Air BnB

Airbnb is simply an online listing service. You are dealing directly with a wide variety of property owners. That said, airbnb does have a great customer service department in case you have problems. They will help in certain circumstances. Check their website for the details of that.
The nice thing about airbnb is that renters can review the properties. I only rent properties that have many reviews and good reputations. I have not rented via airbnb in Italy (we've used it in many other places) but my niece and her boyfriend have many times and had fantastic experiences. We have rented in Italy via vrbo.com which is similar to airbnb. Again, only renting from places with good reviews. We also only rent if the owner is easy to contact and communicates within a reasonable amount of time.
Make sure you understand exactly what the rental includes, how you will get the key, whether the owner is onsite or not, how far the rental is from what you want to do, and how you will return the key at the end. Make sure the owner knows exactly how many people are staying in the property and exactly what that will cost. Some properties will charge a cleaning fee at the end - ask about that. Ask about parking if you are going to have a car...is a space included in the rental and, if not, is there ample street parking? Are linens included and is the kitchen stocked with utensils, pots, pans, etc?
If you ask questions and make sure to go with reputable properties you should have a good time!

AirBnB is already a giant in the accommodations business, and they're just going to get larger. I've used them a couple of times without incident.

I appreciate that you can see property pictures and read online recommendations.

But recognize that you as a tenant are also being rated by the renters. Treat their property well, and your reputation will also follow you. It goes both ways.

Hi tracy, You have received some very good advice from the first poster. I will add that yes we did rent an Airbnb property in Taormina, Sicily. Even before we had a confirmed booking, we had great responses from our future host. He even picked us up from the train , took us to the car rental office and then led us to his property. If you follow the above advice and ask all the questions that you need answering before you book all should be well. Sherry

Thank you for the advice! Yes, I would only consider a property/host that has a lot of reviews (good reviews!). I really appreciate the other tips- good information - thanks!

Tracy

we rented an apt through HomeAway in Varenna Italy this summer and had a very good experience. best of luck to you !!

I've used airbnb all over and now it is usually my go to choice. We had two great apts in Rome and Venice this year (and on the Amalfi Coast as well), as well as a great place in Florence in 2012.

One thing I will add - I always look at the map (which I see is now at the bottom of the listings) - that shows where it is located. And if they have street view as well, I check that out to get a feel for the neighbourhood. I was looking at one in Paris one time, but when I checked the street view, the neighbourhood looked a little run down - dirty, non-descript and lots of graffiti - so I found another I liked better. Make sure it has the amenities you want - do you want AC? Parking? Laundry? Close to public transport? These are always good to check. I tend to read all the reviews - and I am quite honest when I leave reviews - about cleanliness, noise levels, etc.

The reviews you can put the most trust in are those that include some less-than-flattering comment, but still liked the place anyway.

I use FlipKey, connected loosely to Trip Advisor, and have had great luck in Spain and Holland. Good luck. John