"Maribeth [Local Host], what a fantastic asset you were to our trip!! We loved everything you did for us, from meeting us at the house that first day with plans, to the rendezvous at L'Isle-Sur-la-Sorgue, to the fabulous and fun evening of wine, cheese and petanque Wednesday! Not to mention all the special effort you went to to provide us with maps, information, and even recipes! We don't want to come to Provence ever again without you!"

— D.H., Macon, GA

"Thank you for all your help arranging our DREAM vacation! We had a wonderful time at Campo dell'Amato, so wonderful that we subsconsciously walked away with the spare key!... I want to tell you what a good host Liz was to us, as well as to our family and friends! She helped us on so many fronts, from touring around nearby towns, to taking us through local markets, to helping arrange dinners, babysitters, tennis, and even the next leg of my parents' trip down to Calabria! When she found out that John's sister, Marianne was pregnant (Marianne announced it to all of us during the trip), Liz gave Marianne a baby sweater that she had knitted and some booties - it really shows how much she cares about the guests. She is so friendly and fun to be with, and seems to know what we want before we even know:) Thanks again!"

— C. C., New York City NY

“Your local people are a tremendous asset to your company. They were always available when we needed them, and seemed to anticipate when that would occur. Your Local Host was very helpful when it came to picking destinations for day trips, and seemed to know every back road and interesting site over a very wide areas; all of their suggestions were right on the mark… her expertise about Civita made that day the trip highlight.”

— M. C., Oak Brook, IL


“I frankly can’t imagine doing this kind of trip without the HomesAway back-up which was most beneficial to me, my family, and our friends who visited us. Thank you for making this truly the most memorable vacation…”

— J. A. R., Texas


“Wow. The house is “OTT” – Over The Top – in the absolute best sense of the words. My husband & I have been renting houses with HA in the last 10 years (mostly France, but also Italy & Spain, we’ve had huge châteaux, small ones, & all kinds of homes in between. But never had a house been this warm, inviting, 7 user friendly from the bathrobes & slippers down to the stocked spices, it’s been fabulous. We rent bikes each year as we did here & found wonderful routes. This is the best – it does’t get better “

— V &D F. Park City UT


“HomesAway helped us get inside the region and find things to do that we would have almost certainly missed on our own.”

— E. B., Seattle, WA Former CEO of Expedia.com and CEO of IAC Travel


“HomesAway offers the definitive villa vacation — that Under the Tuscan Sun, essential experience of a region. “

— S. M., Founder of expedia.ca


“Need the perfect solution to avoid staying in a cramped hotel room while overseas… The benefits (of HomesAway) are far more extensive than the comfort of feeling as thought you’re staying in a friend’s home. HomesAway’s local English-speaking hosts, for example, can assist you with everything from finding transportation to organizing any excursion or activity you can dream up. And their guidebooks provide information on all the essentials.”

— C. O. M., Traditional Home Magazine


“I needed four different weeks planned for four different sets of guests, and I wanted each group to feel they had been part of something special. (Our Local Host) Ms. Paris was there to help with a private chef for my mother’s birthday meal; tickets to “Tosca” performed on the ramparts of the ancient wine village of Gigondas; absolutely perfect picnics among the vineyards; bilingual babysitters; and private yoga lessons and massages… Her mobile phone was always on.”

— E. L., The Wall Street Journal, London, U.K


“Villa rentals can be risky… could be the vacation of a lifetime or a disaster. With HomesAway, there’s no risk, just blissfully happy clients.”

— N. G., Avant Travel


“Dear Lauren -I had a long conversation yesterday with (client) and it appears that they had the most amazing time. As you had indicated, the photos of the villa did not do justice to the property and Teresa (housekeeper, cook) and Connie (Local Host) were fabulous. It seems this was the best family vacation they have ever had for a variety of reasons so a big thank you to you for your endless patience and efforts on behalf of the client."

— F. D., A Touch of Class Travel


"Liz (Local Host)- Sharing your stories of Tuscany and introducing us to some of your favorite places made us feel like special friends...not just visitors. We enjoyed every minute."

