Below you will find the questions our clients most frequently ask us. Where possible the answers will direct you to a specific part of our site where you can get more in-depth information. 

• Booking with The Thinking Traveller
• Amenities and extra services
• Getting to your villa and checking in
• During your stay at the villa
• General questions

Booking with Think Sicily

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Please see our how to book page for complete information about booking with The Thinking Traveller.

Q. What is the maximum capacity of your villas?
A. For each villa the maximum capacity is clearly stated on the villa's description page and on the amenities table. NB This number includes children and infants.

Q. Where can I find prices?
A. Each villa page on ThinkSicily.com includes a price section. Prices can be seen in Euros, Pound Sterling or Dollars per week, per person or per night.  Prices for Wineries and Retreats are in Euros per night.

Q. How can I check availability on-line?
A. At the moment it is not possible to check availability on line. Please contact one of our Client Managers and they will give you availability immediately. Write to info@thinksicily.com or call the number top right of this page.

Q. Once I decide on a villa how do I complete my booking?
A. Click here for a comprehensive answer! 

Q. Do you arrange flights or car hire?
A. We do not arrange flights or car hire. Our site does, however, have a definitive list of flights to Sicily and flights to Puglia from all over the world with links through to the various airlines. For car hire, we have a link through to a car hire search engine, which will help you find the best prices and deals available.

Q. Should I take out travel insurance for my holiday?
A. It is a condition of booking with The Thinking Traveller that you take out adequate travel insurance. Many credit card companies include holiday insurance as do other more general insurance policies, so you should first check these. Please see our booking conditions for more in-depth information (point 7 for insurance).

Q. Is it possible to arrive and/or depart on any day of the week or do you have a set arrival-departure day?
A. Most of our villas have flexible arrival and departure days, especially in the low seasons, letting you arrive and depart on any day of the week and stay for periods of more than 7 or 14 nights(i.e. 9, 10 or 16, 17 nights etc.). This also means that you can take advantage of cheaper mid-week flights. In the high season, we try to be as flexible as possible though Saturday-Saturday stays are more common.

Q. Do the prices of your tailored itineraries included anything else except accommodation?
A. No, the prices of our tailored itineraries only include  accommodation. We do, however, give ideas of things to see and do in the area of each property and will be happy to help you organise them. See our Think Experiences for some examples.

Q. What is the difference between a villa and a Think Pay There booking?
A. When you confirm your booking of a villa we will ask you to pay a deposit of 30%. Then, 9 weeks before departure, we will take the balance. These payments are made directly to us, by credit card or bank transfer. For most of our Wineries, Retreats and Hotels, however, we take a deposit when you confirm the booking and you pay the balance directly to the hotel on check-out. See our How to Book page for more info.

Q. Are your villas safe for children?
A. Many of our villas are perfect for families with children. Usually, when we feel they are not, we add a note in the Think About section at the bottom of each villa page. Those villas we recommend as Family Villas have been tried and tested by numerous families with children not to mention our own offspring too! We will of course give you as much info as possible in this regard should it be a concern for you.

Q. Is electricity included?
A. Electricity is included in the rental price up to 350kwh per week, generally more than enough for normal usage, but not for eccesive use (for example using air-con with windows open, leaving air-con on all day when you are out, etc.). This limit, therefore, is more of an insurance policy against irresponsible use and an incentive to save the planet! While most owners waive any small extra charges, electricity usage over and above the 350kwh per week costs between €0.20 and €0.30 per kwh (in line with readings taken at check-in and check-out).

Q. Is gas included?
A. Gas for cooking is included in the price of your rental. Gas for central heating is not included and should be paid for locally at check-out according to meter readings taken with the owner or caretaker.

Q. Is water included?
A. Yes, water is included in the rental price.

Q. Do we need to rent a car?
A. For the majority of our villas, which are not easily acessible by any other means, we strongly advise you rent a car. This is also the case if you are intending to tour around and see the sights: public transport is often not terribly reliable or available.If you prefer not to drive, take a look at our selection of villas within walking distance of shops and restaurants.

Q. Do you only arrange accommodation?
A. No, we will also be happy to arrange a series of add-ons and enriching experiences for you, including private drivers and transfers, helicopter rides, 4x4 Mount Etna excursions, speedboat and yacht hire, wine-tasting tours, in-house cooks and many other things. See our Think Experiences page for more in-depth information or contact us.

Please see our how to book page for complete information about booking with The Thinking Traveller.

Amenities and extra services

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Q. Will I be able to access the Internet at my villa?
A. The vast majority of our villas now have some form of Internet access, either an ADSL connection (with or without wi-fi) or a mobile broadband key. In the latter case, a broadband key will be provided and guests can buy their own SIM data card and top up as they go. To do this you can take the key to the nearest mobile phone shop with your passport, ask for a "carta SIM solo dati"  and show them the key. Prices vary from around €7 up, depending how much traffic you want to include in the SIM card.

