Renting a villa can be a wonderful way to make your vacation in France truly special. However you should take care to choose a good villa or at least clarify your expectations.

Do your research. Find out if the villa you are renting has everything that you will need. For example ask how big the staff is and whether you will have cooks, gardeners, housekeepers and butlers. Not all villas are this staffed and you may be surprised to find there aren’t any available! Also find out if you will need to pay extra for these services. Don’t want surprise budget problems!

Ask about the amenities as well. Are services such as air conditioning, heating and telephones extra? If so, how much will they cost you?

Don’t forget to ask for what the villa looks like. Ask to view photos of the villa, its layout, the gardens and a floor plan. You may also find this in the websites.

Don’t assume anything. For example, you may not think much about the beds. How big are they? Are they double, queen or twin? Are twin beds pushed together to create a double bed? Are all the bedrooms in the same building? (Some villas have different rooms centered around a court yard.) This is very important if you’re taking young children along.

Are you planning to cook? If so, you will want a nice sized kitchen with all the modern conveniences. Will you be able to use laundry equipment? Is laundry dried on a clothesline, or will you have a dryer? What about housekeepers, gardeners and butlers? Will they live in the villa or on the grounds? You may want your privacy, or you may want the convenience of having them around.

Does the villa have a computer with Internet service? If so, is there an extra fee and how much is it? What about emergency services and hospitals? Be sure to check safety features especially if you are traveling with young children. For example, villas on cliffs should have fences.

Go on the Internet to look for the villa’s photos and as much information on its features as you can find. Don’t be shy about sending a query if there’s missing info. If you like the villa talk to a reputable rental agency and ask the villa for references.

Don’t forget to do this several months in advance, and then make a reservation especially if you plan to go there during peak tourist season. Popular villas are often rented as much as a year to a year and a half in advance. Ask about their cancellation policy.