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It would be our pleasure to help with yourselection of a villa or vacation apartment foryour next trip to Italy.Gira! Italian Vacation Rentals1003 South Madison StreetDenver, Colorado 80209

+1 303 733 6030 phone+1 303 733 2060 fax800 362 3818 US toll freeinfo@italyrentals.com

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W hen you make thedecision to visit Italy, a

dream is born.Whether it's your first trip or yourtwentieth, you begin to thinkabout the places you will see andthe things you will do.You might check out some Italyguides or watch a well­knowntravel series on public television.Maybe you start cooking a littlemore with olive oil and read thatnovel about Florence someonerecommended.You decide to rent your own villaor vacation apartment.Then Italy becomes more a part ofyour thoughts. You escape therein your mind, and can't wait to go.As the time approaches, theexcitement grows. You begin tofinalize your itinerary and fill inthe missing pieces.There is something deeplyalluring about Italy, and fromyour own place you can getclose to it yourself. Italy hasgreat natural beauty, visibleright from your front door.But there’s more. Add to thisa richness of sensuouspleasures, including some ofthe world’s finest wines and acuisine that is at once simple,fresh and satisfying.Italy offers much to nuturethe spirit, including some ofthe world’s greatest art and

Whether your group islarge or small, a villa

or vacation apartmentis usually less

expensive than a hotel.And you get your own

kitchen!

sculpture. It also delights withthe simple joy of seeing a hilltown wrapped in the morningmist or watching the children playin the piazza.To complete the picture, add thehospitality of a kind, passionateand welcoming people. Italiansare in love with their native land,its history and its traditions.By taking your own villa, you havechosen the best way to live like anItalian!It used to be difficult to locate avilla and the rental process wasnot simple, especially if you wereworking with someone far away.Things are different now. Thereare so many great properties tochoose from, but little guidanceon how to make the best decision.We wrote this guide to help you torealize this dream in your ownway.

Villa Montepulcianooffers a peaceful setting.

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O kay, we’re going.So where do we

begin?Before you startsearching for a villa,you’re going to need togather the basics andmake some notes:What dates wouldyou like to travel?Keep in mind that mostvillas rent from Sat­urday to Saturday, soyour selection will bemuch greater if you canstay during that period.Generally, a villa’s cal­

endar will be divided into a lowseason (winter months), a highseason (peak summer months)and one or more middle seasons,which tend to be in spring andfall.How long can you stay?It’s great to spend a week in Italy.It gives you a good feeling for thesites and the culture. It’s evenbetter to plan a longer stay, whichwill give you a sense of livingthere and learning more aboutthe ways of the Italians.What is the makeup of yourgroup?Take note of the number of adultsand children. Italy has somethingfor all ages. Is access aconsideration? Does anyone inyour group have a walkingdifficulty? By the way, if you are

not traveling with school agechildren, think about travelingoutside of the summer months,which can save you money. The‘shoulder’ seasons (May­June andSeptember­October) can be at­tractive because the weathertends to be good and the townscan be less crowded.What kind of budget do youhave for your rental?There are several things to con­sider here. One is that if you areable to organize a large group,you can consider higher qualityvilla if everyone is able to sharethe cost. It’s really quite amazinghow inexpensive it can become.Another way to control your costsis to look at rental properties withmultiple units rather than aprivate villa. There are a lot ofhigh quality accommodations likethis, and the bonus is that youwill likely meet some very inter­esting people!What would you like to doand see in Italy?Making the decision to rent avilla comes with certain expecta­tions and…dreams. Want to learnhow to cook some authenticTuscan dishes? Would you like tosee some of history’s most im­portant works of art? How aboutgreat wine? Is someone in yourgroup a history fanatic?Put together a wish list of must­see places and must­do experi­ences. You’ll be surprised at howmany you can do!

Lake Orta is 'the poets' lake'.

What dates can youtravel?

How long can you stay?

What is the makeup ofyour group?

What is your budget?

What do you want to doand see in Italy?

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W here do you recommendthat we go?

