What to expect from thinkSicily

Expect Sicily’s finest properties: thinkSicily is the point of reference for the owners of Sicily’s finest villas who wish to open their doors to paying guests, and those seeking the unique experience of staying in such properties. There are hundreds of villas and apartments available for rent in Sicily through a myriad of locally and foreign owned companies. The best of these are available exclusively through thinkSicily. We only take on villas in Sicily that are made available to us on an exclusive basis, and we reject far more properties than we accept. That’s how we are able to guarantee that thinkSicily’s exacting standards are met.

Expect local expertise: most “specialist” operators spread themselves too broadly to give genuinely specialist advice. Because we focus on Sicily alone, we have incomparable local knowledge. Our London team visits Sicily regularly, so you’ll always be able to speak to someone who has spent time at the villa you will stay in, seen the areas you will visit, and done the things you’d like to do. Rossella, Huw and the Sicilian team spend their time on the road meeting people, visiting properties and cultivating a large and growing network to provide you with access to a Sicily that the casual tourist or less focused operator simply won’t find.

Expect us to listen to you: understanding your requirements is the first and most vital stage in our relationship with you. Please tell us as much as possible about what you like. Tell us about your past holiday experiences, what you enjoyed and what you didn’t. Tell us about yourself and the people travelling with you. And although email is a great tool, please talk to us. Our phone lines are open for business, and we are longing to talk to you about your holiday.

Expect guaranteed prices: the prices on thinkSicily.com are guaranteed and the prices you see are what you will pay. Indeed, unlike many tour operators, thinkSicily's unique pricing structure means that you will never be asked to pay currency surcharges if the exchange rate changes.

Expect peace of mind: thinkSicily "invented" the villa rental business in Sicily and have been the undisputed market leaders ever since, constantly raising standards and setting new benchmarks. By booking with thinkSicily you can be sure of getting the best villas (all exclusive to thinkSicily), the best service, the best information and the peace of mind guaranteed by travelling with most established company in the Sicilian market.

Expect honesty, accuracy and straight talking: we know how precious your holiday is and want to make sure you go to the place that suits you best. We will work with you, and apply all our extensive knowledge, training and experience to find the best combination for you. We will never try to fit you into something we don’t think you will enjoy.

Expect exceptional value for money: it is reassuring to know that with thinkSicily you can book luxury holiday accommodation at very reasonable rates. In terms of pricing per person per night, thinkSicily's villas offer exceptional value for money compared to hotels.

Expect luxury and authenticity: our properties range in style from the downright luxurious to the quirky and authentic. Traditional “star ratings” are not easy to apply to such properties. Several (such as l’Olmo, Villa San Tommaso and Al Jafar) offer the service and comfort of a five star hotel, with the added advantage of being totally private. These are part of our thinkExquisite range. Others have made it into the thinkSicily range because of their unique qualities: they might not be luxurious, but they certainly have their own peculiar charm. These differences in character make it very important that you tell us what is important to you and allow us to advise you.

Expect cooks and maids: experiencing the local cuisine is an important part of any trip to Sicily, and having a local cook for you at home is a great way of doing it. Being able to put your feet up and let someone else get on with the housework is also a high priority for many people. Some thinkSicily villas come with a cook and maid service included in the price. At many others we can organise a cook for you should you require.

Expect unrivalled flexibility: mid-week arrivals, short stays and durations of stay that are not multiples of a week all make sense in today’s more flexible world. Whilst most of our properties are restricted to Saturday to Saturday rental in peak season, several are flexible even in the summer, and many offer complete flexibility in the lower seasons.

Expect support whilst you’re away: our network of thinkSicily villa owners and caretakers is supported by an expert team of locally based thinkSicily team members, who are available 24/7 to ensure that your holiday runs smoothly. In 2007, readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine voted thinkSicily the villa rental company with the “best on the ground support”.

Expect built in sustainability: much is written about sustainability and carbon footprints, and we think that thinkSicily scores excellently on both fronts. You will stay in private houses and small family run hotels. The building and restoration work done preparing them for you is carried out by local, family run contractors, as are the cleaning, cooking and other services you may use during your stay. Foodstuffs are overwhelmingly seasonal and locally produced. In addition to having a low carbon footprint, this model contributes directly to developing local economies and helps make Sicily a better place in which to live.