I am in dire need of help.

I have been appointed the finder of the property my mother, father,
and I would like to rent a villa/? for our trip to Italy in October,
2004.  Part of the problem is I need results that will rent to us
outside the normal Sat-Sat or Frid-Frid span.  Please take note of our
dates.

I have been searching for over a month for just the right place.  I
thought I found it, Coreglia Antemenelli.  Here is a link to the
property to give you an idea of the quality of accommodation we were
considering:

http://www.italianproperties.co.uk/


I was about to make deposit when I double checked for the last time
with my mother about the nagging feeling I was having that the walk
from the villa to the nearest town would be too far for my father.  I
am a member of the Slow Traveler web site and I received many, many
comments that the location would be too remote for us and that it
wasn't really what we needed.  Sure enough we decided that even though
the property was fabulous, the location would not work.  So I am back
at the drawing board and ready to tear my hair out.

Part of the problem has been that my mother has not been concise about
what she is looking for.  She said to watch "Under the Tuscan Sun" to
get an idea.  SO that is what I did last night.  (Great movie by the
way).

So now it looks like we want to be in the Cortona area.

Anyway,  I will list the criteria in a moment.  I first want to say I
am NOT looking for links to rental companies.  I have searched till my
fingers are about to bleed.  None of the sites have search engines
that allow me to enter my exact criteria.  I am willing to pay someone
to locate a list of possible properties that MATCH my criteria.  If
you need further information in order to help me please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Here is the criteria:

1) Walking distance to Cortona OR walking distance to similar
town/village.  When I say walking distance I mean an easy, short walk
for my father who is 79 yrs old and has knees that are not so great. 
My mother says "your father should be able to get out of bed, get
dressed, and amble over to a cafe type establishment".  He lives in
NYC and walks many blocks, but they are flat streets.  So the walk
from the villa shouldn't be too hilly.  I would think nothing more
than a 5-10 minute walk would be good.

The town/village should be attractive, charming, old, etc.  Just like
in "Under the Tuscan Sun".

2) The property should be as private as possible.  An independent,
self-catering type place.  (Coreglia did share a wall with another
home, but it was so outstanding and the place had a private terrace
and private entrance.  It did share a pool, but as I say we were
willing to make concession.)  So basically we want to not share the
property with other people.  If the property is on land that has other
villas or homes it should still have private terrace or patio or
garden or balcony.  My dad wants to be able to sit looking at a lovely
view while sipping coffee and eating brekfast.  One of the problems I
have been having is the confusion over the term "apartment".  Each
site seems to have a different opinion of what an aprtment is.  I am
used to "apartment" meaning a unit in a building with other
"apartments".

3)Minimum of 3 bedrooms.

4)At least 2 bathrooms.  At least one MUST have a bathtub.

5)Parking.

6)The exterior must not look like a tract house or row house such as
you see in America and I have been seeing on the web sites for Italy.

7)A pool is not required.  Most appear to close in the time period we
are looking for anyway.  However, a pool would be a plus.

8)Coreglia was going to cost us $1815 US Dollars for 9 nights.  This
was also including heat if required.  (Also maid service 2 times. 
Maid service is not a requirement though.)

9)Nothing dark and dreary.  Upadated kitchen with all supplies except
food of course.

10) A train station nearby would be wonderful.  And bus service would be great.

11) Nothing in or near town/village that one would hear Vespas
frequently.  It sems that this noise bothers my mother a bit.

This is all I can think of at the moment.  As I have said, please
contact me if you need more info.

I currently saved a search on the following property:

 http://www.vacations-abroad.com/italy/1834/index.html

This one is confusing because the same pictures are listed on at least
3 sites that I have found so far.  I'm not sure if this one is
acceptable yet.  I have sent for more info.  But this strange multiple
listing situation (all have different names by the way), leads me to
the next point.  The agency or property owner needs to be reputable.

I look forward to help!

---

Request for Question Clarification by leader-ga on 22 May 2004 18:40 PDT

Hello beam1:

Here are three different type of accomodations that I have been able
to locate. All of these have a real Italian looks. Following is a
brief overview. If you are interested, please let me know and I will
disclose more details. I am also willing to work with you on your
ideal hideout until you are satisfied.