We’re going to talk a little bitabout the geography of Italy andthe places most in demand. Butkeep in mind…the best experi­ences can be off the beaten path,so don’t be afraid to take a riskand open up your thinking tobroad possibilities. You will berewarded if you do!ChiantiFor first­time villa renters theretends to be one area that is mostrequested…and this would be theregion in Tuscany roughlybetween Florence and Siena.Let’s face it. There is so much tosee in this area, and it’s rich withamazing day trips, which can eas­ily fill a week (or two):­ Seeing the sites of Florence andwalking this beautiful city.­ Touring Siena and exploring itscathedrals, famous piazza andgreat shops­ Visiting the medieval toweredcity of San Gimignano­ Taking a tour of the fabulousChianti wineries­ Having a day or two of restwith a cooking lesson in yourvilla­ Finding your own special outof the way Tuscan hill town­ Taking in Tuscany’s well keptsecret—the richness of Arezzo­ Enjoying a lovely afternoon inCortona­ Taking another wine tour toMontalcino, Montepulciano andPienza

We have to say that you can’treally go wrong with this itiner­ary. It really does include a lot ofthe very best that Italy has to of­fer. Included in this plan is thefact that there is an abundance ofvacation rentals in this area, andone of them is just right for yourbudget.UmbriaUmbria is a special place to us,and if you contact us we’d behappy to explain why. Inevitablyit gets compared to its neighborTuscany, but that’s not even ne­cessary because Umbria has a lifeand a spirit all its own. We star­ted our business with Umbria vil­las and have made some closefriends there. We’ve gotten toknow it well.The spiritual center of Umbria(and perhaps of all Italy) is Assisi.If you are even close to the area,don’t miss it. There is a specialfeeling you get when you are here,and it could only be attributed to

Gira!comes from the Italian

verb girare, whichmeans to turn.

Interestingly enough, italso means to go on a

trip. Let's take a spin!

Umbria's countryside iswarm and inviting.

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the spirit of St. Francis himself.He’s the patron saint of Italy andwhen you are in his home town,you not only learn his life’s storybut also feel his gentle presence.Assisi has a magnificent Basilicawhich is a must­see for the Giottofrescoes on its walls. Visit themany shops while you are hereand be sure to stay for dinner.If you choose Umbria as yourdestination, you are close enoughto Tuscany to take some interest­ing day trips to all of the placesmentioned above. And for Um­bria itself, don’t miss:­ Todi, a beautiful medieval townknown as both the world’s ‘mostsustainable’ and ‘most livable’city.­ Perugia, which is the largest andmost metropolitan of the ancientEtruscan cities.­ Gubbio, with its funicular liftthat takes you high above the cityand offers a spectacular view.­ Montefalco, home of Sagrantino,one of Italy’s premier wines­ Spoleto, sponsor of the Festivalof Two Worlds, held in conjunc­tion with Charleston, South Car­olina.The Amalfi and SorrentoCoastsJust south of Naples there is apeninsula that boasts some of thevery best views of Italy’s long andluscious Mediterranean coast. Onone side of the peninsula is thecity of Sorrento and its neighbor­ing towns, villages and marinas.Sorrento has a large and im­pressive harbor, and from here

you can easily take a boat trip tothe nearby islands, or to the othertowns along these coasts.The Sorrento coast has more of acountryside feel to it, and you cantake easy day trips to the manydestinations both inland andalong the coast. Don’t miss:­ Massa Lubrense – a charmingtown that sits above the coastwith a friendly population andlots of shops and restaurants.­ Marina della Lobra and Marinadel Cantone – Two sweet water­side communities with great ac­cess to the water.­ A trip to Capri – Take a boatfrom Sorrento for a fun day ex­cursion.­ A day in Sorrento with its fas­cinating neighborhoods, shopsand cathedrals.The Amalfi Coast is on the otherside of the peninsula and it’s easyto reach this area from the Sor­rento side. Here you will seestunning views of the sea withtowns that ascend sharply up thehillsides.The main roads here hug thecoast rather than meanderthrough the countryside, andconsequently you may see moretraffic, especially during thewarmer months. But don’t letthat distract you! Throughoutthis region there is a convenientsystem of public transportationthat makes it possible to have anenjoyable stay without a car.On the Amalfi Coast, be sure tosee:

In Sorrento, the sunset seems tolast forever.

