Ancora Italia: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I make a reservation?
Email is the fastest way to reach us to make a reservation, due to the time difference. ( We are in Tuscany.) We will check the availability of the dates for your desired stay with the owner of the property and will let you know as soon as we get a response, usually within one or two days. Email with your telephone number and and a convenient time to call you, if you would like to discuss details.

How far in advance should I reserve?
We can usually find something for you with just a couple of months' notice, and sometimes only a week or two in advance. We recommend booking 9 to 12 months in advance or earlier if you have a specific place or time in mind.

Is a deposit required?
Once the property owner has confirmed availability for your stay, we require a 30% non-refundable deposit to hold your reservation.

When is the balance due?
The balance is due 10 weeks before your arrival. The price, which may change based on exchange rate fluctuations, will be firm once you have paid your balance. We send a reminder a few weeks before the due date.

What form of payment is accepted?
We accept checks, but do not accept credit cards.

Where do I mail my payments?
We will send mailing or bank-wiring information upon confirmation of a property.

Will I get a receipt for my payments?
We will email you a receipt for your deposit and for your balance within a few days of our receiving your payment.

When are low, mid and high seasons?
Low season is generally early October through April except for Christmas and Easter. Mid season runs from about the first of May until mid-June plus Easter, Christmas and the month of September. High season runs mid-June through the first week of September.

Can I rent for less than a week?
Bookings are generally by the week from Saturday to Saturday. Some properties offer nightly rentals with 3 or 4-night minimum such as the Rome Apartments and the country places during mid and low season, based on availability. We can also recommend a bed & breakfast and hotels in some cities in case you have extra days in Italy. At some properties, monthly rates may be available. Please inquire.

What if we have to cancel our reservation?
A cancellation charge of 30% of the rental price will apply. If a reservation is cancelled after the full rental price has been paid, we will refund up to 70% of the rental price if the property can be rerented for the cancelled period.

Should we buy travel insurance?
It's a good idea to buy trip cancellation insurance if you are concerned about protecting your pre-payments and think there is a chance your plans may have to change. We will send you information about travel insurance with your deposit receipt.

Will there be any additional charges?
Heating costs are handled as follows:
·Heating is included in the price at La Sciolta, Il Mulino, and the Rome apartments.
· Heating is metered and payable separately at Montestigliano, Il Coppo, Villa La Volpe, Villa Camigliano, Villa Margherita, Le Ciambelli Villas, Gallillori, Casa Colonica Guinigi, IL Franciotto, Fattoria del Lago, Podere Lenci, Casa Rosalba, Casa GianCarlino, Casa Evelyn

Telephone use will be billed on departure. Note that all calls in Italy carry a toll charge; there is no free dialing area.
Except at Montestigliano where credit cards are accepted, you should be prepared to pay cash for any charges you incur at the property, including for heat, phone calls, meals, cooking lessons, postcards, etc.

What is check-in time?
Guests are generally requested to arrive between 5 and 7 p.m. Any change in check-in time will be sent with your payment receipts. For the Rome apartments, Villa La Volpe, Villa Camigliano, Le Ciambelli Villas, Casa Rosalba, Gallillori and Fattoria del Lago, you must inform us of your expected arrival time so we can arrange for someone to be at the property to greet you. ( Owners live near by.)

What is check-out time?
Check-out time is generally 10 a.m.

Are housekeeping services provided?
Daily housekeeping is not provided. Generally, units are cleaned and linens changed weekly for guests staying more than one week. Additional or more frequent housekeeping services can be arranged for an additional fee.

Are meals served at the properties?
For the most part, no meals are served. At Montestigliano, dinners are generally offered once or twice a week in mid and high season. At IL Mulino, dinners are generally offered upon request. Various menus and pricing are available upon arrival, or can be requested by email to reserve a dinner on the first night of arrival. Reservations are required a day or more in advance. The cost is around €35.Euro per person.

