Frequently asked questions
Answers to some commonly asked questions
Choosing a villa from The Thinking Traveller range
Please see our how to book page for complete information about booking with The Thinking Traveller.
Q. Who can give me information about the villas I'm interested in?
A. Our Villa Specialists: they travel to Italy, Greece and Corsica several times a year, visiting and staying at our villas and exploring our destinations. You'll always be able to speak to someone who knows your preferred villas like the back of their hand! Just write to info@thethinkingtraveller.com or call the number at the top of this page.
Q. What is the maximum occupancy of your villas?
A. Maximum occupancy is clearly stated on each villa's dedicated page. NB This number includes children and infants.
Q. Where can I check prices and availability?
A. Prices and availability for our villas are shown on each individual villa page. Simply use the calendar function on the right-hand side of the page to see which weeks are free. Choose a free week (or weeks), add the number of guests and/or bedrooms and the price for the period selected will be shown. You can then either book the villa online, send an enquiry, or add it to your shortlist by clicking on the heart symbol. If you send us an enquiry of a shortlist, our Villa Specialists will be in touch with you to offer tailored, expert advice and information. Please feel free to contact them at any time by emailing info@thethinkingtraveller.com or calling us on +44 (0)20 7377 8518.
Q. Once I decide on a villa how do I complete my booking?
A. Click here for a comprehensive answer!
Q. Is it possible to arrive and/or depart on any day of the week or do you have a set arrival-departure day?
A. Most of our villas are rented weekly from Saturday to Saturday (in Sicily, Puglia and Greece except for Lefkada, Meganissi and the Sporades Islands), Sunday to Sunday (in Lefkada, Meganissi and Corsica) and Friday to Friday (the Sporades Islands). There may be some flexibility for some properties, particularly in the lower seasons. If you prefer to travel mid-week, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Q. Are your villas safe for children?
A. The vast majority of our villas are perfect for families with children. When we feel they are not, we add a note in the Think About section at the bottom of each villa page. The villas we recommend as family villas (please see our family villas page) have been tried and tested by numerous families with children, not to mention our own offspring. We will, of course, give you as much info as possible in this regard should it be a concern for you - just let us know your requirements. Please also see our dedicated Health and Safety page.
Q. Are your villas suitable for guests with limited mobility or disabilities?
A. We take accessibility very seriously and believe that limited mobility or disability should not be a restriction when on holiday. However, every villa in our portfolio is different and some are better suited for guests with mobility impairments than others.
Q. Do you only arrange accommodation?
A. No, we will also be happy to arrange a series of add-ons and enriching adventures for you. We call these Experiences and they include in-villa wine deliveries, in-house cooks, private drivers and transfers, helicopter rides, 4x4 Mount Etna excursions, speedboat and yacht charters, chauffeur, PhD-qualified guides and many other things.
Q. Why can I see the same villa listed on another website at a different price and with different availability?
A. All our villas are exclusively available through us and they can only be booked through our website or by contacting our team. If you see the same villa listed on another platform please be cautious and avoid putting your money at risk. This is likely fraudulent activity, and any bookings or payments made outside our platform will be invalid. For total peace of mind, please always book directly with The Thinking Traveller.
Q. Do you have a Health and Safety policy?
A. Yes, please click here for more information.
Please see our how to book page for complete information about booking with The Thinking Traveller.
What's included - amenities and extra services
For complete information about amenities, please take a look at the individual villa pages: each has a full list called "Features and Amenities", specifying what is included and what is available on request. The "What's Included" section of the villa page outlines what is included in the cost of the villa, and what is not.
Q. Is electricity included?
A. Electricity is included in the rental price. We do ask guests to use electrical appliances and lighting in a responsible, ecological manner, making sure, for example, that outside/garden lights are turned off during the day and that the air-conditioning units are turned off when leaving the property or when windows are open.
Q. Is gas included?
A. Gas for cooking and heating is included in the price of your rental.
Q. Is water included?
A. Yes, water is included in the rental price.
Q. Is cleaning included?
A. All our villas have a minimum one weekly clean included, ensuring that your villa will be clean when you check-in. The vast majority also come with a mid-week clean. If you are staying two or more weeks you will also have a full clean included every 7 days. Many villas, especially those in our Think Exquisite collection have daily maid service included. Extra maid service is available on request at all villas for a small extra fee.
Q. Are sheets and towels provided? How often are they changed?
A. Yes. On arrival, you will find all the beds made up and towels for all your party. There will also be a pool and/or beach towels for your use. At almost all our villas, sheets and towels are changed once, mid-stay. If you are staying two or more weeks you will also have a change of sheets and towels included every 7 days. Extra changes of sheets and towels are available on request for a small extra fee.