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­ Positano – The most populardestination in this area, Positanohas the whole package – pleasantbeaches, excellent shops and res­taurants and gorgeous villas thathug the hillside.­ Amalfi – A former maritimepower in the region, Amalfi isnow known for its crafts and itsbeautiful artisan paper artisanshops.­ Ravello – With a short drive upthe hillside near Amalfi you willarrive at Ravello, with its breath­taking view of the coast, its his­toric villas and many art galleriesand fine hotels.The Northern LakesIf you fly into Milan, it’s easy toreach the lakes region by car in alittle more than an hour. For arelaxing stay by the waterside,there are several lakes to choosefrom, and you should know a littleabout the personality of each.Lake Como – It’s tempting to talkabout a famous American moviestar who has brought a lot of at­tention to Lake Como, but wewon’t be doing that! If you arelooking for elegance you can findthat here, as it’s the best knownand cultivated of all the lakes.But you can also find peace andquiet in it’s many smaller townsand villages.There’s a lot to do on Lake Como,and it’s easy to get anywhere witha short ferry trip. Spend a dayshopping and dining in Bellagio,visit the gardens of the famousVilla d’Este in Cernobbio, take inthe cathedrals and restaurants in

Como. And for the water sportlovers, Como is ideal.Lake Maggiore – Equally as lovelyas Lake Como, Lake Maggioreenjoys a slower pace and a cultureall its own. Ernest Hemingwayset part of ‘A Farewell to Arms’ inthe Grand Hotel des Iles Bor­romees in Stresa. Mid­lake thereare three fascinating islandswhich you can visit. One iscovered with an opulent castlewith large gardens.Lake Orta – This lake is the poeticcousin of Como and Maggiore.Quiet and thoughtful, Lake Ortais a place to stay and meditate,while enjoying some of the bestscenery in Italy.Lake Garda – A bit farther eastthan the others, Lake Garda hasone shore in Lom­bardy and one in theVeneto. This makesit an excellent pointof departure forseeing places likeVerona, Padova,Mantova andTrento.In addition to en­joying the towns ofthe lake and itsmany recreationalopportunities, youcan reach Venice inless than two hours.

On Lake Maggiore, takea boat excursion to the

Borromean Islands

Isola Bella is known forits beautiful palace

Isola Madre hasexcellent gardens

Isola dei Pescatore is aquiet fishing village withmarkets and restaurants

Il Pescatore on Lake Como hasseveral lakeside terraces.

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The Cinque TerreAlong Italy’s northwestern coast,there are five villages that havebecome famous in the past fewdecades for their charm and au­thenticity.They are joined together by a sys­tem of trails that offer an expans­ive view of the coast and a funway to explore while getting alittle exercise. For alternativetransportation, there is also con­venient train service betweenthem, with a ride of only a fewminutes to get from village to vil­lage.Because the communities aresmall, there are very few villasavailable for rental, but it is pos­sible to find a hotel or short holi­day apartment rental.Contact us about our propertiesavailable in Manarola, located on

a scenic promontory in one ofthe Cinque Terre villages.They are offered on a threeday minimum, so you don’thave to stay for a full week.Venice and the VenetoVenice is to be experienced atleast once in a traveler’s life.This remarkable city iswithout equal. You shouldplan on a visit for a few days,which will give you plenty oftime to see the many treas­ures that this city has to offer.We have a selection of apart­ments in Venice, available fora three day minimum.

Also consider a villa in the Ven­eto, in the northeast corner ofItaly. Its countryside is rich anddiverse and is home to a variety ofhistoric towns. Padua’s universitydates back to the 13th century andVerona is well known as the set­ting of Shakespeare’s Romeo andJuliet.The Renaissance architect, An­drea Palladio, built his most fam­ous villas near the town ofVicenza. We love the hilltown ofAsolo, which offers a unique his­toric and poetic charm. RobertBrowning spent many productiveyears, as did many other writersand artists.The Roman CountrysideIf you fly into Rome’s Leonardoda Vinci Airport, you might notrealize that some of Italy’s bestvacation spots are actuallynearby. Rome lies in the center of

Club dei Borghi più bellid'Italia selects the 'MostCharming Villages inItaly'.

Our favorites are:

­ Spello in Umbria­ Asolo in the Veneto­ Atrani on the AmalfiCoast­ Manarola in Liguria­ San Casciano dei Bagniin Tuscany

Ask us about staying inthese villages!

The Cinque Terre hiking trail givesyou this spectacular view ofVernazza.

