Frequently Asked Questions About Renting A Villa in Tuscany

Yes we can. Our villa specialists are standing by to help with any needs you may have. Please contact us with your requirements and we will be glad to assist you.

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All of the information on our properties is available on the web. We do not offer a printed catalog. We feel we can offer more information about the villas online.

The majority of concerns our clients have are in regard to the lack of air conditioning in the houses. This is not something that is very common on Italy. Most villas in Italy are very old and the walls are extremely thick and made from stone. There are also wooden shutters that are used to block the heat from entering the villa during the heat of the day. In the evenings open the windows to cool the house further. Another difference you can expect is the lack of clothes dryers in the houses. This is a "convenience" that is very uncommon in Italy. Washing machines are generally present but in order to dry your clothes, you must line dry them. Another thing you will notice are the bathrooms. Some bathrooms do not have a stand up shower like most Americans are used to using. Instead, there is a bathtub with a shower wand. The villa description usually makes note of the shower and bath configuration.

If a problem with the property occurs while you are staying there, please make sure to call the office and or owner. The numbers for both will be provided once payment has been collected.

If you are planning to rent inside a large city such as Florence or Rome and plan to do most, if not all of your, sight seeing there then you will not need a car. If you are planning on staying out of town, then we recommend you rent a car as the buses and other public transport services do not run much after dinnertime. Having a rental car will allow you to take day trips all over Tuscany and the rest of Italy at your own pace, without having to rely on taxi service, which can become very expensive if used everyday. Many small villages and towns don't offer any taxi service.

Unless otherwise stated on the property page, the pools will generally open the first of May and will close by the first of October. If you are traveling right before or right after those dates, some owners are willing to make exceptions if the weather is warm enough.

Saturday to Saturday is the normal rental period for villas in Italy. During the off-season a shorter stay can sometimes be arranged.

Not a problem! Every property description lists the maximum capacity for a particular villa or apartment. As long as the maximum number is not exceeded, adding more people to the rental party is not a problem. The only thing we ask is that you let us know before you travel.

The majority of our properties offer the first set of linens at no additional charge. If there is to be a charge for them, this is always listed in the pricing for each property.

It depends on the period you're booking. If you are looking to book in June, July or August then we suggest you book 9-12 months in advance. For other times, booking 6-9 month ahead is generally sufficient. The earlier you book the more choices you will have. If the group you are traveling with is a large group of 10 or more we suggest booking as early as possible. The large single unit villas are the first to get booked early in the season.

Yes, we accept Visa and MasterCard.

Any and all discounts are strictly up to each individual owner. They will sometimes grant a discount for a multi-week stay if the booking is in the low season (Oct - April).

No we do not. However, we do strongly recommend it. A web search for 'travel insurance' will yield many reputable companies including Travel Guard and Access America.

Our cancellation policy is listed on the bottom of the pricing page for each house. In most cases the deposit is non-refundable. This is the reason we highly recommend travel insurance.

Kitchens are equipped for basic cooking with stovetop burners and a fridge. There are glasses, eating utensils and dishes for the at least the maximum number of people the property sleeps. You can see under the property accommodation tab whether an oven, dishwasher, microwave or washing machine are available.

Some of the appliances may work the same and then again they may not. Each house is different. When you check-in, have the key holder go around with you and show how the appliances work.

If this is something small like a lamp or similar, make sure you tell the key holder or owner at check out. This is why a security deposit is due when you arrive. The owner or key holder will then subtract the cost of the damage from the deposit and return the rest to you. If it is something major that breaks such as the dishwasher or similar, please contact the key holder or office so they can arrange a repair. The numbers for both will be provided to you before you travel.

The beds in Italy are sometimes slightly shorter than standard beds. What is described as a double bed on the web site is often 2 twin beds pushed together making what some would call a king bed. A single bed is about 90cm wide (35 inches). It is also not uncommon to find bunk beds (two beds stacked) in some of the bedrooms.

We do have a few villas that offer either a dial-up service or high-speed Internet service, but this is not very common. However, if it is necessary that you have access, most cities do have Internet cafes.

Directions to the property will be provided to you once the balance has been collected. If you are staying in a property where the balance is due upon arrival, then directions are provided after the deposit is made. When you arrive at the villa you will be greeted either by the key holder or the property owner.

Normally, the check in time is between 5pm and 8pm on Saturday and check out is between 8am and 10am on Saturday. If a different check in time is needed, this can usually be arranged with the owners in advance.