Q. Is it possible to have a cook at my villa?
A. Yes, in the vast majority of our villas, we will be happy to arrange the services of a cook for you. In some of our Think Exquisite villas, such as Don Arcangelo all'Olmo, Hera, La Favorita and Aphrodite, the services of a cook are included in the rental price. If you're arriving at your villa in the evening, why not organise for your dinner to be ready and waiting for you on arrival?

Q. Ok, we would like a cook. What will be eating? Can we choose from a menu or will the cook decide? Two of my party are vegetarians, will this be a problem?
A. Generally you will be eating traditional Sicilian / Puglian food. We can provide menus for some of our villas, or give you a pretty good idea of the kind of things you are likely to eat. Let us know your preferences/dietary requirements (i.e. fish, meat, no sea-food etc.) and we'll pass on your requests. Take a look at our definitive page of Sicilian recipes for an idea of the delicious things the locals are lucky enough to eat in Sicily! A great many Sicilian / Puglian dishes are vegetarian so members of your group who don't eat meat/fish will still have an amazing gastronomic experience!

Q. How often will my villa be cleaned during my stay?
A. Many of our villas have daily cleaning as standard. Others have cleaning every other day and some include one weekly clean. If you would like extra cleaning during your stay, just say the word and we will organise it for a small extra charge, paid locally. To find out how often your villa will be cleaned, check on the amenities table of each villa.

Q. It is my wife's 50th birthday while we are in Sicily. Can you organise a special dinner party and some live music, maybe a small jazz band?
A. Just let us know as soon as possible and we'll be able to sort something out in many of our villas.

Q. We plan to relax as much as possible and would love to have a masseuse come to our villa once or twice. Is this possible?
A. Once again, we'd be happy to organise this in many of our villas. Just let us know in advance...

Q. We plan to do a lot of touring round, sightseeing, but we don't want to drive every day. Can you arrange a private driver for us?
A. Absolutely! No problem.

Q. Can you provide guides to take us round historic towns or archaeological sites?
A. We often arrange guides for our clients. We work with tried and tested, fully-qualified guides who will give you great insights into what you are seeing.

Q. Are sheets and towels provided?
A. Yes. On arrival you will find all the beds made up and towels for all your party. There will also be pool and/or beach towels for your use.

Q. How often are sheets and towels changed?
A. Generally, sheets and towels are changed once a week. In some villas you may request an extra change during the week, for which there will be a small charge payable locally.

Q. Is there a washing machine?
A. The vast majority of our villas have washing machines. Check the amenities table on each villa page.

Q. Is there an iron and ironing board at my villa?
A. Yes, all our villas have an iron and an ironing board.

 

Getting to your villa and checking-in

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Q. When can I check in?
A. Standard check-in times are between 4.00pm and 7.00pm. It is usually not possible to arrive earlier, as the houses need to be cleaned and prepared thoroughly before your arrival (usually other guests have just checked out that morning). Sometimes, however, it may be possible to drop off your luggage earlier and then return at 4.00pm. Please note that it is important to confirm an estimated check-in time and to be as punctual as possible - often the owners live a long way from the villa and make a special trip to welcome you to their home. Should you be delayed, please call the Local Manager.

Q. If I am going to arrive later than 9.00pm?
A. There is a small charge for late check-ins (i.e. after 9.00pm) of 15 Euro per hour. This should be paid locally in cash to the person waiting for you. The rationale for this is that the staff involved are working unsociable hours, over and above their contracted ones. They make themselves available late into the night when they would otherwise have family commitments, social engagements or even other part-time jobs. It is of fundamental importance that after a long journey, you arrive to find the house open and ready, lights on, a snack on the table (especially late at night), and someone to give a tour of the property and explain the general workings of the house. This, we have found, aids settling in, makes life much easier in the long run and avoids unnecessary problems and phone calls.

Q. What happens if my flight is delayed and I arrive late at the villa? Who do I tell?
A. You should call the Local Manager. You will find their business card in your joining pack and their number is also in the House Guide.

Q. When do I have to check out by?
A. Standard check-out time is by 10.00am. It is not generally possible to check-out after this time as the houses need to be cleaned and prepared thoroughly for the arrival of other guests. If there are no other guests arriving that day, and the owner does not need the house for their own purposes, it may be possible to extend check-out time by a couple of hours.

