The high season, for obvious reasons, coincides with the school summer holidays around July and August, during which hot sunny weather is virtually guaranteed. At times stifflingly hot, but the traditional design of Tuscan houses, of cool heavy stone, on hills to catch the reliable afternoon breeze off the sea, alleviates the worst of this and generally the need for air-conditioning.
If you are not confined to July or August then better deals for villas, flights etc. can be found in June and September, and there are fewer people around.
The climate is generally pleasant from April to mid-October, and even in December and January it can be warm enough to go in teeshirt and shorts, although it can also snow, particularly in the higher hills.
The main area we cover is southern Tuscany, this is away from the main tourist areas of Florence and Sienna, although we do have a few
villas in those areas, and everywhere is in reach of these places for a day-trip. This still has the rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves that
characterise Tuscany, and includes the Maremma Natural park, by the coast to the ancient Etruscan archaeological areas on the very south of Tuscany to
the area around Mount Amiata on the east close to Umbria.
If you do want to be closer to the larger tourist towns look in the areas of Sienna, Florence, San Gimignano and Chianti.
The other main geographical feature of Tuscany is the coast, long sandy beaches, resort towns, fishing ports, and
some islands like Monte Argentario (attached to the mainland by causeways), where the rich and famous hang out, and Elba, place of Napolean's exile.
Nowhere in Tuscany is much further than an hour from the coast, most is much closer.
Many houses have the option of using a sofabed, usually in the lounge, or folding or pull out beds in bedrooms. So for example 5+1 indicates beds for 5 people and sofa-bed/foldoutbed etc. for 1. These are particularly suitable for younger children, but may also be suitable for adults, please read the full description of each house, or ask us, for more details.
Private villas with their own pool are more expensive and in demand, so they book up early, sometimes over a year in advance.
Often pools are only useable from around May to September, and although the climate can still be
pleasant outside of these times it may not quite be warm enough for al fresco bathing.
Pools come in a variety of styles and sizes, from something for the kids to splash around and cool off in, to
those large enough to do several lengths to burn off the excess pasta, generally the larger the property (and the more people you are sharing with)
the larger the pool.
Again particularly off season occupation rates can be very low, so beginning of June or mid-September you could get a cheaper
property with large shared pool, but have it virtually all to yourself.