"Owner direct" vacation accommodation reservations in Chianti, Italy
With the advent of the internet, more and more tourists are booking their
accommodation directly with the owner of the property at which
they plan to stay. This is known as "owner-direct"
reservation of a vacation rental. This can often mean a lower price that when
reserving through an agency. It's normal practice to be asked
to wire a deposit, usually about 30% of the total, to confirm your
reservation, and to pay the remainder, often in cash, upon
arrival. In winter, heating costs can be extra but are usually
offset by the lower rates offered during low season. If you prefer
to book through a vacation rental agency, it's best to choose an agency located
in the area where you plan to stay. This provides a better chance
that they will have inspected all
of the properties they list and will have direct contact with the
owners or managers of the accommodations. International agencies
often provide no additional services or security beyond what
owner-direct vacation rental reservations provide, and obviously they cannot have
inspected the hundreds of properties they list. (NEVER
send a deposit via Western Union. Such transfers are
untraceable and irreversible. Western Union is never used by
legitimate owners of vacation rentals and is an almost sure indicator of
an internet scam. Legitimate owners request bank transfers, which
leave a complete paper trail, to their local bank, usually to an
account in their own name.)
Owner-direct Chianti Holiday Apartments and B&B Rooms
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