Question 1

Are utilities included in the rental price?

Accepted Answer

Yes... Gas and electricity are included in your rental fee but please be aware of some facts. Electricity is very expensive in Europe, even more expensive in Italy where the citizens rejected the use of nuclear power. Each house is allowed 3 or 6 kilowatts (kW) of power. Il Rifugio has 6 however this still isn't much when you consider that a clothes washer uses 2.5 kW, a dishwasher 3 kW and an iron 2 kW. We have done what we can by using energy-saving lighting and making our guests aware, but the rest is up to you. All that we ask is that you be thoughtful about your use of electricity. You can do this by staggering your use of electrical appliances and by turning off lights when they are not necessary.

Gas is also very expensive in Italy, and not only for your car - ranging from 2 to 3 times what it cost in America, as does the liquid propane that powers the furnace for heating the house, the hot water, and the stove. Again we simply ask that you be reasonable about use, and try to remember to shut the doors and windows when the heat is on and consider putting on a sweater if a little chilled instead of cranking up the heat in the whole house. We want you to be comfortable but not wasteful.

Question 2

About Italy

Accepted Answer

This category includes on-line magazines, articles and sights that relate to Italian culture and history.
 
Italian Heritage -(https://www.winecellarinnovations.com/wine-racks/italian-heritage) The link to this article about Italian heritage was suggested by Emilia Stevens. Thank you Emilia!
 
Dual Citizenship Italy USA (https://www.italiandualcitizenship.net/)- Helping people learn about how to to apply for Italian American dual citizenship. Working with people who are a descendant of an Italian citizen or married to an Italian citizen to obtain Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) or Italian citizenship by marriage.

Jen Reviews (https://www.jenreviews.com/best-things-to-do-in-italy/)- Here you will find a very useful site with a specific article on the 100 Best Things to do in Italy. This site also covers a wide range of other topics.

Expats in Italy (http://www.expatsinitaly.com/)- Ex-pats web site offers assistance for those moving to or traveling to Italy. The site also has a forum with lots of information for the new or experienced traveler.

Italian Phone Book (http://phonebookofitaly.com/)- Find the phone number and address of anyone (well almost anyone) in Italy. Search by name or reverse lookup an address if you have the phone number.

Cyber Guide to Rome (https://www.italycyberguide.com/)- Clickable maps and more than 800 pages with Rome's places of interest.

Regions (javascript:void(0))- Regional map of Italy with each region's flag.

Dolce Vita (https://www.dolcevita.com/)- On line magazine about Italy.

Delicious Italy (https://www.deliciousitaly.com/)- On line magazine about Italy.

Italian Made (http://www.italianmade.com/usa/)- On line magazine about Italy.

Discover Italia (https://discoveritaly.alitalia.com/en/us)- On line magazine about Italy.

Question 3

Facts & Figures

Accepted Answer

This is a very practical list. There is a link to a site that announces strikes, demonstrations etc. in Italy. Always check this site a couple of days before traveling in Italy. You can also find links to other useful information for planning
 
Transportation Strikes (https://www.summerinitaly.com/traveltips/transport-strikes-in-italy)- Here is another site that lists transportation strikes in Italy. Check this site prior to traveling to or in Italy.

Rome Specific (http://www.whatsoninrome.com/)- Strikes, Demonstrations etc. - If you are stopping in Rome on your way to or from Il Rifugio, check out this site first. It is full of information about Rome. The link is to the section on strikes etc. but you can also check out other great information about Rome on this site.

Driving in Italy -(https://initaly.com/travel/lomax.htm) This site offers practical tips and suggestions about driving in Italy.

Measurement Conversions - This page is on this site and it has conversion calculators for length, area, volume, weight and temperature. It is here mostly for the Metric to US conversions you might me interested in.

Exchange Rate (https://www.dailyfx.com/charts)- If you are wondering what the most recent Dollar value is against the Euro, then go here.

Current Weather (https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/ITXX0343:1:IT)- This is a weather site (in English) with a 5 and 10 day forcast for the Cortona.