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the region of Lazio, andsurrounding the city thereare some lovely countrysidelocations that allow you tostay in a peaceful setting,yet reach Rome’s centereasily with a short trainride.Lazio is full of history andlocal traditions. The clearwaters of Lake Bolsena be­long to the largest lake inEurope with volcanic originsand the Etruscan city of Vi­terbo still has its impressivemedieval architecture.Many natural hot springsare found in this area.SicilySicily is its own land, proud of itsheritage and welcoming to visit­ors from everywhere. Its physicalbeauty is remarkable­­an im­pressive mix of crystal blue seasand imposing mountains, inter­spersed with fertile fields produ­cing fine fruits and vegetables.In the east, there is a remarkableBaroque influence that has can beseen in churches, piazzas andpublic buildings that were erectedin the 17th and 18th century, es­pecially after the devastatingearthquake of 1693. The Greekruins in Sicily contain some of thebest­preserved examples of thisancient civilization.Sicily has had many foreignrulers, giving it a diversity that isnot seen in other parts of Italy.Greeks, Romans, French and Ar­abs have settled here, giving Sicily

culture and cuisine that put youin the midst of the great sweep ofhistory.Consider some alternativesEmilia­Romagna – Close toTuscany, it offers a pretty coun­tryside and countless villagesfamous for their crafts and food.Puglia – Puglia is the long regionthat at the tip of the boot heel. Ithas scenic beach towns and thehistoric trullo houses, built in the18th, 19th and 20th centuries.Monte Argentario – At thebottom or Tuscany's coast,there isa peninsula known as Monte Ar­gentario. The town of PortoSanto Stefano is a beautiful har­bor town with an authentic feeland an important history in theregion.

The countryside of Emilia­Romagna includes charmingvillages, authentic villas and

extraordinary vistas.

According to legend,Puglia's unusual trullobuildings were designedto be easily dismantledto avoid taxation.

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W hat do you recommendfor children and teens?

The biggest misconception abouttaking young people to Italy isthat we need to find activities thatare ‘kid­friendly’, and design ourtrips to include these kinds ofthings, whatever they might be.In our experience, we’ve learnedotherwise. For the most part,children and teens love to do thesame kinds of things that adultsdo.Young people are fascinated bybeautiful cathedrals, enchantinghill towns and drives in the coun­tryside. They especially love thekind of food served in Italy. Anddon't forget that Italians lovechildren and welcome themwarmly.This being said, it is always agood idea to plan a good balanceof activities for each day. Anadult can enjoy a visit of severalhours to an art museum, but it’spossible that this will wear thinon a child in a shorter time.It’s best to include frequentbreaks in the action and a nicevariety of things to do, and this ismost likely to keep everyone en­gaged and happy.And an occasional stop for agelato also helps keep things in­teresting!

W hat kinds of accommoda­tions can I choose from?

You might be surprised at therange of possibilities. If yourbudget is limited, there are lots ofvacation apartments where youwould share the grounds and poolwith other guests, and this canmake your stay affordable.If your group is larger, you canconsider an independent house,which allows more privacy andindependence.Again, there is a broad range tochoose from, so if you are able toshare the cost among friends orfamilies it can keep your indi­vidual costs down and still giveyou a lot for your investment.Even with modestly priced villas,it is often possible to request cookservices, transfers, wine tastingsand other goodies which are alsoavailable at the higher end prop­erties.Finally, at the high end of thespectrum is the private luxuryvilla. Usually, these are premiumhouses with a nice selection ofamenities and services availableto you, and often these servicesare included in the rental price.

Waiting in the piazza for thewedding to begin.

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Here’s an illustration:

Villas are usually evaluated on arange of one to five stars, al­though it’s rare to see one or twostart properties being offered. Soyour choice will probably be inthe range of three to five stars.The evaluations are subjective,but generally look at factors likeview, garden area, bedrooms, liv­ing rooms and kitchen. We re­commend that you take a look atall three levels because there canbe some excellent houses in thethree­star range, and excellentvalues in the five­star range.Take note: Villas are evaluateddifferently than hotels, becausehotels have established standardsthat they must meet to be rated ata particular star level. Villas don’thave these universal standards.A five star hotel will have a widerange of services and amenitiesthat will be similar in differentparts of the world.

A five star villa will be a highquality house in a beautiful set­ting, but may not have all the ser­vices of a five star hotel.

Gelsobello vacation apartmentsIl Pescatore independent houseLa Contessa Azzurra luxury villa

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W ill I need a car? Can Iwalk to a village?

