Questions about ... Life in Tuscany

Can you recommend books on Tuscany?
This is not an exhaustive list, but we liked the following:
Travel writing:
Italian Neighbours by Tim Parks, Vintage
Italy, True Stories of Life on the Road, Various, Calcagno
A Traveller in Italy by H.V. Norton, Methuen

Guide books:
Green Michelin – Tuscany: Best on the market for architecture, history etc and great suggestions for itineraries.
Red Michelin - Italy: Great for restaurants and useful distances. www.michelin-travel.com
Lonely planet – Tuscany: very useful general guide

How quiet is Tuscany?
Most of our properties are in the countryside and therefore there might be some “countryside” noises such as those of animals (dogs, birds, cocks etc) or of farming activities (tractors are common during grape picking or olive harvest time).
Tuscan Dreams is not responsible for such noise or disturbance which is understandably beyond our control, including road works and construction noise of which we have not previously been advised of.

Are there any health requirements to visit Italy?
There are no current health requirements valid for travel in Italy for UK residents. A leaflet issued by the Department of Health, obtainable from Post Offices, gives you general information for travellers inside the European Union.

Should we be worried about mosquitoes?
Unfortunately, mosquitoes are quite common during the summer particularly at night. However, a good anti-mosquito spray and a plug-in anti-mosquito devise (readily available in locals shops), you should not suffer from them.

Can we bring the dog?
Please check with us if you want to bring your pet (dog, cat, tortoise etc) as no pets are allowed without the permission of the owner. There may be an extra cleaning charge for pets to be paid directly in cash to the owner.

A note on animals:
Please remember that Tuscany remains a very rural and agricultural region of Italy, despite having a large amount of its economy based on tourism. It is still very common for a lot of households in the countryside to have a number of pets (cats and dogs) as well as chickens or birds in cages. Having animals in the countryside (domestic and non domestics – foxes and birds, etc) is part of the experience of staying in a rural area. And if you suffer from an allergy to cats, for instance, Tuscany might not be the best place for you since roaming cats are a feature of the Tuscan countryside.

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Questions about ... Travelling to Italy

Do you provide travel insurance?
No, we don’t but that is not a reason for forgetting about it! Please also remember that if you leave valuables at the property, it is at your own risk. Neither Tuscan Dreams nor the owners are responsible for their loss.

How do I find the property?
We will provide you with a voucher with driving instruction and contact details of the property. We take great precaution in providing you the best directions however we recommend that you purchase a good road map (Michelin 430 or Touring Club Italiano are very good). The map will complement our indications and also help in your exploration of the region. Please remember that motorways (Autostrada) in Italy have tolls. Minor public roads may be unpaved and the access roads to many of our properties are often no more than rough tracks.

What are the check in and check out arrangement?
Check-in is between 4 pm and 7 pm and check out by 10 am. There are a few exceptions so please refer to your voucher for further information or simply ask at time of booking. It is important to notify us if arrival is likely to be later than 7pm since some properties may be unable to accept clients after a certain time. The manager/owner will welcome you, show you in and give you the keys to the property.

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Questions about ... the Property – Inside

Is there air-conditioning?
Most of our properties do not have air conditioning. Please check at time of booking if this is an important feature to you.

Can we hire cots and baby chairs?
Most properties can provide you with a cot (often free of charge) if needed. Highchairs are rare. Please check at time of booking. Cots and baby chairs conform to local safety standard. However, it is your responsibility to check that they meet with your infants requirements.

Are linen and towels provided?
Bed linen and bath towels are provided free of charge and changed weekly unless otherwise stated in the price list. Please bring your own towels for swimming pool use.

What are the common rooms like i.e. living room/dining room?
Sofas/Settees and armchairs are not as abundant in Tuscany as in the UK. A lot of socialising in Italy is usually conducted at the dining table and as a result you might find the living room arrangement not as comfortable as at home.

What are the bedrooms like?
Most double beds are queen size bed (about 1.20 metre wide) unless stated otherwise. Double beds often consist of two single mattresses with a double frame or two singles linked together with a double sheet. Mattresses may not be of as good a quality as you are used to at home.

