Yes, be careful. I've never opted for the cleaning service because I don't want to have people in and out of "my" house all week. (Just like I keep the "Do Not Disturb" sign on my hotel room door for the duration of a short stay, so maids and others are not in my room. We were robbed in New Orleans, and it's made me wary. If I need towels or soap, I grab them from the cart when I see the maid in the hall.) I operate on the maxim, "The fewer people who come in here, the better."

And as far as villas offering chef services, I've found that one of the great pleasures of having our own house is shopping at the local markets and cooking up wonderful, fresh meals ourselves.

Would love to hear more about your villa hunt as it unfolds!