General information

The properties
Most of our properties are private homes with dècor and furnishing according to the owner's taste, many reflecting their location. Our holiday homes vary in terms of type, age and style.
Many properties in rural regions such as Tuscany and Umbria are renovated farmhouses which have retained their rustic feel with fireplaces, wooden floors and beams. They may have antique furniture and original architectural features. In some cases, access to a property is via an untarred road. This can be particularly true in such regions like Tuscany and Umbria where little country or farm lanes prevail.
In other areas like the Amalfi Coast, our villas and apartments can, again, be a mixture of styles and designs, maybe with modern dècor or typical white washed buildings with domed ceilings that are light and airy with panoramic windows and terraces.

Cleaning of the Properties
The owners of our properties guarantee that their properties are in good condition and we make regular inspections to ensure this. In peak months, many owners insist on additional cleaning which is often mid-week or with larger villas, this can be almost daily.
The organization of such cleaning or maid services is out of our control but is there to help maintain quality control and standards.

Star Rating / Evaluation
All the properties in our collection conform to our minimum quality standards. We evaluate each property according to its location, proximity to beaches, towns and villages, views, furnishings (indoor and outdoor), equipment and amenities. The majority of our properties fall into 4 and 5 star categories.
These ratings should not be confused with hotel gradings.

Arrival and departure times
We recommend an arrival at your property between 17.00 and 19.30, a time when the keyholder waits to greet you at the property or at a key location.
We appreciate your travel arrangements may not always fall easily into this time frame. It is therefore essential that you advise of unusual arrival times at least 48 hours prior to leaving the UK or if you believe you will experience any difficulties. This will enable us to make alternative arrangements for you to enter your property.
We appreciate delays occur during the journey, it is important to contact the keyholder as soon as you can or in an emergency, the telephone number provided, in order to make different arrangements.
If arriving particularly early on the day and would like earlier access, please discuss with us prior and we will endeavour to arrange for minimum inconvenience.
At certain times of the year, it may be possible to agree alternative arrival or departure days which, of course, would be dependent on pre or post rentals.
You are kindly requested to vacate the property by 09.30 am on the day of your departure when local companies will require to access the property in preparation for following guests.

Electricity and Gas
The use of electricity and gas can either be included in the rental fee or according to the clients' consumption. It is essential you check the individual property description, in the panel named 'Extra Costs'.
If according to consumption, the meter will be read together with the keyholder on your arrival at the property and again on your departure. The payment of this meter reading should be settled direct with the keyholder in local currency prior to your departure.
In a few farmhouses, the maximum power supply is frequently limited to 3 kw, so guests should be careful about using a number of electrical appliances at the same time.
The electric current is 220v (50hz). The plugs have prongs that are round and not flat.

Heating
Heating and its subsequent cost, is specified within the individual description, in the panel named 'Extra Costs'. If not specified, it may mean that property does not have any form of heating. Some seaside and country houses are heated with stoves or open fires. The cost of heating in Italy is generally expensive.
For any heating utilised whilst at the property and where we specify 'according to consumption', a meter will be read with the keyholder on arrival and again at the end of your stay. The payment of this meter reading should be settled direct with the keyholder in local currency prior to your departure.

Air conditioning
It is unusual for some of our older, more historic properties in Italy to have air conditioning but you may find that some modern villas offer this facility.
If air conditioning is offered, it will be mentioned in the 'Extra Costs' panel under the property description. Some properties include the cost of air conditioning in the rental price whilst others go according to the meter which is read when you arrive and prior to your departure. The cost of your consumption according to the meter reading should be settled in local currency prior to your departure.

Water
The use of water is included in the rental fee, except where indicated otherwise.
In certain areas, the water supply can be irregular. In high season or during a particularly dry summer, there may be interruptions to the water supply. May we ask you to contact the keyholder for any such problem to ensure a quick response.

Telephones
Some properties do have a telephone and if utilised by you, the client, your account should be settled with the keyholder in local currency prior to departure.

Linen
If not otherwise specified, bed and bath linen is included in the rental fee.
Beach or swimming pool towels are rarely supplied and we recommend that guests bring their own.
Cot linen is not generally provided and we recommend you provide your own.

Cleaning
Your property is thoroughly cleaned and prepared before your arrival and also on your departure. However, we do request you leave the property the way you found it. The cleaning costs, where applicable, are to be paid locally on the premises and will be indicated in the 'Extra Costs' panel under each property description and on your travel documents.

Swimming Pools
Many of our properties have private or shared swimming pools. Outside the summer season, the pools are not always available for our guests, so please check the opening and closing dates under each property description. Delays or earlier closures may occur due to technical or climatic conditions. If a pool is unavailable during the stated opening period, we undertake to do all we can to resolve the problem in the shortest possible time.

Security Deposit
A refundable security deposit is payable by you, the client, on arrival at the property to the keyholder (or owner) in local currency. Each deposit will vary between properties but is indicated in the 'Extra Costs' panel under each property description.
The refundable deposit guards against breakages and accidents, and other services that have been utilised and shown as 'Extra Costs'. This amount will be refunded at the end of your stay. Any other charges that have to be settled with the keyholder i.e. cleaning charges or consumption of various services may be deducted from this refund.

Parking
Many of our properties have private parking and mention is made under each description.
If you will have the use of a vehicle and no private parking is mentioned within the property description, please ask us for advice. It may be that parking is easily found along the road or that the only possible parking is in a public pay car park nearby which can be fairly expensive.

Services
When we refer to local services (shops, restaurants, tennis courts, etc.) these are only indicated to provide some helpful additional advice. We cannot be held responsible if any of these services are no longer available.