A villa rental is a fundamentally different experience from a hotel — and for most guests, it's a revelation. You have an entire property to yourselves: the gardens, the pool, the kitchen, the terraces. You set your own schedule. You eat when you want, where you want. You're not sharing space with strangers.
But villas also work differently from hotels. Understanding what to expect will help you get the most from your stay. Here's everything you need to know.
A villa is a private home, not a hotel
This is the essential distinction. When you rent a villa, you're renting someone's property — often a family home, sometimes a historic estate, occasionally a restored farmhouse or converted monastery. These are real buildings with history, character, and the occasional quirk.
There's no front desk, no concierge in the lobby, no room service button. What you have instead is privacy, space, and the freedom to live as you would at home — but in a setting far more beautiful than home.
Many guests tell us that after a villa stay, hotels feel confining. The ability to wander from bedroom to terrace to pool to garden, to have breakfast in the kitchen or lunch by the pool or dinner under the pergola — this flexibility becomes addictive.
Your villa should match its description
We personally inspect every villa in our collection. What you see in photographs and descriptions should be what you find when you arrive. WiFi should work. Appliances should function. The pool should be clean. The beds should be made.
If something feels amiss — if the villa doesn't match what you expected, if something isn't working, if anything seems wrong — tell us immediately. Don't wait until checkout to mention problems. We have direct relationships with every property and can usually resolve issues quickly, but only if we know about them.
During check-in, the house manager will explain how everything works — from the coffee machine to the gate codes to the heating controls. Instructions for appliances and systems should be visible in the villa or will be explained during this orientation. If you're unsure how something works at any point during your stay, ask.
Your house manager
Every Essenza villa has a dedicated house manager responsible for the smooth running of the property. This person is your main point of contact for anything villa-related during your stay.
The house manager ensures that all appliances work properly and that instructions are available for their use. They oversee the villa staff — housekeepers, gardeners, pool maintenance — making sure everyone performs their tasks effectively and respects your privacy. They handle check-in and check-out, answer questions, and resolve any issues that arise.
House managers typically don't live on-site, but they're reachable by phone and can usually arrive within 30-60 minutes if needed. For day-to-day questions and minor requests, they're often just a message away.
Privacy matters: Your house manager understands that you're on vacation. They coordinate staff visits to be as unobtrusive as possible and protect your privacy throughout your stay. Staff know not to linger, not to intrude, and not to discuss your visit with others.
Arrival and check-in
Villa check-in is typically between 4pm and 6pm, with check-out by 10am. These times exist for practical reasons: the housekeeping team needs time between guests to clean thoroughly, prepare beds with fresh linens, stock supplies, and ensure everything is perfect for your arrival.
When you arrive, the house manager will show you around the villa, explain how everything works — the heating, the pool, the kitchen appliances, the gate codes — and answer any questions. This orientation typically takes 20-30 minutes and is essential; Italian homes often work differently from American ones, and even light switches can be in unexpected places.
If your flight arrives early, don't worry. We can arrange a long lunch or a visit to a nearby town while the villa is prepared — often this becomes a highlight of arrival day, easing you into Italian life before you even reach the property. Early check-in can sometimes be arranged for an additional fee, depending on the villa's schedule.
Essenza arranges all arrival logistics: airport transfers, directions, meeting times with the house manager. You'll have our local concierge team's contact details for any issues that arise.
Daily housekeeping
All Essenza villas include daily housekeeping. The number of staff and hours worked depends on the size of the villa — a two-bedroom farmhouse has different needs than a ten-bedroom estate.
Most housekeeping is done mid-morning, giving you time to sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast before staff arrive. Housekeepers typically work for 2-4 hours depending on the villa's size, tidying rooms, making beds, cleaning bathrooms, and keeping common areas presentable.
You're welcome to be in the villa while housekeeping happens — many guests head to the pool or terrace while staff work inside. But if you'd prefer complete privacy during certain hours, or if anyone in your group has different sleep patterns, let us know in advance and we'll coordinate with the house manager to adjust the schedule.
Linens and towels
Bed linens and bath towels are provided and included in your rental. With our Classic Package, linens are changed mid-week. Our top-tier villas include more frequent linen changes — check with your Travel Planner to confirm what's included with your specific property.
Pool towels are typically provided separately and changed regularly by housekeeping staff.
