Hi! After a lot of hardwork by my wedding planner and myself we have found a decent apt in Siena. This apt is listed by agencies like tuscany.net but our wedding planner has been dealing with the owners directly(the price is better through them). However, they want the entire amount( in installments) a month before we arrive, and do not give a contract! Is this normal?My wedding planner has suggested that they visit the place(does'nt solve anything) and/or she draw up an agreement that the owner and I can sign.
My worries are about any problems that might occur once we arrive - dirty apt, no hot water... What guarantee do we have that this will be taken care of? Finding another place is not an option!
Susan
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
We have an apartment rented in Venice and the final payment was due a week in advance, we are leaving Thursday, I'll let you know how it is... I've had alot of email contact with the owner and he sent me a very helpful pre-arrival package, so I'm hoping for the best.
Posts: 9 | Location: little rock, arkansas | Registered: 13 January 2006
I would be really careful there. I have never rented an apartment without a contract or something written. Even then anything could happen, but at least I have something for my insurance company. The insurance will cover you if you buy it whithin specified period of time after making a first deposit for your trip. You have to verify if they cover you in this case. Usually I got an answer from insurance company within a couple of hours.
I read a number of travel insurance contracts and asked numerous questions from the companies. Usually I buy insurance for my trip but since I don't want to pay too much for nothing, I like when it is clear. Last year I purchased TravelGuard and this year I bought TravelSafe for our next trip. TravelSafe has this Cancell for any reason, but you have to respect the conditions. In any case when you pay the first deposit you should buy insurance then and after any additional non-refundable fees, you just ask the company and they will modify it for you within specified delay. But you need to ensure that they will insure you in the condition you mention. http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/tg/pa.shtml http://www.worldtravelcenter.com/eng/tools/providers.cfm I used these sites to compare products and also directly with the company. If you use an agent, he can also provide you with insurance. Some of the companies only insure if you deal through an agent.
Maybe I'm naive, but I've never rented a place with a contract and I've not been disappointed. I'm sure it happens, of course, but it's not the norm. I've traveled to Italy 2 or 3 times a year, over the course of a decade, that's a lot of rentals and I've been very well taken care of by the owners and managers of the rentals. They have been very gracious and concerned that things were as I wanted them. Just create a nice relationship with them over the email/phone and be clear about what you want and need.
Or maybe, if you are very worried, it would be worth the cost of doing business with the agents and not having to wonder if there will be a problem when you arrive. Or maybe you need to get a referral from someone who has already used the apartment.
It's always curious to me that we Americans don't think other cultures have the same standards as we have. We may have different ideas about how to execute them, but they are usually at the same level. At least that's my experience of Italy. Have a great honeymoon! Enjoy your travels. Ciao, Cheryl
For individual properties a contract is not necessary, this is why we do not have one. But email exchanges are legally binding, and they have the same value as a contract provided they clearly state the amount received and the dates of your booking. As for something like this and you will have no troubles.
It is quite normal to pay a deposit on booking a property and then to pay the full balance 30 days prior to arrival. You should get a booking confirmation from the agent/owners and then get a receipt for your monies as you pay them. The owners need assurances as well as the clients because if the monies were not paid prior to arrival and the clients did not turn up then they would have lost potential rental income for weeks they would certainly have been able to rent. If you are not confident to book direct then do book through an agent. Is this villa just for you to stay in or are you holding your reception there? If you are using a wedding planner I assume she is here in Italy and speaks Italian she must have some responsibility to ensure the place is right for you, I would not allow this to be a problem for any of my wedding guests, you pay for the sevices of a wedding planner, their job is to ensure all aspects of your wedding go well or she is not doing her job. 99% of owners in Italy are conciensious, kind and proud of thier properties, they want you to have a good time and to go home and spread the word, There is alot of quality accommodation in Tuscany therefore alot of competition keeping standards up generally. You need to have a little faith in things, I am sure you will have a wonderful wedding and congratulations to you both.
"It is quite normal to pay a deposit on booking a property and then to pay the full balance 30 days prior to arrival. You should get a booking confirmation from the agent/owners and then get a receipt for your monies as you pay them. The owners need assurances as well as the clients because if the monies were not paid prior to arrival and the clients did not turn up then they would have lost potential rental income for weeks they would certainly have been able to rent. "
I aggree with the fact that it is normal to pay a deposit even non refundable, but dealing directly with the owner/hotel owner I never payed the 100% before travelling. Most of the time they offered me to pay the rest on arrival or at the end of stay. While through an agency I payed 100% before, but I got a receipt and a voucher or a contract. I know in Italy standards are different from NA, as they are in the rest of Europe (I am from Europe originally), but still friend or not, I would get something written for sure.
Thank you everyone for the advice & reassurances. I will make sure to get a receipt for each installment, email reply and my wedding planner is writing up an agreement.
By the way this place is just for us (immediate family) for a week.
I would consider paying the balance a month before usual and would expect a written confirmation from the UK or an e-mail acknowledgement from another European country. Also, last year I paid by bank transfer (very common for italy) and I specified on the transfer message that this is what it was for.The owner confimred that the payment had been received for rental on that date. If youare using an agent in the form of a wedding planner, they could help you with this to reassure you.
Posts: 917 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 20 September 2006
Hi! Just wanted to update everyone. My wedding planner "brokered" a formal agreement that both the owners and I are signing!! So all's well.
Couple notes: 1. The price includes electricity "normal consumption, wastes are not included in the price, lights should be switched off if they are not necessary". I'm not sure how this is measured. 2. The price includes final cleanings "In case, at the end of your stay, the kitchen is left in big disorder, with dirty plates and saucepans all around, fridge full of food, rubbish to be thrown away and pieces of furniture out-of-place e an extra cost of Euro 120 will be charged"
Of course the cost would be reduced if you paid fully in one transfer rather than installments - if you felt comfortable doing that and there was agreement on the other end. Do you mean that multiple transfers were requested over the course of one month? I'm not familiar with Italy rentals, but that seems odd.
One way to look at this is the percentage increase in the cost of the rental due to the wire transfer charges. I believe PayPal or credit card charges to an owner on a transaction could amount to as much as 4 percent. When those facilities of payment are accepted, you can be pretty sure they're factored into the price of a rental.
So comparatively, the cost of bank transfers may not be all that bad. Of course, paying by credit card or Paypal is more transparent and helps to protect against potential problems with the delivery of the service.
Just curious, is your wedding planner in Italy or elsewhere? Experienced in dealing with lodging rentals or out of his/her depth?
Hello, If they have Paypal it would be a cheaper solution. I payed a hotel in Italy through Moneynet which is a secure way of paying through a secure server. I was able to pay instantly with my credit card. Ask them if they have an account with one of those?
I agree with Dave and Anastasia, if they can send you a Paypal invoice via email you can pay with a credit card and the transaction fee (around 2-4%) can either be added to the total so you cover it, or they could decide to cover it (although I doubt they would do this).
It's easy for the owners to do this, all they would have to do is register for a free Paypal account, but it doesn't require them to sign up for additional services, obligations, etc. Good luck!
Just curious, is your wedding planner in Italy or elsewhere? Experienced in dealing with lodging rentals or out of his/her depth?
Dave
I agree, what service is your planner offering, how are you paying them, could you not pay them and they pay the accommodation, dont they accept credit cards?.
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