Italy 2008: where to stay

Our comprehensive guide to the most reliable operators and the best places to stay in Italy, from rural villas to city hotels and campsites.

• Italy 2008: how to get there
• The best operators for activity and special interest tours
• Google Map: destinations served by UK airports

Villas and cottages

The number of villas with pools and farming estates operating high-quality agritourism continues to grow, especially in southern Italy. The big choice of low-cost regional flights has encouraged owners to offer short breaks outside July and August and flexible start days.

Villas: luxury specialists

You can expect a country house or an architect-designed villa offering privacy, a large pool and mature gardens. Maid service is standard; cooks, concierge services and child-minding can usually be arranged.

Our selection

A&K Villas (0845 0700 618, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk). More than 60 sumptuous country villas and large farmhouses in Tuscany, Umbria and Sardinia.

CV Travel (020 7384 5897, www.cvtravel.co.uk). Some of the loveliest mid-size houses. Most are in Tuscany and Umbria, but new properties include an 11th-century fortified house in Puglia and a tower house near Sorrento.

Other options

Costa Smeralda Holidays (020 7493 8303, www.costasmeralda-holidays.com). Beachside villas and hotels in north-east Sardinia.
Ilios Travel (0870 060 0607, www.iliostravel.com). Country homes and farmhouses in Tuscany and Umbria.
Private Properties Abroad (01423 330533, www.ppaproperties.com). Lovely private homes for rent in Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio.
Tuscany Now (020 7684 8884, www.tuscanynow.com). More than 200 properties countrywide, from farmhouses and manors to small castles; some fully staffed.
Wimco (0870 850 1144, www.wimco.com). Historic villas with pools in Tuscany and Umbria.

Villas: all categories

Our selection

Cottages to Castles (01622 775236, www.cottagestocastles.com). Good portfolio of 250 characterful properties countrywide; many offer flexible stays. New this year, is a glitzy villa with indoor and outdoor pools in Lazio, Villa Castelluzzo, in Viterbo province. Some properties offer cookery classes, wine-tasting courses and meals service.

Long Travel (01694 722367, www.long-travel.co.uk). Specialises in southern Italy and the islands, focusing on coastal villas, converted trulli and top-quality agritourism properties on vineyards and fruit and olive farms, many with on-site bar and restaurant. Now covers Molise, with rural cottages and apartments in a restored palazzo in Agnone. Also books personally inspected hotels

Other options

Carefree Italy (0871 700 0850, www.carefree-italy.com). Carefully chosen villas, farmhouses and apartments countrywide.
Discovery Travel (01889 882170, www.discovery-travel.co.uk). Specialises in southern Italy plus smaller properties in Tuscany.
Dolce Vita Villas (020 7436 0426, www.dolcevitavillas.com). More than 100 properties in main regions and islands, plus apartments in Florence and Rome.
Individual Travellers (0845 268 6249, www.individualtravellers.co.uk). More than 300 villas in rural and coastal locations.
Inntravel (01653 617906, www.inntravel.co.uk). Chic apartments in farmhouses and hamlets, many sleeping two to six, in eight regions.
Interhome (020 8891 1294, www.interhome.co.uk). Accommodation-only agent with 2,500 villas and apartments countrywide. Its sister company Solemar (020 8891 1294, www.solemar.it) offers a choice of 1,500 more upmarket properties.
Landmark Trust (01628 825925, www.landmarktrust.org.uk). Four historic properties in Florence, Rome, Tivoli and Vicenza.
The Owners' Syndicate (020 7381 7492, www.ownerssyndicate.com). Three hundred luxury and mid-range properties in northern Italy, Amalfi and Sicily.
Quality Villas (01442 870055, www.qualityvillasitaly.co.uk). Villas and cottages in central Italy and Lake Garda.
Simply Travel (0870 166 4988, www.simplytravel.co.uk). Houses and apartments in Tuscany, Umbria, the Neapolitan Riviera, Sardinia and Sicily.
Simpson Travel (0845 811 6504, www.simpsontravel.com). Hand-picked apartments, some villas and small hotels in Tuscany and Sicily.
Travel à la Carte (01635 33800, www.anotheritaly.co.uk). Focuses on Le Marche and, in southern Tuscany, the Val d'Orcia and Maremma.

• Italy 2008: where to stay