Villa Life
What Does a Staffed Villa Include?
Housekeeping, chefs, butlers and house managers: what 'staffed' means at a villa, what's usually included and what costs extra.
5 min read
“Staffed” can mean very different things. At one villa it's a housekeeper who comes each morning. At another, it's a team with a chef, a butler and a driver. Knowing what you want makes the search much easier.
The common levels of service
Housekeeping
The most common service. Daily or several-times-weekly cleaning, tidying and sometimes laundry. Often included; sometimes an optional extra.
Cook or chef
Ranges from a local cook who prepares breakfast or a few dinners to a private chef for every meal. The chef's time may be included or charged separately. Groceries are usually billed at cost.
House manager or butler
Coordinates the house, the staff and your requests. Restaurant bookings, boat days, drivers and the small things that make a stay smoother.
Concierge
Common in places like Mykonos and Ibiza: someone available by phone to arrange transfers, reservations and experiences.
What's usually extra
- Food and drink, including groceries bought by the chef.
- Additional meals beyond what's included.
- Drivers, boats and experiences.
- Gratuities for staff.
Questions worth asking
- How many hours a day are staff on site?
- Is the chef included, or charged per meal or per day?
- Are groceries billed at cost, and how?
- Do staff live on the property?
- What's customary for gratuities?
We'll answer these for every villa we suggest. Learn more about staffed villas.
