It was the synchronized laughter of my children and their cousins having a ball in the pool of our villa
“I’d always heard the words "peals of laughter" but never experienced it until a recent A Season Away visit to Italy. The dictionary describes a peal as set of bells tuned to each other and this was exactly it. Except it wasn’t bells, it was the synchronized laughter of my children and their cousins having a ball in the pool of our villa... it’s interesting to me, when I...
- M. L., Boulder, Colorado
Market day is when the entire town comes alive for a few hours
“Our VillaHost Cecilia had recommended several local markets for the freshness of their produce and flowers...but what we found was market day is when the entire town comes alive for a few hours to trade in fruits, vegetables, clothing, and more, but mostly gossip and the latest news on new grandchildren, who is sleeping with whom, you know, the juicy stuff. It also allows the men to...
- S.C., Syosset, New York
I knew it was just the beginning of a very memorable journey.
“After a long overnight journey to Florence, we were whisked away by our VillaHost Irene to our beautiful home in Cortona surrounded by fresh forsythia, blue skies, and abundant sunshine. Upon entering the lovely Tuscan kitchen... we were welcomed by a variety of delicious cheeses, prosciutto, fresh local breads, and wines of the region. We sat outside on the patio taking in the warm...
- S. T., Brookline, Massachusetts
Simple, but sublime. The Italian way.
“If looks could kill, we’d all be dead at the stare from VillaHost Irene ... we’d decided on a surprise visit to her family’s agriturismo and she wasn’t ready to receive us in style. But in a jiffy her father went to the local cheese maker for a fresh ricotta. She dabbled a little fresh honey, producing one of the tastiest desserts any of us could remember. Simple, but sublime. The...
- H. S., Sierra Madre, California
It was a villa trip to Italy we all wanted to share with our parents.
“It was a villa trip to Italy we all wanted to share with our parents. They had raised us, even put away money for our children’s’ college. Now it was time to get together in Chianti in a big house with a pool and enjoy time together, perhaps for the last time as the family as we knew it. It was fun seeing Mom get tipsy on red wine, and Dad, with his goofy hat, telling all those god-...
- T. R., Old Greenwich, Connecticut
Before long there were six of us swapping stories about our favorite moments of the day
“We’d had enough touring for one day... but there was something captivating about the view as the sun was setting over the Chianti hills. I think it was my friend, Franca, who initiated the impromptu sunset aperitif by rounding up a few glasses and a nice bottle of Chianti and a few chairs facing the sunset. As I stood at the doorway, I had a choice ... go in and wash up and probably...
- D. W., La Jolla, California
It was reminiscent of my childhood days in my Italian grandparents’ basement kitchen
"On a rainy Sunday afternoon, we arrived back at our lovely villa in Chianti where we were greeted by the owners, the house chef, and a complete table of Italian delicacies. Sitting next to the large open fireplace in the great kitchen was an authentic Italian basket weaver describing his baskets and work to us. It was reminiscent of my childhood days in my Italian grandparents’...
- R. L. K., New York, New York
It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon at Tenuta di Nozzole in the heart of Chianti
“We were pinching ourselves ... we sat under a magnificent Venetian glass chandelier in the palazzo’s private dining room, lunching with Dr. Ambrogio Folonari, one of the top winemakers in all of Italy, talking about wines, grandchildren, soccer and more. VillaHosts Cecilia and Irene had arranged a wine tasting before lunch of some of the family’s super Tuscan red wines, with the...
- B. M., New York, New York
This is a great way to begin your relaxing villa vacation.
“Cooking lessons can be arranged by A Season Away’s VillaHost Giulia, along with a car and driver to take the guests on vineyard tours of the area and many other services such as arranging for golf. One of the great services they provide is dinner at your villa on the day of arrival with smiling Giulia waiting for you with a great glass of wine in hand! For...
- P. M., New Canaan, Connecticut
The attention to detail in their written material... put us completely at ease.
“The VillaHost concierge-type service is a major factor in distinguishing A Season Away from many other villa rental companies. The attention to detail in their written material and every other aspect of the trip put us completely at ease.”
- R. F., Keller, Texas
As the top perfumer in the world, I was here to have Lorenzo create a scent unique to me...
“Opening the doors of the Florence villa, we were overcome by both the wonderful aroma and the scene itself... it was like something out of the sorcerer’s apprentice. The glorious smell of Lorenzo Villoresi’s perfume atelier overwhelmed us as did the vast array of red and white marble bowls... terracotta jars and stoppered bottles... rose extract, jasmine, fresh cut grass, vanilla,...