— J. M., Sarnia, Ontario


“Again, thank you for all your help. Susan and I were saying that we think we've landed on a gold mine with you and HomesAway and we hope to make staying in your villas a yearly affair!  Take care and I look forward to hearing from you later.“

— S. P., London England


“Hello Elizabeth!
When I was reading the most recent issue of 'Departures' I noticed that a reader had written a wonderful endorsement of you and 'Homes Away' in the Letters section. It brought back a flood of memories of our wonderful family vacation in Tuscany and how it wouldn't have been the same without your caring attention to all our wishes and concerns. Wanted to be sure you were aware of the above mentioned printing of the letter. Do hope your daughter's wedding was wonderful and that you and your family are well.”

— J. C.


“We had a lovely time at Domaine les Palmiers this week. Thank you! We liked the house a lot--very comfortable and casual. And the views were incomparable (here I am referring to the view of the sea, and not the people who were sunbathing on the nude beach :)). Of course, as always, it's your people that are your real asset. This case was no exception. Jeanne was wonderful. She was gracious, helpful, and well-informed. Please tell her that the bouillibaise at Chez Bernard, which she recommended, was a real hit with our family. We also enjoyed the tour that Homes Away and she provided of Le Castellet and the the Souviou winery--thanks again.”

— M.


“Our group consisted of seasoned European travelers, however, we could not imagine our two weeks without Jackie’s assistance and knowledge. She is completely informed about the region and her suggestions for day trips were outstanding. Further, she has personal knowledge of restaurants within reasonable driving distance of our house, and without question, each reservation and appointment she made for our group exceeded all expectations… [she] became our ‘good friend in France’.”

— R. B. C., Alexandria LA



“While we traveled each day on different excursions, we also took the time to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the house and its surroundings. It was comforting during this time of uncertainly in our world.”

— L. G., Chicago IL



“…the house, of course, was magnificent. The interior was beautiful, the grounds were lovely and the setting was so peaceful. We all hope to return to this wonderful house one day.”

— M. D., Chicago IL



“I found an HA handbook left behind in a home we rented in Spain. What amazing insight into the region. Next time, I’m going with you guys.”

— J. P., Chicago, IL



“Our Local Host was exceptional in every way!”

— R. S., Indianapolis, IN



“It seems all of Southern Tuscany knew our Local Host and what they should do to make her clients happy.”

— E. M. Potomac MD



“...I realize that I indicated prior to our trip that our group consisted of seasoned European travelers, however, we could not have survived our two weeks without Jackie’s assistance and knowledge. She is completely informed about the region and her suggestions for day trips were outstanding. Further, she has personal knowledge of restaurants within reasonable driving distance of our house, and without question, each reservation and appointment she made for our group exceeded all expectations… [she] became our ‘good friend in France’.”

— R. B. C., Alexandria, LA



“Sue showed us Provence so that we felt so very much at home and I know I left my soul in Menerbes”

— M. H. W., Denver, CO



“We and our guests could not have enjoyed ourselves any more than we did. There were so many highlights that to pick one would belittle another…we both appreciated the preparation and organization that was necessary for us and our guests to have such a special time in our lives.”

— H. D. G., Atlanta GA



“Our host Laurie, was very helpful, especially when babies needed a visit to the pediatrician… Having her arrange the outing to Cetona the first Saturday we were there was a great way to get the trip off to a good start.”

— K&J K., Concord, MA



“…the stay at IL Giardinetto was the vacation of a lifetime for us, and a major part of it was due to the pre-trip material, the support, and the care by HomesAway.… Your pre-trip booklets are the best I’ve ever seen – clear, thorough, well-organized and phased to the traveler’s trip preparations.”

— D. W., Atlanta, GA



“Based on previous unpleasant travel experiences, it is always dangerous when you realize that your expectations have slowly crept up to the almost unreasonable level. That is where ours were (thanks to your outstanding brochure, tear sheets, and customer service) and HomesAway cleared the bar with room to spare…. Thank you for helping us create lasting memories.”

— J. E. N., San Antonio, TX



“We just returned from Italy last evening. I wanted you to know that our stay was an “A”. Our Local Host was always there for you no matter what the time or circumstance. It seems all of southwestern Tuscany knows her and what they should do to make her clients happy.”

— E. M., Charleston, VA



“The house was perfect and so attractive. We loved it and hated to leave. Thanks for helping me select the best place for us.”

