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Frequently asked questionsHow do I make a booking? In order to book a property you can either do it yourself through our web
site or write to us. Making the
booking through our web site is very easy: here are
the directions. If you would like us to make the booking for you,
we will need to know your full mailing address, a phone number where we can
reach you in case email is not working, and, of course, the name of the
property you would like to book, along with the dates of your stay. Can I rent for less than a week, and is the rental period always Saturday to Saturday? We are usually able to arrange check-in and check-out on any day of
the week. If you are considering renting not from Saturday to Saturday you
will find more information here. Do you offer cancellation insurance? We do. A rental rescheduling insurance
is available in case an unexpected change of plans forces you to move your
booking to a different date. It can be requested at the time of your
booking. Why are your properties less expensive than comparable properties from other agencies? Our prices are lower because we list private villas on our web site. We
are in direct touch with the owners of each villa, so there is no long list
of agencies that add their fees along the way. Moreover, we always
encourage each property owner to set a reasonable price for the villa in the first place.
As a small business based in Italy, we are also able to keep our costs
low. We use e-mail to interact with customers, villa owners are only a
local phone call away, and we have decided not to print a catalogue, since
printing costs would ultimately have been reflected in what our customers
paid for their vacation rentals. Being “cost-wise” has resulted in
extremely reasonable prices for our villas. I'm interested in several apartments. Do I need to send a separate email for each individual apartment? Just a single email will do. Your request is received by our staff, who is knowledgeable about all the apartments that we represent, and can help you choose the best one for your needs. Can I get a printed catalogue of your properties? We have decided to offer a web catalogue instead of printing one. The web
catalogue allows us to keep rental costs low, and to present the properties
with more details and more pictures than we could provide in a traditional
print format. Also, real time availability can be reported. Is the availability reported on your web site accurate? Yes, absolutely - except for a few special accommodations, which are
clearly marked on our web site. We are the sole agent for almost all the properties shown on
our web site and we do not have to double check availability, except for
those special accommodations mentioned above. The
availability is updated in real time as reservations are made. We are not sure yet how many of us will be able to come. Is it a problem adding more people at a later time? No problem! Each property will welcome up
to the advertised number of guests. You can always add more names at
later times, as well as host unexpected guests - as long as the number of
sleeping places shown on the description of the property is not exceeded. Can I use a credit card to pay for the rental? Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard and
American Express. Payments can be also made by wire
transfer or by Western Union/money transfer. What differences can I expect between an Italian and an American apartment or house? Clients most often comment on the incredible feeling of living amidst the
deep layers of Italian culture and history. However, they also mention that
the luxury they most miss is an American-style shower. Italian houses often
have a tub with a shower wand, instead of a separate shower. Along with the
charm and history you may also find old plumbing and you might need to be
patient with the drains. Also, stoves, washing machines, and other
appliances may work rather differently than they do at home - ask the
property owner to show you how things work! Are linens provided at no extra cost? Sometimes they are, sometimes they are not. It depends on the
property. Whether linens and towels are already included in the price
of the rental is up to the owner. Read the "extra expenses" and
"included in the price" sections on the web page that describes the property
to find out. When they are not included in the rental price, linens can be requested as an extra.
In this case you will pay for them at the property. Pillows and
blankets are always available at no extra cost. Washcloths or mitts are very rare in
Italy. Is the kitchen fully equipped/is there a washer and a dryer? Kitchens are always well equipped and in working order. Dishes,
glasses and eating utensils for at least the number of people the property
sleeps are always included. Usually there is an Italian coffee machine
(called "moka"). If you have special requests for the kitchen or
you want to know exactly how the kitchen is equipped please e-mail
us. We visit every property and can be of great help. Check
the amenities list for each property to see whether a dishwasher and washing
machine are available. Dryers do not exist in southern Italy: we
have the sun!! When does the swimming pool open? When does it close? What about the outdoor activities and facilities? Unless the property description states otherwise, the swimming pools open
at the beginning of June and close by mid-September. Advertised
outdoor activities and facilities (boat tours, beach facilities, horse
riding and so on...) might not be available at all times, especially during
the low season, depending on the weather. If there is something that
really matters to you we kindly ask to check with us before your reservation
is confirmed. Do appliances work the same in Italy? Italian appliances might work a differently than the appliances found in
other countries. In Italy you will find gas stoves, rather than
electric stoves, sometimes with a glass cover that needs to be lifted before
you light the flame. It is always a good idea to ask the property owner, at the time of checking
into the property, how to use the washing machine and the coffee pot. What happens if we break something while we are in the house? On departure you should inform the property owner of the damage. The
owner might subtract the amount needed to repair the damage from the
security deposit. Contact us at any time if you need assistance. What are the beds like in Italy? Italian beds are often a little shorter than standard beds. It is
also common to push two twin beds together instead of having a single king
size bed. Even when you have a single king size bed you may find that
two mattresses are being used. A single bed is usually 90 cm wide. A
double bed is 160 cm wide. It is not uncommon to find bunk beds (two
beds, one on top of the other). What is the cancellation policy? The cancellation policy, with the actual dates and amounts reimbursed, is clearly
displayed on the quote page. A booking cancellation
coverage is also available. How will we know how to find the property and will someone be there to show us around? We will send you directions to get to the property as soon as we receive
the balance for your reservation. The property owner or a representative will be
waiting for you at the property or at another easy-to-find spot, as
described in the directions. How far in advance should I book? It depends on the period you're booking. If you plan to reserve a
property for a vacation taking place in the months of May, September or
October, make your reservation eight months in advance. If you plan to make your reservation for
June, July or
August it's better to reserve ten to twelve months in advance. Is there a discount for rentals of longer than a week? A long-term discount is available if you reserve a property for one month
or longer. E-mail us for details. What happens if we have a problem during our stay? If there is any problem with the property you can call either us or the
property owner. While you stay in one of our properties we are always
around - just a phone call away. All you need to do is let us know you
need us! Do you have any references, floor plans or additional pictures? We usually have extra pictures of the properties and can provide you with
all the details you need. We have visited each property and know each
property owner - just ask! What is the check-in and check-out time? Normally check-in is between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Checkout is normally by 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. In between, the
properties are cleaned - we kindly ask you that you give the owner adequate time to
clean up the house. If you can't help arriving before 4 p.m. please
let us know. Do we really need a car? For rentals in the Cilento National Park we strongly recommend that a car
be rented. You won't need a car in Capri: as a matter of
facts cars are not allowed in Capri. You will be able to do
without a car in Sorrento and on the Amalfi coast, where public
transportation is available. In the amenities section for each property we
give you our advice on whether a car is recommended, needed, or not
necessary. What car rental agencies are available in Salerno? Both Hertz and Avis have agencies very close to the train station in
Salerno. I could not find the answer I'm looking for! Please e-mail us at info@summerinitaly.com. We will gladly answer all of your questions!
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