Challenges with renting homes/villas?

I've been a happy user of luxurylink for a while to where I felt comfortable renting a villa in France at a GREAT price and getting together a group of friends to go. Fast forward three months before the vacation date, I contact villa people and find out the villa is now unavailable. There is some back and forth via email and another substitute villa is proposed, all seems good again, and then all communication stops. No word from villa people, no word from luxurylink people and me with six friends having just bought international plane tickets. STRESS!! Should I have just stuck to bidding on known and established hotels? Has anyone else had these types of issues in bidding on vacation homes/villas? We're now 2 months out and I'm pretty concerned and pretty disappointed by the experience. Any fellow users have advice?

N...Oh my goodness. I can't believe this! Did you originally secure the dates on the villa with LL? Hopefully there is some proof to secure the villa. Please keep us updated. We have not rented villas through LL.

So, it's been a month of off and on communications, right? When did you last call or contact LL?
Is this a purchase from LuxuryLink or one of their recommended vendors? You haven't even called the property yet? Keep us posted and if we can add any ideas, we'll try to be helpful. Hope it al works out.
BTW--is the substituted villa satisfactory?

Hi, (ngillis).

My name is Bart and I work with our Concierge team here at Luxury Link.

The original villa had a flood and subsequent damage. We are in the process of re-contacting the management company to have a confirmation sent over for the proposed alternative. Our team will update you tomorrow, and we apologize for the delay.

-Bart J | Luxury Link

Thanks Bart! Nice to hear from LL team. Unfortunate incident.

I've rented villas twice in Mexico and once in Costa Rica via Luxury Link for a group of friends. In only one situation we had an issue with the owner that was resolved quickly once we got the LL concierge involved. Now that the LL concierge is involved, I'm sure you'll have the best possible resolution.

I also have an upcoming trip, later in 2012, for a 6 bedroom lodge via a LL auction and thus far, I've had great experiences reserving our week and with email communications directly from the owner.

Good luck and we hope to hear back from you.

not to hijack, but where and when jm?

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Originally Posted by kyshel

not to hijack, but where and when jm?

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Let's see........Casa Valerie, Puerto Vallarta in 2009, Casa Pacifico, Costa Rica in 2006, and Casa Tres Vidas, Puerto Vallarta a couple years earlier than these two. In 2005, I bid on a LL villa in Provence but we didn't get it, so then I found one on my own located outside of St Remy.

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Originally Posted by jmbklj

Let's see........Casa Valerie, Puerto Vallarta in 2009, Casa Pacifico, Costa Rica in 2006, and Casa Tres Vidas, Puerto Vallarta a couple years earlier than these two. In 2005, I bid on a LL villa in Provence but we didn't get it, so then I found one on my own located outside of St Remy.

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I thought you were renting for this spring w/LL. Would love to hear more.

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Originally Posted by kyshel

I thought you were renting for this spring w/LL. Would love to hear more.

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In August 2012, we have 6 couples going to the Montana Sky Lodge, a 6 bedroom LL property I got on auction. The Montana Sky Lodge owner has been super responsive.

We did just get back from Guatemala this week.