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Important Information

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked: When is the best time to visit Italy ? Italy has a very favorable climate compared to that of the UK with milder winters and warmer, dryer summers. We recommend visiting Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche in May, June and July and September to October. Puglia and southern Italy has a longer season and can be visited in March/April until November. It is usually hot in August which may restrict sight seeing if you do not like the weather too hot. The temperature in Puglia in August can soar to over 40 degrees. Evenings, particularly in mountain areas, can be chilly at all times of year so do bring a jumper ! What is the best way to get to Italy ? Some of our clients choose to drive to Italy so that they can stop in France/Germany en route. We recommend flying and have listed direct flights from the UK on our travel page. Click HEREto view the travel information. Will I need a car in Italy? Can you organise car hire ? We fully recommend hiring a car while in Italy as our properties are often in rural locations which cannot be reached by public transport. While the train service is clean and punctual it does have a tendency to go on strike for days at a time during the summer months ! We can book car hire for you upon request. What should I take with me ? Passport & photocopy of passport Driving Licence E111 form for free health care Torch - for poorly lit streets Sun cream Mosquito Repellent Mobile Phone to contact owner Euros - ( take some change for the motorway tolls !) When can we arrive at the property ? Arrival times are usually between 17:00 and 20:00. We will confirm your approxomate time of arrival with you over the telephone and inform the property owner of this time. How will we find the property? We send out a map/set of directions to every customer. We Provide the owner's contact number for whem you arrive. For properties which are harder to find we arrange for the owner to meet you at a designated location which is easy to find. What is the time difference in Italy ? Italy is always 1 hour ahead of the UK. What is included in the price of my holiday ? Accomodation only - unless stated otherwise. What insurance do you provide ? 1) Discovery Travel has combined liability and professional indemnity insurance. 2) Paying with a Visa credit card means that you are further protected by the credit card company. There is a 2.5% charge for credit card payments. What about travel insurance ? It is essential to take out travel insurance against cancellation of your holiday which can be arranged with the post office or a bank. Every year someone has to cancel. Will we need to pay a security deposit ? You will normally be asked to pay a security deposit in euros on arrival at the property. The amount will be confirmed in your booking confirmation. Unless the deposit is needed to pay for heating, breakages, or an unusual amount of cleaning, it will be refunded when you leave. What will happen on arrival ? You may be asked to give the key holder your passport for registration under Italian law. It should be returned next day. You will also have a voucher which you hand to the property owner. How does Italy differ from the UK ? A holiday in Italy is obviously very different from one in Britain- and there are some variations that you should expect. Our properties are owned by “real Italians” and they do not cater for the mass British tourist market. Family life in Italy centres on meals and the table. In a few houses you may find fewer armchairs than you would expect in a “British” one. Kettles, breadboards and Toasters - These are not part of Italian daily life. Some houses do have cafetiéres - so you may have to boil water in a saucepan. Wine glasses – Are not in general use. Italians often use tumblers for wine. Animals – As the properties are situated in the countryside they may have dogs, cats poultry or livestock. If the presence of certain animals is a problem, please discuss this with us before confirming your booking. Roads - Italian roads are not like British roads. Access may be by a steep or rough track or unmade road with loose surface. This is normal for Italy and therefore not always indicated in the description. Sudden storms can effect the qualify of the roads. Our owners/caretakers will repair the road as quickly as possible, however we cannot be responsible for any damage which may occur to vehicles. Gardens- Outdoor furniture is provided at all properties with gardens. Gardens are generally left in a more natural state than “British” ones. Please do not take indoor furniture outside. Garden and pool maintenance is included in your holiday , and this is often done early in the morning. Are there any extra charges at the property ? Cleaning & breakages – We ask you to leave the houses clean on your departure. At some properties there is a final cleaning charge: where this applies it is shown on the price list. At many properties an extra mid stay clean can be arranged at an additional cost. We rely on clients’ honesty to replace anything they break or damage or let the owners know, so that the matter can be dealt with before the next clients arrive. Electricity and water – You will need an adaptor (BSI1363) if you want to use any British electrical appliances: electricity is 220 volts. Water can be in short supply especially in southern Italy so it is better not to be too lavish with it. At some properties you will pay for electricity separately and where this is the case it is stated in the brochure. At those properties where you pay for electricity you also pay for pool and garden lighting, please remember that electricity and gas is a lot more expensive in Italy than in Britain. Heating – Heating costs are extra and are paid directly to the owner in euros. By British standards the cost of gas is high. Wood is usually cheap. Is linen included ? Beds are normally made up for your arrival. If you would like linen to be changed mid stay then there may be a local charge for this. Please check upon booking. Please take with you any cot linen and any beach towels you may need. The House towels must not be used at the poolside. Does the property have a telephone ? Telephones – Most holiday properties do not generally have their own telephones. Public telephones take telephone cards which can be purchased at “tabacchi” or you can telephone from bars which usually have a phone on a meter. When is the pool open ? Swimming pools – Opening and closing dates of the swimming pools can vary, generally pools are open from mid May to the end of September. If the use of a swimming pool is important to you, and you are travelling out of the peak season of July/August, please ask us to confirm the availability of the pool for your chosen dates. What is the maximum occpancy at the property ? In our description we write the maximum number which a property sleeps. Only those named on the booking form may occupy the villa. We should be notified of any changes and we will do our best to accommodate them. Our descriptions – All of the self-catering properties have bathroom with a shower or bath (unless specifically stated) and a kitchen with a cooking hob and a fridge. Some properties have an oven and this will be stated in the description. Arrival provisions - Please take the basics with you as kitchen and bathroom essentials are not normally provided.