Vacation Planning Trends for Italy’s Top Destinations

Rentalo.com, a leading lodging and vacation rental web site, recently conducted a trend analysis on its database of 7,853 opted-in travelers searching for hotels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals in Italy’s top vacation spots from July 2008 to January 2010. Here are the findings:

Italy’s Top Family Vacation Destination: Rome

Forty-four percent of the vacation planners showed interest in comparison shopping among Rome vacation rentals, bed breakfasts, motels, and hotels. 31 percent were also interested in receiving offers from vacation houses, condos, guesthouses, inns, and hotels in Rome including Fiumicino, Grottaferrata, Frascati, and Lazio.

Fifty-six percent were early planners who started their Rome vacation planning 2 or more months in advance from the travel date, 27 percent of the inquiries were sent 1 to 2 months in advance, and 16 percent were from last minute travelers inquiring within the last 30 days prior to the arrival date.

Rome’s most popular vacation theme is family with 35 percent of the traveler’s inquiries requesting accommodations for groups of more than 4 adults, 27 percent for couples, 21 percent for families with children, and 17 percent for people traveling alone.

Italy’s Top Romantic Vacation Destination: Venice

Sixty-nine percent of the vacation planners showed interest in comparison shopping among Venice Italy vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. 55 percent were also interested in receiving offers from vacation cabins, cottages, guesthouses, motels, and hotels near Venice including Mogliano, Casale Sul Sile, Mirano, Treviso, and Fossalta di Piave.

Fifty-four percent were early planners who started their Venice vacation planning 2 or more months in advance from the travel date, 16 percent of the inquiries were sent 1 to 2 months in advance, and 28 percent were from last minute travelers inquiring within the last 30 days prior to the arrival date.

Venice’s most popular vacation theme is romance with 36 percent of the traveler’s inquiries requesting accommodations for 2, 30 percent for groups of more than 4 adults, 28 percent for families with children, and 6 percent for people traveling alone.

Italy’s Top Agriturismo Destination: Tuscany

Sixty-seven percent of the vacation planners showed interest in comparison shopping among Tuscany vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, inns, and hotels. 21 percent were also interested in receiving offers from vacation homes, inns, resorts, and hotels from other cities in Tuscany such as Anghiari, Arcidosso, Arezzo, Artimino, Asciano, Aulla, Bagni di Lucca, Bagno a Ripoli, Barberino di Mugello, Barga, Bibbona, Bientina, Bivigliano, Borgo San Lorenzo, Campi Bisenzio, Capalbio, Carrara, Casciana Terme, and Cascina.

Fifty-two percent were early planners who started their Tuscany vacation planning 2 or more months in advance from the travel date, 23 percent of the inquiries were sent 1 to 2 months in advance, and 23 percent were from last minute travelers inquiring within the last 30 days prior to the arrival date.

Italy’s Top City Destination: Florence (part of Tuscany)

Sixty-six percent of the vacation planners showed interest in comparison shopping among Florence vacation rentals, b&bs, inns, and small hotels. 48 percent were also interested in receiving offers from other accommodations such as vacation cabins, inns, and boutique hotels near Florence such as Fiesole, Campi Bisenzio, Prato, Figline Valdarno, and Certaldo.

Fifty-five percent were early planners who started their Florence vacation planning 2 or more months in advance from the travel date, 14 percent of the inquiries were sent 1 to 2 months in advance, and 30 percent were from last minute travelers inquiring within the last 30 days prior to the arrival date.

Florence’s most popular vacation theme is family with 38 percent of the traveler’s inquiries requesting accommodations for groups of more than 4 adults, 32 percent for couples, 24 percent for families with children, and 6 percent for people traveling alone.

For vacation rentals in Italy log on to Rentalo.com.