Is there a ballpark percentage that might represent the difference between the cost of a room with a private bath vs. a room with a shared bath? 9 couples are sharing expensess in a Tuscany villa next spring and two of the bedrooms will share a bath. The other 7 have private bath. How much less per couple for those in the bedrooms with the sahred bath? Thanks!

IMO - dividing up the cost of your villa that way is just toooo anal. Nine couples should divide the cost nine ways. What if the bed in one room is less comfortable than another - does that couple pay less? Or one bedroom is 10 sq ft larger - does that couple pay more?

What id the full cost of the villa?

About $5,000/week. We decided to neutralize the other variables relative to the bedrooms because they are all pretty nice. The one variable that is important to some people and really the only stand out is that two bedrooms will have to share a bathroom.

*I* would be peeved if I was sharing a bath and had to pay the same as a couple who have their own bath. I think a 20% reduction would be fair.

Also, if there is a much nicer "master suite," I think the couple getting that room should pay more. Unless they are getting that room as reward for doing all the work on researching where to stay, etc...

I'm in agreement with britomart.

Interesting - as I am one of the main planners for a villa rental in Tuscany with my girlfriends in Fall '09. I can see both sides ;-)

II have taken groups of friends (10 to 13 people) where we rented flats and cottages - and every time have divvied things equally.

One room will have a better view, another will have a bigger bathroom, one will have cross ventilation and be cooler/more comfortable.

You just can't make everything "equal". Each couple is only paying approx $80 a night. How much cheaper do you want it to be?

If it really bothers them - then $10 less a night per couple for the shared baths. It would be 2 X $60 and 7 X $85.

oops - bad math (or sleep deprivation)

2 X $70 and 7 X approx. $82 . . . .

We drew straws to see who got which room. And everybody paid the same.

I think the ten or so $$ less a night is fair. How will you decide who gets what? Luck of the draw?

Thanks for the comments. I like the 20% idea and also the $$ off amount. I am also checking in Fodors and Rick Steves guide books for a sense of the difference between shared and private. I will let you know how it works out.

I may be beating a dead horse here - and you know the folks and we don't. Maybe everyone is REALLY easygoing, but you might be opening a Pandora's Box here.

Sure, those two couples don't have ensuite baths. But what if another couple thinks their room is too small to pay the full freight. Or one couple has a teensy bath while another gets the master bedroom w/ huge bath and walk-in closet.

been there done that -- Just think things through before you decide. If you set a precedent, you may end up having to adjust everyone's rates.

janisi ~ Thanks for your thoughts! We are telling everyone that the only variable up for grabs is the bathropom situation. Everything else is NOT open for discussion - TIOLI! One of the couples is on a very tight budget and will willingly choose a bedroom with shared bath to save a few $$. Also, people are selecting their own bedroom in the order that they signed on to this adventure. That is another TIOLI variable.