ARRIVAL
TIMES, DURATION OF STAY AND DEPARTURE TIMES
Arrival times are usually specified so that the owner or his
representative, who always have some other employment, can be there to
greet the guests. Arrival time is usually during the afternoon so that
cleaning can be completed following the departure of the previous guests,
if any, in the morning.
Try not to turn up at the property earlier than the agreed arrival time
just in case there is no one there and you have to sit around waiting.
Similarly, try not to be late. Now that mobile phones are so commonly
used, especially in Italy, you can stay in contact with the person who
will meet you so that neither you nor they lose time.
It is best to arrive during daylight hours, when shops are open and you can pick up supplies. If your flight requires a very early morning or late night arrival, or if you are going to arrive on a Sunday (traditionally a family day in
Italy), special arrangements can be made in advance with the owner.
All of the above applies equally to departure.
Until a few years back, a great many Tuscan vacation rentals specified
minimum stays of seven days, starting and ending on a Saturday. Agencies
still seem to stick to this rule, presumably for ease of organisation
and so as to not have unbooked days. However, due to competition, as
large numbers of new properties have entered the market, the great
majority of owner direct vacation rentals in Tuscany are now much more
flexible, with a three or four day minimum and no starting day
specified. |
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