Thank Godness there's Maria!

From the beginning of March till the end of October I spend all my time welcoming people, dealing with all my guest's requests, problems,  inconveniences, arranging departures, answering questions and  providing general information.

The most common questions are regarding what to do and what to see in this area. My real problem is that I am an estate agent and not a tourist information office, a guide or a tour operator. So I may not be updated on all the current events or if the ferries are still working in the Cinque Terre, etc. I know everything regarding  my apartments and villas  (ask me how many forks there are in the drawer under the sink in the Guinigi apartment or where the iron at the Vittorio apartment is and I can tell you straight away) but it is very difficult for me to organize a tour to Siena, or recommend you a restaurant in Volterra. I can try to give you my personal opinion but nothing more .. especially when I have to welcome ten groups a day who are most probably all arriving at the same time! 

So last summer, on a sunny morning,  while I was frantically working on my laptop and speaking on the phone at the same time .. desperate, but with no time to be so.. I thought to myself: I must do something about this. I have to find someone who can help me arrange my guest's stay.. And then I received a phone call: “Hi I'm maria, I'm a friend of a friend. I'm a professional tour guide and I know you deal with tourists, if they'd like a tour could you tell them to contact me?" .. I was so busy that I said: "Ok maria, I'll call you back if I'll have anything for you."

... 3 minutes later I clicked!!! She's it! I called her back immediately and arranged an appointment...

This is how it all started and now we are a team! 

Maria helps me with the arrivals, assisting my guests and if they are interested in any private or organized tours that she offers, she can organize it all for them. Last year she came up with the idea of organized tours, to offer this possibility also to families or couples or even single people, who can't afford these pricy private tours. And it had great success! It is also a lovely way to bring together my clients, so they can exchange experiences and information on the apartments/villas they are staying at. Maria has studied History of Art for more than 12 years and she was born in Wales to Italian parents 30 years ago, therefore she can be also a great help for me for the language. I know my clients are in good hands with her... it is great that she can spend time with them on tours, so if they have any issues, suggestions or even compliments she can be a direct contact. This helps me offer something more and in some cases an all round holiday package.

I warmly invite you to visit her website MLF TuscanTours. Enjoy It!

Me

Hi, this is Debora from Lucca. I was born in this city 42 years ago and have been living here ever since... I want to stay in Lucca for ever.. even though you may never know what could happen in life!

After a degree in business and economics and a long experience in my family company (coffee industry), I'm now happily running my holiday rental agency and dealing everyday with a lot of people from all over the world.

I rent apartments, country-houses and villas in Lucca and it's surrounding area, with a special attention towards the historical center, within the beautidul city walls. I personally select all my properties and I'm very proud of my wide range of unique and self-catered properties, which I think are perfect for a great and comfortable stay...

This blog was created so you can get to know me, my way of life and my job. It tells you what renting  holiday homes means and how it works. It is the essence of your holiday!! 

First of all you could start by visiting my website LuccaHolidayHomes. 

If you are asking yourselves if all of this is a marketing device, my answer is "Yes, sure! … But it's not only that! It is also a great way of communication and a way for me to show you my philosophy which I call the 'Art of Welcoming' !"