What you need to know before booking a Tuscan villa

We’ve all dreamed of ditching the daily grind and escaping to Tuscany but before you book your romantic hideaway, here are some essential questions to ask yourself…

What is a villa?

Traditionally, a Tuscan villa was a palatial house in the Renaissance style, on a grand property.

But these days it might also refer to almost any ‘house’ in the countryside – farmhouse, palazzo, castle, even a converted mill or barn.

What sort of villa do you need?

How many guests will there be? What type of holiday are you after?

A romantic couple, a group of friends, a family with children and grandparents, or perhaps a wedding party?

Some villas will let a part of the villa or reduce the price for smaller groups. If your group is very small you might consider an apartment rather than a whole villa, and couples may prefer a week in a villa hotel.

What do you want to do? Do you need a car?

Laze around all day? You’ll need a pool.

Eat under the Tuscan sun? You need a shady retreat with a killer view.

Or do you plan to explore the local wineries, markets, hilltop towns and cathedrals? In which case you’ll need a car, a GPS, decent guidebook, good insurance and nerves of steel (well, some days).

Many villas and country houses are along strade bianche (otherwise known as ‘white roads’ or unmade roads), which can be difficult to drive on, wash away in the rain, or be very dusty in summer. Ask when booking.

You probably do need a car to stay in most villas, which tend to be isolated.

How far away are the shops?

How far is the villa from a bar (which is where you drink your coffee) or restaurant?

How far from the nearest food shop or supermercato?

Being walking distance to a village and becoming a ‘regular’ can be a big part of your Tuscan experience.

Will the owner or agent arrange a hamper or shopping before you arrive (and what will the cost be)?

Will anything be open when you arrive? Trying to find a restaurant or shops on the first night can be challenging.

What day will you arrive?

In high season you usually have to rent a villa for at least seven days, usually Saturday to Saturday.

Outside peak season you can sometimes book a shorter five or even three-day stay.

What are the conditions of using the amenities?

When is the pool open? Many only open mid to late May and close late September.

Is the pool heated? Even early May can be mighty chilly.

Is any part of the villa air-conditioned? Tuscan summers can be fiercely hot.

Is there high speed internet? Does it cost extra?

Is there a washing machine?

A dryer?

If you have young children…

Is the pool fenced? (Probably not, but at least you will know.)

Do you need a high chair, a cot and will it cost extra?

Are there screens for mosquitoes?

Does the owner or caretaker speak English?

It’s a huge help if someone nearby does speak the same language as you, especially if it’s your first trip.

Is there a 24-hour a day contact in case of an emergency?

If booking online, have you confirmed everything with a booking agent?

Booking over the internet is amazing, enabling you to find fantastic places. However before finally confirming, ring the agent (or even Skype) and ask your questions so you feel confident about the company or person.

This applies whether you are booking through an international company, a small local business, or someone with just one villa on offer.

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Can you get a better deal?

Don’t forget to negotiate out-of-season and last-minute deals that can save you heaps.

It’s also worth asking about a reduction for fewer guests, or renting part of the villa?

Always ask.

What possible extra costs are there?

Read the fine print carefully and ask plenty of questions. Find out exactly what the rental fee covers.

Do you have to pay extra for electricity/gas/water? Amenities in Italy are expensive, especially for heating/air-conditioning.

Is it a set fee? Some villas range from $62.50 to $625 per week.

Do you pay a cash bond on arrival? It can be hundreds, even a thousand or more euro.

Is there a fee for late check-in?

Is there maid service daily or weekly?

Is there an obligatory final cleaning fee? Is that included or is it to be paid in cash?

Does the owner or agent accept credit cards? Many property owners or organisations will want the full amount transferred by PayPal or bank transfer well ahead of your arrival. Banks at both ends usually charge a fee and Italian bank charges are high.

There is an Italian government tourist tax. It’s around $2 per person, per day for the first week. Some areas charge an additional tax, all payable in cash.

What is the cancellation policy? Check the conditions and make sure you have travel insurance. Refunds can carry high penalties.

Before you go…

Have at least two ways of getting in touch with your contact when you arrive – two phone numbers or a phone number and email.
Be clear about your arrival time (we’ve all been tricked by the 24-hour clock).
Buy a local sim card at the airport, or take an international sim card.
Make sure you have crystal clear instructions on how to reach your villa (including a GPS reading if possible).
Double check the name of the villa and any other names it goes by.
Villas are often let by different agents, who use different names – and the locals might use another name still, so it can seem that no one has ever heard of your villa.

Why is it so hot in Europe?

Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

How travel is impacted

A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius

A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.