Weekly rentals in Tuscany

Herbert,

if you look specifically for FARM location do searches/google with the term "agritourisme"

One that was recommended to us but booked for the time we needed:

http://www.tuscany.net/fontanelle

We organized our week in Tuscany as a mini-family reunion so we needed a larger place. Only an appartment or villa was an option for us. Would have liked an independent villa, but those are a better value financially if you have a group of at least 8-10 or more. We are "only" 6 so an appartment was the best option.

We have rented La Certosa through Classic Tuscan Homes three times. It is my favorite place I have ever stayed in Italy. It looks pricey, but we shared it with our friends so in the end it was quite reasonable.

We have also stayed in Pancrazi, which is an apartment in Cortona that they manage.

Our first farm house was Casa Melody that is now managed by Terretrusche. We are thinking about returning there this fall for a week.

All of these properties are in and around Cortona.

Herbert,

Sherry's suggestion looks wonderful but also forces the question about your budget. We also share our accommodation with another family - and pay a quarter of what this beautiful house in Cortona costs.

I found that for an independant villa you need to budget a minimum of 1000 Euro/week (and well more in high season) to find something nice. And the sky is the limit above that ... but if you're looking for an appartment or just a room for 2 there are MANY great choices available for much less.

Pay attention to the type accommodation you want. There are "villas" (you rent the whole house by the week) and there are "agriturismos" (you rent a room or apartment on a working farm).

Villas usually don't have an owner or staff present. You're pretty much on your own, only seeing the owner when you arrive and pay. Agriturismos often have the owner and/or staff present (they often live on the place) and frequently offer extras like getting to see them do farm work, learn pasta making, bottling of wine, etc.

I don't know of any villas the rent for less than a week, but some agriturismos do.

If you plan to eat all your meals at restaurants, all you need is a room. Rooms generally come with breakfast included, but some don't. Read the details on the place you pick. Staying at in a farmhouse room is about like staying in any hotel room (daily cleaning and bed change may be included).

If you want a kitchenette so you can prepare your own meals, at least some of the time, you need an apartment. Apartments cost more than rooms, but have more room, often have nice things like a fireplace and a balcony or private garden, and can save you money by letting you shop at a local market and prepare your own food. Staying in an apartment often means no daily services like cleaning, bed changes, towels, etc. Sometimes there is even a charge at the end for cleanup. So, again, read the details of the place you pick since they aren't all run the same way.

Wow! The last time we rented La Certosa, March 2007, it was $3000 per week. They have gone up quite a bit since then. But if you have 8 people, like we do when we stay there, it still comes to around $546 per person if you have 8 people and go in the mid season. I think that is not a bad price to stay in a place that is so beautiful and comfortable.

We eat at least a third of our meals at the house when we stay there which helps on the budget. Most houses and apartments, including the three that I have mentioned, have washing machines and La Certosa even has a dryer. That really helps with packing light. I will admit, though, that my husband and I are not really budget travelers.