Q. Is there a washing machine?
A. Yes. All our villas have a washing machine. For the vast majority, these are made available to guests. At a few, the staff provide a laundry service either included in the rental price or for a small extra fee. Please check the amenities table on each villa page to make sure.
Q. Is there an iron and ironing board at my villa?
A. Yes, all our villas have an iron and an ironing board.
Q. Will I be able to access the Internet at my villa?
A. All our villas have some form of Internet access, most usually a fast fibre or satellite Wi-Fi connection. In a very few more isolated villas, where hi-speed Internet is not available in the area, an alternative is provided. The type of internet connection available is specified on each villa's page under "Villa Features". To learn more visit our internet connections page.
Q. Is it possible to have an in-villa cook?
A. Yes, we'd be delighted to arrange the services of a cook for you. Please see our Experience pages or contact us for more details. In some of our Think Exquisite villas the services of a cook are included in the rental price. If you're arriving at your villa in the evening, why not organise for your dinner to be ready and waiting for you on arrival? Please note that an administration fee of €20 (for up to three people) or €30 (for groups of 4 or more) is payable at the time of booking the in-villa cook service (for villas where the service is not included in the rental price).
Q. Ok, we'd like a cook. What will we be eating? Can we choose from a menu or will the cook decide? Two of my party are vegetarians, will this be a problem?
A. Generally, you will be eating traditional Sicilian, Puglian, Corsican or Greek food, depending on your destination. We can provide menus for most of our villas, or give you a pretty good idea of the kind of things you are likely to eat. Let us know your preferences/dietary requirements (ie fish, meat, no seafood etc) and we'll pass on your requests. Take a look at our recipes pages for an idea of the delicious things the locals are lucky enough to eat in Sicily, Puglia, Greece and Corsica. A great many of the local dishes are vegetarian so members of your group who don't eat meat/fish will still have an amazing gastronomic experience.
Q. It is my partner's 50th birthday while we are on holiday. Can you organise a special dinner party and some live music, maybe a small jazz band?
A. Just let us know as soon as possible and we'll be delighted to arrange something special for you.
Q. We plan to relax as much as possible and would love to have a masseuse come to our villa once or twice. Is this possible?
A. Once again, we'd be delighted to organise this. Just let us know in advance.
Q. We plan to do a lot of touring around, sightseeing, but we don't want to drive every day. Can you arrange a private driver for us?
A. Absolutely! No problem. Speak to your Local Specialist before your trip and they'll do the rest.
Q. Can you provide guides to take us around historic towns or archaeological sites?
A. We often arrange guides for our clients. We work with tried and tested, fully-qualified guides who will give you great insights into what you are seeing. Take a look at our Experiences pages for detailed information.
General questions
Q. Where do you operate?
A. We provide exclusive access to the most exceptional villas in Sicily and Puglia (in Italy), Greece and Corsica (in France). For more detail, read Our Story.
Q. Should I take out travel insurance for my holiday?
A. It is a condition of booking with The Thinking Traveller that you take out adequate travel insurance. Many credit card companies include holiday insurance as do other more general insurance policies, so you should first check these. Please see our booking conditions for more in-depth information.
Q. We're coming from America. What is the voltage in Europe? Should we bring adaptors or something?
A. Electricity in Italy, Greece, France, Spain and the rest of Europe is 220v (as opposed to 110 volts in the US). Most laptops are designed to work at both 220v and 110v. If you have an appliance which only works at 110v you should bring a voltage converter with you as they are difficult to find in Italy and in Greece. You will also need a universal plug adaptor as Italy's sockets are designed for 2 round-pronged plugs.
Q. We were planning on bringing some DVDs from America. Will they work on European DVD players?
A. Probably not, unfortunately. American DVD players and discs are "Region 1", while Italian, French, Spanish and Greek ones are "Region 2", making them incompatible. Many of our villas have Sky Movies or TVs with Netlix/Amazon Prime installed so you won't need to be entirely without films.
Q. Will my US cell phone work in Europe?
A. If you have a GSM cell phone, it should work in Europe. Once arrived you can buy a SIM card (you will need your ID for this) and switch your American SIM card with it. Alternatively, you can rent a GSM phone before you leave. We do, however, recommend you talk to your network provider or local cellphone retailer.
Q. Can I smoke in the villa?
A. Smoking is not permitted in our villas. Smokers are politely requested to take their hobby outside.
Q. Do your villas accept pets?
A. Pets are generally not allowed in our villas. However, some owners will accept pets depending on size, length of stay and other factors. Please speak to one of our Villa Specialists if you are thinking of travelling with your pet.