If you'd like more frequent linen changes than your package includes, we can arrange this for a supplemental fee. Just ask your Travel Planner.
What you'll find on arrival
Your villa will be pre-stocked with basic essentials: toilet paper, kitchen products (dish soap, sponges, garbage bags), laundry products, and an initial supply of tea, coffee, sugar, and salt. You should have enough of these basics to get through your first day or two comfortably.
However, tea and coffee are not replenished throughout your stay — these initial supplies are a welcome courtesy, but guests are expected to purchase their own ongoing supplies. The same applies to food and beverages: apart from the basics, the kitchen will be empty unless you've arranged grocery stocking.
Consider pre-stocking — especially for arrival day
Here's something worth thinking about: most guests arrive tired. You've had a long flight, possibly a drive from the airport, and now you're at a beautiful villa in the Italian countryside. The last thing you want to do is find a supermarket.
But the villa — beyond those basic supplies — will be empty. No wine for the terrace. No ingredients for dinner. No breakfast for tomorrow morning. No snacks for the children.
Our pre-stocking service is included with the Classic Package. We'll send you a shopping list to complete with your preferences, and everything will be waiting in the kitchen when you arrive. Bread, cheese, and ham for a simple first dinner. Eggs and fruit for breakfast. Wine, beer, and soft drinks chilled in the refrigerator. Coffee for morning. Snacks for the pool.
You pay only for the groceries themselves — the service is included. The difference to your first day is significant. Instead of hunting for shops, you can settle in, pour a glass of wine, and watch the sunset from your terrace.
The kitchen
Villa kitchens are fully equipped for self-catering — pots, pans, dishes, glasses, utensils, coffee maker, often a dishwasher. You can cook as much or as little as you like.
"Self-catering" means exactly that: if you cook for yourselves, you should also clear away after yourselves. Load the dishwasher or wash up, put food away, and leave the kitchen reasonably tidy. Housekeepers will wipe down surfaces and do a thorough clean the next day, but it's not their job to clear away last night's dinner dishes or deal with food left out overnight. Think of it as you would your own home.
Grocery shopping
After your first day, many guests enjoy shopping at local markets and supermarkets — it's part of the Italian experience. Your house manager can point you to the nearest shops, market days, and the best local producers.
Be aware that many shops in rural areas close between 12:30pm and 4:30pm. This afternoon closure is a longstanding Italian tradition. Plan your shopping for morning or late afternoon, and don't get caught out needing ingredients at 2pm.
Coffee
All our villas have pod machines (Nespresso or similar) for convenient espresso. You'll also typically find a stovetop moka pot — the classic Italian way to make strong coffee at home.
What you're unlikely to find is a barista-style machine for making cappuccino with steamed milk. This isn't a limitation of luxury villas — it reflects how Italians actually live. Italians don't make cappuccino at home; they go to a bar. The morning ritual of standing at the counter with a cappuccino and cornetto is part of daily life. Even the most beautiful Italian homes rarely have professional espresso machines because the local bar is always better.
Embrace the culture: walk to the nearest village for your morning cappuccino. It's one of the great pleasures of Italian life.
Additional services
Beyond daily housekeeping, many services can be arranged:
Private chefs: Available at almost all villas, either for individual meals or throughout your stay. Share your dietary requirements in advance, and the chef will create menus tailored to your group.
Grocery stocking: Have the kitchen stocked before you arrive with your preferences — from basics to a full week's provisions.
Babysitters: Vetted local childcare can be arranged for evenings out.
Drivers: For wine tours, evening dinners, airport transfers, or whenever you'd rather not drive.
Your Essenza Travel Planner arranges all additional services before your arrival, so everything is confirmed and scheduled when you check in.
The pool and gardens
Most Essenza villas have private pools — one of the great luxuries of villa life. The pool is yours alone; no fighting for loungers, no strangers, no noise.
Pool maintenance
Pools are maintained by staff who visit regularly — typically every 1-2 days during swimming season. They check chemicals, clean filters, skim debris, and ensure everything is working properly. These visits are usually brief and unobtrusive; staff know you're on vacation and will work around your schedule.
If you notice any issues with the pool — water clarity, temperature, equipment — contact the house manager. Problems are usually resolved quickly.
