How to Book a Tuscan Villa for your Holiday or Vacation
So you've decided to rent a villa in Tuscany. What's next? Our villa specialists have compiled some important information to consider.
It's important to remember that most vacation rentals in Tuscany are weekly, typically with a Saturday check-in and check-out. There are exceptions but, especially during the peak period of June - September, Saturday arrival and departures are the norm. By scheduling your trip to match this requirement you will have a much larger selection of villas from which to choose. If a non-Satuday arrival is not possible we can still offer a good selection of villas but we suggest booking these early in the season since the choices are limited.
If this is your first trip to Tuscany or your first time renting a villa we suggest that you accept some assistance from our villa rental specialists. They have helped thousands of people in the past find a perfect rental property and will be more than happy to assist you as well.
Type of Vacation
It is very important to decide, before selecting a villa, the type of vacation or holiday you desire. For example, some people prefer to be isolated on a nice Tuscan hilltop and sit by the pool all day and just relax under the Tuscan sun. Other people prefer to be close to the action, someplace they can quickly get to local town or have access to the main roads for making day trips. Some people prefer to rent an apartment in-town. All of these different types of vacations could (and should) affect the villa or apartment that you select.
Location
There are many different areas in the Tuscan Region of Italy. Do some research and learn more about these areas. If you decide you would like to explore a particular area then limit your search to villas in the region. For example, if visiting Florence many times during your trip is important then a villa within a short driving distance or a villa close to a train station with direct service to Florence should be an important consideration.
Your Budget
There are many, many factors that effect the price of a villa. The prices are set, in most cases, by the owner of the property and each owner has his or her own idea about the correct price for their property. For the most part, villas are prices according to following criteria: size, location, level of luxury and amenities. As you can imagine, a 5-star luxury villa with a private pool close to Florence that sleeps 12 people will be a high priced villa. The same villa located 45 minutes south of Florence will have a lower price. If the budget is an important consideration, please make searches based on your budget to avoid wasting time reviewing villas that are not within your budget limits. Our search engine is able to find all the available properties for a particular period based on a maximum budget as well as many other criteria.
Travel Dates
For most properties the high-season is between July and August. If you are able to travel off-season you can save money and enjoy less crowded venues. The weather in Tuscany is very comfortable starting in May and continuing through September. Most pools open May 1 but the water can be very cool, so if a pool is important to you, we suggest traveling after May 15. Another important consideration related to travel dates is the cost of your airfare. Fares during the non-peak times can save you 30-40% off the peak period prices.
Amenities and Extra Services
Sometimes it's the small things that can be the difference between a great vacation and an average trip. One of the most popular extras is chef service which can be arranged at almost any villa we rent. You can choose to have the chef service once or everyday during your visit. The cost is usually not much more than the price of dinner at a good local restaurant 25-30 euros per person. Maid service is another option that many people must have. Some villas include a few hours of maid service per day in the price of the rental price. You can either ask about these services or read about them on the property pricing pages.
