There have been a number of comments about where to stash money, tickets, etc when staying in hotels. How safe and secure are the villas in Tuscany? Has anyone experienced any problems?

After the stress of three weeks in three big Italian cities (money belt, safes, etc)last summer it was a joy to be in the middle of the Tuscan countryside at the luxurious villa. Each little house could lock, with a cute old-fashioned key, but with back and forth to the pool and friends in and out of each other's places by the second day of our week's stay we weren't bothering. I kept my extra valuables in the suitcase, under the bed, while we did day trips. Later in the week when we returned one late afternoon we saw a fairly large group walking around, not being led by the owner, who often was away during the day. Apparently they just drove down the two-mile one lane dirt road and were looking at some of the ruins on the property. But they easily could've taken all kinds of stuff- although they didn't. They left as soon as our group arrived back. Hmmm. Anyway, I think I was very fortunate, and learned my lesson, which is to still keep your valuables in the safe (if there is one)or come up with another secure system even outside city hotels. Of course much will depend on the layout of the property where you stay- ours didn't really have a central front desk sort of an entrance, there were only two staff members and lots of little rental cottages scattered over an acre.

I've heard stories of people getting their stuff stolen from a villa, while they were sitting at the pool! So it is important to keep your valuables locked up.

I usually keep my valuables in a locked suitcase, and lock the suitcase to something with my bike lock. It's a long, skinny cord lock that also comes in handy on overnight trains and the like.

sglass, where was your villa? sounds interesting.

I would put valuables in my suitcase and lock it too, a bike lock would be a good idea to secure the suitcast too. I have never seen a safe in any of the villas I have rented.

In one in Assisi we stuck cash behind a picture on the wall!

Hi SU,

>In one in Assisi we stuck cash behind a picture on the wall!<

That's the second place a thief usually looks.

LOL, Ira, I know but what thief would think we would be so dumb? BTW, we almost forgot to take it when we left and had to run back and take down the picture. The owner thought we were trying to take the picture and was very upset! Guess that wasn't such a good idea.

So funny SU!