For a stay at a country villa, theanswer is most definitely yes. Al­though your villa will be welcom­ing and comfortable, youprobably have come to Italy to seethe sites in the surrounding areaand in the towns and villages thatyou have heard so much about.Of course there are propertiesthat are close enough to a villagethat you can walk, but these arethe exception rather than the rule.However, if you include proper­ties that are close to a village, saywithin a few kilometers, thechoices increase dramatically.This means that if you don’t minddriving a few minutes to the vil­lage, you can enjoy a day of shop­ping in the market, strollingthrough the piazza and seeing thelocal church before your short trip

back to your villa.Another way to enjoy a village isto choose a property directly in avillage rather than just outside.There are lots of these, so pleaseask and we’ll help you find one!This being said, there are a fewclients every year who are un­daunted by the transportationchallenges and choose to visitwithout a car. We applaudthem…and admire them!How did they deal with it? Inmany cases, there is a bus linenearby which can be reached onfoot, but the walk can some­timesbe long. In other cases, cli­ents have chosen to hire privatetransfer and touring services,which allows them to be flexiblein their visits, albeit at a highercost.What about getting around bytrain? Again, this can be a fun

way to travel and eachyear some people do it,but keep in mind thattrain stations are onlyfound in good sizedtowns and in majorcities.So as long as youchoose accommoda­tions in these areas,you can get the verybest out of seeing Italyby rail!

When driving on theAutostrada, keep yourlights on at all times.When exiting a tollbooth, VIACard meansyou can pay by creditcard.TELECARTE is formotorists with passes.Look for the moneysymbol to pay withcash.

There's lots to see at this gasstation in Tuscany.

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W hat can I expect when Iarrive at the villa?

First off, to avoid any confusionmake sure you are completelyfamiliar with the costs associ­ated with your booking. All ofthis information is shown onour web site. It’s also in yourbooking contract and rentalvoucher.Be sure you know your re­sponsibilities regarding pay­ment at arrival and payment atdeparture. When you arrive,you will need to pay your se­curity deposit in cash Euros tothe owner or keyholder. Insome cases there are other pay­ments made at arrival, so pleasemake sure you look on yourbooking contract for these. Butusually, it’s just the security de­posit, so be sure you have thisamount at arrival or it’s possiblethat they may not allow you tooccupy the villa.Also, at arrival, be sure that youunderstand how all of the appli­ances and utilities work. Notevery keyholder is fluent in Eng­lish, but you will be surprised athow much you can learn just byhaving them show something toyou. If you are paying any utilit­ies on consumption, ask to see themeters. A dictionary or phrasebook can come in handy to makesure you get the information youneed.It used to be that many of theshops in Europe closed mid­dayon Saturday and did not re­open

until Monday morning. Thissometimes made it difficult toshop for the food and other es­sentials you will need. If you areable to shop before your arrival,that would be a good idea, espe­cially if you are planning oncooking your first night.However, if you have to shop onyour arrival night, you will find alot more shops open than thereused to be. Ask about the locationof a ‘Coop’ or other supermarket(supermercado) so that you willbe covered. Or, for a real adven­ture, shop in the small andfriendly local markets.Some villas are offering a goodycalled ‘Arrive and Relax’, whichcan be a welcome relief after yourflight and drive to the villa. Thisgives you a basic grocery stockingand a standard first night meal,which usually includes a preparedpasta dish that you can heat up,vegetable, salad, wine, bread and

Pick up some fresh fish at thisPescheria in Massa Lubrense.

You don't need toknow all of the metricequivalents, but some

will come in handy:One meter = about

39.7 inchesOne kilometer = about

6/10 mileOne kilogram = about

2.2 poundsOne liter is close to one

quart

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fruit. For villas not offering thisservice, it is often possible to re­quest a grocery list to be deliveredprior to your arrival. Ask usabout this!So how well stocked is the villaanyway? In Europe, there is thetradition of the ‘self­catering’villa, which is still pretty muchthe case. You can expect theminimal basics when you arrive,and this varies from one owner toanother. So you should plan onthe advance provisioning wementioned above, or to make afirst shop soon after your arrival.For many reasons, it’s importantto carry a mobile phone that willwork in Italy. Many smartphones are already configured towork in other countries.However, if you are not sure,contact your cell phone providerand ask what your options are.They may be able to install a SIMcard that will allow your phone to

