Top Tips for Renting Villas

Holidaying or honeymooning in Sicily villas is one of the highlights of Italy, but the kind of villa you choose will determine whether your needs are suited or not. The last thing you want to do is waste your precious time because of a mismatched home or because the landlord insists on you acting all hush-hush because he or she is renting it out illegally!

Here are a few practical tips to help you when you head to Sicily - villas are easy to find, just make sure you know what you want.

Ask for what extras come with the package

One of the first things you need to do when shopping around is to ask if any incentives can be added to the deal. You may get free housekeeping, free auto rentals, free catering and other extended services. You may even avail of tours, exhibits, wine tastings or similar local events. This is especially true for the off-peak season where many owners are willing to make concessions in order to keep business flowing. Nab travel insurance to cover you in case something unexpected comes up

When you're heading to Sicily, villas will be one of your major investments, and you don’t want to waste hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds because of bad weather or a mix-up. It is times like this when travel insurance will come in very handy. You can get the basic packages that protect you from the aforementioned circumstances; other policies cost more but offer more coverage in return - like unexpectedly losing your job or having to tend to a loved one that is suffering a medical emergency.

Look for a contract defining liability for both parties

This simplifies things a lot if something is damaged during your stay – even if none in your party had an active role in damaging the said items you may sometimes find yourselves liable. It is for this reason that you really need to check the terms and conditions of renting out your Sicily villas so that you know who is liable for what in case something goes wrong. Forewarned is forearmed.

Beware landlords that try to tell you to disguise your stay

This is a surprisingly common problem, especially for off-market accommodation – and one of the main reasons you should always go through a reputable and experienced agency. These are basically ordinary landowners that are renting out a house or two without paying taxes. They may lower the asking price by a significant amount, but you also run the risk of renting out sub-par accommodation that you can do nothing about. Your holiday could even be cut short by a police inquiry into the operation of an illegal business.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to pick out the best accommodation for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

Looking for your perfect home away from home in Italy? Mark Slaviero is a Director of Holiday Homes in Italy, a company specialising in finding the holiday home, villa or apartment of your dreams. For the ideal Sicily villas and accommodation in Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, the Italian Lakes, ski resorts and more, we offer the best in every region.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.