PRESS RELEASE

European Travel Commission Report Bolsters Italy Vacation Rental Market - American Travelers to Europe Looking For Value in 2012

Dec 1, 2011 - The European Travel Commission (ETC) disclosed important US travel trends anticipated for 2012 during the November 2011 World Travel Market conference held recently in London. The World Travel Market is the leading global event for the travel industry. A preview presented at the conference of the ETC's report on European Travel Trends highlights two key trends for 2012: changes in American travel patterns and spending for Europe-bound travelers as well as a pent-up demand for travel to Europe. The study indicates that, despite economic trends, the European tourism market will see a recovery in 2012, largely fueled by the U.S. traveler. Important in the findings is the quest for value by the American traveler both in terms of accommodations and profiting from the US dollar strengthening versus the volatile Euro. According to Petra Hedorfer, President of the European Travel Commission (ETC). "Although US travelers to Europe tend to be more financially resilient than many, they are still keen on finding value for money at every turn”.

With Italy being one of the most sought-after tourism destinations in Europe, these trends bolster the importance of the growing vacation rental market for savvy travelers seeking the best value possible for their vacation budget. ENIT, Italy's National Agency for Tourism, reports that Italy ranked 3rd in the top European tourism destinations in 2010, behind France and Spain. Visits to the major historic cities to experience Italian art and culture is the number one priority for visitors to Italy, according to the ENIT site. The data supports the strengthening demand for and availability of vacation rental properties in the major cultural urban hubs of Italy where an entire furnished apartment in an excellent location can cost less than a cramped hotel room in the very same neighborhood.

Apartments Offer Best Value Accommodations in Rome, Florence, Venice

"What better way to experience the major Italian cities of culture and art than from your very own home-away-from-home", states Lisa Byrne, founder of Italy Perfect, a leading vacation rental agency that specializes in apartments in Rome, Florence and Venice. "You'll benefit from the unique perspective of living like a local, even if only for a few days, while enjoying more spacious accommodations than a hotel. Plus the added benefits of a kitchen and usually a washing machine, too. It is certainly a better value, and a more authentic experience, than a hotel can offer."

While budget apartment accommodations abound in each of these Italian cities, Byrne warns to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Vacationers will save themselves time, money and stress by booking with a trusted agency to ensure that the accommodations are as-promised and to avoid bait-and-switch or internet scam tactics.

When to Book?

Italy Perfect recommends booking early for the prime vacation season which spans April through October. Based on Italy Perfect's expertise, the nicest apartments in the best historic locations in Rome, Florence and Venice tend to book up well in advance, with January being the busiest time for advance booking for the peak season.

About Italy Perfect

ItalyPerfect.com founded in 2003, offers a range of apartments in Rome, Florence, Venice as well as vacation villas in Tuscany and the Amalfi coast. With offices in California and Massachusetts, it personally selects and inspects every property it represents to meet the needs of a wide range of travelers, from honeymooners and families, to adventuresome, experienced travelers, as well as first time travelers to Italy. The company prides itself in providing its clients with straightforward, detailed information about every property along with a wealth of travel tips, tools and information to help their clients plan the perfect trip to Italy. Italy Perfect merits an A+ ranking with the Better Business Bureau, was named a Favorite by Slow Travel and received TripAdvisor's Award of Excellence. Italy Perfect is affiliated with sister companies ParisPerfect.com and LondonPerfect.com.

Don’t ask me how to navigate streets or from monument to monument, but just ask about my landmarks: boutiques, market stalls, factory outlets and department stores; I can navigate just about anywhere with those as my points of reference. When I'm in Italy I don't have much time to shop nor do I need high fashion, and in this global economy some items, like Italian luxury shoes, handbags, fashion, can be purchased at the same price, or for less, outside of Italy. My shopping is often limited to window shopping, admiring the gorgeous displays and the Italian's elegant sense of style and color, but I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive, lightweight gifts, so here are my bargain shopping tips for easy-to-find souvenirs and gifts that won't break the bank.

