Holidaying in Italy? Trying to find the ideal villa for your vacation?

This can be a daunting task. There are just so many to choose from, so where do you start? Here’s a simple checklist which will help you to clarify your thoughts and so avoid making a costly mistake.

Oh, and if you’ll be travelling in a large group of family or friends, it’s really important that you talk through all feasible dates, special requirements and requests with them before you start your search. Otherwise you could spend a lot of time choosing a property with certain specifications, only to find that new conditions are added by other members of the group at a later point. This means that the whole process has to start again which is time-consuming – and possibly costly - for all concerned. (Having said this, sometimes an “executive decision” just has to be made on behalf of the group as a whole. You simply can’t please all of the people all of the time …)

1. Your budget Do you have one? Are you looking for simple or more luxurious accommodation? It’s particularly important that the needs of the youngest and eldest members of the group are catered for.

2. Location of property Distance from the airport – is this a factor? What is the maximum driving time you are prepared to accept? Is sightseeing important to you? If yes, which places do you intend to visit during your stay? Do you require a property in a remote, isolated or secluded position, e.g. high up in the hills or mountains? Or is walking distance to facilities essential? (N.B. If you will not have the use of a car during your stay, it is essential that you make this clear when booking your holiday.) Does the property have to be within striking distance of the coast?

3. Which type of accommodation do you prefer? Villa, farmhouse or apartment? Private or shared pool? Rustic or modern interior? Layout of bedrooms: how many doubles/twins/singles do you require? Any special facilities e.g. washing machine, dishwasher, cot, internet access, air conditioning required? Distance to shops: is this a factor?

Once you have asked yourself these questions, you will have a much better idea of what you are looking for. Also you’ll be able to key your requirements into the property search engines on accommodation websites with more confidence. It should be a simple task then to narrow down the results and produce your top four or five. These can then be shown to your travelling partners and discussed at leisure over a glass of wine.

And once you’ve found that perfect home from home – simply book it, relax and count the days!