Q. I'm arriving late on Saturday evening - the shops will be shut. What can I eat?
A. In all our villas you will find a "Welcome Pack" with the essentials to get you through your first evening meal and breakfast. This may vary from house to house and on top of the essentials (pasta, tomato sauce, milk, bread, coffee, tea, olive oil, jam, fruit, water and wine) some owners will provide you with local cheeses and hams, some with pizza, and some with a full-cooked meal! In most small towns in Sicily and Puglia you will find some food shops open on Sunday morning. Alternatively, for a small fee, we can arrange a welcome shop for you.

Q. How will I find the villa and get inside?
A. Before you leave we will send you detailed directions of how to get to your villa. If you are having problems you can call the Local Manager who will help you arrive. There will be someone waiting for you at your villa - either the owner or the caretaker/property manager. They will give you a complete introduction to the house and leave you the keys.

Q. How many sets of keys will I get?
A. This depends on the size of the house and the number of people in your group. Generally you will get one set of keys for every 4/5 people.

 

During your stay at the villa

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Q. Who do I contact if I have a problem at the villa?
A. Our network of villa owners and caretakers is supported by a team of locally based Thinking Traveller managers, who are available 24/7 to ensure that your holiday runs smoothly. In 2007, readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine voted The Thinking Traveller the villa rental company with the “best on the ground support”.

 

General questions

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Q. Do you only work in Sicily?
A. For the last 7 years we have specialised in Sicily and, as such, we have incomparable local knowledge! All our London team visits Sicily regularly, so you'll always be able to speak to someone who has spent time at the villa you are interested in, seen the areas you will visit and done the things you like to do. As of 2009 we have started nurturing our Think Puglia range, featuring a gently growing number of the finest villas in Puglia. The model is the same as Think Sicily: the most desirable villas, all of which are exclusive to Think Puglia so we can manage and guarantee standards, 24/7 award-winning on-the-ground-support and The Thinking Traveller's know-how and ability to exceed expectations.

Q. Are you registered with ABTA/ATOL??
A. All traditional and old fashioned travel agents and tour operators who offer package holidays are required by the Package Tour Regulations (issued in 1992, way before the Internet and the low cost flights boom and therefore woefully behind the times) to be bonded. The Thinking Traveller is a specialist villa rental company, and as such we have no requirement to take out a bond. Our strong track record, and the position we have earned as undisputed leader in the Sicilian villa rental market, mean that banks have no difficulty in offering us the facility to accept your credit card as payment for your holiday. The fact that the banks offer us these facilities guarantees that if the worst were to happen and we were unable to deliver on our promises, you would be able to reclaim the full cost of your villa from your credit card issuer.

Q. What's driving in Sicily like?
A. In the larger cities, such as Palermo and Catania, driving can sometimes be a little challenging, as in most large, busy cities around the world. It is not dangerous, however, partly because the traffic rarely moves fast enough to be so! Sicilians are quite "inventive" drivers and tend to consider that they always have right of way. They are not aggressive, however, and one merely needs to get used to their unspoken rules. Many visitors actually rather enjoy it! Driving around Sicily is very easy: the motorways are never really busy and your day trips will be relatively stress free!

Q. How safe is Sicily?
A. Sicily is a very safe place - don't believe the stereotypes and cliches! Large cities, such as Palermo and Catania, are much safer than other cities in Italy (and indeed the rest of the world) and as long as you take the normal precautions you should not have any problems. In the smaller towns muggings or bag-snatching are virtually unheard of.

Q. We're coming from America. What is the voltage in Italy? Should we bring adaptors or something?
A. Electricity in Italy is 220v (as opposed to 110volts in the US). Most laptops are designed to work at both 200v and 100v. If you have an appliance which only works at 110v you will need to buy a voltage converter as they are difficult to find in Italy. You will also need a universal plug adaptor as Italy's sockets are designed for 2 round-pronged plugs.

Q. We were planning on bringing some DVDs from America. Will they work on European DVD players?
A. Probably not, unfortunately. American DVD players and discs are "Region 1", while Italian ones are "Region 2", making them incompatible. Many of our villas have Sky Movies, though, so you don't need to be entirely without films!

Q. Will my US cell phone work in Italy?
A. If you have a GSM cell phone, it should work in Italy. Once arrived you can buy a SIM card (you will need your ID for this) and switch your American SIM card with it. Alternatively you can rent a GSM phone before you leave. We do, however, recommend you talk to your network provider or local cellphone retailer.

Q. Can I smoke in the villa?
A. Smoking is not permitted in the bedrooms of the villas. Both The Thinking Traveller and the owners prefer, wherever possible, that smokers take their hobby outside! Cigar and pipe-smoking are not permitted inside the villa.

Q. Do your villas accept pets?
A. Pets are generally not allowed in our villas. However, some owners will accept pets depending on size, length of stay and other factors. Please speak to one of our advisors if you are thinking of travelling with your pet.