Luxury villas for rent in Italy this summer 2020

Luxury short-term rentals in Italy are a great alternative for the summer holidays this year, a summer season like no other, where travellers are facing the difficulty of finding COVID-free holiday destinations. Halldis, a company specialising in short-term rentals, has a selection of prestigious accommodation up for grabs in Italy in idyllic surroundings, and those who choose a luxury villa to spend the summer will not be disappointed. 

Italians, Germans and the French, amongst other Europeans such as the British, generally choose mountain resorts or villas by the sea as their destination of choice in Italy, as well as the beautiful countryside of the Bel paese. This summer, many are choosing the short-term rental sector for thier summer holidays which, compared to hotels have several advantages, guaranteeing greater autonomy and privacy for tourists.  In addition, these properties can also provide the right security, hygiene and sanitation measures if properly managed.

Podere Riparossa Chianni (Pisa) / Halldis

According to Vincenzo Cella, CEO of Halldis, who manages 2,000 properties in 25 Italian and European locations: "The short-term rental and residential accommodation sector is less threatened by the coronavirus crisis than other areas. Two factors appear favorable: number 1 is the greater flexibility of the cost structure compared to other operators in the hospitality sector and therefore a better ability to adapt and respond prospectively; and number 2 is the greater ability of the tourism sector to react compared to real estate and the related lower range of rental prices compared to those expected in sales".

Villa Grifoni San Terenziano (Perugia) / Halldis

"In our opinion there are 3 challenges for European and international urban areas", adds Alberto Melgrati, managing director of Halldis. "The first challenge is health and safety, something which will take a long time and will keep the population and citizens busy in search of new models and rules of coexistence and sharing. The second challenge is movement, aimed at reconstituting the network of communication with the world, starting from the reorganisation of the transport market and in particular the air transport market. Finally, confidence; the challenge that lies ahead concerns the psychological and trusting impact that this crisis will have on future global travellers, leading to a transformation of attitudes, as well as methods of travel and transport".

Fattoria Cerreto Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena) / Halldis

A study by Halldis shows that, looking at the bookings for July and August 2020, the greatest share is found in mountain residences, from small villages like Perarolo di Cadore to Ponte di Legno in Gressoney, where in December 2019 "Halldis Gressoney" was inaugurated, now owned by BiverBanca with 54 units. In Alpine areas, the occupancy rates in July are 60%, while those in August are almost in line with the expected pre-COVID figures at 70% in the first and last week of August and 80% in the busiest times of the month.

Villa Grifoni San Terenziano (Perugia) / Halldis

A similar trend is being witnessed by the 300 villas in Italy (250 of which are in Tuscany) from another prestigious rental company, Windows on Italy, a company that is part of the Halldis group. Particular requests and favourite destinations for high spenders are villas with swimming pools, perfect for those who want to continue self-isolating, and those by the sea that overlook quiet beaches. In this case the occupancy rates go from 60% in July to 80% in August, but the uncertainty of possible cancellations by international customers remains. This can be explained by the delay with which the governments of the various European countries have given the green light to holidays abroad this summer.

Fattoria Cerreto Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena) / Halldis

Unlike last year, this year the villas will be occupied mainly by Italians (60%), followed by Germans (15% of the bookings made for August), the French (10%), Dutch (10%), Scandinavian and others (5%), who replace the traditional Russian, English, U.S. and Indian visitors, more bound by the health emergency.

Nicola Pardini, Halldis sales manager, explains that "the booking data for mountain resorts, as well as villas in the countryside and by the sea for July and August are comforting. We know it takes time: this is the most acute world health crisis since the last century after the Spanish flu of 1918-19. According to our data, after the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13th November 2015 and in Brussels on 22nd March 2016, a city where we manage properties, turnover levels and the average price of local accommodation returned to pre-event averages within about 12 months".