Hi,
My wife and I have traveled in France for several years and find really nice low priced places to stay using Holidaylettings and Gites De France. We would like to explore more of Italy. We have only visited a few Italian cities. Is there some organization for Italy that we should be using to search for places to stay? We like staying a week or more per location. I have poked around and am not finding anything in our price/quality range.
wayne iNWI
You can find agriturismos many places, including Booking.com/agriturismo and http://www.agriturismo.net/?PR=B01
We stayed in an agriturismo south of Florence, and virtually every farm in the area had rooms and apartments for sources of secondary income. We paid 70 euros for two bedrooms and a large kitchen 3 years ago. Prices vary somewhat, as do the quality of the properties.
You could visit virtually all the popular Tuscan hilltowns given a week and a rental car.
We've used Gites de France for every trip to France, and have had a variety of great places in a variety of locations. For 2 separate trips to Venice, Italy, we used Vacanze in Famiglia (http://www.vacanzeinfamiglia.it/?lang=en) the first time for a B&B and the second for a ground-floor 2-bedroom place with full kitchen, which was ideal. They have listings outside of Venice now, and you might find something suitable on their Website.
Hi Wayne. Where in Italy in particular? There can be different resources for different locations.
Hi,
Where in Italy? On the one hand we are open to anywhere. On the other Sienna and Ravenna interests us. We prefer rural anywhere. Small towns and I know neither Sienna nor Ravenna fit that description.
I guess by your response that you are not aware of a nation-wide site the likes of Gites de France (which is a difficult web-site to use, but that is a different issue).
Thanks to the responses so far.
wayne iNWI
We use VRBO and Homeaway extensively in both the US and Europe, including ten trips to Italy. The wonderful Roberto, who is often kind enough to answer questions on this site, says that the #1 website for Italy vacation rentals is casevacanze.it
Ditto, VRBO (Homeaway), which we have also used thru-out the world and the US.
In Italy, Agritourisimos (Masserias in Puglia) are fantastic. They completely vary in amenities. Some offer home cooked meals, cooking classes, etc.
Another great idea is to go to the local town website, where you may be planning on staying, and peruse their recommendations.
For any rental, from any agency, make sure that you Google map to "see" the actual location, that you understand EXACTLY what floor it is on, that it has good reviews, that you call the listed owner/ agent (some web sites have been "spoofed" and someone else may get your $$$$$). and best of all; use your VISA to pay and protect.
Our awesome VRBO apt. in Paris was only $100/ nite this past April. Our VRBO apt. in Rome was the same. Both required a quick trip on the Metro or bus, but provided us with wonderful lodging.