Weather Statistics (http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=161720&refer=&units=us)- Want to now what the weather is like? At this Weather Base site you can get statistics for the are (Arezzo is the closest city to Cortona that is monitored) and if you click on the link at the bottom left of page you can get the 5-day forecast.

International Airport Guide (http://www.internationalairportguide.com/)- Guides to major airports in US and world cities. International Airport Guides information for each airport includes; hotels at and near the airport, airport car parking, car rental options, driving directions, area maps and details of the airport terminals including the airlines and destinations.

Question 4

Are there basic supplies at Il Rifugio?

Accepted Answer

Yes... Although we cannot anticipate all our guest's needs, we do supply the basic necessities for your stay, and enough of some items, such as tea, coffee, bottled water (although not necessary), and soft drinks, etc., for a couple of days to give you a chance to shop for your own needs. For example, the following consumables are provided and you will not need to buy them during your stay: toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, trash bags, hand soap, bath soap, dish washing soap, laundry detergent, general cleaning supplies and basic spices. We also keep a supply of wine available for your convenience. The wine you consume during your stay can be paid for at departure time.

Question 5

Car Rentals

Accepted Answer

Here you will find links to some local and several on-line agencies where you can select car models, pick up and drop off locations and dates.
 
Do It In Tuscany (https://www.doitintuscany.net/)- Incoming travel agents specialized in services such as car, scooter and bicycle rentals, tours and much more. Our contact person for Il Rifugio is Federica and you can contact her directly at info@doitintuscany.net.
Auto Europe (https://www.autoeurope.com/affiliate-program/)- The consensus of opinion that I have heard is that Auto Europe usually has the best rates and are the easiest to deal with.
Europcar -(https://www.europcar.com/home.html) Online booking and a location at the Rome and Florence airports.
Hertz (https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/gaq/enUS/whenWhereHowExtrasPopup.jsp)- A US based company with International offices. Online booking and a location at the Rome and Florence airports. Hertz offers "Club" deals that might be more competitive.
Car Rentals (https://www.carrentals.co.uk/car-hire-italy.html)- This link is to the Car Rentals.co.UK "Rent a Car in Italy" page.

Question 6

Should we buy travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes... This is another subject you should discuss with your travel agent. Travel insurance could cover the cost of your airfare and your rental fee at Il Rifugio should a last minute cancellation of your travel plans be necessary. Check out the Travel Insurance category on our Travel insurance agencies

Question 7

Will we need to rent a car?

Accepted Answer

Yes... Most people will want to rent a car when visiting Tuscany. Cortona is centrally located in Tuscany and a mere 10 minutes from Il Rifugio by car. In addition, visitors will find many wonderful places to explore within an hours drive of Il Rifugio. Depending on your situation, it is normally better to rent a car at the airport you will be arriving and departing from if they are the same. The convenience of pick up and drop off near the airport you are traveling to and from is usually better than the small savings you might realize otherwise.
 
Although it is tempting, I defiantly would not advise renting a large van. Renting two smaller cars allows you to have more freedom, they are easier to navigate and park on small city streets and it doesn't cost that much more than renting a big van. Also, you do need a little clearance under the car for some of the dirt roads you may have to travel on. The last kilometer to Il Rifugio is a dirt road and it can be bumpy at times, so don't rent something very low to the ground like a sports car. Just a normal small or midsize car is fine.
 
Car rentals in Italy usually have standard shift cars and automatics are sometimes difficult to come by so planning ahead is a good idea. Also remember that you are supposed to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent and drive a car in Europe. You can get an IDP from your local AAA.
 
