Photo: Marie Hennechart |
Travelers know that renting a house instead of staying at a hotel adds a more intimate dimension to a vacation. Aside from the seclusion, there's your own stocked refrigerator if you crave a midnight snack, and often a staff to clean up the swimming pool, tennis court, and garden. It's also a great way to get in with the locals — suddenly you're the new neighbor. When you factor in the per-day cost as well as room for family members or friends sharing the tab, a week or two at a spacious villa can cost far less than a hotel.
There are countless houses out there, of course, so using an established vacation rental agency is the quickest and easiest way to cut through the clutter. The best agents combine the skills of real estate broker and psychologist, and take the time to match the right renter with the right house. They inspect each property, know the owners, and sometimes have even stayed in the house themselves. In short, they do the legwork for you. All you have to do is slide the key in the lock, and it's home sweet home.
IN VILLAS VERITAS After years of hunting for houses in Italy and France to rent for herself, New Yorker Laura Blair chose to use her experience to help others find the perfect place in Tuscany, in the south of France, and on the Amalfi coast. "I knew what to look for, which questions to ask, and how to evaluate what you see in an ad or brochure," she says. Properties: One of their most popular is an antiques-filled, five-bedroom 18th-century villa in Positano with sweeping Mediterranean views. Sharon Stone and Banana Republic founder Mel Ziegler have rented Château d'Aix, a 17th-century manor house that has a disco in the cellar. Humbler but still homey is a two-bedroom house on the rolling plains near Lucca. Staff: Housekeeping is included at most villas. Chefs, drivers, and baby-sitters are available at additional cost. 212/755-4157, fax 212/755-3270; from $900 a week, $1,400 in high season.
