Most booking regret comes from optimising for the wrong thing. A villa with a pool twenty minutes from anywhere is a wonderful choice for a family that wants to cook and swim, and a poor one for a couple who want to walk to dinner.
Decide first whether the house is the destination or the base. If it is the destination, spend on space, outdoor areas and a kitchen worth using. If it is a base, spend on location and accept a smaller footprint.
Group size changes the maths again. Beyond about six people, a single large house is almost always better value than multiple apartments, and it is the only way everyone actually eats together.