Pool hours and heating
There are no "pool hours" at a private villa — swim at midnight if you like. However, pools are generally not heated unless specifically advertised as such. In summer (June-September), pool temperatures are comfortable without heating. In shoulder season (May, October), unheated pools can be chilly, especially in central and northern Italy.
If pool temperature matters to you — particularly for early or late season travel — ask about heating. Some villas offer it as standard; others can arrange it for an additional fee (pool heating is expensive).
Pool safety
Italian swimming pools are typically not fenced or gated as they might be in the US. There are no barriers between the villa and the pool area. If you're traveling with children, supervising them around the pool is entirely your responsibility. Please be vigilant.
No glass by the pool — ever. If glass breaks and shards enter the pool, the entire pool must be drained, cleaned, and refilled. This is extremely expensive, time-consuming, and will be charged to guests. Use plastic glasses or the acrylic drinkware often provided for poolside use.
Gardens and grounds
Villa gardens are maintained by gardeners who visit regularly — weekly or more often during growing season. Like pool staff, they're accustomed to working around guests. You might see them early morning or late afternoon, tending to plants, mowing lawns, or maintaining paths.
The gardens are yours to enjoy — wander freely, pick herbs from the kitchen garden if there is one (ask first), use the outdoor dining areas and shaded terraces. Many guests find the gardens become their favorite part of the villa.
You may notice that lawns are not irrigated everywhere, and grass may be brown in summer. This is intentional, not neglect. Water is a scarce resource in Italy during summer months, and irrigating purely decorative lawns is neither ecological nor sustainable. Italian gardens prioritize drought-resistant plants and accept that some areas will be dry in high summer.
Security cameras and privacy
Some villas have security cameras, but Italian law strictly regulates where they can be placed. Cameras may only cover communal areas such as entrances, driveways, and parking areas. They cannot be positioned in private zones, bedrooms, or overlooking the pool area. Your privacy in private spaces is protected by law.
If something gets damaged
Accidents happen — a broken glass, a stained sofa, a malfunctioning appliance. If anything gets damaged during your stay, please report it to the house manager or to Essenza as soon as possible. Don't wait until checkout.
Reporting damage promptly allows us to assess the situation fairly, arrange repairs if needed, and often resolve matters simply. Discovering damage after you've left is more complicated for everyone. We understand that accidents aren't intentional; what matters is honest communication.
How Italian homes work differently
Italian homes — even luxurious ones — operate somewhat differently from American homes. Here's what to expect.
Air conditioning
Air conditioning in Italian villas is almost always in bedrooms only, not throughout the property. Living areas rely on thick stone walls — techniques that have kept Italian homes cool for centuries. Close shutters during the heat of the day, open windows in the evening to let cool air flow through, and retreat to air-conditioned bedrooms for sleeping. It's a different rhythm from American AC, but most guests adapt quickly.
If you require whole-house air conditioning, let us know — some villas offer it, but they're the exception rather than the rule.
Heating
Italian heating systems vary. Many villas have radiators fed by a central boiler; some have underfloor heating; older properties may rely on fireplaces supplemented by portable heaters. Heating is typically available October through April.
Be aware that Italian homes — especially historic stone buildings — take time to warm up. Don't expect instant heat as you might from American forced-air systems. Radiators warm gradually and maintain temperature steadily.
Electricity
Italian electrical capacity is often lower than American homes. Running multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously — hairdryers, irons, AC units, kitchen appliances — can trip the circuit breaker. If the power goes out, check the breaker box (the house manager will show you during orientation) before calling for help.
You'll need plug adapters for American devices (Italy uses Type L plugs). Bring a few; most villas don't provide them.
WiFi
All Essenza villas have WiFi, and it should be working when you arrive. If you have any connectivity issues, let the house manager know immediately — this is exactly the kind of problem we can usually resolve quickly.
Speeds and reliability vary by location. Rural properties may have slower connections than urban ones. For most vacation purposes — email, social media, streaming — villa WiFi is adequate. For heavy work use or video conferencing, ask about connection speed before booking.
Mobile phone signal also varies by location. Some hilltop villas have excellent coverage; some valleys have none. If staying connected is critical, ask about both WiFi and mobile signal.
Location and getting around
Villas offer privacy and tranquility — which means most are not in the center of towns. You'll typically need a car.
Driving
We generally recommend renting a car for villa stays. You'll want flexibility to explore, shop for groceries, and reach restaurants. Italian roads are manageable once you're used to them, and the freedom is worth the initial adjustment.
