Frequently asked questions
Check here for answers to your doubts, before you come and while you're here. Many of the most important questions regarding cancellations, alterations to your bookings etc will be found under 'BOOKING CONDITIONS' so remember to look there first!!If you can't find an answer to your question, contact the agent dealing with your booking
Arrival and Departure Times
Your property
Passports and visas
Health and Insurance
Books and guides
Protecting the environment
Little Beasties
Bed and bath linen
Housework
Electricity and water
Shopping
Credit Cards
€uro
Museums
Restaurants
Parks
Seaside
Cycling
Climbing
Walking
Arrival and Departure Times
With some exceptions, rentals start between 5 and 8 p.m. on the first day, and end by 10 a.m. on the last day of your holiday. Please respect these times. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and you must vacate your property before 10 a.m. on the day of your departure.Your property
Clean bed and bath linen is provided once a week, all we ask you to bring are swimming towels. Usually there will be a shower or bath towel, a hand towel and a bidet towel per person. Face flannels (wash cloths) are thought of as personal in Europe, and are not provided. The rent includes electricity, gas and hot water, but unless stated heating fuel is excluded, and must be paid to the owner before departure.
Passports and Visas
You must be in possession of a valid passport to travel to Italy. We recommend that you allow at least twelve weeks to obtain or renew your passport. Children under 16 years who are included on an adult’s passport may not travel unless accompanied by that adult. In addition, we must have information about who to contact if necessary for children under 16 while they are on holiday. Holders of non-British or non-EC passports should check visa regulations with the Italian Consulate.Don’t forget
Holiday insurance is compulsory, please see Price list & Booking Conditions for details. EC residents should also get an E111 form from a main Post Office, which enables them to use the health service facilities, which are very good in Tuscany. Also, under Italian law you must carry your licence, insurance and registration document with you at all times while driving.Books and guides
It is a good idea to buy at least one guide book and a map before you come, so that you can plan some of the many wonderful things to do and to see. Once you are here, call in at the local Tourist Information Office, (marked with an “i”) which will supply you with the most up-to-date information possible, especially about galleries, museums, concerts and festivals, but also about public transport and places to visit. Most of the information, often including maps and guides, is free. An extremely useful book is available from Italian Tourist Offices.
WHILE YOU"RE HERE
Protecting the environment
Like many people, we at Invitation To Tuscany are convinced of the importance of maintaining and protecting the environment. You can help even in small ways. Please do not ask for clean towels more than once a week, for example; it is a waste of precious water and electricity, and uses unnecessary, polluting detergents. The sunshine will dry a wet towel in no time at all. Remember to use water as sparingly as you can, and please switch off lights when you don't need them.Little Beasties
Bats, flies, ants, scorpions, wasps, hornets, mice, millipedes – no, there aren’t great hordes and swarms of them, and they won’t all be in full march, bent on entering your house and disturbing you; but they are all part of country life, and, sometimes, some of them find their way indoors. Ants and mice especially are attracted by even the smallest crumbs. It is a great help if you try not to leave scraps or crumbs around, and inform the custodian of your property if you see signs of mice, so that appropriate action can be taken to avoid infestation. Many properties have cats and these will be good at keeping the mouse population under order.Bed and bath linen
Clean bed and bath linen is provided once a week. Usually there will be a shower or bath towel, a hand towel and a bidet towel per person. It should be noted that clean linen is not provided more often, in order to save water, detergent and energy. Swimming towels are not provided and you should bring your own.
What's in the house
The properties we let are chosen for their position and typical local characteristics. They are usually stone built and have beamed or vaulted ceilings, whitewashed walls and tiled floors, and local ideas of comfort and equipment. They are not pretending to be English, French, Australasian or American, and hopefully they do not lose themselves in that bland category ‘International’. Probably this will increase your enjoyment of your holiday, but nonetheless there may be some items which you would prefer to bring with you. For example, while every property has ironing equipment, not many have a hairdryer. Swimming towels are not included and you must provide your own. Tea kettles, egg cups, high chairs and foreign coffee pots are not frequently found. Since however some houses do have these items, please ask your agent who will be able to tell you about individual properties.Since very few shops are open on Sundays, you will need to do at least basic shopping before arrival. Details of local shops for each property are included with your directions. You will find toilet rolls and soap in bathrooms to start you off; but replacements for these are not provided during your stay, and any detergents or foodstuffs, which you may find on your arrival, ought to be replaced as you use them.
Housework
Properties are consigned clean and tidy for your arrival, and you are responsible for leaving them in such a condition that normal cleaning will prepare them for the guests following you. Even if some cleaning is included during your stay, you should remember that you will probably need to do a little housework yourself, even if only washing the dishes and sweeping up! When extra cleaning is included in your rent, please note that this does not usually include time for guests’ personal laundry,and this ought to be arranged and paid for separately with the cleaner. Cleaners and maids really appreciate a small gratuity at the end of your stay!
Electricity and water
Italian tap-water is usually fine to drink. Electricity and water are precious commodities. Please remember to use both sparingly, and to ensure that all the lights are switched off before you go out. Electricity, gas and hot water are usually included in your rent, but unless stated in the Price List heating fuel is not included, and must be paid for to the owner concerned before departure.
Shopping
Since very few shops are open on Sundays, you will need to do at least basic shopping before arrival, and details of local shops for each property are included with your directions. You will find toilet rolls and soap in bathrooms to start you off; but replacements for these are not provided during your stay, and any detergents or foodstuffs which you may find on your arrival ought to be replaced as you use them.Credit Cards
Credit cards are not yet so widely used in Italy as in other countries. In particular it is rare that petrol stations and food shops will accept credit cards or cheques. However if you remember to bring your PIN number it is easy to obtain cash from bankcard machines.Euro
It won't have escaped your notice that most countries in the European Union are now using the Euro as a common currency. If you have Lira left over from past visits to Italy, after February 2002 you can only exchange these for Euro through the bank of Italy. The exchange rate between the Italian Lira and Euro was 1937.26. To accustom yourself to the difference, think of dividing the main number in two and deducting three noughts; e.g. 10,000 lire is approximately 5 euro.
 | | | | | | | |
 |  | | | ||||
 | | ||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |