Mittens 2010 Italy -- Sat 31st July - Sat 7th Aug. Last few spots remaining!

[Creed Malay]

 Okay, though thing seem to be getting pushed on kind of heedless, there was a maybe justified feel that we're diving at unedded luxury here. Is everyone really totally swayed and set by this house? It does seem a lot more expensive than what we need, and while yes, a lot of folk are older and now have better jobs, not every one is in the same straight. Remeber the old days, when it was just about friends getting together? Remember the awesome house in france? that was not the first ultr-luxury house some people initially wanted, but it turned out to be bone-deep awesome.
If everyone is set on this place, then so be it, but otherwise, I'll have a scout around as soon as I get into uni and find some other alternatives. And m0ds has already found one or two that look good as well.
Also, I kind of hate saying anything aginst the grain or going anti-party on things like this, so please do not hate me for saying words.

EDIT
some places

http://www.italyfarmhousesrental.com/bolsena_apartments/home.htm

http://www.holprop.com/r/property-rent-2~id~IT564843~site~2~c~y~sess~98614376.htm

http://www.holprop.com/r/property-rent-2~id~IT564783~site~2~c~y~sess~98614376.htm

i'm in kind of a rush right now, sorry if I'm isreading stuff on th tuff I found,  but will look more later. the place mods found does seem pretty nice - http://www.yourtuscanvilla.com/large_villa_pool_tuscany/profile.htm

[m0ds]

Thanks for having a look around too, Creed. I think the problem with the one I suggested are the availability dates, they don't fit in with the dates people are hoping for. The second two links you've posted sound interesting but I couldn't get any pictures to work... this one you mentioned sounds lush at least Distances to other places don't seem to be filled in on those pages though.

Berian - you are aware that your place sleeps 12 partners and 12 individuals? With only 2 couples going this year that's a whole lotta gay! Creepy place...likely to have to sleep with another man...and again look at that pool. It's not a pool. It's a fenced off pond! All this just to be fairly close to some shops and restaraunts? I still think you're rushing into this bud. It seems most places should be booked by the end of March to avoid dissapointment, we still have a good week and a half.

And why no haggling? It's great that you organise some Mittens' from Wales dude but it's nice to think you can at least try some bartering from your chair for the benefit of everyone that's going. Any of us can look at places and press a book button so if you're going to do this it'd be nice if you maybe fought the case a little bit!

All you need to say is you've found other places all offering better prices, so you'd like them to kindly consider matching them because you're putting all your eggs in one basket by comitting to their place which descriptevly sounds very nice but from the pictures it is too hard to get any kind of real feel for. Or something along those lines. I thought the Welsh knew how to chat shit?

Like I said, pass me on the email address. Maybe Becky was right. There is no way to convince these people that we are anything more than a new group to mess up their house. So why try and come across any different in email? .^^

Oh & also, who's driving? Because without at least 2 or 3 rental cars there's no way we're getting anywhere. I was prepared to be a designated and sober driver but I can't be there to do that for you guys if it's going to cost so much. The mantle usually falls on CJ and Darth...maybe Grundy is going to try his luck this year?

8 people carrier at £70 each:
http://www.avis.co.uk/ProductPage.aspx?VehicleId=0ff8229b-e7ff-488b-af81-e647871a78b9&Item=37c07a24-8c16-460e-bdd0-bb93926ea4e6&PickupCode=PSA&PickupDate=26%2f07%2f2010+13%3a00%3a00&ReturnCode=PSA&ReturnDate=02%2f08%2f2010+15%3a00%3a00

...DG falling asleep at the wheel of the people carrier in NY state will always be a fond memory

[Disco]

Antica is out:

Hello Kenneth,
I've spoke to the owner and unfortunately he closed an unit ( IL GIRASOLE) for the next 6 months for renovation so the sleeping places are less: only 17.
I suppose that the web sites http://www.perugiaonline.com/anticaposta hasn't updated.
I can suggest you other accomodations suitable for your group composed of 24 and available from 26 July to 2 August ( Monday to Monday):

In Umbria region:
MONTELUCE
http://www.italy-villas-rentals.com/vacation_rentals/16769/

In Tuscany Southeast region:
PALAZZO SARTEANO
http://www.italy-villas-rentals.com/vacation_rentals/43128/

Consider that in high season all our properties can be booked only from saturday to Saturday this is why I suggested you only 2 properties avaiable, if your dates may be Sat to Sat as well, maybe I can send more listings!

I think her suggestions are a little overkill, even if the price was right (44?! ) Still worth checking out though. The first link seems alright to me unless the price scales up.

[AGA]

Read the thread! Something like five or six people have agreed to drive.

I doubt you're going to find somewhere that's almost entirely single beds, and actually houses 24, anyway. Did anyone actually care about sharing beds last year?

[Snarky]

I think some of Mods' arguments are pretty ridiculous ("creepy place"? How so? And honestly, the pool looks fine), but it's certainly best if everyone is happy, and the other alternatives seem OK too, as long as they've got enough sleeping space.

I know one thing for sure: this year I'm bringing my own sheets. I'm not sleeping under a f*&#ing curtain again!

[Creed Malay]

okay just emailed dudes about this place.
http://www.vacations-abroad.com/italy/tuscany/lucca/7306/default.aspx

[GarageGothic]

With only 2 couples going this year that's a whole lotta gay!