As parking is next to impossible in some cities, consider taking the train to places south, like Rome or north to Florence. The smaller Tuscan hill towns often don't allow traffic in the historic centers but usually have parking within a few blocks. If you are arriving in Cortona by train or some other way please be aware that there are not many car rental businesses in Cortona but you can check with the local travel agent. Here name is Federica and her email address is: info@doitintuscany.net.(mailto:info@doitintuscany.net) As with most things in Italy, plan far ahead for something important that you need and following up several days before you need it. Here is a link to the car rental page on our web site: Car Rentals(javascript:void(0))

Question 8

Tours & Services

Accepted Answer

Here are some other travel-related sites.
Do It In Tuscany -(https://www.doitintuscany.net/) If you are looking for local services such as tours or car, scooter and bicycle rentals, please contact our affiliate ‘Do It I Tuscany’. They are travel agents specialized in services such as car, scooter and bicycle rentals, tours and much more. Our contact person for Il Rifugio is Federica and you can contact her directly at info@doitintuscany.net.
 
Museum & Tour Tickets (https://selectitaly.com/tickets)- Here is a list of related sites where you can purchase tickets for the major museums. To purchase your museum tickets, click on the city name below and then look on the left side of the page for specific museums. You can check out other services such as excursions and shopping by clicking on the links at the top of each page.

Question 9

Travel Insurance

Accepted Answer

We highly recommend travel insurance and suggest making the necessary arrangements with a reliable insurance company to cover all stages of the holiday including the unlikely possibility of flight, transport, or rental booking cancellations. Here is a list of agencies that I found by searching the Internet. Be assured we have no affiliation with any of these companies and suggest asking your travel agent to recommend a travel insurance company that best suits your needs.
 
Travel Insurance.com (https://1travelinsurance.com/)- Comprehensive Plans are designed for the customer looking for Trip Cancellation & Interruption and higher coverage benefits in the areas of Medical Expenses, Baggage & Personal Belongings, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation.

World Travel Center (http://www.travelinsurancecenter.com/)- This is a link to "WorldTravelCenter.com". The site appears to have a broad selection of travel insurance policies with an easy to use "Policy Picker" search capability. We have no connection with WorldTravelCenter or any of it's affiliated companies and recommend that you always read the policy and the terms of use prior to making a purchase.

Travel Insured -(https://www.travelinsured.com/) Another on-line travel insurance company that looks well organized with a lot of useful information The web site provides a schedule of benefits with a broad range of products and rates. We have no connection with Travel Insured International or any of it's affiliated companies and recommend that you always read the policy and the terms of use prior to making a purchase.

Question 10

Do we need a special license to drive in Italy?

Accepted Answer

Yes... You need to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive and in most cases to rent a car in Italy. The IDP is a translation of your driver's license so you need to bring your actual drivers license when you go to get your IDP.
You can get an IDP at the AAA (http://www.ouraaa.com/travel/other/idp/)(Automobile Association of America) or the AATA ((http://aataidp.com/applicaton/)American Automible Touring Alliance). It is valid for one year.

Question 11

How is the public transportation?

Accepted Answer

Good... The train and bus service is excellent. There are two train stations close to Cortona and both are less than 15 minutes from Il Rifugio by car. A train ride to Florence is little over an hour and to Rome a little over 2 hours. Buses are available that depart from Cortona to much of the surrounding area.

Question 12

What will the weather be like?

Accepted Answer

Seasonal... Tuscan has four distinct seasons, and in general the weather is delightful, especially in spring, summer, and fall. Expect a certain amount of Mediterranean heat in July and August, sporadic rainfall in October and November, and cold winter nights with an occasional dusting of snow (lasting no more than a day or two on the ground) from January through March. Each season, too, has its delights: waves of wildflowers all spring, a toasting sun in summer, the olive harvest in autumn, and the silent beauty of winter

Question 13

What kind of clothes should we bring?

Accepted Answer

Comfortable... Unless you plan to attend a formal function, it is best to dress comfortably. It has been my experience that Italians are very fashion conscience but non judgmental and besides, they are not traveling. It is probably a good idea to bring clothes that you can layer such as a sweater in the Spring and Fall season, light clothing during the Summer and some worm clothes in the Winter. It's always a good idea to have a compact umbrella on hand just in case of rain. A good comfortable pair of walking shoes are essential.

Question 14

Are there screens on the windows?

Accepted Answer

Most... All the bedroom windows and some of the other windows have screens.

