The Vista Paradiso

STUDIO CITY/SHERMAN OAKS: Two small, never-occupied condo buildings in the Valley have sold, and new owner Raintree Partners is planning on turning them rental (at least for now). Vista Paradiso, on Laurelwood Drive, was built last year and has 24 two- and three-bedrooms; in a press release, Raintree Director of Acquisitions Aaron Hancock calls them “one of the few high-end condo properties available for rent south of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City.” Villa Sofia, on Woodman Ave., was also built last year and has 39 two- and three-bedrooms. No word on what rents will look like. [Curbed Inbox]

LOS ANGELES: As the new ExpressLanes congestion pricing system is slowly being put in place on the 110 and 10 Freeways, a reader wonders about the remains of an old plan for the 10: “Your blurb on the I-110 express lanes got me wondering again about something that I have never gotten an answer to:  whatever happened to the signalized system that was installed on the Santa Monica Fwy between downtown and the 405, but never activated?  The signals are there, the signs are there but covered over.  That was easily 15 years ago.” [Curbed Inbox]

Article source: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/02/vacant_valley_condos_go_rental_ancient_10_freeway_signals.php

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL–(Marketwire -02/28/12)- Back in 1989, ResortQuest Northwest Florida was an original Founding Sponsor for Emerald Coast Volleyball Week in Destin, Fla. Since that first competition more than two decades ago, Emerald Coast Volleyball Week has grown into one of the largest four-player beach volleyball tournaments in the United States, attracting thousands of players and spectators to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area each year.

Now in its 24th season, the 2012 event will kick off on Wednesday, April 18 and go through Sunday, April 22. The five-day tournament includes men’s and women’s divisions across four tournament formats: Fudpucker 4-Player, Bring Your Own Partner, Best of the Beach and Doubles Draw. Official tournament matches will be played on the beach behind The Boardwalk, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex located at 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

As the Founding Sponsor of the tournament, ResortQuest® by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is offering an Emerald Coast Volleyball Week lodging special. Players and spectators can save 20 percent off a stay of three nights or more in eligible units at select properties offered through ResortQuest, including the beachfront Waterscape, Summer Place and Azure condominium resorts. This special rate is available on stays for guests arriving on or after Monday, April 16 and departing by Tuesday, April 24, 2012.

“ResortQuest is proud to continue our sponsorship of the highly popular Emerald Coast Volleyball Week, an event that introduces visitors from across the country to Northwest Florida’s award-winning beaches,” said Ryan Christopher, senior operations manager, ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals. “In addition to a Gulf-front location approximately a mile away from the tournament site, properties like Waterscape and Azure offer available amenities such as whirlpool tubs, flat-screen televisions, fully equipped kitchens and in-unit washer/dryers.”

As the world’s largest professionally managed vacation rental business, Wyndham Vacation Rentals boasts more than 95,000 rental properties around the world including an expansive portfolio along the coast of Northwest Florida and Alabama. ResortQuest Northwest Florida was recently named the “Best Vacation Rental Service Firm” on the Emerald Coast for the third year in a row by readers of Emerald Coast magazine.

Emerald Coast Volleyball Week is sponsored in part by the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council and Emerald Coast Convention Visitors Bureau. Unpretentious, breathtakingly beautiful and named “No. 1 Place to Live Boat” by Boating magazine, Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast is famous for 24 miles of sugar-white sand and emerald-green waters.

To take advantage of ResortQuest’s Emerald Coast Volleyball Week lodging special, guests should call 855-314-3906 and mention Promo Code A1178. Availability is limited, and reservations must be booked by phone. More details, including terms and conditions, are available online.

About Wyndham Vacation Rentals

Wyndham Vacation Rentals, the world’s largest professionally managed vacation rentals business, is part of Wyndham Exchange Rentals and the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN – News). Backed by one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Vacation Rentals provides access to more than 95,000 vacation rental properties in over 500 unique destinations worldwide. Specializing in the managed vacation rental segment, Wyndham works closely with property owners to ensure all rentals meet its standards for customer service, quality and comfort. With a diverse and celebrated collection of more than 25 rental brands including Canvas Holidays, Hoseasons, James Villa Holidays, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, ResortQuest® and The Resort Company, Wyndham Vacation Rentals delivers distinct vacation experiences, ranging from beachfront condos, private homes, villas, castles and houseboats, with many properties offering kitchens, washers and dryers, maid service, spa and fitness centers, and golf courses. For additional information visit our media center or wyndhamrentals.com. Wyndham Vacation Rentals also can be found on Facebook.