For the Cook

• Aprons sold at the market stalls and tourist trinket shops.
• Sale al Tartufo - salt with little pieces of truffle. Get the fine salt, not coarse salt. Sold at gourmet food purveyors such as Castroni in Rome or at Pegna on Via dello Studio by the Duomo in Florence. If you have to ask what to use truffle salt for, you're most likely not a truffle enthusiast.
• Tuscan spices "Spezie Regina" for seasoning ragu (meat sauce) also from Pegna in Florence. A small bag will last for months and is less than €2.
• Dry unseasoned, soup starters with white beans, lentils, farro, and other interesting dried legumes in small cellophane bags at the supermarket.
• Unusual pasta shapes for as little as €1 a package.

All Purpose

• Notecards from museum gift shops. In Rome: Villa Borghese, Vatican Museums. Florence: Uffizi Gallery.
• Florentine stationary with beautiful designs and monograms from the Florence market stalls.
• Fake pashmina scarves at market stalls. These are synthetic so not for the discerning fashionista. If you buy in multiples, price is as low as €5 each.
• Florentine leather gloves in delicious colors at the market stalls.
• Ferrero Pocket Coffee. Chocolates with liquid espresso inside. Jet lag remedy!
• Baci chocolates and Torrone nougat (I don't particularly like nougat so this is one item I'm sure not to eat if desperate), biscotti -- pack carefully otherwise you'll arrive home with a suitcase full of cookie crumbs, spoken from experience. Prices are about the same everywhere, easy to pick up in the airport duty-free shops on departure.
• MARVIS toothpaste in department store toiletry section or any pharmacy. Packaging is beautiful. Looks like something for which you'd pay 5 times more at Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella.
• Labello "chapstick" Classic in the blue tube, my favorite lip balm ever since I was a little kid. At pharmacies or department stores in the toiletries section.
• Interesting bound blank or lined notebooks at cartolerie (paper goods shops) or the school supply section of department stores.
• Florentine leather waste paper baskets from the Florence market stalls - they pack flat!
• Florentine leather book mark €1 each.
• Venetian glass jewelry, key chains. Venice: Murano Island and in the stalls and markets in popular tourist sights near Piazza San Marco and the Rialto bridge.

Kids & Teens

• Lanyard key chains that say Roma, Firenze or Italia. Bargain at €1 or €2 each.
• Carved wooden Pinocchio key chains, tree ornaments are classic, timeless.
• Earrings from street vendors for as low as €2. Venetian glass earrings too are always a good value, too.
• Narrow leather bracelets €2/each from the Florence market stalls.
• Leather and other keychains.
• Florentine-paper covered pencils & pencil holder from the market stalls.
• Miniature deck of playing cards in a tiny leather case.
• Italian brands of chewing gum, interesting to see the different packaging.

Dog Lovers Dried pasta for dogs in the pet food section of supermarkets.

Favorite weird gift "Priests of Rome" calendar with photos of handsome priests. Odd! Sold at newsstands, trinket shops in Rome. €10.

My family's favorites As much as I would love to bring back extra virgin olive oil, my family's #1 request, it's just too tricky what with the restrictions on carry-on liquids and the worry of it breaking in my suitcase, but I can manage a small bottle of Vin Santo, sweet wine, bought last minute duty free to carry on board and a bag of cantucci (biscotti for dipping in the Vin Santo) for my husband. For my son I seek out unusual regional dried pasta shapes; his favorite is pastini in any shape, tiny pasta for pastini in brodo, broth with little pasta, his 'go to' comfort food. Believe or not, my daughter's favorite gift is Kellogg's Special K cereal! She swears that the Italian Special K Classic is better than the North American type. We conducted a side-by-side comparison; she's right, it's toasted darker and tastes better. Not that this is a good souvenir recommendation as it's so unique to her Italy memories.

Happy bargain shopping!

Italy Perfect recently received recognition from TripAdvisor which awarded our company top honors based on positive guest reviews. In addition, we were named a FlipKey 2011 winner, which recognizes Italy Perfect as one of the top vacation rental managers in the industry.  We’d like to thank all of our guests who have taken the time to provide independent reviews on the TripAdvisor and Flipkey sites, we sincerery appreciate the lovely feedback.