|
|
Why rent a villa?
Anyone who has already rented a villa in Italy will know it is certainly
a more enjoyable way to experience Italy and its people. You will have
more flexibility; it’s more economical especially if it’s two or three
couples travelling together. It’s perfect for a family reunion or
celebration; you have a home of your own and a base from which to
explore. If you also rent a car (usually essential), you are “the boss”.
You can stop for a picnic in a field and gaze at the sunflowers in their
golden profusion and the stately row of cypresses leading to the villa
on the top of the hill. You can shop at the local market and try out
some recipes with the real ingredients; you can sit as long as you like
at a small café and watch the Italians go by. You pack and unpack only
twice!!
Before you take this big step, there are some aspects of renting and
certain urban myths regarding life in a villa under the Italian sun
which are useful to know. Here are some of the most commonly asked
questions
Will we be able to
walk to a village for our coffee in the morning, restaurants in the
evening
and go shopping at the local market?
This is usually improbable and mostly impossible because country houses
are just that – houses in the country. The beautiful stone houses and
villas which are so desirable and now restored to the highest degree of
charm, were originally farmhouses, thus in farmlands, meaning the
countryside. Sometimes you will find villas on the edge of a small
village or hamlet but these, too, were built for privacy and enjoyment
of country life as an escape from city life. If you are really hankering
after that short stroll for your morning cappuccino, we do have a few
properties which are either in town or just outside a small village or
town. Of course in places such as Positano, Capri, Amalfi or in the
Lakes district, most properties are close to a small town or village.
Why a minimum
one-week rental?
We have a few city apartments which rent on a minimum basis of 3 or 4
days, but country villas and farmhouses rent on a minimum of one week,
usually commencing on Saturday. You can stay 5 days but you will have to
pay the weekly rate. There are many operators who do B&B and 2 night
rentals. Not us. We want you to slow down and relax in one spot for a
while. Otherwise you join a bus tour.
Will the swimming
pool be heated?
It is rare to find a heated swimming pool in Italy. I know of just a few
and I must have visited and inspected several hundred properties in
Italy. Mostly this is due to the high cost of energy in Italy. Thus, do
not ask for or expect a heated pool. And don’t expect it to be always
suitable for “laps”. The Italians use the pool to cool off, or as an
adjunct to their sun tanning mania, not necessarily for exercise. Pools
are generally open between mid-May (temperature permitting) and the end
of September.
Will there be
air-conditioning?
Sometimes, not always, there is air-conditioning in the bedrooms, but do
not expect central air-conditioning, almost impossible to find. Once
again this is due to the very expensive cost of electricity in Italy.
When you do find air-conditioning it will be an extra… so turn it off
when you’re out! The thick stone walls of the country homes maintain a
fairly constant temperature keeping the house warm in winter and cool in
summer, especially if you have the good sense to close the windows and
shutters to keep out the hot or cold air. The Italians have found that
keeping the house closed and shuttered during the heat of the day, and
opening up to the cool evening breezes is a good way of managing the
temperature. The local park or square, or the garden of your home in the
country is a great place for cooling off and enjoying a breath of fresh
air and refreshing gelato in the late evening hours.
Are there screens
on the windows?
In the majority of houses there are no screens on the windows. The
situation is gradually changing, but the biggest problem is that windows
in these often very ancient buildings are never the same standard size.
Consequently the installation of screens becomes a major expense for
owners. I lived in Italy for 26 years and never felt the necessity for
screens. In summer we kept windows and shutters closed (still highly
recommended) mainly to keep out the heat, but this also kept the insects
at bay. However, I am delighted to say that in a few of our properties
there are screens on the windows and if that is a must, please ask me.
What about bugs?
Countryside Activities and Sounds
Call them noises if you like, but you are going to have to expect
country-type sounds in the country. This might mean a tractor in that
coveted vineyard you wanted surrounding your villa, at an hour earlier
than you would like. Roosters crowing, dogs barking, farm hands, cars,
the abominable omni-present “vespa”… all contribute to country sound
effects. If you are worried about finding a spider in the bedroom, ask
yourself if this is the right vacation for you.