About ResortQuest® by Wyndham Vacation Rentals

Headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is a leading provider of full-service vacation condominiums and home rentals in the U.S., with a portfolio of approximately 6,000 vacation rental properties. For more than 20 years, ResortQuest has provided full-service vacation rentals in some of the most desirable beach, ski, golf and tennis resort destinations across North America. ResortQuest is part of Wyndham Vacations Rentals, the world’s largest serviced vacation rentals business providing access to more than 95,000 vacation properties in over 500 unique destinations worldwide, and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN – News). For additional information visit our media center or wyndhamrentals.com. ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals also can be found on Facebook.

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/founding-sponsor-resortquest-wyndham-vacation-140000380.html

Visitors from all corners of the world are flocking to Fort Lauderdale to see the House of Uffizi Gallery Exhibition, on loan from Florence, Italy, at the Museum of Art|Fort Lauderdale Nova Southeastern University. Visitors to the exhibit are staying to enjoy some of the area’s famous beaches and attractions, according to John Romano of Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rentals.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

Art lovers from around the world are heading to Fort Lauderdale for the “Offering of the Angels: Old Master Paintings and Tapestries from the Uffizi Gallery,” exhibition at the Museum of Art|Fort Lauderdale Nova Southeastern University through April 8, 2012. As crowds flock in growing numbers to the exhibit, considered one of the world’s greatest collections of old master paintings and tapestries, many are booking Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rental condos and private homes for their visit.

Ft.LauderdaleVacationRentals.com offers a site for travelers anywhere in the world to find privately owned apartments, condos, and homes in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas, and rent them directly from the property owner. A growing trend in hotel-free lodging, vacation rental properties provide affordable accommodations for families and groups of friends looking for vacation condos or homes in Fort Lauderdale to rent without breaking the bank, especially during Florida’s high tourist season.

Through FtLauderdalevacationrentals.com, travelers can rent a private one bedroom, one bath condo in downtown Fort Lauderdale, or a three bedroom, three bath waterfront villa that sleeps six, for a weekend or a week at prices significantly lower than those of area hotels. The added benefits to staying in a private Fort Lauderdale vacation rental home, in addition to the cost savings, are the kitchen, laundry, and all the amenities that go with staying in a private home.

“We’ve found that visitors from the U.S. and Europe are logging on to the Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rentals website to search online for an affordable alternative to a hotel,” said John Romano, founder of Ft Lauderdale Vacation Rentals.

“Families coming to Fort Lauderdale to see this amazing collection from Florence, Italy – many of which were commissioned by members of of the Medici family — are staying to enjoy the beautiful beaches and attractions that Fort Lauderdale offers,” Romano said. “They appreciate having a private vacation home with a kitchen, laundry room, and all the comforts of home.

“Visitors can’t get over the value they get with a vacation rental condo or villa in Fort Lauderdale instead of a hotel, especially when they discover how much they’re saving over a hotel,” he said.

About Ft. Lauderdale Vacation Rentals:

FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com is the world’s first portal dedicated only to vacation rentals in Fort Lauderdale. Established in 2006 and acquired by Vacation Rental Organization, LLC in 2010, Ft Lauderdale Vacation Rental’s mission is to provide a selection of vacation rentals in Fort Lauderdale and to connect travelers with property owners in the most efficient way possible.

FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com’s system allows potential renters to select from an extensive collection of properties, based on location, size, price, and by a variety of features and property types. Prospective renters can research, compare and select cabins, villas, houses, estate homes, mansions, condos and other vacation properties in Ft. Lauderdale.

FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com is not a broker; it offers a set of management tools combined with an economical conduit between travelers seeking the space, value and amenities of vacation rentals and homeowners looking to rent out their vacation properties. For more information, visit the Ft. Lauderdale Vacation Rentals website at ftlauderdalevacationrentals.com.

###

John Romano
Vacation Rental Organization
954-990-5539 1004
Email Information

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/italys-uffizi-gallery-exhibit-old-master-paintings-tapestries-113609820.html

Click here to view the full photogallery.

