Logistics of renting villa with private chef

[Anonymous]

To each their own as to whether or not you’d be comfortable with villa staff serving meals. I personally don’t see the difference with this taking place at a villa or a restaurant. But please note - this is considered a very well paid job in certain countries. Treat the villa staff respectfully and tip well of course!

Where I traveled, the villa staff thanked us profusely for coming because tourism has been tanking due to the US travel notice re: safety. Just don’t be an inconsiderate tourist / guest…it’s that easy!

[Anonymous]

We hired a private chef to drop off a couple big family meals in Hawaii. She sent some menus to us and we picked what we wanted ahead. It was wonderful because trying to make dinner plans for 10 (range of ages) isn’t that easy, and they were able to accommodate allergies. Plus we were there over a holiday.

[Anonymous]

We did this in Zanzibar, incredible and affordable. They share a menu you choose from, buy all the food and take over the grill and kitchen for a few hours then sort of retreat. Its magnificent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, we were excited about staying in a villa/house in Jamaica a friend owned as a rental income, and which provided a cook.

Until we got there. Despite the allure of it we found we really did not like someone being at our "beck and call" like this. Especially when we found out the woman did not stay on property but took several buses and spent hours each way just to get to the house.

We ultimately told her to just pick up some groceries for us, then take the week off and spend it with her kids, gave her a tip and cooked our own simple meals and made our own beds.

We told our friend/owner and he was OK with it.

And did she still get paid? Maybe she had to work two houses the next week. There’s ways to make peoples lives easier as they go about their jobs.

Yes, of course she still got paid or we wouldn't have done it. As mentioned, the owner is a friend and we know for a fact he still paid her.

Would it have been better if she had stayed on the property away from her family? How did you think this worked? Did you think she got picked up by a chauffeur every day from her matching villa across the street?

How about you hang-up your attitude? We had NEVER done this before so we had no preconceived idea. When we found out "how it worked" we decided it wasn't for us. If you want to shoot poison judgemental arrows at someone, how about you aim them at the people on this thread who are seeking out such an arrangement, purposely. Not that it's any of your business anyway. The point of my post was to say that having people wait on you like this may not be so comfortable or enjoyable.

Whoa. Slow down. If anyone is passing judgment here, it is actually you - so you don't think it is ok for people to hire cooks/chefs on vacation? As someone else on this thread wrote, in some places it is a highly desirable job.

I don't think you quite understand what it means to have someone cook for you like this. It isn't as unusual as you think and I have no doubt that most people treat the relationship with respect, both verbally/actions and monetarily. Sure, it may not be for everyone, but sounds like you look down on anyone that wants to enjoy their time off like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, we were excited about staying in a villa/house in Jamaica a friend owned as a rental income, and which provided a cook.

Until we got there. Despite the allure of it we found we really did not like someone being at our "beck and call" like this. Especially when we found out the woman did not stay on property but took several buses and spent hours each way just to get to the house.

We ultimately told her to just pick up some groceries for us, then take the week off and spend it with her kids, gave her a tip and cooked our own simple meals and made our own beds.

We told our friend/owner and he was OK with it.

Gold star. You win.