And Country Inhabitants
No home in the countryside would be complete without the odd spider,
moth, lizard. mouse or other creepy crawly. This has nothing to do with
lack of cleanliness. Italians are fanatically clean and I would be
shocked to hear anyone complain about a dirty house. It may show signs
of age, but rest assured, our properties are clean!
Country and City
sounds?
The first Mass of the day is usually 6.00 a.m., so perhaps the bell at a
nearby church will be urging the faithful to prayer not long after you
got home from that great night club. The street sweepers, cleaners and
garbage collectors are all on the job in the early hours of the morning.
Thus, in cities such as Rome, Venice and Florence, even if the streets
are closed to traffic, you may be subject to this disturbance of the
peace. Don’t forget the Vespas, motorini and other noisy motorized forms
of urban transport which plague the cities. I try to select city
apartments in quiet locations, or at least with the bedrooms away from
the street. In Venice, the Grand Canal is Main Street, so an apartment
on a canal can also mean noise. The narrow streets (calli) mean that an
animated conversation on the street below will be transmitted to your
apartment as if by loud speaker. Do you really want to be near St.
Mark’s Square or Rialto? Perhaps a residential area is preferable?
What about Beds
and Bedrooms?
We describe bedrooms as “queensize” (or matrimonial) “twin” and
“single”. This creates confusion in the minds of most, so let’s clarify
the size of beds. What is sometimes described by our competitors as a
“double” bedroom (a term we try to avoid) contains a large bed which the
Italians call the matrimonial bed, equivalent to an American queen size
bed or larger. We call this bedroom a queensize bedroom. Sometimes these
bedrooms are flexible and can be used either as queensize with two
single beds put together and made up with a filler in the middle. This
works very well, no chance of falling through the crack in the middle,
and the bed linen is large matrimonial size covering both beds. It
becomes almost a king size bed in this case. These “flexible” beds can
also be divided into two separate beds if required by the client. A twin
bedroom is one with two single beds (usually non joinable). A single
bedroom is just that, with one single bed. If you see reference to a
“French bed” or “one and a half bed”, this is a size slightly narrower
than an American double bed. It is generally used for one person, but
two small children could be comfortable. It is definitely NOT for a
couple. A “camera doppia” in a hotel means a twin bedroom (two single
beds) and not a double bedroom (camera matrimoniale).
Communications? Telephone, Fax,
Laptop Computers, Email and Cell Phones
Please do not expect to find your villa or country house equipped for
you to carry on business as usual. If there is no phone line at the
house you rent, you have no email. Or even if there is a phone line, you
will need to access a local number and ISP. It is not the responsibility
of the owner to get you hooked up to the internet, so if you need an
internet connection it could mean having to sign up with a provider in
Italy just to access the internet, or sign on for global roaming or get
a local dial-up number with your own provider. Furthermore, the phone
connections are wired differently and if you do not have a line tester,
various adaptors, converters, cables and so on, you run the risk of
blowing up your modem. Voltage in Italy is 220V and 110V in the USA..!
Our advice is to leave your laptop at home or go to one of the many
Internet Cafes throughout Italy. Broadband or DSL? Forget it if you are
in the middle of the countryside. Perhaps an internet café in a large
town will be your solution.
A GSM cell phone will work in Italy and you should arrange global
roaming prior to departure. Almost the entire population of Italy owns a
cell phone and it is now quite easy to rent one with a prepaid card or
even buy one with a local SIM card very cheaply.
When there is a telephone in the house, calls are metered. The reading
is taken upon arrival by dialing a certain number and then again at your
departure. Phone calls in Italy are expensive, so use your own telephone
company’s phone card if you can to phone home or office. Sometimes a
cell phone with pre-paid card is provided by the owner. At some
properties the use of the telephone is restricted to incoming calls or
outgoing local calls only.
