Vacation House With Staff ( Housekeeper, Cook, Driver, Gardener)

[Anonymous]

Do you have $18 grand? This place looks amazing: http://www.bougainvilleahouse.com/ Oh wait. That doesn't include the cook.

[Anonymous]

We did this in Jamaica. The staff shopped - we paid for the food and tips at the end.

[Anonymous]

http://www.islandhideaways.com

[Anonymous]

Mais Oui Villa - https://MakeItJamaica.com
This is an 8BR villa that sleeps 17. Full staff including chef and butler. The staff will shop for food for you, whatever you like. You settle up at the end. Really special place.

[Anonymous]

We rented a villa in Tuscany that had a cook, maid and server. Never felt so uncomfortable and out of place in my life. All 3 worked from early morning until after the dinner dishes were done. Although they were wonderful people, it took all privacy away from us. When we ate dinner each night the server would literally stand near us while we ate in case we needed anything. Every drink of water or wine was immediately refilled.

Be careful of what you wish for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rented a villa in Tuscany that had a cook, maid and server. Never felt so uncomfortable and out of place in my life. All 3 worked from early morning until after the dinner dishes were done. Although they were wonderful people, it took all privacy away from us. When we ate dinner each night the server would literally stand near us while we ate in case we needed anything. Every drink of water or wine was immediately refilled.

Be careful of what you wish for.

I would say the best thing about renting a whole house is the privacy, and nobody coming into "your room" until you leave. I would be happy to pay for end-of-stay cleaning though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rented a villa in Tuscany that had a cook, maid and server. Never felt so uncomfortable and out of place in my life. All 3 worked from early morning until after the dinner dishes were done. Although they were wonderful people, it took all privacy away from us. When we ate dinner each night the server would literally stand near us while we ate in case we needed anything. Every drink of water or wine was immediately refilled.

Be careful of what you wish for.

I grew up in NYC with a housekeeper, cook and nanny. It wouldn't bother me at all.

[Anonymous]

We rented a beautiful place in Tortola a few years ago and all asked for was someone to come in every day and help keep the place clean. We actually enjoyed the shopping experience and we cooked in half the evenings which was fun. Lunch was usually out somewhere and for breakfast we just had a ton of stuff and it was serve yourself. I would not want a staff of people hovering around the place as it's just not our style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We rented a villa in Tuscany that had a cook, maid and server. Never felt so uncomfortable and out of place in my life. All 3 worked from early morning until after the dinner dishes were done. Although they were wonderful people, it took all privacy away from us. When we ate dinner each night the server would literally stand near us while we ate in case we needed anything. Every drink of water or wine was immediately refilled.

Be careful of what you wish for.

I grew up in NYC with a housekeeper, cook and nanny. It wouldn't bother me at all.

Probably because you don’t see them as real people.

[Anonymous]

This is the website you want to use

https://www.inspirato.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rented a beautiful place in Tortola a few years ago and all asked for was someone to come in every day and help keep the place clean. We actually enjoyed the shopping experience and we cooked in half the evenings which was fun. Lunch was usually out somewhere and for breakfast we just had a ton of stuff and it was serve yourself. I would not want a staff of people hovering around the place as it's just not our style.

That’s not what the OP asked for. Your post is pretty pointless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We rented a villa in Tuscany that had a cook, maid and server. Never felt so uncomfortable and out of place in my life. All 3 worked from early morning until after the dinner dishes were done. Although they were wonderful people, it took all privacy away from us. When we ate dinner each night the server would literally stand near us while we ate in case we needed anything. Every drink of water or wine was immediately refilled.

Be careful of what you wish for.

I grew up in NYC with a housekeeper, cook and nanny. It wouldn't bother me at all.

Well good for you.

[Anonymous]

We with family to two amazing places that have staff, all meals (catered to our preferences), laundry and an on site spa at one of them. These are not exactly one big house at either place but more of a compound just rented to small groups (10 at one, 14+young kids at other.) Although they are both what are called luxury properties-both are somewhat rural (the one in France less so.) At first the prices were shocking but once I did actual calculations it was about what we spend during our Maine vacations and that’s with a mix of us doing most of our own cooking, a couple meals out-and dang it: we have to clean up & do our own laundry. We have found that the staff are so skilled that except for the house managers-you pretty much go on about your day and don’t feel awkward at the intrusion of others or prissy like a princess. As we return now for 5 for one and 8 years for the other we have grown to know some who work at each place (not like friends-but interested in changes-we catch up on kids, etc.) I grew up in a very very modest home and we never even had a cleaner or lawns cut. I never considered this kind of travel but friend told me about the one in France and the US reservation person told us about the other as she manages their bookings too. Our group for our winter trip is 14-16 of us (we have 3 adults sons, two of whom are married with 3 grandkids-plus 2 or 3 coupes we are friends with.) France we go with just friends from US and England.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We rented a villa in Tuscany that had a cook, maid and server. Never felt so uncomfortable and out of place in my life. All 3 worked from early morning until after the dinner dishes were done. Although they were wonderful people, it took all privacy away from us. When we ate dinner each night the server would literally stand near us while we ate in case we needed anything. Every drink of water or wine was immediately refilled.

Be careful of what you wish for.

I grew up in NYC with a housekeeper, cook and nanny. It wouldn't bother me at all.

Probably because you don’t see them as real people.

Actually quit the opposite! I think all 3 were pleasantly surprised how nice and down to earth we are and they certainly could tell we felt out of place. Compared to their typical guests I think they enjoyed having us simply because we treated them as equal’s and not servants. After leaving it certainly made me wonder how they liked us compared to the typical higher-end guests they see.

But still, walking into the kitchen to grab a beer and chips for example turned into a production with them having to pour my beer followed by “Preparing” my chips on a serving tray.

[Anonymous]

A lot of houses on Air BnB and VRBO in Mexico have these options as well. We have done it with a combination of bringing our own food and having the cook buy the food for us, in which case she gave us the receipts and we paid her back.