THANKS. LEADER-GA

Type: Farmhouse (private)
Owner: Unknown
Town: Near Orvieto
Service & Amenities: Pool
Rooms: 3 bedrooms with private baths.
Privacy: The farmhouse surrounded by its own gardens.
Nearest village with facilities: less than a mile
Parking: Yes ? ample space
Kitchen: Equipped with modern facilities
Views: Hammocks and sun beds under the big oak trees and garden. 
Rail Station Nearby: Yes ? Orvieto has its own train station
Rates: $1350 to $2000 per week depending on the season

Type: House 
Owner: Private house of architect and painter Pietro de Cortona
Town: Cortona
Service & Amenities: Unknown
Rooms: 3 bedrooms with private baths.
Privacy: The house is private and has its own garden.
Nearest village with facilities: 5 minutes walking time to the town center.
Parking: Unknown
Kitchen: Equipped with modern facilities
Views: Great view of the surrounding countryside from the hilltop garden
Rail Station Nearby: Yes - Terontola station 11 km ; Camucia station 5 km 
Rates: 850 Euro to 950 Euro per week depending on the season

Type: Two private apartments in a huge Villa (Apartments can be rented together)
Owner: Count Sperello di Serego Alighieri
Town: Castel del Piano
Service & Amenities: Pool, Meals & Wines can be served
Rooms: 3-5 bedrooms with private baths.
Privacy: The house is private and has its own gardens and patios.
Nearest village with facilities: Exact distance unknown - Next to the
village of Castel del Piano with restaurants, bars, shops and other
facilities.
Parking: Unknown
Kitchen: Equipped with modern facilities
Views: Own balconies overlooking the gardens and the countryside.
Rail Station Nearby: Yes ? Perugia 10 km
Rates: 1900 Euro to 2100 Euro per week for both apartments or Euro 950
to Euro 1100 for the larger 3 bedroom apartment depending on the
season

---

Clarification of Question by beam1-ga on 22 May 2004 23:55 PDT

Thank you so much for trying to help me.

I was reviewing my post and noticed that I was very unclear about the
time frame. The dates are Oct 7 to Oct 16.  This puts us outside the
normal rental period.  Are these properties willing to rent for this
time period?

The second choice you provide sounds like it has promise.  And the
first one, how far a walk is it to town?  The last one has
possibilities, but I need to see a picture.  Also we need to find out
about that parking and how far a walk to town business.

Is there a way you can provide pictures without providing the website
addresses yet?  Thank you for giving me the prices in dollars for the
first one, but could you give the amounts in dollars for the others
and any new ones you tell me about.

I am very grateful that you will help until I find the right place. 
Is it within the scope of your task to contact these companies in my
behalf to check on what I ask?  If they answer to my liking then you
could let me know and THEN I can contact them?  How does this work?

---

Request for Question Clarification by leader-ga on 23 May 2004 08:16 PDT

Hello beam1:

After going over your response, I think the best way to find out that
if everything is according to your specifications is to provide you
with complete details. I would contact them on your behalf but I
thought it wouldnt be justified as you are the one who has to decide.
This will only be possible if I give you the exact URL and the website
so you may decide further.

I have also searched another website and two of the accommodations
seem to very much match the criteria that you listed. One of these is
a Villa on the island of Ischia and is situated on the sea front with
major shops, restaurants and other activates within 300m radius
costing $1438 for the time period you specified. The other is a hamlet
with a pool and is 1.5 km from the Castellina with every kind of
activity and shops. The price is $960.

These are the URL and the website of these accommodations.

Villa

http://www.countrymanors.com/php/house.php?n=3&cuendet_user=b553256a3f40ee0516c96cc383df29c6

Hamlet

http://www.countrymanors.com/php/house.php?n=26&cuendet_user=b553256a3f40ee0516c96cc383df29c6

Here are the URL and the website of the previous accommodations that I had listed.

Private House in Cortona
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/13444.html

Farmhouse in Ovrieto 
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/17177.html

Apartment in Villa in the village of of Castel del Piano
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/8860.html

I will continue to work with you. Please let me know how do you feel about these.

Sincerely,
Leader-ga

---

Clarification of Question by beam1-ga on 23 May 2004 10:33 PDT

Hi Leader!

I really appreciate the effort you are starting to expend on this. 
Before I look at the links you have provided I would like to check on
something.  (I have never used this site before and the instructions
are a bit confusing).  What happens if I find a property on my own,
without any help from anyone on this site.  I want to compensate the
person who finds a rental for me, but I certainly don't want to pay
someone if they don't.