- L. J., Houston, Texas
A Season Away took care of all of the arrangements, and they were flawless
“Our visit to Chianti and Florence was an exciting time for our family. It was a chance to reconnect with our daughter who had been living in Florence during her study abroad program. A Season Away took care of all of the arrangements, and they were flawless. Irene was the perfect VillaHost and she left no detail unchecked.”
- J. R., Baltimore, Maryland
A Season Away offers in-depth, international life experiences.
A Season Away's Florence apartments represent a wide range of options - the perfect vacation apartment to enjoy, venture forth from at your own pace and return to savor and share your experiences. A Season Away offers in-depth, international life experiences.
- R. F., Bronxville, New York
I am enriched in many ways from my travels.
“Having just returned from a most memorable trip to the enchanting Southern Tuscany region of Italy which was arranged by A Season Away, I am enriched in many ways from my travels. The natural beauty of the area coupled with the beautiful villa and stunning vistas gave me a sense of peace and serenity. This trip was one of my most rewarding and inspiring.” ...
- P. K., Fort Wayne, Indiana
It was here we’d get an education into Italian wines...
“We didn’t know much about wines, but were willing to learn. So we entered a tiny wine shop in Lucca thinking this was going to be a quick stand-up tasting. "No, No, No," motioned the owner. "Follow me," and we went to the back of the store, down some stairs and entered a cavern filled with more than 25,000 wines from all over the world. So this was where they keep the good stuff. "...
- P. P., Rockville, Maryland
The night turned into a disco pizza party with all the great tunes of the early 80’s
“Whose idea was it anyway... to have a local pizza master from Lucca come over to show us how to make pizza? Somewhere around the 20th thinnest crust pizza you’ve even seen, and a few bottles of wine, the night turned into a disco pizza party with all the great tunes of the early 80’s blaring as we rolled out the dough, topped it up with delicious ingredients and slid it into the...
- A. S., McLean, Virginia
First, I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful our time was in Lucca and Chianti
“First, I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful our time was in Lucca and Chianti. It so exceeded my expectations. A Season Away is not just another villa brokering company. The "special sauce" of the VillaHosts Fedra, Cecilia and Irene and the "expand-o-matic" concept of flexible rentals to accommodate different sized groups over different time periods of an extended...
- C. B. L., Greenland, New Hampshire
Charming VillaHosts to show you the way (and keep you from making mistakes!!)
“Your "secret sauce" of lovely VillaHosts is the ingredient that sets you apart and makes your villa stays successful. This is an idea whose time has come. Forget about searching through all those villa and apartment websites when you can have a perfect extended holiday with A Season Away and everything is taken care of, from stocking your Florence apartment with food, to...
- M. W., Sherman Oaks, California
The house in Chianti was perfect and all of my concerns were met
“My husband and I were celebrating our 40th anniversary and we invited our entire family to Tuscany for three weeks – a daunting challenge because we have five grandchildren under 5 years old! The house in Chianti was perfect and all of my concerns were met (diapers, high chairs, strollers and lots of Cheerios!) A Season Away furnished us like Hannibal crossing the Alps!...
- B.B., St. Michaels, Maryland
VillaHost Giulia was adorable, friendly, yet full of “insider” tips
“One of the worries I had about renting a villa in Tuscany was that it was going to turn into a “working” vacation for me, meaning I’d spend all my time shopping for food, cooking, cleaning up after everyone and doing laundry non-stop. I’d already done that at a North Carolina beach holiday a few years earlier with the kids. It was different with A Season Away... the cleaner...
- F. Y., University Park, Pennsylvania
The combination of the hospitality, great, simple food and incomparable view was mesmerizing
"You must try a little of this," said VillaHost Cecilia’s mother as she passed a long, cool plate of fish. This was the opening salvo of a "light" Italian lunch of home-made pizzas made in the wood burning pizza oven and salads eaten near the pool in a villa close to Cortona. Typical of Italian hospitality, just when you think you can eat no more, yet another dish shows up... "Just a...
- J. B., Dallas, Texas
When I first walked into the villa outside Lucca I cried.
“When I first walked into the villa outside Lucca I cried. It was more gorgeous then I ever expected. It actually was more beautiful than the pictures. The huge rooms, 500 year old floors, views of the 300 acres from every window, flowers everywhere and our dining room table that sat 22 of our family members. We had two great chefs who made us the most wonderful food. Nick...
- N. C., Chicago, Illinois
