When clients find out that I am in Italy, they often ask me to “find them a villa,” and indeed few things are more romantic than an Italian villa perched on a hill in the countryside.  In fact, by the time I returned home, I had two or three Tuscan villas in mind for my own family.  When I visit a villa for clients though, I temporarily keep my romantic nature in check and focus instead on details that they are likely to take for granted.  With each home I visit, I have a few specific clients in mind, and I try to anticipate their day-to-day wants.  One thing I have learned is that the vagaries of private homes are a never-ending source of surprise.  For example, an elegantly appointed home with nine bedrooms and its own vineyard may not have air conditioning, or it may have a shower and no bathtub, or sometimes the reverse.  A lot of people are surprised to learn that king-sized beds are really an American phenomenon, and outside of the States, even very upscale hotels won’t always have them.  In general with a villa, WiFi can be a little hit or miss as well, so if you plan on working while you travel, you might be better off in a hotel. When helping someone decide between a villa and a hotel, I learn from the client what is most important to him and what are the creature comforts that he needs to enjoy his stay.  Whether the choice is hotel or villa, it is my job to then troubleshoot every aspect of the stay, making it as seamless and fabulous as possible.  No matter what clients decide, I can match them with unbelievable properties and accommodations, and as this trip will attest  -- I am always on the lookout for new places.