— J. D., Atlanta, GA



“Thank you for all that you have done for us the past three weeks to make our stay in Cortona so special. Your helpfulness has run the gambit from the mundane: such as booking train tickets, shopping for our initial provisions and making dinner reservations; to the unusual: finding fly swatters, a great art teacher, a sweet babysitter and a charming cook who made fabulous food and taught us well; to the exceptional : finding the local cycling ride fro my husband, then finding the jersey he wanted and providing perfect directions, creating a gorgeous and quite delicious welcome buffet, making fabulous homemade lemoncello and taking the time to accompany my father and mother to the hospital.

There are numerous other things you did for us to ensure a pleasant vacation. I am ever so grateful to you. We’ll always remember our stay here very fondly and hope to return soon. Warm regards,”

— L. W., La Jolla, CA



“Our stay at La Casetta last week was outstanding. We are already talking about two weeks in the future. A substantial part of the success of our stay was our Local Host… Through her, we were able to experience the essence of the region and not just snapshots. I could go on … but again, thank you.”

— J. M. Alexandria, VA



“Thank you so much for making our anniversary more special than ever.”

— C. M., Phoenix, AZ



“You make me feel as though we have an angel watching over us to see that everything works out to perfection!”

— B. K., Evanston, IL



“Many thanks for such a memorable trip, not to mention birthday celebration in Provence, which you and my husband secretly planned. I feel so lucky to have a husband who is so generous and loving. It meant so much being able to share the week with some of our very special friends at Bastide d’Apt. I hope we will be lucky enough to go back someday. Meanwhile, the photos and memories fill me with joy and put a big smile on my face. Please send our best to Janine (our Local Host) and the staff. They sent us off with big hugs and I will never forget them waving as we rounded the bend. I hope your summer is full of great things and good health. Thanks again for your help.”

— E. H., New York, NY



“Elizabeth was exceptional in every way. She was thoughtful, helpful and lots of fun at all times. We actually felt like we might have utilized her too much – her local knowledge was terrific. She really made our trip more interesting and fun – she actually makes one more efficient in planning daily trips and sightseeing. Maija was wonderful in all ways and the only thing that she did wrong was not tell us enough how valuable the Local Host was going to be (although I am not sure if I would have believed her if she told me!!!) We did not expect the wonderful detail and attention we got both from the Toronto office and once we arrived in Tuscany.”

— R. S., Indianapolis, IN



“I just wanted to let you know that we had a fabulous time at Casa Janine and to thank you and your team for putting together such a great experience for us and our friends. Oliva was absolutely fantastic and we found the entire Homes Away experience to be exactly what we were looking for but weren’t sure we would ever find. The accommodations were, of course, spectacular. But to have the assistance of such a knowledgeable and helpful local guide really made the trip. Thank you.”

— C. E. VanRoekel, Seattle, WA



“Just a quick note now that we are home to thank you for a terrific trip. Everyone had a ball, and the arrangements could not have been better. You and your HomesAway staff are to be commended. I have passed on these accolades to the AMEX Centurion people, and will gladly recommend HomesAway to anyone…. please do not hesitate contacting me if we can help in this regard.”

— W. W., Boston, MA



“Heart-felt thanks to everyone at Homes Away for the wonderful trip we had to Le Petit Château [in the Loire Valley]! The plane ride that Karen [HomesAway’s Local Host] arranged was a big hit with all of us. We loved the house… very well equipped and comfortable. Karen ranks up there with Anne and Jackie [Local Hosts during their previous HomesAway vacations] – and that’s high praise. She found things to do that our group enjoyed and would never have found on our own. You were correct when you said that she was plugged into the area. For me, the highlight of the trip was the wine tasting that [we] attended with Karen on the last night of our trip. I had heard of this particular winemaker and had asked Karen if she could set up a visit. It turns out that he was a friend of hers. It was a truly memorable evening.

Karen loves the area and it shows. It was contagious and characteristic of the best HomesAway experiences that we have had. I would definitely return to this area and this house. There is so much to see and do. It’s not all châteaux. Now, where should we go next year?”