Question 15

Dies Il Rifugio have air conditioning?

Accepted Answer

No... It is not typical to find air-conditioning in a private home in Italy and this is true for Il Rifugio to. If the weather happens to be hot while you are staying at Il Rifugio, you can follow this time-honored tradition: close all doors, windows and drapes during the day to keep the sun out. In the cool of the evening, open up everything again until morning. This works especially well in the country with houses such as Il Rifugio, where the tick stone walls act as insulation from the heat in summer and the cold in winter

Question 16

What airport should I fly into?

Accepted Answer

It depends... The three most popular airports are: Rome (Code: FCO, Name: Leonardo da Vinci" or AKA "Fiumicino"

Florence (Code: FLR, Name "Florence Airport" or AKA "Amerigo Vespucci")

Pisa (Code: PSA, Name: "Pisa Airport" or " AKA "Galileo Galilei")

I have flown in and out of each of them and my personal favorite is the Florence airport. The advantage is that it is the closest at about a 1.5 hour drive to Il Rifugio and it is much easier to negotiate and quicker to get in and out of than the Rome airport. I have used Pisa the least but it is also small and a little over 2 hours from Il Rifugio. The advantage of the Rome airport is that it is a large International airport so it has more flights (some direct) and possibly slightly lower prices. The disadvantage is that the drive time to Il Rifugio is about 3 hours and since it is a large international airport it takes longer to do things like renting a car, getting your luggage and getting in and out of the airport.

Question 17

Is it difficult to exchange currency?

Accepted Answer

No... This can be done at any bank in Italy or better yet, you can use a 'bank-o-mat' (auto teller... Cortona has at least 5) to draw money from a credit or debit card. With the change over to the Euro (€) for currency, money transactions are much easier to understand these days. It's a good idea to have some Euro currency with you when you arrive. This will be useful to hold you over until you can get to a bank. Most banks in the U.S. provide a currency exchange service but you might try a local coin shop. Some coin shops have enough foreign currency on hand to meet your needs and often charge a lower transaction fee than the banks.

Question 18

What does the Euro currency look like?

Accepted Answer

Take a look...
 
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Question 19

Are arrival and departure times strict?

Accepted Answer

Yes... We aren't control freaks. It's just that we need the time from departure of one party at 10:00 AM to the arrival of another party at 3:00 PM to completely clean the house, change and wash all the linens and restore order. That being said we do understand that problems beyond our control happen all the time and we want to do our best to accommodate you. Please keep us informed of any changes in your schedule as soon as they happen, and we will do everything in our power to help you in any way we can.

Question 20

Is a phone available at the house?

Accepted Answer

Yes... There is a telephone at Il Rifugio and we do not charge for reasonable international use.

Question 21

Is there Internet access at Il Rifugio?

Accepted Answer

Yes... We have free wireless Internet access but you will need to bring your own computer.

Question 22

Should we bring any electrical adapters?

Accepted Answer

Not necessary... There is at least one American style wall plug in each room. We also have electrical adapters if you need more. Unless you have some special needs you should be fine.

Question 23

Do we need to bing our own towels?

Accepted Answer

Not necessary... We provide you with plenty of clean wash cloths, bath, hand and kitchen towels. Save some room in your suitcase for any purchases you may like to take back with you.

Question 24

Do you have hair dryers at IL Rifugio?

Accepted Answer

Yes... There is a hair dryer in each bathroom. Save the space in your suitcase for a bottle of wine on your return trip home.

Question 25

How do we deal with our laundry?

Accepted Answer

Two ways... There are two ways you can handle your laundry needs: Hire someone or do it yourself. If you don't want to do your laundry, we can arrange for someone to do it for you. The cost will be by the hour and you can pay the person directly. Most people, however, will prefer to do their own laundry. There is a state-of-the-art washer and dryer at Il Rifugio; just be aware that washing machines in Italy, and Europe in general, have longer cycle times. As part of our fuel and energy-conserving policy, we ask that you use the clothesline whenever possible. On warm days, the sun and fresh air does a faster job and many people prefer the results.