I foresee a reenactment of the "Those aren't pillows!" scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles, except of course you'll all be sleeping naked due to Italian summer temperatures. Not that there's anything wrong with that .

[m0ds]

They have to be ridiculous when it's 15 to one.

Well look, Berian - you're obviously adament on that place, fair enough. No-one else has said they think that's the only place that will work. You found one that fits the criteria but you don't seem to want to take it any further than that.  In fact everyone that's decided to chime in has still continued to say anywhere is fine. So I'm not really sure why you're defending it.

We've now quoted several places with prices less than 250 per person. I don't see why dates take preference over people who might not be able to afford it either - that's cocky. I also still don't see why Mittens caters for people who do sod all around the AGS community too, but that's another argument! Just about all the other links over the last page or so have more twin bedrooms and singles than the one you're suggesting.

Did anyone actually care about sharing beds last year?

Sorry, why are you and Becky presuming everything should be based on the last Mittens and who did what and how their financial situation was and will be for this year? Start afresh! And no, I don't want to sleep with other guys. Sorry, is that wrong of me? I guess the dates taking preference thing is so everyone who went to Miami can catch up again. Well, that's lovely isn't it

Creed: That place is for 10 people max?

Edit: Not a peep in this thread from from 10 of the attendees over where to stay yet either, so I assume that means they don't mind..

[Creed Malay]

You wouldn't want to sleep with me m0ds?

other places are being checked, dude.

[m0ds]

I've done my fair share of gay in this community already sir

Maybe for money...

[m0ds]

I've emailed the place I found to check if it can hold 24-28 people or if it really is only 22.

[Darth Mandarb]

The type of place is not so important to me.  I don't mind bunkin' with another fella, just don't want to share a rack is all.

Sylpher and I managed well in Miami (even with his sawin' logs!), CJ tolerated my laptop movies all night long in Poland and Quintaros and I chatted to the wee hours in France.  If we do end up having to share beds I call Nacho as my room-mate.  He's tiny and will spend the night humping my leg anyway.

I'm feelin' like I'll probably fly into Rome and rent a car there so I'll most likely have a car at Mittens which we can all share as needed.  If anybody else wants to meet up in Rome (as we did in Paris) we could road-trip together to where-ever the final Mittens location might be.

[m0ds]

Villa Grifone is 24 people.
http://www.yourtuscanvilla.com/large_villa_pool_tuscany/profile.htm

Situated south Agrezzo border we would be 110 miles from Pisa (2hrs)
About 50 miles from Florence (1hr)
And 80 miles from Rome (about 1hr 30)
And only 60 miles from San Marino - but that would be slow, mountainous driving I believe.
We'll also be a stones throw away from that massive central lake.

Luckily anywhere on the A1 seems like no major driving burden. Leaving at 5am you'd probably even reach Sicily by 9 or 10am on a daring road trip

They've also reduced the price and now quoted 4400 euros, as apposed to 4800.

That's 184 euro each.

There is a 1500 euro security deposit, which is fully refundable, so that's a further but returnable 65 euro.

That's 249 euro in total...and 25 pounds under my £250 budget.

18 euro per person for final cleaning. So 202 euros is your actual spend after refunded deposit. That's a very comfortable £182 for me, making a saving of roughly £110 on Berian's chateau.

They are saying something about the sofa-beds costing extra. If people want to go for this one, then I'll try and make a bargain on them with that one. Or just piss in one to get my 100 euros worth  :

Creed - any luck?

[FSi++]

Villa Grifone is 24 people.
...
They've also reduced the price and now quoted 4400 euros, as apposed to 4800.
That's 184 euro each.
There is a 1500 euro security deposit, which is fully refundable, so that's a further but returnable 65 euro.
That's 249 euro in total...and 25 pounds under my £250 budget.
18 euro per person for final cleaning. So 202 euros is your actual spend after refunded deposit. That's a very comfortable £182 for me, making a saving of roughly £110 on Berian's chateau.

Actually, I like this one more. Just saying.

[Miez]

Still in - I really don't give a flying hoot about luxury. Just give me a place to bunk down and I'm happy. Most importantly imho is a large communal space...

[Creed Malay]

Okay so - I've had no joy back from the places I tried. The place M0ds found sounds good to me, what about everyone else?

[m0ds]

No problem Creed - you tried! The date is the only questionable thing now. Then why not let it go to vote...perhaps someone can create a unanimous vote page But if people are really set on the original dates then that's fine and it means it won't be possible to be the cheaper villa I suggested.

Sun July 31st - Fri August 6th for Villa "Don" Grifone. Alternatively a little later from Mon 23rd Aug - Mon 30th Aug. At which point it could be as little as 176 euros each (total payable after refunded security deposit). I just confirmed this, well, they did - it'd be 178 euros.

So that would probably mean +1 day & night of added adventure on Saturday July 30th or the annual AGS-in-an-airport thing.

or Mon July 26th - Mon August 2nd for Villa "Carlito" Beriano. Understandly Mon- Mon makes things a bit easier, but this is why it'd be good to hear people's views on the two dates.

[Disco]

Wow that is quite a bit of difference, and with flights the way they are I am leaning toward Grifone. Dates being moved 4 days east doesn't bother me at all either since I will probably be in Italy before and after those two sets anyways.

[Creed Malay]

So does Sun July 31st - Fri August 6th at Villa "Don" Grifone sound appealing to people?

[AGA]

Looks alright to me.