From family-friendly crash pads to romantic retreats for two, it’s little wonder that villa holidays are a popular choice. Claire Bentley, managing director of British Airways Holidays, shares her tips for first-time bookers

Why book a villa instead of a hotel?
A villa can give you more space, privacy and flexibility, without forgoing things such as free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. It can also reduce the cost of a holiday: most have private pools and barbecues, and are ideal for self-catering.

Where could people go?
BA Holidays offers villas of all sizes (up to seven bedrooms) in Orlando, Florida and Europe – including Spanish mainland and islands, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta. If you add car hire, it’s easy to explore the local area.

When is the best time to book?
The earlier the better, especially for school holidays. There are great deals all year round, so check the website regularly. You can also secure your villa and hire car with a low deposit and pay the balance in instalments later. 

What are the benefits of booking with BA Holidays?
If you book your flight and villa together, you can save money and earn bonus Avios. You’ll also receive ATOL protection and access to a 24-hour, on-site helpline. As always, when you fly with BA you get a generous luggage allowance and complimentary food and bar service.

Which villas are best for young families?
BA Holidays allows you to search for family-friendly properties, and free cots and highchairs can be requested at most properties. Villa Kiveli in Crete has a children’s section to its main pool, while Dili Dali in Menorca offers ground-floor bedrooms. If you’re looking for a children’s club, choose a holiday resort villa, such as El Coto del Golf 128 at Spain’s La Manga Club

And what about for a group of friends?
A large property like Villa Diana in Crete is perfect. It has six bedrooms within the same grounds. Las Cadas in Andalucia has seven bedrooms across three floors.

Are villas suitable for couples? 
If you want to enjoy your own pool and privacy, a villa is ideal. Go for chic minimalism with Sky in Paphos, Cyprus, or try something traditional at El Nido in Andalucia.

To find and book your villa holiday click here

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This article has been tagged Opinion, BA