How to book a holiday home in Italy directly from the owner, safely

Booking a home directly from the owner makes sense: no platform fee, a direct line to the person who knows the house, often a better price. But without a middleman, the checking is up to you. It isn't complicated. It just takes a few calm checks before you send any money.

1. Check the CIN code

Since 1 January 2025, every home let for short stays in Italy must have a CIN (Codice Identificativo Nazionale), a national ID code issued by the Ministry of Tourism. Owners have to show it in their listings and outside the property.

A listing without a CIN isn't automatically a scam, but it's a signal worth noticing. Ask for it: an owner who is in order will give it to you without fuss. We explain what it is in the CIN code for short-term rentals in Italy.

2. Talk to the owner

Write, ask questions, and if you can, have a quick call. How do you get to the house? Where do you park? Who lets you in? Someone who really owns the place gives concrete answers that match the photos. Be wary of vague replies, pressure ("another family is interested, you need to pay today"), or someone who can't answer simple details.

If you find the same home on several sites, check that the photos, rough location and owner's name match.

3. Only pay in a traceable way

This is the most important rule. A deposit for a holiday home is normally paid by bank transfer to an IBAN in the owner's name (or their company's, if they let as a business). Check that the beneficiary name matches the person you've been talking to.

Never pay with:

• cash-pickup money-transfer services;
• gift cards or top-up vouchers;
• cryptocurrency;
• transfers to someone else's account "for tax reasons" or "a relative's account".

All of these make it impossible to get your money back. No genuine owner will ask for them.

4. Get everything in writing

Before paying, ask for a written confirmation (an email is fine) with your arrival and departure dates, number of guests, total price, how much the deposit is and when the balance is due, and any extras such as cleaning or linen. Above all, the cancellation terms. What happens to the deposit if you cancel? And if the owner cancels?

Keep the confirmation and the transfer receipt.

5. Tourist tax is paid separately

Many Italian towns charge a tourist tax (imposta di soggiorno). The town sets the amount, and it's usually paid on arrival, in cash or however the owner tells you. It isn't a hidden cost: ask in advance how much it is so there are no surprises.

How it works on Italiando

We built Italiando to make booking direct simple and clear. We're not an agency: the homes belong to their owners, who answer you personally.

1. Pick a home and your dates and send a booking request. Nothing is charged.
2. The owner reviews the request and confirms it, or suggests something else.
3. Once confirmed, you get the details for the deposit by bank transfer, in the owner's name. The balance is paid as set out in the confirmation.

Every request has its own page with its status, a summary of the stay and the payment details. No service fee for you, no commission for the owner.

Curious how much platform fees add to the price? Read Airbnb fees explained and the Italiando vs Booking.com comparison.