Additional Information
FAQ Italy & France
Transportation
Does my villa rental include transfers?
Italy and France: No, our European villas do not include transfers or airport meet and greets. We encourage everyone booking a European villa to rent a car for the full-duration of their stay. If car rental is not an option, our concierge can arrange for private luxury transportation.
Can you book car rentals for my group?
Italy and France: Yes, we can arrange car rentals for our clients.
Can I get driving directions from different locations?
Italy and France: Directions are normally provided from the nearest airport. If driving directions are needed from different or multiple locations, we recommend making note of the villa address provided on final documents (sent 4-6 weeks prior to travel) and using Via Michelin, www.viamichelin.com (a European version of our Mapquest).
How far is my villa from a town? Can I walk to town?
Italy or France: When booking your villa, please make sure to take note of the location of the property. Many of our villas are located in the countryside and the nearest town may not be within walking distance. Before booking a villa, be sure that the property you decide on is in the perfect location for your needs.
Arrival & Departure
What will my villa look like?
Italy and France: All of our European villas are unique in style, layout and decor. Many of the properties are centuries old, privately owned villas, estates, and chateaus. As such, the decor, amenities and structure may not be designed or constructed to present day standards. What you will find is that the historic characteristics of these villas are what makes them charming.ÃÂÃÂ From fine antique furnishings to natural changes in the original framework of the buildings, these are all unique parts of the story that make up the history of a European villa.
What time can I check in? Can I check-in early?
Italy and France: The average check-in time for a European villa is between 5 and 8 p.m.
During high season (Spring and Summer), early check-in is usually unavailable due to the high volume of guests arriving and departing. Because we wish for all of our guests to have a remarkable experience and a great first impression, we strongly discourage early check-ins in order to allow for the villa to be fully prepared for your arrival.
Please keep the check-in time in mind when booking your flights and planning arrival arrangements. As many European flights originating from the US arrive in the early morning, we recommend exploring the route on the way to the villa: enjoy lunch at a local cafe, or shop and relax a bit before heading to the villa.
Will someone be at the villa when I arrive? Will they speak English?
Italy and France: Yes, there are key-holders/caretakers of our European properties who either live on the property or very nearby. They generally speak English-at least enough to help with simple questions and requests. We cannot confirm that your key-holder/caretaker will speak perfect English, but you will always be supplied with the phone number to the local villa management if there is something that the key-holder/caretaker cannot assist you with.
Their job is to meet you upon your arrival, gather your security deposit if applicable, show you around the property and answer any questions you may have. In most cases, the caretaker does not typically return until the day of your departure, at which time any bills will be settled and if paid upon arrival, the security deposit returned. Please note that key-holders/caretakers do not act as a local concierge.
Is there a security deposit required upon my arrival? Which methods of payment are accepted (e.g. cash, credit card, check)?
Italy: Many of our Italian villas require a cash security deposit paid in Euros upon arrival to the key-holder/caretaker. The local key-holder/caretaker is not able to process a credit card and cannot accept personal or travelers checks.
Any charges for onsite services (e.g. groceries, additional housekeeping, activities) must be paid in Euros in addition to the security deposit. These charges cannot be deducted from the security deposit.
France: Most of our villas in France do not require a cash deposit upon arrival. If required, a cash security deposit must be paid in Euros upon arrival to the key-holder/caretaker. The local key-holder/caretaker is not able to process a credit card and cannot accept personal or travelers checks.
Any charges for onsite services (e.g. groceries, additional housekeeping, activities) must be paid in Euros in addition to the security deposit. These charges cannot be deducted from the security deposit.
Services & Amenities
Does the villa include linens, dishes, etc?
Italy: Yes, all of our villas in Italy include bed linens and towels. If there is a pool at your villa, pool towels will most likely be provided, however, beach towels will not. Please do not use bath towels at the pool or the beach.
France: The majority of our villas do include linens. We ask that you please read the villa description on our website carefully as linen inclusions can vary from villa to villa. Bath and pool towels are included, unless otherwise stated. Please do not use bath towels at the pool or the beach.
Does the villa include soap and detergent (etc. hand, dish, laundry)? Toilet paper?
Italy and France: Your villa will include a supply of toilet paper, hand soap and dish soap that should last for at least a few days. Previous guests may have left items such as laundry soap and paper towels, but it's a good idea to plan on purchasing your own. We highly recommend taking a trip to a local super market on the Monday after your arrival to shop for additional supplies.
Will my hair dryer, cell phone charger and other electrical items work at my villa?
Italy and France: Not without a converter and transformer. The standard American voltage is 110, while the voltage in Western Europe is 220. Converters and transformers can usually be purchased at a local drugstore or electronics retailer.
How often can I expect housekeeping services and what do the services include?
Italy and France: The majority of our villas include a general cleaning prior to arrival and a cleaning after departure. This varies from property to property. On occasion, housekeeping services are provided once per week including a change of linens (please check our website to determine if available for your desired property). We may be able to arrange for more regular housekeeping services at an additional cost. If it is important to have regularly scheduled housekeeping throughout your stay, please advise us at time of booking (no later than 4 weeks prior to arrival) and we will make every effort to arrange for these services.
