038152]We invited a school friend last February to spend two weeks with us, as she was just getting over the death of her father.

Well never again, she had a free holiday on us, we took her out for 5 meals, and then she didn't want to take us for a cheap meal at Golden Correl on the last night.

This was after she had spent over $1,000 on jewelry for herself.

She said, I will have to come again next winter.

Guess what! A BIG NO.

I wouldn't mind she owns a three bedroom flat in St. John's Wood.

This winter trip we will be on our own.
end of quote

no you are not ! cos we will be there ...but not in your villa!
hope she is not a Dibber..she was definitely on another planet..

We have just had this en France...Terry's friend came, very welcome, with girlfriend and two 17 year old girls..so 6 to cook for for 10days
they did offer to cook twice but ...with all our food !
last day we went on an island trip and Terry made him pay for our lunch

I think the clue to this success for the OP is the fact that you were almost total strangers...so no expectations...only really sharing a kitchen...totally doing own thing, and occasionally bumping into each other! as you might anyway

I doubt this arrangement would present itself to many people because of the stranger aspect...and so not meeting in the first place to discuss such a venture

[Saratoska]

yip we did it and will never do it again

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Kelly1234

Hey up.

...

My question is, has anyone else ever shared a villa (or even thought about it) to keep the cost down.

Kel

See more...

Originally Posted by Kelly1234

Bingo

So I'll ask my question again.

Has anyone shared a villa with a stranger... I think that's what I said... I finished the red wine now and I think it's time for bed

See more...

To answer all your questions.

No, I've never shared with a stranger to keep cost down.

No, I've never thought about it to keep costs down.

Reasons ... I don't like people I like my space for my family (yes, that can mean wandering about in my under wear not worrying about offending anyone) and keeping costs down for me isn't about giving up that space to save £375 on a holiday costing north of £7000

[mossyflossy]

Originally Posted by kw2013

To answer all your questions.

No, I've never shared with a stranger to keep cost down.

No, I've never thought about it to keep costs down.

Reasons ... I don't like people I like my space for my family (yes, that can mean wandering about in my under wear not worrying about offending anyone) and keeping costs down for me isn't about giving up that space to save £375 on a holiday costing north of £7000

See more...

Agree with the above, other than the antisocial bit.

Not for me at all: I'd no more share a condo with another family than I'd share a house with another family here!

I'd rather wait until I had saved the extra £375 to holiday in our own condo.

Put simply, a £375 saving isn't worth the risk of it all going pear shaped, and IMO the OP was exceptionally lucky that it didn't end up being a complete disaster. Plenty of cheap hotels for £375 anyway.

[Kelly1234]

Well it appears I was VERY VERY lucky

A plus side is £375 = $600 free tiffanys vouchers



The wife liked that bit



Actually I never told her that till now... She would have melted my credit card

[Luke Jaywalker]

Originally Posted by kw2013

To answer all your questions.

No, I've never shared with a stranger to keep cost down.

No, I've never thought about it to keep costs down.

Reasons ... I don't like people I like my space for my family (yes, that can mean wandering about in my under wear not worrying about offending anyone) and keeping costs down for me isn't about giving up that space to save £375 on a holiday costing north of £7000

See more...

My sentiments exactly ! except for underwear bit ,they would be in awe

[Minnie40]

Originally Posted by married2mm

That's great it worked for you.

However,I have absolutely no desire to share our precious holiday time and space with anyone else.
Whether they're friends,family or strangers.

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I have to agree with this, our two weeks are just me & DH

However, so glad it worked for you, sounds like you had a great time

[Guest]

i read a thread on here (in the trip reports section) "august holiday with brangelina"

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=724694

this thread is the sole reason i would never share a villa with another couple haha!

[twinhope]

Our family did this once years ago and never again. Our family (with two children) went on holiday with another family (also with 2 children). We were quite close friends and thought it would be so nice to spend a vacation together. Well, she sat around the whole week reading romance novels while I entertained the kids. My husband and I, along with her husband, did all the cooking, washing up, etc. Her husband finally blew up and told her to start helping out and they had a big argument. It kind of put a damper on the vacation.
You were very lucky.