Rosemary

Two people renting a 2 bdrm house in Tuscany for $563 for a week,a 2 bdrm house in Stresa on Lake Maggiore for $441 for a week and a rental car from AutoEurope for 16 days for $520.Opinions/evaluations??

Rex

It sounds pretty decent. As with all realestate questions, location... location... location... matters. And other features of the properties. And what season. And what size car.<BR><BR>For a teensy car, the price might be a little high.<BR><BR>Has the provider been able to provide you with adequate photos of the properties?<BR><BR>You might also try asking this question on www.slowtrav.com<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Rosemary

Hi Rex, Car is teensy but price today is $811.Have seen many photos of interior of both houses-would not rent without them.Travel dates are 23 May 2003 to 9 June 2003.Took a lot of research but think prices are very good.

Sherry

Car prices are sometimes all over the place in Italy.<BR>If this helps at all, we rented a car mid May 2002 from Auto Europe for ten days for $590. It was an automatic with the full insurance. I do not remember the make, but it was an economy sized car, four door. It wasn't teeny tiny, but on the small side.<BR>

Rex

I'll stay with my initial impression - - sounds pretty decent. You seem to think that the price is good, and U believe that your instincts are right.<BR><BR>Could you find something cheaper? Maybe. Cheaper almost always means giving up something. And you are almost surely giving up &quot;something&quot; compared to properties and car rentals that might cost you twice as much.<BR><BR>Value is a very elusive thing to define.<BR><BR>I think you have done your homework. And it has paid off.<BR><BR>Have a great trip - - hope you do similarly well in finding your transportation to and from Italy.<BR>

lily

Have you checked the Slow Traveller website? Much info on rentals in Tuscany from first hand experience.

Rosemary

Hi Rex, Thanks for reply.Got flight first. Lufthansa is flying from here(Portland,OR) to Frankfurt non-stop beginning March 31,2003 for $403 RT plus taxes .So for $555 ( incl taxes) we are flying Ptld-Frankfurt-Milan RT.<BR> Most of my info comes from slowtrav including La Bella Toscana rental agency which even took Visa for dwnpmt.

Rex

I think that this is a stunningly good example of information-gathering and trip-planning using this forum and other internet resources.<BR><BR>I hope that all of your trip goes this well, and I bet that it will.<BR>

Connie

Rosemary - your wonderful bargain-hunting skills are astounding and amaze us all! I bet you have the nose of a bloodhound. Literally.

Rosemary

Thanks Connie, The computer is a wonderfully,useful tool for travel.And I love planning trips using computer.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Roesmary, I love it--good job. And, I agree that it is a excellent example of what rewards good homework can bring. I assure you that someone else is doing a similar itinerary and paying at least double the price. I love the web !

jj

Rosemary, could you tell us more about how you found your deals?

Rosemary

jj,www.slowtrav.com was a great site for searching house rentals. I also used Google-just search for &quot;house rentals Italy&quot;.Travel section of a library is a good source,too.