Military Officer - April 2007 - (Page 69) G R E AT G E TA W AY S A road winds throughout the countryside in Monticchiello, Tuscany, Italy. network, but most are off the beaten path. Second, there are some details you need to attend to with villa stays. I asked John Ferrari of Italian Town and Country, a villa-booking agency, for some tips for first-time villa vacationers. He suggested several items: ■ Strictly adhere to check-in and check-out times. “If you arrive early or leave late,” Ferrari explains, “you are likely to interfere with the cleaning team and cause delays.” ■ Most grocery stores in Italy are closed on Sundays. Villa check-in is usually on Saturday afternoon, so it is wise to pick up some basic food items on your way to the property. Ferrari typically works with owners who provide a “welcome basket” of hearty Tuscan fare and stock the property with some essentials to see renters through that first Sunday. ■ The security deposit almost always is made in cash (euros) and can be fairly substantial. For instance, we paid 800 euros — a little more than $1,000 — as a security deposit for our villa. Take this into account when planning your cash needs. ■ Finally, families with school-age children or grandchildren typically request the last weeks in June through Independence Day. Ferrari says, “These clients can pose a significant challenge, [because] these weeks fill up very quickly. We recommend making reservations at least a year in advance.” Other differences from a typical hotel stay include no daily linen/towel exchanges or maid service (a midweek cleaning is the norm) and possible extra charges for heating or cooling the property — this additional charge, if applied, will be spelled out clearly in the contract. The benefits of staying in a villa include privacy, room to spread out and relax, and an infinitely cus- Oak barrels age wine to perfection. tomizable vacation. You can arrange to have a shopper fully stock your villa, hire a private chef to cook in-house meals, or hire a local guide to give your group a personalized tour of the area (all for an additional cost, of course). Perhaps the best aspect of villa vacations is their surprising affordability. John Ferrari explains, “We represent properties that range from $2,300 per week for eight people in the off-season to $21,500 per week for 10 people during the more APRIL 2007 PHOTOS: ABOVE, CHARLES O’REAR/CORBIS; TOP, DOUG PEARSON/CORBIS MILITARY OFFICER 69
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