Getting to your villa, checking-in, and checking-out
Q. Do you arrange flights?
A. We do not arrange flights, though we'd be delighted to help. Once you’ve booked your villa, just say the word and we’ll put you in touch with our dedicated flight desk. They’ll do all the groundwork, get back to you with your best options, and manage the booking for you..
Q. Where should we fly to in each of your destinations?
A. There are lots of direct flights to our destinations: Sicily has four airports (Palermo, Catania, Trapani and Comiso); Puglia two (Bari and Brindisi); Corfu one (which also serves Paxos and Antipaxos); Lefkada and Meganissi are close to Preveza/ Aktion Airport; Skopelos and Alonissos are a short crossing from Skiathos Airport; Corsica has four airports (Ajaccio, Figari, Calvi and Bastia). Consult the flight pages on our website or speak to your Villa Specialist for detailed information and advice.
Q. Do we need to rent a car? If so, can you arrange one for us?
A. For the majority of our villas, which are not easily accessible by any other means, we strongly advise you rent a car. This is also the case if you are intending to tour around and see the sights: public transport is often not terribly reliable or available. If you prefer not to drive, take a look at our selection of villas within walking distance of shops and restaurants.
On our site you'll find a rental car booking engine, allowing you to book the vehicle that best suits your requirements for pickup at the airport when you arrive in your destination. Alternatively, to avoid the queues at the airport, ask us to arrange a transfer to your villa and have your rental car delivered direct to your villa (not available in all destinations, so please check with us).
Q. How will I find the villa and get inside?
A. Before you leave, we will send you detailed directions of how to get to your villa. If you are having problems, you can call the Local Specialist, who will help you arrive. In Sicily, Puglia and Corsica, there will be someone waiting for you at your villa - either the owner or the caretaker/property manager. They will give you a complete introduction to the house and leave you the keys. In our Greek villas, you will be instructed where to find the key and one of our Local Specialists will arrange a visit to meet you there subsequently (they will, of course, be available on the phone in the meantime for anything you might need).
Q. When can I check-in?
A. Check-in at your villa is possible from 4:00pm on the first day of your stay. On receiving your flight details, your Local Specialist will send you an estimated check-in time at the villa, taking into consideration the normal time required to collect luggage, pick up a hire car and drive to the villa. We would be most grateful if you could confirm this estimated check-in time (or let us know a different time if you plan to do some shopping/sightseeing, etc on the way) so that we can ensure someone will be at the villa to welcome you at an agreed time. Please do contact your Local Specialist if you have any queries regarding check-in. Should you be delayed on the day of arrival, please call your Local Specialist.
Q. What happens if my flight is delayed and I arrive late at the villa? Who do I tell?
A. Just call your Local Specialist. Their business card is in your joining pack and their number is also in the House Guide.
Q. When do I have to check out by?
A. Standard check-out time is by 10:00am (unless otherwise stated). It is not generally possible to check-out after this time as the villas need to be cleaned and prepared thoroughly for the arrival of the next guests. If there are no other guests arriving that day, and the owner does not need the house for their own purposes, it may be possible to extend check-out time by a couple of hours.
Q. I'm arriving late on Saturday evening - the shops will be shut. What can I eat?
A. In all our villas you will find a "Welcome Pack" with the basic essentials but not enough for a meal. If you are arriving late we will be happy to organise a welcome shop for you (a small fee is charged for this service).
Q. How many sets of keys will I get?
A. This depends on the size of the house and the number of people in your group. Generally, you will get one set of keys for every 4/5 people.
Q. Who do I contact if I have a problem at the villa?
A. Our network of villa owners and caretakers is supported by a team of locally-based Thinking Traveller Local Specialists, who are available 24/7 to ensure that your holiday runs smoothly. In 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 readers of Condé Nast Traveller voted The Thinking Traveller the World's #1 Villa Rental Company. In the same awards, our superb on-the-ground support team have been voted the best on three separate occasions.
Our destinations
Q. What's driving in your destinations like?
A. In the larger cities, such as Palermo, Catania and Bari driving can sometimes be a little challenging, as in most large, busy cities around the world. It is not dangerous, however, partly because the traffic rarely moves fast enough to be so. Some of the locals in our destinations take an "inventive" approach to driving but are rarely (if ever) aggressive. Driving long distances in all our destinations is very easy as the motorways (where they exist) and other main arteries are never really busy. Access to some of our villas can be along steep and/or unmade roads and where this is the case we will always advise you.
Q. How safe are your destinations?
A. All our destinations are very safe. Larger cities, such as Palermo, Catania and Bari are just as safe, and in many cases safer, than other cities in Europe (and indeed the rest of the world) and as long as you take the normal precautions you should not have any problems. In smaller towns and villages, muggings, bag-snatching or indeed any sort of crime are virtually unheard of.