That said, some guests prefer not to drive. If this is you, we can select villas with easier access to towns, arrange regular driver services, or create itineraries that minimize driving needs.
The approach
Many villas are accessed via unpaved roads — white gravel roads called strade bianche that wind through countryside, olive groves, or vineyards. This is normal and part of the charm, but it can be surprising if you're not expecting it. The roads are maintained and passable in normal cars; you don't need a 4x4.
Some approaches are steep, narrow, or winding. If you're nervous about driving, let us know — we can suggest villas with easier access or arrange transfers so you're not driving unfamiliar roads in the dark on arrival day.
Finding your villa
Download the villa address and directions before you leave for Italy. Mobile internet can be patchy in rural areas, and the last thing you want is to be lost on country roads with no signal and no idea where you're going.
One thing that sometimes confuses guests: villas often have different names on the gate than the marketing name we use. This isn't suspicious — it's simply that properties have official Italian names that differ from how they're advertised. We'll provide you with the real name of the property as it appears at the gate. Pay attention to this and look for it when you arrive, not the name you saw on our website.
What's typically not included
For transparency, here are costs that are usually separate from the villa rental:
Utilities: Some villas include utilities in the rental price; others charge separately based on usage. Heating, air conditioning, and pool heating (if available) are the main variables. We always clarify this before booking.
Security deposit: Most villas require a refundable security deposit, typically collected before arrival and returned after checkout assuming no damage.
Tourist tax: Many Italian municipalities charge a per-person, per-night tourist tax (typically €4-8 per person per night). This is collected locally, often in cash.
Additional services: Chef services, grocery stocking, babysitting, drivers — all available but charged separately.
What Essenza provides
A villa rental through Essenza is more than just a booking. Here's what we include:
Pre-trip planning: Your dedicated Travel Planner handles all logistics — villa selection, restaurant reservations, activity bookings, transfer arrangements, and itinerary planning.
Detailed briefing materials: Comprehensive guides to your villa and region, including restaurant recommendations, local tips, emergency contacts, and day-by-day suggestions.
Concierge support during your stay: Our local team is available throughout your trip for questions, reservations, recommendations, and problem-solving. Need a last-minute restaurant? Want to arrange a wine tour? Having an issue at the villa? We're a message away.
Relationship with villa owners: We know our properties personally. When issues arise, we can resolve them quickly because we have direct relationships with owners and managers.
Quality assurance: Every villa in our collection has been personally inspected. We don't list properties we wouldn't stay in ourselves.
Daily housekeeping and final cleaning: Included with every Essenza villa. You're not expected to clean the property yourself.
Making the most of your villa stay
Slow down. The villa is designed for lingering — long breakfasts on the terrace, afternoons by the pool, evenings watching the sunset. Don't over-schedule. Leave time to simply be there.
Eat at home sometimes. Having a chef cook dinner at the villa, or preparing a simple meal yourselves from market ingredients, can be more memorable than another restaurant. Use the beautiful spaces you're paying for.
Explore the neighborhood. The village down the road, the farm selling cheese, the trattoria the locals use — these discoveries make a villa stay special. Ask the house manager for recommendations.
Communicate problems immediately. If something isn't right, tell us or the house manager right away. Most issues can be resolved quickly if we know about them. Don't wait until checkout to mention problems.
Embrace the differences. The shutters instead of AC, the moka pot instead of Keurig, the bidet in every bathroom — these aren't inconveniences, they're part of living, briefly, as Italians do. Lean into it.
Your home in Italy
A villa rental offers something hotels cannot: space, privacy, and the feeling of actually living in Italy rather than visiting it. You'll have quirks to navigate and adjustments to make, but you'll also have gardens to wander, pools to swim in, terraces to linger on, and the freedom to make the property entirely your own for the duration of your stay.
Most guests tell us the villa becomes their favorite part of the trip — not just accommodation, but a destination in itself. We hope yours will be the same.
Your Essenza Travel Planner is here to answer any questions — before, during, and after your stay. Don't hesitate to ask.
Essenza Escapes specializes exclusively in luxury Italian villa rentals, with a personally inspected collection and comprehensive travel planning for discerning travelers.
To discuss your Italian villa vacation, contact us at inspire@essenzaescapes.com