Question 26

How is handicapped accessibility in Italy?

Accepted Answer

Not so good... Handicapped accessibility is not as prevalent in Europe as it is in the US. You should be aware that most public buildings such as museums typically do not have wheelchair accessibility. In addition, city centers and train transportation can be extremely difficult. If you must travel with a wheelchair, consider bringing the smallest, narrowest chair possible as doorways often have small openings. In addition we suggest you have someone who can carry you up or down stairs in an emergency. If you have a handicap of any kind please let us know so we can inform you of some of the challenges and do what we can to help you overcome them.

Question 27

Are the store hours the same as in the US?

Accepted Answer

No... This can really get tricky and could make you crazy if you don't pay attention. In general all shops except restaurants close at 1:00 PM every day (I refer to it as the one-a clock wall) and reopen between 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM, depending on the shop, the time of year and the whim of the shop owner. There are also seasonal half-day closings on Wednesday, when certain shops stay closed for the rest of the afternoon. For future reference, it is best to jot down store hours of any shop that interests you as soon as you can. These are typically posted on the door or a window of the shop. However, we suggest you avoid critical planning based on the accuracy of the posted hours, especially with the smaller shops.

Question 28

Are there classes or tours that can be arranged?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely... All of the above and more can be arranged. Just let us know anything you are interested in when booking your stay at Il Rifugio so we have time to get information and make arrangement when possible. Try to make these decisions early, and definitely before your arrival. The more time you allow, the more likely we will be able to help you. For things like the scheduling of flights or car rentals we suggest you speak with your travel agent.

Question 29

Are there any inexpensive activities?

Accepted Answer

Lots... I'm glad you asked! Of course not everybody will be thrilled with the simple things that entertain me, but if you are interested please check out our Activities (activities.php)page. You will find a list of simple, free things to do during your stay at Il Rifugio or when exploring Cortona. For the price of a cappuccino or a glass of wine, you can always just watch the world go by on Via National in Cortona.

Question 30

What are the Italian national holidays?

Accepted Answer

They are...

January 1 - New Year's Day

January 6 - Epiphany

Easter Sunday & Monday

April 25 - Liberation Day

May 1 - Labor Day

June 29 - Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's Day

August 15 - Ferragosto (The Assumption of Mary)

November 1 - All Saints' Day

December 8 - Immaculate Conception

December 25 - Christmas Day

December 26 - Santo Stefano

Question 31

Is it difficult to communicate with the locals?

Accepted Answer

No... The local people in Cortona are very friendly and patient with foreigners. They will do their best to make themselves understood and to understand you. Actually, many shop owners and younger people understand and speak English quite well. You may want to take an Italian language course while in Italy, for your own pleasure or for more in-depth conversations and ease of reading museum labels, etc. If you are interested, please mention this when you book Il Rifugio as we can arrange for group or hourly private lessons.

Question 32

Are pets allowed at IL Rifugio?

Accepted Answer

No... Although we have a pet and understand the attachment people have to their pets, we do not allow pets to stay at Il Rifugio. There are several reasons, ranging from our belief that long-term travel is hard on most animals to the fact that you may be jeopardizing your pets health by bringing it to an area where there are potential health and safety issues (insects, wild animals, etc.). We therefore ask that you leave your pets at home while staying at Il Rifugio. Send them a post card once in a while and bring them home a souvenir and I'm sure they will forgive you.

Question 33

What does is a Cinghiale?

Accepted Answer

A Pig... A cinghiale is a wild boar that roams the countryside. They are highly sought after by local hunters. Many Tuscan recipes including Cinghiale, especially pasta sauce, and can often be found in local restaurants. Don't worry, even though cinghiale are in the neighborhood of Il Rifugio, they are basically shy, nocturnal animals, as eager to avoid you as you are to avoid them. You are less rather than more likely to have a cinghiale sighting during your visit.

Question 34

What does Cinghiale breath smell like?

Accepted Answer

Bad... Just want to see if you are actually reading all of the questions.

Frequently Asked Questions