A question??

[gyr]

To answer your question, of course you would go for the £140 cheaper option but, as always, there is more to it than your question suggested.
 
The way I would have hoped a previous renter would behave is to make a provisional booking, then (as most people would) shop around and ensure the cost was about right. Then within a couple of weeks come back and confirm or cancel the provisional booking.

The owners gave you, what was probably, several hundreds of pound worth of free accommodation to help you out and you seem to have repaid them by using their trust to hold a provisional booking for over two months.

Life is more than just taking the cheapest option regardless of the ‘cost’ !

[angela]

as other people have commented it's not that straight forward. If your booking was with hotels, then fair play, but there is a moral element here of 'do unto others' etc. I would be pretty hacked off if I was the villa owner and would be saying you owe me for a free week!!

[Phil]

On behalf of all Villa owners I would make a personal plea to ALL renters and guests to keep villa owners informed of decisions you make regarding your reservation as soon as possible.

I have also been left with unsold weeks due to people who “definitely” want the villa pulling out at the last minute. To say the least it is VERY annoying.

I appreciate that your circumstances can change – but try cancelling a booking with James Villas just 4 weeks before the departure date !

I accept reservations from guests while they confirm their flight bookings and I think most owners do the same. But please, if you can’t get your dates sorted quickly let the owner as soon as possible.

If you keep the owner informed you do make their lives much easier and they really do appreciate it.