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Venice apartment rentals
If you've ever dreamed of living in Venice--even for a short time--Helga Gross would like to tempt you with a seductive message: "You want to stay in Venice or the Veneto region. You come as a tourist, student, or business traveler. You want to visit for anywhere from four days to a few months--or even longer. You want a room, an apartment, or a house. Come to me, and I'll help you live as the Venetians do at a price you can afford." Helga is the owner of Mitwohnzentrale in Venice, a.k.a. "Alternative Holiday Housing" for her English-speaking clients. Since moving to Venice from Nürnberg, Germany in the late 1990s, Helga has built a thriving business by placing international visitors in mid-priced rooms and apartments throughout the Venice region. All-inclusive ratesHelga explains that quoted prices include everything: accommodations, taxes, linens, final cleaning, and utilities. (Long-distance tolls and unusually high telephone charges may be billed back to the client--a necessity in Italy, where even local phone calls can be expensive.) She adds that her staff will meet the client at the nearest vaporetto or water taxi stop on the day of arrival, and she's happy to recommend restaurants, shops, museums, emergency physicians, etc. as part of her personalized service. Clients are asked to deposit half the rental fee up front by cashier's check, international money order or EuroCheck, since Helga must advance money to the room or apartment owner when confirming a reservation. Planning aheadHelga recommends contacting her two months before your trip for the best choice of accommodations. (In a pinch, she can usually locate a suitable room or apartment on a week's notice.) Let her know any special preferences: e.g., a favorite neighborhood, a washer/dryer, air conditioning, balcony, budget limit, etc. She'll come up with one or more recommendations, which she'll communicate to you via fax or a collect phone call. (TIP: Don't contact Helga too far in advance, since most apartment owners aren't willing to make commitments six months or a year ahead. And please don't ask for a quote unless you're serious about a rental.) Contact information and Web links |
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