What about extras?
Electricty, water and heating costs
Electricity is very expensive in Italy and in many places is charged
extra. Sometimes there is only a small power load connected to your
villa or countryhouse, so if you have the electric oven going and then
use the hair-dryer the current may cut out. Heating is almost always an
extra charge because oil heating is costly. If you are accustomed at
home to keeping the heating going full blast with all the windows open
and walking around in short sleeves, be prepared for a huge bill at the
end of your stay. We have seen people do this. Water in the country
often comes from a well and is at a premium in the countryside, so
conservation is a must. Owners ask everyone to conserve water and take
short showers. When the well runs dry… Water is sometimes rationed in
the country during periods of drought, such as Italy has been
experiencing in summer months in recent years. If that doesn’t suit you,
it may be better to go to Alaska.
Will there be a
washing machine, dryer, dishwasher etc?
While most houses have washing machines, you almost never find a dryer
in Italy. This is due mostly to the cost of electricity, but in a sunny
climate like Italy laundry is hung outside in the sunshine and fresh air
to dry. Be aware that the Italian washing machines, which wash to an
exceptionally high degree of clean, also take up to one hour or more for
a wash cycle, thus consuming much electricity as the machine also heats
the water. You have to wait a few minutes to be able to open the door of
the machine when the cycle is finished, so don’t try to force it open or
that will be another cost!
Hairdyers are sometimes provided (and sometimes stolen by previous
guests). Most places have a dishwasher, but not always in smaller
properties. Irons and ironing boards are generally provided. American
style coffee machines are becoming more frequent, and there will always
be the Italian “moka” coffee maker. Toasters and kettles are not always
present.
How do we get cash
while in Italy?
Travellers Cheques are now a thing of the Stone Age. We suggest you take
a small amount of cash which you can convert into Euro upon arrival at
the airport, then use your ATM card to withdraw cash at any bank
displaying the international access logos on the back of that card. You
will receive your Euro at the exchange rate of the day, and often with
no extra charge. Do not use credit cards for cash unless you wish to pay
the exorbitant interest rates they charge for cash advances!
Use your Visa or Mastercard to pay highway tolls and forget about trying
to figure out which bank note is which or which little Euro cent coins
are which! At toll booths look for the sign with credit card logos,
drive up, insert your toll card and then your credit card. A silken
voice will bid you “arrivederci” and the barrier will open magically.
Will there be baby
furniture at the villa?
In most properties there will be a baby cot (or “crib” to use the
American terminology). Sometimes it is provided free of charge,
sometimes not. High chairs can be requested and if not present in the
property will be rented for you by the owner at an extra weekly cost.
Linen is sometimes provided, sometimes you need to take your own.
Strollers are unlikely to be provided.
Is petrol (gas)
expensive?
Buying petrol for the rental car will prove a costly event, though
Maggiore National which we represent has mainly diesel fuelled cars in
their fleet, and the diesel oil costs less. Use your credit card here
too, even at self-serve stations.
How do we pay the
Security Deposit and when do we get it back?
All properties require a security deposit, anywhere between Euro 150 to
1,500, depending on the property and its furnishings, etc. Many
owners/managers accept a cheque or cash in dollars, but most will
require that you have Euro in ready cash. It is usually not possible to
use a credit card. The deposit is returned to you before departure and
from it is deducted any extra charges such as electricity, heating,
telephone, final cleaning.
Do I get a
discount for a last-minute booking?
The last-minute client gives us an adrenaline rush and a desire to work
miracles, which is possible sometimes. But trying to find a villa for
eight or ten people with pool “somewhere between Florence and Siena” in
July and August at a couple of weeks’ notice is virtually impossible.
We’ll probably end up by sending you to a wonderful villa in Umbria. The
thing to remember is that in July and August the whole of Europe is on
vacation and we tend to forget this small and important fact. The
British have been going to Italy on holiday for centuries. The French,
Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Norwegians and all the others are just as
hooked on Italy as you are. We may sometimes offer last-minute specials
but it will not be in summer!
Will we find
toiletries and basic food supplies?
You are going to self-catering accommodation, so when you run out of the
basics which are provided, you replace it and leave it there. You will
generally find toilet paper, not necessarily soap and detergents, and a
basic supply of pantry items. Many of our properties will do an initial
grocery shopping for you, prior to your arrival upon request (and
payment of the bill upon arrival). Just ask us!
How often is linen
changed?
Once a week, on Saturday, if you are staying longer than one week. Some
properties offer extra change of linen at an extra cost. In some of the
larger, more luxurious villas, linen is changed every couple of days and
always when there is a changeover of guests. Generally speaking you will
get a set of three towels (bath, hand and bidet) per person for the
week. Kitchen and bathroom linen is provided. If the owner is not
prepared to change linen more than once a week, you can always launder
your own.
When should we
start planning our stay?
I suggest planning at least six months in advance for spring and autumn,
and even more (10-12 months) for a summer booking or a large property
which are not as easy to come by. Before you leave, take some Italian
lessons, or listen to language tapes or videos, read some books on
Italy. The Italians will be so flattered at your effort to speak the
language, fractured though it may be, that they will do anything for
you! They have a unique capability of understanding even the worst
pronounced words.
Do I have to tip?
Tipping is customary in restaurants, taxis, hotels, etc. throughout
Italy. Don’t be embarrassed. People are delighted to receive a tip, just
as they are anywhere in the world.
The cleaning ladies at your house, in particular, are happy to accept
tips at the end of your stay, if you want to express your satisfaction
with their services.
Do I need an
international driving licence?
New Government regulations in Italy now require holders of Australian
and New Zealand driving licences to obtain an International Driving
Permit or obtain a valid translation into Italian of your Australian or
NZ drivers licence from an accredited translator. US citizens shold
check with their local Italian Consulate on the requirements for a US
driving license. Urban transportation systems are excellent, but only in
the cities. If you are going to be in the countryside a car is a must as
bus services are few and far between.
Is it safe to
drive on Italian roads?
Italian driving, at its best, is very fast and aggressive, but they are
generally good drivers with good reflexes. They really love the slalom
effect of weaving in and out of traffic, driving in the emergency lane
if necessary, anything to get where they’re going if the traffic is
slow. On the highways things are better, but my advice is to stick to
the inside lane at your own speed and let them overtake you at whatever
speed they desire.
On country roads, drive slowly and blow your horn on blind curves. Many
of the roads are narrow for two-way traffic. The vehicle nearest a lay
by backs up. Keep to the right. The locals who think they know the road
by heart have a habit of cutting the curves. Fasten your seat belt at
all times; there are fines for non-compliance. Small children must have
a car seat fixed to the back seat. Children under 12 must sit in the
back seat.
Is Italy safe?
The amazing thing is that inhabitants of crime-ridden cities such as New
York, Chicago etc are usually the first to ask this question! Italian
cities are no better or worse than any other large city in the world, so
you take the usual precautions such as you would in your own home town.
What if something
goes wrong while we’re in the villa?
If it’s just a small maintenance problem, you do not call Italian
Itineraries. There will be contact telephone numbers at your
accommodation for a maid, the owner, the key holder or similar and these
people on the spot will deal with things such as a malfunction with
plumbing, heating, electricity etc. Our owners are all very attentive to
the needs and comfort of their guests, but if for some reason you cannot
find the right person, you can certainly let us know and we’ll do our
best to solve the problem from here. |
|
When it’s all said and done, everyone who has been through this
Italian Experience wants to do it over and over again. So when
you have found your dream house, we’ll do our best to make sure
it’s the right one for you.
A presto!
Barbara Maher
Barbara Maher
|
|
