Every summer thousand of visitors fromn the UK descend on Tuscany for their annual summer break. The area – famously dubbed Chiantishire – has long been a favourite for British travellers who enjoy its unique combination of weather,scenery, culture and, of course, vino. In the height of the summer it can often be almost impossible to find accomodation among the region’s hotels and villas.
The credit crisis has changed that to an extent. A quick glance online shows that even this late in the season there are still good bargains to be had, so if you are canny there is still sufficient time to grab yourself a slice of Tuscan idyll at a bargain price. There is no shortgage of desirable locations. In the hotter weather of the summer you are probably best avoiding the large towns like Florence or Siena – they are best kept for a day trip. Instead, what about some of the beautiful towns and villages dotted around the areas, such as Greve-in-Chianti, Panzano or Castellina-in-Chianti?
If you are trying to get the best deal possible, look out for apartments which form part of a larger building – there are lots of these to be found in Tuscany following the boom in renovating dilapidated old piles in the Eighties and Nineties. They offer you the best of both worlds – a touch of old-world charm combined with all mod cons,usually including a swimming pool.
If you are looking for a villa, again there should be plenty to choose from. Its best to use a recommended travel agent or indeed an agent in the region such as Toskana.it. This business is operated by a German lady, Claudia Voss – thus the spelling of Tuscany in the url – who really has her finger on the pulse as to what’s available, both to rent or to buy, if you are won over by the area completely as so many have been.
Last but not least there are the hotels. Tuscany boasts a splendid selection of luxury small hotels. Prices can be steep but at the end of the season there may be bargains to be found. You could try the Villa Bordoni in Greve or Il Barone in Panzano for a touch of understated luxury.
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