Winter rental

[hazy]

I'm just putting my flat for sale in Scotland. Hope it won't take too long as would hope to be free to come to Abruzzo (Pescara/Chieti area) for late autumn to rent somewhere in order to find a place to live. Would expect this to take 4-6 months to find and complete purchase. So I'm looking for reasonable accomodation for that time - just 1 bedroom, lounge/kitchen etc but must have internet connection - if you have a place that would like a winter resident or know of other rental propertiesI would much appreciate the info.

[NickZ]

Take a look at the vacation places along the coast. They are usually for rent during the off season. Until April or May at most.

For internet you'll have to get a cellphone based set up most likely.

[fudgieoto]

Hi Hazy

Just to follow on from the post above. You would probably need to use a mobile phone to connect. You could either use a uk phone and then just buy an italian sim to put in it, if it is unlocked. These usually cost around 10 - 15 euro and you will need to produce a codice fiscale to buy this. Depending on the place you may be able to use your passport. Any way you will need your codice fiscale to buy a property, this can be done from the uk before you arrive.

When you have your phone you can choose from many providers for your internet, they are usually 20 - 30 per month or the amount of mb you use.

I use this and i find it ok, but make sure you have a umts hi-speed phone. Mine cost me 99 e in Italy, and it works great.

If you want any more help email me....

Sorry i can't help with the lettings, but i am at the wrong end of the country..

regards

gill

[The Smiths in Puglia]

Pity you`re not in Puglia, Hazy. We have a lovely warm apartment with internet connection (a proper broadband one!).
I hope you find somewhere.

Hazel

[marie armstrong]

Hallo Hazy
I have pm'd you
Marie

[Noble]

Dear Hazy...In autumn and winter rent somewhere that isn't high up in the Abruzzo, (have you read On the Spine of Italy??) Stick to the coast if possible. The cost of heating in Italy will make your hair stand on end...under your fur hat!

[adriatica]

getting away from the original point and not really wanting to argue with noble...cause in fact she makes a valid point...just to say it really is not quite that simple ..the height thing ...

we used to live in a house at 400 m asl but closer to the mountains...we live in a house now at 650 m asl closer to the coast... well in any terms i would say we live quite high up... but the climate here as against our other house lower down is in general milder... because its positioned better.. we have peaches grapes and olives growing all around...

now as noble says height is a factor... but even more so position... and in both houses when we drive down the hills and get to a valley spot at say sea level or just a couple of hundred meters above you can find temperature drops in the region of 5-10 degrees c.

we used to live in the hills between montorio and isola del gran sasso... not too close to the mountains...if we went out in the evening we would arrive down at either of those two places during the winter and often require another layer of clothing... and in the mornings we rarely had frosts but get down to those places and they would be covered in ice

so not just in abruzzo ... any place in italy from north to south is where these rules apply... not just for the cold but the grey rainy days that we all wish to avoid... choose carefully ... in a sense what you are doing anyway by renting first sorry cannot help with rentals... to tell you the honest truth look close to the coast anywhere in Italy at that time of year and you will be spoilt for choice and have a much higher chance of a good speed internet connection...

actually another thing... if i was anyone needing a link up sort of in a temporary sense i would not negate the Internet cafe route...or even public libraries here.. all have cheap fast internet access...without contracts... to my mind its a good social way of working and meeting people... walk down to the public place instead of sitting at home and its almost like going out to work back home ...but the hours might be more flexible ...and you get to meet italians too...plus practice a bit of the language...e

[NickZ]

My cousin is a whole 2 meters higher up then I am. 729 versus 727. Their weather can be much worse. Main reason is I'm on top of a hill they are up against the side of a mountain. They get cold air falling down from the higher points [which hit 1600 meters I think. Might be a touch higher]

Doesn't hurt I'm much closer to the coast.