Last Updated on August 1, 2024
Renting a villa in Italy…the best vacation of our lives
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
By Jim Ferri
Some years ago, my wife and I, another couple, and our daughter and son-in-law rented a villa in Tuscany. It was about 30 minutes outside of Florence, one of Italy’s top places to visit.
To this day, we all still rave about it being the best vacation we have ever had.
In fact, it was such a good experience that we did it again late one autumn. At that time, however, we brought our two grandchildren along instead of the other couple.
During our stay in Florence, we saw all the sights, and we also attended a cooking class outside Florence, a wonderful (and delicious) experience. Then, we headed to a condo in Zermatt for a few days to catch the beginning of the European ski season.
Like many travelers, we’ve caught “villa fever.” If it’s just the two of us traveling, we’ll book a hotel or rent an apartment, but if family or a group is involved, we’ll consider a villa. And you can rent a villa in many different countries, not only Italy.
Remember that when renting a villa, you’ll have all sorts of options…rentals with a pool, private chef, disabled facilities, domestic help, pet friendly, etc. You can even book a villa for a wedding.
Below, you’ll find a list of companies that rent your dream villa, along with tips on making good choices.
Table of contents
The Real Cost of Renting a Villa in Italy
Although our villa stays were luxurious vacations, they didn’t cost a fortune. In fact, the opposite was true – by renting a villa in Italy, we saved a lot of money compared to staying in a luxury hotel.
If you do your homework and choose the suitable villa in Italy, you can enjoy a five-star experience at a three-star cost.
Yes, the price of a villa may seem high initially, but think of it in terms of cost per person per day. Calculate the costs of staying at a hotel of similar quality, including not only the published rate but also all the daily ancillary costs, including restaurant meals, resort charges, taxes, tips to porters, parking fees, etc. (Traveling at any time but the high summer travel season also lowers villa costs).
You’ll often find that the price disparity is not that great. And renting a villa in Italy can provide a unique upscale experience you won’t find in a hotel.
Unique Villa Benefits
One of the most liberating aspects of renting a villa in Italy is the freedom it offers. You’re on your own schedule, free from the constraints of restaurant reservations and opening and closing times.
You also get to live just as the locals do since many villas are located away from the mass-market tourist areas, often located in a city’s residential area or out in the countryside.
In our first villa, we were surrounded by rolling hills covered with vineyards and olive groves, with not a single tourist in sight. In our second, we were in an old residential area of Florence near the river, only a 10-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio.
If you rent a villa in Italy as a group, as we did, you’ll likely also find plenty of space for everyone, whether you want to be together or go off alone.
Want to take that bowl of pasta and a glass of wine and sit on the wall overlooking the valley as the sun sets? Go for it. Likewise, if you just want to bury your head in that novel you’re trying to finish, as did my son-in-law by the pool out back while enjoying a fantastic countryside view, go for it.
Remember that villas offer plenty of privacy since there aren’t a hundred other guests all about. And you’ll never leave your room and find a housekeeping cart in the hallway.
Memorable Times for All
One of the best aspects of villa living, whether in Italy or anywhere worldwide, is that you can eat whenever and whatever you want. Make a trip to the local market or supermarket and assemble your feast without worrying about prohibitive hotel restaurant costs.
Our villa trips were filled with unique experiences. On our first trip, we all loved exploring the Italian supermarkets. Last year, during our city experience, we savored the opportunity to dine in as many restaurants as possible, including the renowned Trattoria Zà Zà.
Another evening, we took out from a crowded and popular pizzeria we noticed down the block and then ate our pies in the Renaissance splendor of our palazzo dining room.
Look At the Add-Ons for Any Villa Rentals
Some villa owners or managers go the extra mile to enhance the value of their property by offering various add-ons. These can make you feel pampered and well taken care of during your stay.
In our country villa, for example, one suggested add-on was a dinner prepared by the owners. The cost was less than $60 per person for a delicious Tuscan steak dinner with excellent wines (the husband was a sommelier), with the steaks bought at the oldest butcher shop in Florence.
The icing on the cake, so to speak, was when his wife discovered the dinner was on my birthday. She then spent part of a day in the kitchen making a tiramisu birthday cake for me.
You don’t need to plan it all alone, however. Some companies, such as Select Italy, can assemble the entire package for you and custom-design your vacation.
The benefit is that knowledgeable people are on the ground in Italy doing all the legwork to help you fulfill your dream. All you have to do is show up.
Day Trips From Your Villa
Although we were out in the countryside, there was a good amount of things for us to do together or in two groups. (This will, of course, involve you renting a car). We toured the Chianti region one day, stopping in the ancient town of Greve in Chianti, once the center of the wine trade.
One day, we drove from our villa rental to beautiful Siena. There, we ambled about and then enjoyed a fantastic lunch outside on the magnificent Piazza del Campo.
