sorry :-) it IS really a bit of a leap of faith though sometimes...on both ends! Usually, this is sommeone's second HOME and not a hotel...and they are handing over their keys to a perfect stranger!

(make sure you get a contract though before paying that lists at least the address and your dates)

I like Craig's list for a lot of things, but not for anything to do with real estate, especially rentals. I posted for a rental recently and had the craziest responses. So crazy that I would never post there again or recommend anyone look there for rentals. Even if the posted had an elaborate website, I would not send my hard-earned money to a stranger with no references regardless of how inexpensive the rental was (perhaps especially if it was inexpensive).

I guess luck of the draw...I have a long-term rental home in the US and I have the most WONDERFUL tenants from Craigslist *knock on wood* - to be fair, I did have one renter once from Craigslist who was the pits...but I had the same kind of responses from the Newspaper and the Realtors ;-)

We rented an apartment in venice in May from craigslist for one week. He did not ask for any money in advance. We e-mailed back and forth a few times. We trusted him and he trusted us. He does have a good website with a few recommendations. but it was all done on faith.

It was a wonderul apartment and after we met him and spent some time together he said we could pay him any time within the first 3 or 4 days.

Two bedroom apartment in Venice for only 790 Euros. Can't beat that and it was lovely too.

susan

Would appriciate the name & telephone no. & website if possible of the rental apartment in Venice. We're going at the end of month & are looking for a reasonably priced apartment there.
M.R.

We very much enjoyed our stay here in '06 - "suite room at the top floor of the B&B - 550.00 euro totali per il soggiorno 3 persone 7notti" ...

www.locandadelleacque.it

Well he fell off the face of the earth it seems like. I emailed him a few times and he has not emailed me back. I'm going to think of this as a positive thing. Thanks for all the help!

if you like the flat - give it more time and if he doesn't answer, phone him. You will find that often European businesses don't answer e-mails as quickly as you may be used to. Certainly not w/ the "urgency" most Americans place on e-mail correspondence.

I rented an apartment last September off Craig's List in Florence--a nice little top floor 2 BR at 6 Via Serragli with elevator, rooftop views, just over the river in the Oltrarno with a sweet terrace...great location!

I was initially cautious, too. She had photos of it on the CL post, it looked nice, price seemed reasonable (not at my fingertips at the moment). I emailed asking for references & got 2 or 3--with whom I emailed & got resounding positive feedback (one young woman student & an English professor--this process took a few days to complete). When I finally called to speak to her, I could tell intuitively that she was 'legit' and felt ok about wiring the deposit.

As indicated here, CL has both good and bad offers on it, and it's a matter of research and direct interaction to evaluate. 'No references' would make me want to call right away to get a 'read' on the guy before proceeding. CL rentals will always be less expensive because they're not using agents.

Email me if you want info about my place & to see a photo of the terrace--I can forward you the emails with photos if I can find them.

Karen
http://www.pbase.com/karenmickleson

GillsinEurope
I looked at the website and it states that you can use a major credit card. That sounds pretty safe to me and not as expensive as a bank transfer. Someone who has invested that much time or money in his website wants to rent the apartment, not rip-off people. We have rented villas and apartments 5 or 6 times in Italy (not in Florence) and his terms match what we have experienced. I’d go for it. Also, not answering an e-mail right away is not a sign of anything other than he probably has a life.

I think we are going to go for it! Thanks for all your help. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Hooray! The apartment is here and we don't feel scammed. Haha. Thanks again for all your help.

So, tell us how the apartment is compared to the website. How is the location? Thanks

Yes, please tell us more! I'm really keen on this one for next year.

Well the pictures on the website look better than the apartment actually looks in person. BUT the location is AMAZING!!! We are staying here for 6 weeks so it's hard to get used to the itty bitty kitchen (no oven and only 2 burners), but if you are only coming for a week or so and don't plan on using the kitchen very much then I think the place is great. Remember, we are young and not very picky though. So here are a few things about the apt. that may or may not be unusual. This is the first Italian apt. we have stayed in.

1. Tiny kitchen
2. Floors kinda make you feel like you are walking on the ground. No carpet, not too many rugs. Kind of cement like.
3. Bathrooms are good. Only the guest bathroom has shower.
4. Guest bathroom also has washer/dryer combo machine. Works well.
4. Two twin beds pushed together in bedroom.
5. Pull out sofa.
6. High speed internet access in bedroom only.
7. On the ground floor. Very dark. Not too much natural light from outside unfortunately. Hard to wake up in the morning ;)
8. Good closet space in bedroom.
9. Like I said before, AMAZING location. On a side street 2 blocks from Ponte Vecchio. Twenty steps away from main hustle and bustle of busy street that leads to Ponte Vecchio and Palazza Vecchio.

Anyway, we are happy with the apartment. I would recommend it.