work in Italy. In other cases, youcan rent a compatible phone (orBlackBerry) to use during yourtime away.The Internet is an important partof Italian life, and there are vari­ous ways to access it. If you arecarrying a smart phone, this willusually have access. If you arecarrying a lap top, it’s possiblethat your villa will include eitherwireless (WiFi) or connected ac­cess.Otherwise, you can look into pur­chasing a ‘chiavetta’ at one of themobile phone shops that you seein city centers, train stations andshopping areas. A chiavetta isslightly larger than a thumb driveand connects to a USB port onyour computer. It accesses theInternet through the mobilephone system. Where there is agood signal (which is an ever ex­panding area) it can providespeeds that range from adequate

to very fast. If your villa turnsout to be in a blind spot, theproblem can usually be solvedby going into the village for acoffee with laptop in hand, ortalking a walk to a more openarea.The cost of energy in Italy canbe a real shock to those who livein other parts of the world. Italyis not a major energy producer,so virtually all of its energy isimported from outside thecountry. If you are paying forgas or electricity on consump­tion, it’s a good idea to keep thisin mind to avoid an excess costat your departure. You can do

In Europe, mobilephones operate on avoice technologystandard called GSM.Check with your cellphone provider to seeif they use thisstandard.If not, you can lookinto converting yourphone with a SIM cardor renting atemporary phone.

A 'chiavetta' has its own phonenumber and accesses the Internetthrough the mobile phone system.

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this by simply being sensibleabout your use of lighting, airconditioning and heating. Besure to turn them off while youare away from the house and onlyuse them moderately while youare there. If you are using heatingor air conditioning, it only makessense to keep the windows closed.In the past decade, Italy has be­come quite sophisticated in itsmanagement of trash and recyc­ling. The receptacles are clearlylabeled and are usually found inroadside pull­offs that allow youto park briefly while unloadingand sorting your stuff. Keep inmind that trash pickup atindividual residence does notexist in Italy. It is your respons­ibility to dispose of your trash andrecyclables, and this is especiallyimportant at your departure. Theowner and staff will not do thisfor you!So how do you gethelp if you reallyneed it? Say there isa burned out lightbulb or the dish­washer seems to beout of commission.First, reach out to theowner or keyholder,who is usually able toresolve it within areasonable period oftime. In most cases,there will also be acustomer supportnumber to contact toreport the issue, andthey will do whatthey are able to do tohelp you. In the

event of a complaint, two thingsare important to remember:Do not abandon the propertywithout first working with theowner and the customer supportstaff to resolve the issue.Complaints which are not repor­ted during your stay will not beaccepted.With the formalities out of theway, you can turn your attentionto what you came here for: enjoy­ing Italy!

Some helpfulvocabulary to help

with sorting:Multimateriale: can

include metal, plasticand glass

Carta & cartone:paper and cardboardOrganici: Food waste

and other organicmaterials

Non differenziati:Everything else

The pictures on the lids make iteasy to see what's okay.

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H ow can I make the most ofmy time?

Vacation time is scarce and costly,so a little bit of advance planningcan go a long way toward makingyour holiday enjoyable and re­warding.Make a realistic plan for your daytrips. Be sure to include all of themust­see places in your region,but also consider the benefits ofgiving yourself a day or two offeach week to relax at the villa,enjoy the pool if you have one,shop locally and make your ownmeal at home.We have spoken to clients whobelieved they could rent a villa forone week in Tuscany, and duringthat time take day trips to Rome,Venice, Umbria and throughoutthe hill towns of Tuscany. Wedon’t know how it turned out, butthey were probably tired whenthey came home!We love the things that just seem

to occur spotaneously inItaly…something we happen uponthat we hadn’t planned on.Maybe there is a choir that sud­denly begins to sing in thecathedral you are visiting, orthere is an artist making a chalkmasterpiece in the street. Re­cently, we were amazed by thesudden appearance of a multitudeof classic Italian sports cars, driv­ing single file through the ancientstreets of San Quirico d’Orcia.You can’t make these things hap­pen no matter how you try, but ifyou are open to them, they seemto appear magically.Do you need to know Italian?Technically, the answer is no be­cause you will find Englishspoken nearly everywhere, espe­cially in the larger cities.However, the real answer is ‘itdepends on what kind of experi­ence you would like’.One of the joys of visiting anothercountry is in meeting and spend­

Happenings – You can’t plan forthem. They just happen.