On another day, we went by train from Florence to Rome. Another day, we drove to tiny Vinci, the home of Leonardo. During our city trip to Florence last Thanksgiving, we took the train to Venice for the day.
We didn’t stick to a set schedule or take any organized tours; we decided on our daily adventures around the dinner table the previous evening. In fact, it was that aspect that we enjoyed the most – the ability to vacation without the pressures of a vacation.|
We did have help, though. In our villa, there were two thick books with pages of comments from previous guests. They recommended where to go and gave suggestions on great restaurants in the countryside. Many even suggested good supermarkets to stock up on supplies, etc. It was a goldmine of information. By the way, we all enjoyed our visits to the supermarket.
Renting a Villa in Italy: The Basics
If you’re considering renting a villa in Italy, be aware of a few things before you hand over your credit card.
First of all, do your homework and use some common sense. Some villas are former (or present) homes. Others were designed as grand rentals, with all of the luxe built in. Are you looking for a romantic place or just someplace to crash after touring all day? We were looking for a rental to help us experience Italy’s culture. Pick your villa rental accordingly.
Although our choices weren’t at the top end cost-wise, the two villas we rented were filled with antiques. That gave them a unique sense of beauty and luxury. They were more the types of places for those who appreciate art and antiques, not for stag or hen parties.
Companies for Villa Rentals
You’ll find many companies online that rent villas in Italy. Some specialize only in Italy, others in several European countries or worldwide.
Some are general rental agencies that rent all sorts of homes, apartments, and villas. In fact, with some companies, you can find everything from a small apartment to a castle. These include Airbnb, Hidden Italy, VRBO, and Le Collectionist.
Other companies specialize only in villa rentals. Although many are very upscale, you will find rentals in many price ranges. These villa-rental companies include Wimco Villas, Oliver’s Travel, Villas in Italy, Villas of Distinction, Rent Villas, and Exceptional Villas.
Some specialize in offering additional services that can enhance your vacation. These concierge services can elevate your villa experience, often at an additional cost, of course.
You may also enjoy: Where to Find 8 Fascinating Walks in Rome / Hidden Gems in Italy / 26 Great European Day Trips by Rail / Bus
A Caveat: Look at the Photos and All the Reviews Carefully
If you’re booking a villa rental online, read all of the reviews and carefully look at the photos of your potential villa rental. That way, you won’t, hopefully, wind up with any unexpected surprises. People who rent villas can be brutally honest in their reviews.
While that pool looks beautiful, for example, what good will it be if you’re traveling during the Christmas holidays? And although it may be described as a “waterfront” property, is it actually on the beach? The term “waterfront” can also mean a canal or a marina.
Are extras such as a welcome package (bottle of wine, food, etc.) included? Does the company offer tours or reduced-price admission to museums, etc.? And who is available locally should anything go awry? Only book a villa through a company with an office and staff in-country.
And, finally, be aware that although checkout in many villa rentals is early, sometimes about 10:00 am, check-in may be late afternoon, perhaps around 4:00 pm. This is because it takes some time to clean a house thoroughly.
Booking an early morning arrival could leave you wandering for hours.
Such a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture!
Hi Jim,
Great article and great trips! Hotels often have an institutional feeling. I enjoy homestays, and renting a villa would provide more elbow room and a greater sense of freedom.
Tuscany is probably tops on most people’s list. I just read the book, “Too Much Tuscan Sun: Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide”, by Dario Castagno (published in 2004). It definitely gives you the fever!
After living in Ohrid, Macedonia, for a year, and traveling through the Balkans several times (You remember one of them!), I would recommend that area also. Although I’m not sure if they offer many villa rentals, homestays are plentiful and inexpensive. The owners meet incoming buses and trains and show photo albums of what they have available. We were never disappointed.
My dream though is to rent a small stone cottage in Ireland about a 5-minute bike ride from a cozy pub in a traditional village. Not sure for how long, possibly forever!
Cheers – Stan
Take me Stan
I think you’ll need to get on line Sara!
Jim
I’m currently in Italy on a 3 week vacation working our way north to south. I defiantly want to come back and you have provided the inspiration for how we might do it next time after hitting ALL the sights on Rick Steves 3 week agenda. Curt
Hi Curt,
3 weeks is about the perfect amount of time to spend in Italy on each trip. In fact, in a few days I’m leaving for another 3-week-or-so jaunt there. Maybe we’ll cross tracks! And thank you for the kind words.
Hi Jim,
Thank you for your reviews. I am just looking at booking a villa in Tuscany and they want 50% via bank transfer as a deposit and the balance as cash on arrival. Just wondering if that is normal practice?
Cheers
David
Hi David,
Since things change so often, the best thing to do is to Google “Villa rental Italy” or something similar. Then look at different companies and what they require. You can do this rather easily, and it will give you the most up-to-date information.
Jim