If the Eat, Pray, Love HSN home line doesn’t quite do it, now there’s a better, more complete way to indulge those decadent divorcee fantasies. In fact, some might argue that this is a truly excellent way of spending any monies earned in, say, a settlement: Bramasole, the villa featured in Under the Tuscan Sun, is available for nightly rental. In the 2006 flick, Diane Lane gazes upon the dilapidated structure—actually the stuccoed farmhouse on a two-house property—and espies its sunny, post-renovation future. This, as well as the main house, were renovated in real life and boast a total of 10 bedrooms and a shared pool, heated Jacuzzi, charcoal grill, and pizza oven outside. The place may be stunningly beautiful, but the price—a staggering $2,451 to $3,831 a night—quickly puts the brakes on any dolce vita daydreaming.

· Bramasole [Italian Villas via Hooked on Houses]

Article source: http://curbed.com/archives/2012/02/27/under-the-tuscan-sun-villa-rents-for-staggering-price-tag.php

LOS CABOS, Mexico–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Ron Hatfield, President of Del
Mar Development, the developer of Los Cabos’ premier, luxury resort
communities, announces an exciting partnership with Delta
Private Jets, a service consistently ranked among the best in luxury
private travel.

“We’re pleased to enter this partnership with Delta Private Jets and to
be associated with Delta Air Lines – a leader in the industry,” said
Hatfield. “This partnership speaks to the prestige of the residential
resort communities we’ve created here in Los Cabos and the strength of
the Del Mar Development brand worldwide.”

The new alliance will provide Del Mar Development homeowners and resort
guests with preferred charter services, and in turn, Delta Private Jets
customers will receive preferred rates on luxury villa rentals at Del
Mar. Additionally, customers will enjoy complimentary service
experiences as a gift for choosing to book travel to Los Cabos with
Delta Private Jets or a vacation stay at Del Mar’s resort villas. Delta
Private Jets and Del Mar will work together to provide a seamless
reservation process.

“This relationship will provide our homeowners and guests with the
conveniences and benefits of Delta Private Jets travel,” Hatfield says.
Having set the standard for luxury lifestyle in Los Cabos and sharing a
vision with Delta Private Jets, Hatfield believes this alliance to be a
natural one, providing the ultimate in luxury – on the ground, and in
the air. Cyril Turner, President of Delta Private Jets is equally
enthusiastic about forging this partnership with Del Mar Development.

“This new partnership with Del Mar Development is a natural fit for
Delta Private Jets because we both pride ourselves on bringing an
unparalleled experience to our customers,” said Turner. “We’re excited
for Del Mar customers to enjoy our products and services.”

Delta Private Jets offers the industry-leading, innovative Delta Private
Jets Card allowing customers advantages such as rates locked in for up
to two years, account increments of either $50,000, $100,000 or
$200,000, no fuel surcharges and guaranteed jet availability.
Additionally, it offers cardholders valuable benefits on Delta Air
Lines, including SkyMiles Diamond Medallion status*, Delta Sky Priority
services, Delta Sky Club membership and discounts** when purchasing
First class or BusinessElite tickets on Delta.

Del Mar Development is eager to welcome Delta Private Jets members to
its luxury oceanfront communities which feature a collection of Cabo’s
most stunning seaside villas, nestled along a private stretch of beach
neighboring the OneOnly Palmilla Hotel. Del Mar’s unrivaled amenities
package includes a private beach club, private sailing catamaran, an
ocean-view fitness club, the 27-hole Palmilla golf course and the
Palmilla Tennis Club.

Mexico’s famed Baja lifestyle is just a three-hour flight from many
major U.S. cities. Homeowners and guests traveling with Delta Private
Jets will arrive in Los Cabos International Airport’s very own private
jet terminal, which ensures smooth and efficient service from start to
finish. From there, it’s a mere 20-minute drive to beachside bliss at
Del Mar.

For more information on Del Mar Development or to arrange an interview
with Ron Hatfield, please contact Jade Moore at Janine Gordon Associates
(212-871-3020, ext. 108) or jmoore@jgordonassociates.com.
For more information on Delta Private Jets, please contact Leslie Parker
Scott at 404-715-2554 or media@delta.com.