Rome to Florence isabout 2.75 hours bycar or 1.75 hours bytrain.Florence to Venice isabout 3.25 hours bycar or 2 hours bytrain.Milan to Rome isabout 5.5 hours by caror 3.5 hours by train.Rome to Naples isabout 2.5 hours by caror 1.25 hours by train.

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ing time with its people, and sadlytoo many people visit Italywithout encountering many of itscitizens, especially with guidedtours where everything is handledin your native tongue.We strongly encourage you totake some time before your trip tolearn at least some importantphrases and vocabulary. Wepromise you, it will make a hugedifference!Finally, ask us about some of the‘special’ activities we can helpwith that you might have in mind.For example, we can help youplan a guided road trip to winer­ies, or a walking tour of a city likeFlorence. Having a native cookfor one or more nights is always alot of fun because it takes thepressure off, and gives you an ex­cellent taste of what the locals areeating.Sometimes it’s possible to arrangea cooking lesson either in the villaor in a location nearby. Thesekinds of things are becoming verypopular and often are what makesour clients' experience in Italy somemorable.For some interesting articlesabout places we have been andour thoughts on visiting Italy,please take a look at our blog“Find Yourself in Italy”

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H ow do I find and book a property?

Once you have an idea of where you would like to go and the kind of place you would like to rent,we make it simple to find a selection of accommodations to consider and make your short list.On the web,visit our home page athttp://www.italyrentals.comSelect 'Catalog Search'.Click on a region of Italy.It may take a moment, but you will thensee a selection of all the properties in thatregion in a list that goes from largest tosmallest (below). Use this screen to nar­row your selection by entering your pref­erences for:­ Number of guests­ Area within the region­ Start date­ Number of nights­ Independent House­ Pool­ Premium villaClick the Search button.

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Gira! I tal ian Vacation Rentals |

You will then see a selection of villas that match the preferences you entered.

You will notice that the list has the stars rating and begins with properties that can accommodatemore guests than you entered. This is because it is often the case that a group will choose a largerproperty to have the right number of bedrooms. If you are traveling with some single people whowould each like their own room, it’s possible that some of the singles will be sleeping in doublebeds, so technically the villa is a little larger than you requested.Be sure to look through this list for the right bedroom configuration, and add these to your shortlist.To view a property description and see its photos, click on the small image of the property on thislist, or its name. You will be taken to its page:

A Vil la of My Own

| Gira! I tal ian Vacation Rentals

Special note: If you’re looking for a luxury or high luxury property, you can use the links at the topof any page to find our selections for these types of properties. For special assistance in locating apremium villa, please be sure to contact us directly!If you feel that a particular property will be a good choice for you, click the button “Make an In­quiry or Reservation”. If you have not yet registered with us, you will be prompted to complete ashort registration page and then taken to the Reservation page. This does not obligate you to any­thing, but here you can let us know if you like the property enough to request a hold, or if perhapsyou have a comment or question about it. We are able to make only one hold per client, so pleasechoose carefully.Once your information is entered, press the Submit button to send it to us.

When we receive your request, we will reconfirm availability for your week and reply to you. If youhave made multiple requests, we will respond with our comments about your selections and see ifyou might have a preference. If you would like to proceed with your booking, we will take a shorthold for you and send you a booking document.The booking document has all of the reservation details and booking conditions for your villa rent­al. We will send this to you as an email attachment for your review. Please be sure to read all ofthe contract details (which are the same as you will find on the web page) and the booking condi­tions. To confirm, you complete the first part and fax it to us, or scan a signed copy and send it asan email attachment. When we have received your booking document and have processed yourdeposit payment, we will finalize your booking and send you a confirmation and receipt. If youbook less than 60 days prior to your arrival, the full amount of your rental will be due. Otherwise,

A Vil la of My Own

Gira! I tal ian Vacation Rentals |

there is a deposit payment and booking fee due at the time of booking, with the balance due 60days prior to your arrival.We will send you a reminder before your final payment is due. When you have paid in full, you willreceive your rental voucher, which includes the driving directions, contact details and other im­portant information for your arrival at the villa.So that’s it! Once this is completed, you are ready to go!Keep in touch and send us some pictures!