Can I arrange for a cook?
Yes, at most properties we can arrange for meals to be prepared in your house. Email us to discuss your specific request.

Can I have extra people stay in the house with me?
The houses and apartments are licensed for the maximum number of people indicated on the property comparison chart . The cost of the house or apartment does not vary with the number of people in your party, but you may not have more people than the property is licensed for.

Are pets permitted?
This varies by property. Please ask us, though, if you are planning to bring a pet.

What if we receive mail?
You can have mail directed to the property and it will be delivered to you.

Is there a phone in the house?
There is a phone in the houses or apartment at Montestigliano, Villa la Volpe ( internet connection), Fattoria di Lago
( internet connection) and the La Sciolta houses: Villa Edera, Leccio Antico (outgoing only) & Le Tre Querce (outgoing only)
You will be billed for phone use at the end of your stay.

There is a phone on site at Il Coppo, IL Franciotto, Il Mulino (internet) properties, and a cell phone rental can be arranged at IL Mulino

There is no phone at Villa Camigliano, Le Ciambelli Villas, Gallillori, Casa Colonica Guinigi, IL Franciotto, Fattoria del Lago, Villa Margherita, Podere Lenci, Casa Rosalba, Casa GianCarlino, Casa Evelyn

Which properties have swimming pools and when are they open?
The following properties have pools: Montestigliano (two pools) and La Sciolta, Il Coppo, Villa la Volpe, Villa Camigliano, Le Ciambelli Villas, Gallillori, IL Franciotto, Fattoria del Lago, Podere Lenci, Casa GianCarlino. The pools are generally open from June through September.

Are the kitchens fully furnished?
Kitchens are furnished with dishes, cookware and cutlery sufficient for preparing meals.

Do I need to bring bed or bath linens?
All units come with bed and bath linens. You may want to bring a washcloth from home because there may not be washcloths in the houses.

Are there laundry facilities on site?
All houses have a washing machine for your use. Because of the high cost of energy in Italy, there are no clothes dryers at the properties, only hanging racks to set in the sun or by the fire. In winter it's common to hang wet clothes on racks next to the radiators.

Where are the closest services, such as a grocery and post office?
Services are within a few blocks for the city properties and within 5 - 10 minutes' drive for the countryside properties.

What essentials should I buy at the grocery?
You will need to buy the staples you'd need if you were staying at a lake cabin or a condo at the beach, such as any groceries you will need, paper towels, toilet paper, and bath and laundry soap.

Can you arrange cooking classes?
Cooking lessons are offered at our Montestigliano property one day a week if there are at least five people interested and at Il Mulino upon request. If you choose to take a lesson, plan to spend most of the day creating a dinner which you and your guests can enjoy in the late afternoon. They can also arrange for you to go to the market with the chef that morning.

What if I need assistance while I am in Italy?
Some of the owners of our properties speak English. However, not all of them may be on site all the time. You will be given a phone number for each owner and you should call them first. In the Lucca area, our phone number is available for help with emergencies.

What if I have a medical problem while I am in Italy?
Modern medical facilities are available, but may be limited outside urban areas. There is a large full-service hospital in Siena as well as Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, and other major cities. Public hospitals may not maintain the same standards as U.S. hospitals, so you may want to obtain insurance that would cover a stay in a private Italian hospital or clinic. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not cover medical services outside the U.S. It is almost impossible to obtain an itemized hospital bill from public hospitals, as required by many U.S. insurance companies, because the Italian national health service charges all-in-one rates.

You may want to check with your insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Also ascertain whether payment will be made to the Italian hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur.

You may want to take out trip insurance which offers some medical coverage in Italy. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the U.S., remember to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of insurance and a claim form. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs' home page or fax: 202-647-3000.

What will the weather be like?
Average daytime temperatures are in the 40's - 50's in winter, 60's - 70's in spring and fall, and 80's - 90's in summer (though it can be much warmer).