How would you suggest we handle this?  If there is not a way to do
this I am allowed to withdraw my question and not be responsible to
pay anything except the 50 cent listing fee?  I know I am not
obligated to pay anything if the answer is not satisfactory, but how
do you know if someone is not telling the truth about it?  I wouldn't
want you to think I used your hard sought after info to rent something
you found.

If you can explain to me how this would all work I would be grateful. 
If we come to an understanding then I will look at your links.

In the meantime, I see you have located a property on an island?  An
island would not be suitable at this point.  As I have pretty much
indicated in my previous writings we need to be in an area like
Cortona, Lucca, MAYBE Siena environs if I can convince my mother that
Siena wouldn't be as brown as she fears.  (I guess she was in that
area once and it looked too brown to her).

As I say, I won't look at any links until you get back to me about the other issue.

Let me know,
Phoebe

---

Request for Question Clarification by leader-ga on 23 May 2004 10:43 PDT

Thank you Phoebe:

Here is how we will let things work. I will provide you with
properties that might be of interest. You check them out and contact
the property owners. If you select one of the properties that I
listed, you may let me post an answer. Otherwise, if you choose a
property on your own than I will not be compensated. I will also try
to come out with other properties.

Thanks. 
leader-ga.

---

Clarification of Question by beam1-ga on 23 May 2004 12:23 PDT

Dear Leader,

That sounds very nice of you.  Thank you for trusting me.  Here are
some properties I am already looking in to so you don't duplicate any
work.

http://www.internationalrentals.com/view/pID=10751209/property.html

(I'm not crazy about the outside.  But I am looking into it.  Not sure
how it fits my criteria yet on distance.)

http://www.munsells.com/italy/

(My mom did not want to be in the Siena area, but the pickins are
getting slim and maybe I can changer her mind.)

I liked the following but it turns out it is too far for dad to walk
to the bakery. ;)

http://www.tuscanyvacationvilla.com/links.html

I saw the following and am checking it out.  However I don't think it
will work out.  I just like the green/flower out side.

http://www.cyberrentals.com/ITA/GuarITA.html

Still waiting to hear back from owners on these: 

http://www.holidaylets.net/prop_detail.asp?id=986

http://www.holidaylets.net/prop_detail.asp?id=4056


This one had GREAT sounding location but is way over my budget it
truns out when I contacted owner agent.  (They wanted over $3,000!)

http://www.villasitalia.com/

Not sure what I did about these, I'm starting to get confused:

(Called Villa Serena by at least one company.  Web site too long to paste here.)

Villa Bobolino

I'll write back when I look at the links you provided.

Bye,
Beam

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Clarification of Question by beam1-ga on 23 May 2004 20:06 PDT

Hi Leader,

No on #1  (Wrong location).

No on #2  (Not enough bedrooms).

Possible on the Orvietto.  I sent email for more info.  Will let you know status.

Does #4 have a bathtub?

#5 is a no.

Thanks again,
Beam

---

Request for Question Clarification by leader-ga on 24 May 2004 07:00 PDT

Hello beam:

Here are three more possibilities that are very close to the restaurants and shops.

http://www.italianbreaks.com/pages/umbria_pages/umbria_torreantica.htm

http://www.tuscanynow.com/Rentals/Cards/PCPoderedeiCiliegi.htm

http://www.italianbreaks.com/pages/umbria_pages/umbria_orangerie.htm

Sincerely,
leader-ga.

---

Clarification of Question by beam1-ga on 24 May 2004 15:35 PDT

Dear Leader,

Darn that second one looked GREAT.  Problem is it is not available.  I
have a few I'm working on now.  If you find another one like the send
one you suggested let me know.

Thanks again,
Phoebe

---

Clarification of Question by beam1-ga on 25 May 2004 16:24 PDT

Dear leader,

I have found a villa on my own.  I want to thank you for the effort
you started to make.  Is there a way to send you a small token of my
appreciation for your help?  I would also like to give you the link
for the property I am renting so that you can be sure it is not one
you gave me.  How do we do these tasks?

Sincerely,
Beam

---

Request for Question Clarification by leader-ga on 25 May 2004 19:54 PDT

Thank You Beam:

The only token for appreciation for me is that you have been able to
get the villa of your liking. I hope that you and your parents enjoy
this wonderful vacation. It was nice dealing with you.

Sincerely,
leader-ga.

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Clarification of Question by beam1-ga on 26 May 2004 02:18 PDT

Thank you then.  The name of the property we rented is 2 Elisabette.

Have a great day.