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Going with a big international agency
Major international agencies that represent rental apartments in Venice
The main benefit of booking through one of the big international agencies is ease of use. Prices are often listed in U.S. dollars, and you can always pay by credit card, rather than having to arrange bank wire transfers. Most international agencies are based in the U.S. or have representatives there, which means they'll have proven track records and Better Business Bureau ratings, and you won't have to deal with long-distance calls or a language barrier.
Finding that Venetian apartment
• International agencies
• Local agencies
• Direct from owner
• Hotels with apartments
Pointers and pitfalls
• Prices and apartment hunting
• Booking tips
• Paying tips
• Arrival tips
The apartments that larger agencies work with are often magnificent: Using Villas International, for example, you can rent a two-bedroom unit in a 14th-century building that was once the vacation home of German writer Goethe. The apartment, known as Palazzo Grevira, is located just 325 yards from Piazza San Marco and was available this past October for $1,490 per week.
The big players handle all sorts of destinations: apartments in Bangkok, ski condos in Aspen, Caribbean villas, Orlando townhouses, London flats, and more. While each company represents thousands of properties around the world, only a handful will be in Venice. We surveyed dozens of agencies, and the two offering more than 20 options in Venice are listed below.
You'll generally find more choices—and often, superior knowledge of the city—at a local agency. Also on the downside: The international agencies tend to be rigid when it comes to bookings, rarely willing to adjust the minimum-stay or other requirements. And prices tend to be higher, on average, than at smaller agencies.
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES:
• Rentalo, www.rentalo.com
• Interhome, 800/882-6864, www.interhome.us
• Villas International, 800/221-2260, www.villasintl.com
» More apartments in Venice from Venere.com...
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This material was last updated January 2007, when it was published in Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine. All information was accurate at the time.
Copyright © 1998-2008 by Reid Bramblett. All rights reserved.