Will I have access to a washer and dryer at my villa?
Italy and France: Washing machines, although generally smaller than those found in the US, are common in our villas; however, dryers are not. Most villas include a washing machine and clotheslines for drying. Irons are usually readily available. At time of booking, please check with your villa specialist to determine if laundry facilities are available for guest use.
Is the villa air-conditioned? Do the windows have screens?
Italy and France: Most of our villas are historically renovated buildings, which can date back centuries. As such, it can be very difficult to install air-conditioning units due to the original stonewalls and facades of these homes (i.e. thick cement blocks keep the heat out and cool in). For this reason, many of our properties do not include A/C, but tend to stay cool given the framework of the homes.
If air conditioning is an important amenity for your stay, please make sure to choose a property that has this feature noted on our website.
Most villas in Italy and Francedo not have screens on the windows, but instead have shutters.
Will Internet be available at my villa?
Italy and France: The majority of our European villas are located in rural countryside locations. As such, Internet access is likely unavailable in the villa. The nearest town may have an Internet cafe with computers and connections.
If Internet access in your villa is an important amenity during your stay, please be sure to confirm with a villa specialist at the time of booking that WI-FI or another type of connection is available. Please note that Internet connectivity cannot be guaranteed, even if noted as available for a property.
Will there be a television and DVD player at my villa?
Italy and France: Most of our villas do have television sets in at least the living room or common area. Kindly note that the average size and style of television set in Europe is very different from that of the United States. For example, European villas are less likely to have large and flat-screened televisions. Television stations/channels are limited in the majority of our European villas. It is uncommon to find American programs.
While DVD players are a common amenity for European villas, we cannot guarantee that they will play American DVDs (designated as Zone 1). European players generally support Zone 2 DVDs.
If you plan on watching movies during your stay or if you are traveling with children, please be sure to bring your own DVDs along with a portable DVD player.
Can we arrange for groceries to be available upon arrival? Is there a grocery store nearby?
Italy and France: Grocery pre-stocking services are available at some properties. This service must be requested at least 4 weeks prior to travel - a service charge payable directly to the housekeeper may apply. If the service is available, please send a list of desired items to our Concierge, keeping in mind that many American brands and items (e.g. bagels and peanut butter) may not be available. If substitutions are ok, please make a note of this on your list. Unfortunately, we are unable to estimate the cost of grocery pre-stocking, due to fluctuating cost factors. Please note that we are unable to pre-stock diapers or other baby toiletries.
When booking your villa, please make sure to take note of the location of the property. Many of our villas are located in the countryside and the nearest grocery store may not be within walking distance. Before booking a villa, be sure that the property you choose is in the perfect location for your needs.
Gastronomy
Can you arrange for dinner reservations?
Italy and France: As a result of time and language barriers, we are unable to arrange dinner reservations prior to travel. Upon arrival, the caretaker may be able to direct guests to local restaurants and can possibly arrange for reservations. This can vary depending on the villa and the caretaker.
Are chef services available during my stay? If so, what can we expect?
Italy and France: Chef service is available at some properties, but can be limited. In order to fulfill your request for chef services, we recommend advising us at the time of booking, but no later than 4 weeks prior to travel. If your desired date for chef service falls on the first or second night of your stay, we may require your menu choice ahead of time.
You can expect a local chef or housekeeper to prepare a traditional meal. Most chefs are arranged by the villa owner; in some cases, owners do not allow non-contracted services onto their property. In the case that chef service is not available at your villa, we will be sure to provide you with the best local restaurant recommendation.
Can in-villa cooking classes be arranged in advance?
Italy: This service is available in select Italian villas. If cooking classes are essential to your vacation, please make sure this is an option at the villa prior to booking. In order to fulfill your request for cooking classes, we recommend advising us at the time of booking, but no later than 4 weeks prior to travel.
Most cooking classes are arranged by the villa owner; in some cases, owners do not allow non-contracted services onto their property. We will make every effort to arrange in-villa cooking classes where possible.
France: This service is rarely available in our French villas. If available for your villa, we recommend advising us of your request at the time of booking, but no later than 4 weeks prior to travel.
Activities
Can you arrange wine tours and excursions?
Italy: We can arrange for select private tours in Tuscany. Regrettably, we cannot arrange for other tours at this time. To assist you with your needs, we are happy to provide tour information and contacts where available. You may also check with your Travel Agent for tour recommendations and reservations.
France: At this time, we are unable to offer tours and excursions in France. On occasion, a villa caretaker may offer suggestions and contact information for tours and excursions.
Can you arrange all of our activities prior to arrival?
Italy and France: Villas of Distinction does not offer the arrangement of tour schedules. To assist you with your needs, we are happy to provide tour information and contacts where available.
Note: We highly recommend that anyone traveling to Europe purchase a travel guide such as Frommers, Lonely Planet or Michelin. This will be an invaluable investment and can often answer many of your questions prior to travel.
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