###

Benefits require purchase of the Delta Private Jets Card. Delta Private
Jets Card is subject to Delta Private Jets’ Terms and Conditions that
are outlined in the current Delta Private Jets Card Agreements. For
Terms of the Jet Card visit DeltaPrivateJets.com/jetcard. Delta Private
Jets flights are operated by Delta Private Jets, Inc., an
FAA-certificated Far Part 135 air carrier, or by another
FAA-certificated Part 135 or Part 121 air carrier. Offers void where
prohibited by law. Offers subject to change without notice. Other
restrictions apply.

*Access to and use of Delta Sky Priority™ benefits are reserved for
BusinessElite®, First and Business Class, Diamond, Platinum, and Gold
Medallion® members, and SkyTeam® Elite Plus members. Benefits subject to
change at any time. All SkyPriority rules apply. To review the rules,
please visit delta.com/skypriority. All SkyMiles program rules apply to
SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile
redemption and travel benefits. To review the rules, please visit
delta.com/memberguide. All Delta Sky Club rules apply to Delta Sky Club
use. To review the rules visit Delta.com/skyclub. Offer, rules and
benefits subject to change.

**For domestic or international air transportation provided by Delta,
Cardholder shall be entitled to a 20% discount on published F (domestic
First Class), C (international First Class) and J (international
Business Class) fares in effect when booked.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50183239lang=en

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50183239lang=en

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/del-mar-development-partners-delta-164800926.html

East Coast Road is the new address of the upwardly mobile, what with a number of villa projects coming up

Far from the madding crowd, East Coast Road has been the most sought-after option for a short break from the routine. But with development extending right up to Mamallapuram, thanks to easy connectivity provided by it, people are not only investing in high-end villas coming up along the road but also willing to relocate for a good share of tranquillity.

This is evident when you take a drive on the stretch blooming with red bougainvillea and yellow flowers, protruding from compound walls. Young men at the toll plaza handing out brochures of upcoming villas houses on Poonthadalam village; trucks unloading construction material at Kunal Garden in Akkarai; the tall banners showing lavish villas — ECR is clearly the new address for the upwardly mobile.

For the last 10 years, the Rengarajans always found solace driving to their two-ground property on Kovalam Main Road as a weekend getaway or to celebrate. “We knew that as an investment, ECR will always be a good bet. Of late we have also been thinking of letting it out on a corporate lease, so that the property is well maintained,” says Srikala Rengarajan, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur. But that may be difficult with the high rentals in the area and many families opting to purchase property.

“Earlier, people chose ECR to build weekend homes or for long-term investment appreciation. Of late, there has been a steady influx of people settling down in localities such as Neelangarai, Injambakkam, Sholinganallur and Akkarai,” says Sanjay Chugh, founder, Skylines Property Consultant. A few years ago the settlements were restricted to Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakkam and Palavakkam.

“The eastern side of the ECR still attracts a premium over the western side. Prices for residential land range between Rs.50 lakh to Rs.1.50 crore per ground,” he says. According to him, plots that have been approved by the DTCP (Department of Town and Country Planning) are attracting ready buyers.

Besides individuals investing in plots, many developers have also launched high-end projects. Landmark Construction, for instance, will be starting work on a project in Palavakkam and Neelangarai and two in Uthandi. “Villas draw a lot of expats, fetch a good rental and are a good investment option too. I have entrepreneurs and NRIs who are ready to invest in these properties that start from Rs. 5.8 crore to Rs. 7 crore,” says T. Udaya Kumar, managing director of the company.

Besides, 13 other villa projects in all are coming up between Muthukad and Thiruvanmiyur.

Low density

While construction of houses on the ECR has had its set of hurdles like Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and aquifer zone clearances, developers say the potential is getting explored now. But it is the regulations that had preserved this stretch until now: permission for construction in the aquifer recharge area came only in 2008 and it specifies that minimum plot size should be 440 sq.m. and floor space index (FSI) 0.8. The low FSI and plot coverage was mandatory to keep the ground open for recharge. The height of buildings is restricted to 8.5 m with maximum plot coverage of 40 percent. The CRZ protects the aquifer recharge area as well as unauthorised construction from coming up close to the beach front (500 m from the high tide line).

With Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and Neelangarai reclassified from CRZ III to CRZ II, there are other concerns that are being raised. Officials from the CMDA say if construction regulations are strictly adhered to, there will not be any impact on the density of an area or the number of people accommodated. “We have delegated powers to the local bodies to check if regulations are being adhered to,” says an official. Many residents still have doubts pertaining to high tide and black-topped road.

While either side of the East Coast Road continues to witness development, residents such as Sanjay Sridhar, who moved out of busy of T. Nagar for a peaceful life in Neelangarai, want garbage cleared regularly and the beaches maintained. “It used to take 10 minutes to reach Adyar from my home when I moved in eight years back, now it is 30 minutes,” he adds.

Article source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2939632.ece

COLONIA JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) – In the craggy desert of northern Mexico, U.S. presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s relatives turned an arid valley into lush agricultural land and prospered after being chased from the United States for their Mormon beliefs. They suffered years of hardship, living in dirt dugouts and overturned wagons, but then went on to build sturdy homes and a thriving school, develop irrigation canals and dams, raise herds of cattle, and plant vast peach and apple orchards from …

Article source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/saskatoon-health-region-ceo-apologizes-seniors-evicted-homes-031352915.html

Renaissance Festival fans from across the U.S. will be in Fort Lauderdale for the “Pets Weekend”-themed stretch of the 20th Annual Renaissance Fair in nearby Deerfield Beach. Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rentals has opened a huge selection of new vacation home rental listings in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area for travelers heading to the Renaissance Festival.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida (PRWEB) February 22, 2012

Visitors to the 20th annual Renaissance Festival in Deerfield Beach are taking advantage of new vacation rental home and condo listings available through Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rentals to book their stays for the February 25 and 26 weekend celebration of all things medieval.

Medieval enthusiasts are turning to the Internet and FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com to find Deerfield Beach vacation rentals priced low enough to make it a carefree weekend of excess in costume and cuisine, but not lodgings.

Ft.LauderdaleVacationRentals.com is an online hub for travelers to find privately owned apartments, condos, and homes in Ft. Lauderdale and nearby Deerfield Beach, and rent them directly from the property owner. The newest trend in hotel-free accommodations, it’s affordable for families and groups of friends looking for Deerfield Beach vacation condos or homes to rent at a price to fit any budget.

Through Ft.Lauderdalevacationrentals.com, Renaissance Festival guests can rent a private home, condo, villa or apartment at prices significantly lower than those of area hotels. The added benefits to staying in a private vacation rental home in Deerfield Beach, in addition to the cost savings, are the kitchen, laundry, and all the little luxuries that go with staying in a private home.

“We’re finding that more and more visitors are logging on to FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com to search online for an affordable alternative to a hotel,” said John Romano, founder of Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rentals.

“Families traveling together appreciate having a private vacation home or condo in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida, with a kitchen and laundry readily available, and it’s going to cost you a lot less than a hotel.

“Visitors are growing used to the value they get when they stay in a vacation rental home instead of a hotel, especially when they discover how much they’re saving over a hotel when they start comparison shopping,” he said.

About Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rentals:

FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com is the world’s first portal dedicated only to vacation rentals in Fort Lauderdale. Established in 2006 and acquired by Vacation Rental Organization, LLC in 2010, Ft Lauderdale Vacation Rental’s mission is to provide a selection of vacation rentals in Fort Lauderdale and to connect travelers with property owners in the most efficient way possible.

FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com’s system allows potential renters to select from an extensive collection of properties, based on location, size, price, and by a variety of features and property types. Prospective renters can research, compare and select cabins, villas, houses, estate homes, mansions, condos and other vacation properties in Ft. Lauderdale.

FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com is not a broker; it offers a set of management tools combined with an economical conduit between travelers seeking the space, value and amenities of vacation rentals and homeowners looking to rent out their vacation properties.

For more information, visit the Ft. Lauderdale Vacation Rentals website at FtLauderdaleVacationRentals.com.

# # #

Liz Ernst
Vacation Rental Organization
954-990-5539 1004
Email Information

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/fort-lauderdale-vacation-rentals-offers-listings-time-travelers-110251466.html

An authority on Villa Travel and Vacation Home Ownership, Irene Aviles will share her expertise with a distinguished group of attendees on Alternatives to Traditional Ownership Real Estate. The Conference is the longest running, most recognized and informal global gathering in the fractional interest and resort real estate industry.

Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) February 22, 2012

Ragatz Associates will hold their 12th Annual Fractional and Resort Real Esate Conference at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 12-13.

After spending more than 20 years as a senior executive in the multi-family real estate management industry, Mrs. Aviles, in a bold and innovative move, lauched the first ‘hybrid club concept’ for luxury vacation homeowners and discerning travelers alike.

In February 2007, Private Trade Winds was born out of Mrs. Aviles knowledge as a luxury vacation homeowner, as well as her experience and interest in world travel. Private Trade Winds is quickly becoming known in the luxury segment as the purveyor of the Five-Star Villa Vacation. By offering a one-stop-shop approach, vacation homeowners can take advantage PTW’s Rental, Trade and Travel Program, while the traveler gains access to a professionally managed and branded global villa portfolio. Each client experiences various types of vacation home ownership, which includes the service of a personalized Concierge and licensed travel agency. This is groundbreaking for the travel industry.

In an effort to further define villa travel in the marketplace, Mrs. Aviles partnered with The Travel Institute in writing the first Villa Certification Course, a program designed to teach Travel Agents, Real Estate Agents and Developers how to market and rent villa product to the consumer.

About Private Trade Winds, Inc.

Founded in February 2007 and based in Newport Beach, California, Private Trade Winds, Inc., leads the nation in villa travel and is the creator of the Five-Star Villa Vacation. With over 400 branded luxury villas worldwide the company markets to the vacation homeowner, the luxury traveler and travel agents. To learn more email Judy Sweetland at jsweetland(at)privatetradewinds(dot)com or call 866-789-4589 Ext. 804.

###

Judy Sweetland
Private Trade Winds, Inc.
866-789-4589 804
Email Information

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/private-trade-winds-founder-president-irene-aviles-confirmed-081203228.html

By Sylvie Hogg

Villas are an increasingly popular way to stay in Tuscany and Umbria, and for good reason. In contrast to hotels, a vacation rental gives you room to spread out, the freedom to do your own thing, and the fun of living temporarily all’italiana. A rental car is essential for all but a handful of villas.

Villas can also save you money. You’ll end up spending less on meals out, since you’ll have a kitchen and dining area where you can cook feasts with local gourmet goodies. And if you’re in a group, you’ll save even more as you defray the rental fees over a larger number of people. The majority of villas have swimming pools, washing machines, DVD players, and satellite TV; units with reliable Internet connections are rare. Of course, villas don’t come with concierges, continental breakfasts, or daily maid service. But at a minimum, all villas come with emergency contact information and local resources if any issues should arise.

As with any real estate, location is key. Find out the following before booking

1) Is it close to a main road? Country roads are fun but slow — for relaxed day trips around the region, it pays to have easy access to the thoroughfares that serve greater Tuscany and Umbria. On the flip side, steer clear of anything too close to the autostrada.

2) Are there a food market, pharmacy, coffee bar, and gas station within a 5to 10-minute drive? A bit of seclusion is great; too much is a hassle.

3) What’s the topography like? You’re more likely to get that gorgeous cliché of sundrenched fields and cypress-lined lanes near Montalcino and Montepulciano, while in Chianti Country and the Lucca area you’ll find more mountainous, forested terrain. The Valdichiana, near Cortona, is flatter farmland and is more industrialized in parts.

Keep in mind that the noble-sounding names — Tenuta this, or Poggio that — of some listings may suggest something loftier than the reality. Sure, plenty of properties are truly estatelike, but others are blandly modern. When you do arrive at even the most idyllic properties, don’t expect fairy-tale surroundings in every direction: There are bound to be modern intrusions, like the monstrous new hospital that blights the view to the south. Anticipate them, and they won’t ruin your vacation.

Some agencies we like: U.K.-based Tuscany Now (tel. 020-7684-8884; www.tuscanynow.com), which charges from 1,600€ per week for a four-person villa. In Tuscany (tel. 0577-630257; www.intuscany.net) asks from 1,000€ per week for a four-person villa. Your Tuscany (tel. 06-68809301; www.yourtuscany.com) has high-end villas from 2,600€ per week for a property that sleeps six.

Related Information:

Tips Tools: Money and Currency

Article source: http://www.wflx.com/story/16984678/how-to-rent-a-villa-in-tuscany