You have decided to travel to Italy. And now you have a very important decision to make regarding lodging in Italy: will I stay in a villa rental or an Italian hotel? A number of potential travelers to Italy ask Italian Vacation Villas about the difference between renting a villa or an apartment, and staying in a hotel in Italy for their vacation. Most people are accustomed to hotels and less acquainted with the concept of renting a villa. Here are our thoughts on villas versus hotels in Italy.

WHAT ITALIAN VILLA RENTALS OFFER

Villa, farmhouse, and apartment rentals let you:

Establish a base for sightseeing: Vacation rentals in Italy are for a minimum of one week. You can unpack once, and use your rental as a base for taking day trips to different parts of Italy. Once you know where that base is located, you can more easily arrange in advance for services such as guides and cooking lessons. Rentals are generally located in the countryside, although opportunities exist in larger cities and some small towns.

Be independent: In a rental, you can prepare your meals through shopping in local stores, and eat what you want at the time you want to do so. You are not locked into hotel menus and restaurant dining hours. Many villas offer cooks for hire, bringing local and regional cuisine to you. You have a choice between eating a meal at home or going to a restaurant. People who love to cook and shop in local markets, and families with children, cite this as a major reason for renting.

Have a Local Experience: When you are in a villa, you have more of an opportunity to experience local Italian life. There are greater opportunities to interact with the local population since you are living there. The owners of the local bakeries and food shops will more eagerly talk to someone they see every day. You will go home with a better feel for the culture and rhythm of Italy.

Get More Space: Villa, farmhouse and apartment rentals are going to be larger than standard Italy hotel rooms. There are living rooms, dining and kitchen areas, in addition to the bedrooms. In Italian hotels, there is additional space in areas that is not exclusively yours. A vacation rental offers private and easy spaces for group gatherings and meals as the rentals are built to accommodate the number of people who rent them.

Enjoy Private Grounds and Amenities: In an independent villa, you will swim with your fellow guests in your own swimming pool, enjoy the existing amenities, and wander through the grounds of your villa. If you rent an apartment, you will have your own outside space for dining and relaxing, and share the swimming pool with those in the other apartments. The amenity of maid service is either included in the price of the rental or usually available on request. If you want your bedroom cleaned every day as in a hotel, it is usually possible for an extra charge.

Be assisted by Local Representatives: Renting a villa does not mean you are on your own completely. The local key holder, owner or villa rental agency representative can assist you in a variety of ways and Italian Vacation Villas will provide you with recommendations upon booking.

WHAT ITALIAN HOTELS OFFER

Hotels in Italy provide you with the following:

Familiarity: Hotels offer a sense of security in a vacation choice because people know what a hotel is. In Italy, a number of the hotels have recognized names as they are part of an international chain. There also are family-run establishments in Italy.

Front Desk Service to Help Guests: Hotels usually have an English speaker available on staff.

Flexibility in Length of Stay: If you want to stay only a few days in one place, you can easily move from one hotel to another in a different location. If you are only staying in Italy for a few days, it makes more sense to choose a hotel.

Standard Amenities: You can find luxury hotels in Italy that offer a swimming pool, fitness room, flat screen TV, air conditioning, high speed internet, and a telephone. Daily maid service is generally provided. These amenities are included in the price of the hotel room, while some of them are extra charges in villa rentals. In Italy, breakfast is generally included in the price of the room, and many have restaurants on the premises.

Less Advance Planning is Required: The hotel concierge can arrange tours and sightseeing without much advance notice because pre-packaged tours are available. Hotel restaurants are easily accessible and the concierge can suggest nearby restaurants.

Locations of Hotels: Hotels are generally found in cities and towns, often in the heart of the city.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

As you consider the choices before you, keep in mind that you can also combine both experiences when choosing your lodging in Italy. Many clients rent for a week or two, and then stay in hotels in cities for a couple of days on either end of their trips.

Note: You may have found this page by searching for one of the following phrases: Rome Italy Hotel, Florence Italy Hotel, Florence Italy Lodging, Best Hotel in Florence Italy, Hotel Siena Italy, Lucca Italy Hotel, Venice Italy Hotel, Tuscany Italy Hotel, etc.

We would like you to consider the pros and cons of staying at a hotel in Italy (see above text) versus renting a villa, farmhouse or apartment before you make a decision on lodging in Italy. We offer villas and apartments throughout the regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Chianti, Rome, Florence, Siena, Lucca, Venice, The Veneto, Umbria, and the Amalfi Coast.