Lodging in Tuscany

How to select a Villa or Farmhouse

A variety of considerations should be considered as you look for a vacation rental in Tuscany.  Martin Wenick of Italian Vacation Villas offers the following guidelines.

Location - Location of the vacation rental is very important because your villa is commonly used as your home base for sightseeing and other activities. For example, if Florence is a major destination for sightseeing, then the rental should be within easy striking distance of Florence.

On the other hand, if you plan to spend most of your time enjoying the rental property and exploring the immediate vicinity, then there is more flexibility in choosing the location.

Amenities - Make sure the bedroom configuration in terms of double bedrooms and twin bedrooms works for the number of people in your party, Martin says. You also should make sure that the number of bathrooms at the property conforms to your needs.

Other things to consider include whether you want a pool, housekeeping services, cooking services, etc.  A responsible rental agent can assist you in determining what is important for you.

Bathrooms - Most Americans prefer one bathroom for every bedroom, Martin says. Four bedrooms and two bathrooms could be really problematic unless it's a family group or cost is a major consideration.

Budget – Be realistic about your budget.  The more amenities you want, the more expensive the property is likely to be.

Type of Rental - When considering a stand-alone property, you need to choose between a formal villa or a restored farmhouse that is more likely to have a more casual, rustic feel.

Villa vs. Farmhouse vs. Apartment – You have two issues to consider:
- The size of your travelling party
- Whether you want a stand-alone property (a villa or restored farmhouse) or an apartment where the grounds, including the pool, will be shared with individuals renting other apartments on the property.

Rarely does an apartment accommodate more than six or eight people; groups larger than six or eight need to consider renting a villa or farmhouse.

Setting Expectations - "People have to remember they are going to a foreign country. Everything is not going to be the same as it is here. We try to find amenities that make Americans comfortable. Box stalls for showers are a little on the small size, for example, but that’s what exists," Martin says. "People have to be realistic."

Using the Internet - The Internet can be a useful tool as you start your search for a vacation rental property.  However, the Web has its limits. You can suffer from information overload and a private owner’s description and pictures of a property might not always be reality. 

Working with an established, responsible rental agency that knows Italy well, that has inspected the properties and that is prepared to assist potential clients in narrowing their choices probably offers the best route to select a vacation rental.