Is there a washing machine?
We will mention in the description whether there is a washing machine. Dryers are rare. Please also note that in farmhouses, the washing machine is shared and that there can be a surcharge to use it. Please check at time of booking.

Is there a bathtub or a shower?
Generally, our villas and apartments have showers only. Bathtubs are rare. Please ask at time of booking if this is a feature important to you.

Is the property cleaned during the stay?
Villas and apartments will have been cleaned prior to your arrival but will not been cleaned during your stay. In some cases, there is the possibility to request a maid service during your stray. Please remember that most properties have a final cleaning charge to be paid on site.

What equipment will we find in the kitchen?
Refrigerator and hobs (sometimes only two-ring) are standard. There will be enough cutlery and crockery for your party. Further equipment such as ovens, dishwashers, etc. may be available depending on the individual property. Please ask at time of booking. Please note that some typical British electric appliances such as kettles, electric coffee machine or toasters, are not usually provided. These are not part of Italian daily life. Wine glasses are not in general use. Italians often use small tumblers for wine.

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Questions about ... the Property – Outside

Will there be garden furniture?
Outdoor furniture is provided at all properties with gardens. Gardens are generally left in a more ‘natural’ state than British ones.

What channels can we watch on the TV?
You will have the pleasure of enjoying Italian channels. Where mentioned that a property has satellite TV, you will have a mixed of Italian, English and German speaking channels but we cannot guarantee which ones are available. Please note that Satellite services in Italy are not as varied as those in the UK and USA.

When is the swimming pool open?
Swimming pools are generally open from 1st June to 30th September. If your rental period is outside the above dates, please check with us whether the pool can be opened. Since the pool opening times are dependant on weather conditions and are at the owner’s discretion, we cannot guarantee opening periods of the pools outside those dates. Please note that heated pools are rare.

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Questions about ... Extra Costs

Are there any extras to be paid on site?
In most cases, you will be required to pledge a security deposit (refundable) on arrival and cleaning charges. Depending on the property, there might also be a charge for heating (in cold months), renting a cot, maid and chef service charge, telephone charges etc. Please refer to price grid on the web site or simply ask when booking. Remember those charges are to be paid locally in Euro and in cash.

Do I need to pay extra for the electricity and water?
Electricity, water and gas are included in the rental cost except where otherwise stated. You will need an adaptor (BS1363) for British electrical appliances. Electricity is all 220 volts. Water can be in short supply if there is a drought so it is kind not to be lavish with it.

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Questions about ... the Property - Description on our web site

What is the difference between a villa and a farmhouse?
This is a difficult question. We use the generic term of “Villa” to refer to self-catering accommodation usually standing on its own (but not always) that offer some privacy such as private swimming pool or garden. It is sometimes the case that the owner might live in the house next door or that the owner might need to pass from the grounds of the property.
As for “farmhouse”, we use this term to describe a house or a cluster of houses that have been renovated and split into self-catering apartment for holiday markers. In most case, those “farmhouses” were used for agricultural purposes and are in the Tuscan countryside. For instance you will find a few apartments called Fienile which refers to a hayloft. If you need any clarification about the property, do not hesitate to ask.

Who takes the photos?
Unless photos are provided by the owner of a property, Erica Bellini takes the photos when visiting the property. We try to do our best to give you a good idea of what the property looks like. Hence we like to have quite a few photos per property. However, those are intended to give you an overall impression rather than a detailed one. For instance, items of furniture which appear in a photograph might be changed or removed or the garden might have evolved according to the seasons.

Who writes the description?
Erica Bellini is the writer of all the description. She compiles all the information concerning our properties for the brochure and the website as accurately as possible and in good faith. However, there may be times when certain services, amenities or facilities are unavailable, limited or modified without our knowledge, particularly in low season. For instance, swimming pool might not be open or the fireplace might not be working. Such situations may be dictated by local circumstances, unsuitable weather conditions, lack of demand, and necessity for maintenance or redecoration. Tuscan Dreams cannot accept responsibility for any such problems, which are outside our control.

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