— D. W., Edina, MN



“…Unfortunately our holiday has ended and we must face the realities of work etc. ...Château du Nôtre was absolutely beautiful, the accommodations were perfect for adults and children alike. The arrangements/information from Homes Away was plentiful and extremely useful…

The Local Host concept is amazing. We have rented homes before without the use of a Local Host, and it is one that we can now not do without. Arjan [HomesAway’s Local Host in Burgundy] was friendly and relate well to us, was always available and efficient…__We all had a truly enjoyable and memorable holiday, and your efficiency on all accounts was fantastic.”

— L. D., London, England



“…Our host Laurie, was very helpful, especially when babies needed a visit to the pediatrician…. Having her arrange the outing to Cetona the first Saturday we were there was a great way to get the trip off to a good start.”

— J. & K. K., Concord, MA



“How best to thank you for the most wonderful experience I’ve ever had, my trip to France and especially my time spent in Varangeville at the Manoir. You helped make it so and the best words I can come up with are “Thank you!” From the information from Homes Away, I knew there would be a host but I really didn’t count on such a host as you. With your help, I learned about the village and Dieppe for needed things. This let me explore and take away trips quicker. You also have wonderful “taste buds”, so your suggestions of restaurants were wonderful. I only wish I could have eaten more.”

— E. A. C., Atlanta, GA



“…[We] wanted to thank you for the wonderful week that we spent at Le Prayal [near Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence]... My one regret is that we spent only one week there. We really needed at least two. David actually suggested that we stay for a month!
“We appreciated the many ways in which you were so helpful: your suggestions, your arrangements for us, your knowledge of the area, and especially your involvement in making things easier… Our family will always have fond memories of our stay at Podere Sant’ Angelo. Thank you once again for your part in that.”

— L. V., Toronto ON



“All details were well attended to. We were particularly grateful for the accurate directions to the home and the meal that was waiting when we arrived. We were more interested in participating in local life than in sightseeing. Pat’s calls and faxes to tell us of local festivals and market days were particularly helpful.”

— D. A. D., Cleveland, OH




“The wonderful house & location were made even better by the thoughtful assistance we got from our local host, Rachael. She was a delightful source of information & provided much needed help making our stay easy & fun.”

— E. J., Chicago, IL



“Anne Messelink, our local host, was absolutely wonderful in every conceivable way. Her attention to our needs and her suggestions of things to do made our stay perfect…. Reservations were made ever so regularly, the luncheon in the vineyard at Petrus de Roy, wine tastings at wineries, and the absolutely wonderful garden tour at the private home of Roix, which was arranged…. With our group, she was dealing with three different families, each with sometimes varying interests. In spite of that she continually came through for us. I could write a page on all the things Anne did for us. The entire family fell in love with Anne. Let me wrap up by most simply saying – “Anne is a jewel!”

— S. E. H., Hunting Harbour, CA



“Elizabeth, our local host, was nothing short of wonderful. She greeted us at the door of our home with a bottle of champagne and a table of hors d’oerves. She had wonderful Easter goodies for my two girls that they were thrilled about. She had a whole notebook of wonderful suggestions for things to see and do. We asked her if she could find us dinner reservations for Easter (the next day) and amazingly, after calling four or five restaurants, was able to do so. She arranged to have a terrific professional cook come to the house to cook dinner for us one night – we are still talking about the food she prepared. She also helped us purchase train tickets to Rome and Florence, gave us maps to some of the sights we wanted to visit and helped us in every way possible. When our heat went out on Easter day, she had a man arrive to fix it within the hour. She checked on us every night, gave us the weather forecast for the next day and gave us tips on what to see and do. She even brought us an alarm clock when we casually mentioned that we hoped we could wake up early enough to catch our train. All in all, Elizabeth was pure joy.”

— M. D., Chicago, IL



“We wanted to thank you for the week we enjoyed at Le Moulin and for the wine safari. We loved the house. It was comfortable and very well-suited for a family. The ability to walk into town and at the same time be surrounded by beautiful grounds was very attractive to us. Of course, the biggest advantage of this house was the fact that Anne Messelink was the local host. This was the fourth time we've been back to Provence, yet she always finds new things for us to discover. We love the area and definitely will return. Provence is where we come to relax.

We all enjoyed the wine safari--even David, who had the opportunity to engage in some wine tasting at Pegau (shhhh). The guide was very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him to other Homes Away guests with an interest in wine. I have his business card and have recommended him to several of my friends and colleagues.

We're looking forward to our next trip!”

— D. W.