HOW DO I GET TO ROCCA DI BENANO?

Most of our guests fly into Rome. From there, it’s easy to rent a car at the airport and drive to Benano. There are other good alternatives because Benano is a short drive from Orvieto, which has a train station, a Hertz office, and easy freeway access. We can help you figure out what would work best for you.

WILL I NEED A CAR?

Yes. Public transportation service is impractical. If this concerns you, give us a call and let’s talk about your options. We know several highly qualified drivers you might want to engage for all or part of your trip.

IS THE VILLA AIR-CONDITIONED?

Yes. We also have window screens on all windows (unusual for Italy) and fans in each bedroom. The air conditioners are set at 73 – 75 degrees, and guests who prefer to have their air conditioning at “meat locker level” have the option of paying more for that privilege. We’ve never had anyone take us up on this offer, and we’ve never had anyone suggest that the air conditioning wasn’t completely sufficient.

DO YOU HAVE A MINIMUM RENTAL PERIOD?

Yes. One week. But that doesn’t mean we don’t make exceptions. It never hurts to ask.

WHAT TIME IS CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT?

Rentals begin and end on Fridays. Guests may arrive between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on their check-in day and are asked to check out by 10:00 am on the day of departure. If you would prefer an earlier check-in or later check-out, we will accommodate your schedule if we possibly can.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN STAY AT ROCCA DI BENANO?

The villa can house up to 10 people, two per bedroom, (more villa details here) .If you have more than 10 people in your party, let us help you think about your options. Some of our larger groups send part of their party to other nearby accommodations.

IS THERE A POOL?

No, but our guests are invited to swim and sunbathe at La Pergoletta, a small hotel in Castel Viscardo, about 3 miles away. We will assume the costs of your visit there. We provide beach towels you can take over to the pool with you.

IS HOUSEKEEPING INCLUDED?

The villa is furnished with bed, bathroom, and kitchen linens. Our managers change the towels mid-week, and they change both towels and bed linens on Friday mornings for multi-week rentals. The rental fee includes the final cleaning. While the rental fee does not include daily cleaning, we can arrange for light housekeeping at an additional cost.

CAN YOU PROVIDE A CHEF?

Yes! We arrange for a neighbor to make and deliver a delicious dinner for you on the evening of your arrival. Your “welcome dinner” is included in your rental price. Many of our guests hire our neighbor, known to be the best cook in the village, or one of the other local chefs to whom we can refer you for another dinner or two during their stay. Eating in (and having someone else do the cooking and cleaning) on the night before an early departure is a particularly popular choice.

CAN YOU PROVIDE SHOPPING SERVICES?

Yes, although the cost of this service is not included in the rental.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

Hardly any.

Your rental is all-inclusive. You will have the option of buying shopping and housekeeping services, hiring personal chefs for additional dinners (your “welcome dinner” is included), and paying for extra air conditioning (see “IS THE VILLA AIR CONDITIONED?”). We also require a security deposit, but that is refunded upon check-out provided the villa hasn’t been damaged. The only thing we can’t include is the tourist tax we are required by law to collect. It €2.20 per adult per day with a five day maximum, making it €11 per person for the entire stay.

I guess you’ve heard how blasted hot it is here. I was inspired by everyone living in Benano without AC, so I went my first few days here without turning on the AC. Then I had friends here for an overnight and turned it on for them. What a relief! I just returned from taking them to the train station – they’re headed to Rome for a few days before returning home. Yikes.

HOW ABOUT RESERVATION AND CANCELLATION POLICIES?

A deposit of 50% of the total amount is required to confirm your reservation. The remaining 50% will be due 90 days before arrival.

In the event of cancellation, 50% of the rental price will be charged if the cancellation is made at least 90 days before the start of the rental period; 85% of the rental price if the cancellation is made between 89 and 60 days before the start of the rental period; 100% of the rental price if the cancellation is made between 59 days and one day before the start of the rental period. We strongly recommend that guests buy trip cancellation insurance to protect all of us from the unexpected.

ARE CHILDREN WELCOME?

Absolutely! Many of our guests are family groups with children, and our neighbors in Benano love the bambini. Be sure to review the house tour video (found in “About > the Villa”) to appreciate how many levels there are in the house. Toddlers would benefit from very attentive handlers.

HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THE VILLA?

Not very. Actually, practically not at all. It’s a tall and narrow house. We tried to show all the stairs and steps on the house tour video (found in “About > the Villa”). We are happy to describe it in more detail or answer any questions.

MAY I SMOKE IN THE VILLA?

No, thank you. The villa is a non-smoking environment.

ANY OTHER RULES?

You bet. We have a contract that guests sign prohibiting illegal activity and things like that. If you want to see the contract, just let me know and I’ll email a copy of it to you.

YOUR FAQ’S DIDN’T ANSWER MY QUESTION. WHAT NOW?

Simple. Write to me at karen@italianrentalvilla.com or call, text, or WhatsApp me at (513) 470-0371. Our goal is to help you have the best vacation of your life. We want you to feel right at home in Benano and have everything you need, including the confidence to explore the area and all that it has to offer. We will share our network of friends in and near Benano who can, depending on your interests, teach you to cook like a local, show you around their organic farm, and serve you a meal there. I know where you can rent horses or bikes. Of course we can recommend great restaurants. And we can introduce you to the best tour guide imaginable — a teacher who, when she isn’t working, can tour with our guests around the area she loves and has studied extensively. We can help you arrange winery tours, cheese tours, photography classes, a visit to a ceramic artist’s studio (it’s in a castle, by the way). We can also help you hire a professional photographer to capture your vacation memories. On a more practical level, I can suggest driving itineraries, drivers for special day trips, and even put you in touch with a driver/personal assistant whom you can hire to have with you for your entire stay.