What is the best time to go?
Most travelers prefer spring and fall because temperatures are mild, rates are lower and there are fewer tourists than in summer. But there are also advantages to travel in winter: virtually no crowds, lowest rates, and still generally mild weather.

What is the best way to take money?
ATM machines are now located all over Italy and it is now easier and more convenient to use an ATM card rather than taking travelers' checks or cash to convert to lire. The exchange rate is better with an ATM and bank hours are very limited. Before you leave home, learn your PIN number by numerals since Italian keypads do not have letters. Also, check with your bank to be sure your daily withdrawal limit is adequate for your trip. To tide you over until you get to an Italian ATM, bring enough lire for tolls or taxi fare. You can generally get lire at U.S. airports.

Can you make airplane, hotel or car reservations for me?
No, we do not. Sorry.

Which airport is the closest?
For direct flights from the U.S., the Rome or Milan airport is closest to all of our properties. The Milan airports are slightly closer for the Lucca properties. There are flights from various European cities to Florence, Pisa or Bologna for the Tuscany properties. However, connecting in Rome or Milan to one of these smaller airports is more costly. If you are planning to rent a car it is less expensive and much faster to pick up the car at the airport when you deplane in Milan or Rome and then drive directly to the property.

Do I need an international driver's license?
No. Your U.S. driver's license is fine for a car. To rent a Vespa or other small motorcycle, you must have an International Driver's license. Easy to obtain at any AAA travel office for about $10.

Which car rental company do you recommend?
Hertz , Avis and AutoEurope or EuropeCar on the Web. In the Siena area, clients have generally had good luck with Car Rental Buferauto, that serves as a representative for Maggiore, one of the larger Italian car rental companies. Maggiore, in turn, is the Italian representative for National Car Rental. You can arrange a car through Buferauto and pick it up at any of the major airports or at in-town offices in the major cities.
When reserving a rental car, be sure to request automatic transmission and air conditioning if you require those options. Reserve you car from your country of origin and have a printed confirmation of the type of car and agreed price with you when you pick-up the car.

Are there any guides you would recommend?
• For Florence and throughout Tuscany:
Discover Tuscany: Owner/guide Guido Fratini ( English-speaking) can custom create a tour of the wine country to enjoy wine tasting and culinary specialties. Walking, biking or driving tours are available to many of the beautiful smaller cities if Tuscany. They will arrive at the property by mini-van and return you " home" at the end of the day.
www.discovertuscany.biz Email: guido@ discovertuscany.biz Telephone: From US (011 39) 0556 580 862

Simone Gaddini, Firenze Antica Custom itineraries by knowledgeable, personable, English-speaking scholars who will make Tuscany come alive for you in a very accessible way. U.S. phone/fax (510) 549-1707 E-mail: simone@firenzeantica.org

• For Rome:
Tom Rankin (and associates), Scala Reale. A not-for-profit cultural association aimed at bringing together the traveler and the city through high-quality, enjoyable itineraries led by (usually native) English-speaking experts in art history, architecture, archaeology and history. Phone (888) 467-1986 Fax (617) 249-0186 Italy phone/fax (from US) 011-39-06-474-5673 E-mail: info@scalareale.org

• For Venice:
Sally Spector. A professional artist, Sally offers private walking tours, taking her clients off the beaten track to the "secret" Venice that many visitors never see. She has lived in Venice since 1984, where she sells and shows her art, has taught courses in the history of Venetian painting and architecture and also gives private drawing lessons. Address: Cannaregio 3138, 30121 Venezia. Phone: (041) 713-110 Fax: (041) 962-783 (In each case dial 011-39 first from the U.S.)

Michael Broderick, Venicescapes. Venicescapes is a small guide service offering five comprehensive guided itineraries that can be shaped to your individual interests for those wanting to fully experience this magical city. Address: Castello 4954, 30122 Venezia. Phone 041-520-6361 (dial 011-39 first from U.S.) E-mail: scapes@tin.it