Vacation Rental Guest Reviews

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

My extended family spent a week at Villa Gropina in early June, 2010. It was perfect...just what we were looking for...a beautiful quiet place for family members from different localities to meet, visit, and enjoy Tuscany. The Villa was great, old and rustic, not "overdone" like some we looked at. Perfect for our teenage kids to relax, swim, hike, and use the kitchen. We walked up the hill to the village of Gropina several times...awesome. Wonderful culture. Wonderful people. Wonderful tomatoes, olive oil, and mozarrella cheese. Visited Sienna and Florence, but were happy to get back to our vineyard.

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

Poggio falcone liegt in einer wunderschönen Umgebung, das Haus ist sehr geräumig und der Garten sehr gepflegt. Uns hat es dort sehr gut gefallen und ich denke wir werden gerne wieder kommen. Die Familie, die auf das Haus aufpasst ist sehr nett und umgänglich. Es gibt dor 3 Fahrräder, die man sich ausleihen kann. Sehr vorteilhaft: Gas und Strom sind frei, was nicht immer üblich ist in Italien. Alles in allem, ein sehr schöner Urlaub.

[English translation courtesy of Easy Reserve] Poggio Falcone is set in a beautiful area; the house is very spacious and the garden very well maintained. We really liked to stay there and I think we will love to come again. The family who is taking care of the house is very friendly and kind. There are three bikes that you can borrow. Very advantageous: gas and electricity are included, which is not always the case in Italy. All in all, a very nice holiday.

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

Castle Montegufoni was outstanding. Some of the pluses:
- beautiful property with stunning hill-top views of the Tuscan countryside, without having to drive treacherous switch-back roads to get there (such roads are a-plenty in Tuscany).
- nice pool and well-kept, lovely grounds
- great location: 30 minute drive to Florence; 45 minute drive to San Gimignano; 60 minute drive to Pisa
- spacious, comfortable, spotlessly clean villa
- friendly, accomodating staff (I was encouraged to use the castle's computer for as long as I needed to book a side-trip to Venice, and they bent over backwards to take care of me when I needed some very minor first aid.)
- access to a modern washing machine that works well
- excellent price for what you get

I suggest staying in one of the villas apart from the main castle, as we did (our villa was no. 32). These villas are probably quieter, and you can drive right up to them to unload your suitcases, thereby avoiding the steep walk up the gravel hill with luggage.

The only less-than stellar aspect was the meal at the Castle's restaurant. It was good value: 24 euro for five courses. And you can't beat the ambience or the pleasure of enjoying the fine castle wine knowing that it's just a few steps to your villa. But we had better food elsewhere. I still think it's worth eating there one evening for the experience. For better food, I recommend:
Il Virginio in Anselmo, about 4 km from the castle.
Another good restaurant is at the end of Baccaiano. It's on the left side, near a large parking lot that looks like a park and ride. There's also a hotel there. If you start up the hill to Montespertoli, you've gone too far.

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

La Sorgente is a wonderful property in a beautiful setting. We really enjoyed our time. Our party of eight adults found that there was plenty of space for everyone, so no one felt crowded. It made a great base to explore Tuscany. I am extremely happy that we chose this property. We hired Morena to cook for us for two nights while we were there. She is a wonderful cook and great lady. The meals were superb!

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

The property is delightfully located, with magnificent views down the valleys towards Arezzo and San Sepolcro. The views from the pool area are the same - and it makes for a beautiful spot for a holiday. The property is clean and well appointed, and obviously well maintained. We brought my mother here for her 60th birthday, and had a superb time of it.

The couple who look after the property were utterlty charming, and left us a basket of basics to get us started (tin of tomatoes, pasta, bread, eggs, coffee etc.), and also brought us a home baked cake during the first week, which was a very unexpected and delightful surprise.

Points to note: the villa is a couple of km from the nearest village (and therefore amenities), so really only an option if you have hired a car. There is no iron or ironing board, which was not a problem for us, but could be for others. The kitchen is pretty well stocked with cooking utensils, crockery and glassware, but there was no corkscrew there on the day we arrived (we bought one and left it there though...!). There is also a waching machine (useful if you are staying for more than a week), and a dishwasher (bliss on a holiday).

All in all, highly recommended.

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

We had an outstanding week at Villa Roncovisi. The villa is meticulously maintained, very comfortable, beautiful gardens, pool, furnishings and extremely hospitable owners. We can't wait to return.

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

This is heaven on earth! Absolutely the most beautiful place I have everystayed in. The pictures do not do this place justice. Villa, pool, property, views and surroundings are more than I ever could have dreamed of. The owners are delightful and helpful and will cook you the best Tuscan dinner you have every had for a very reasonable price. You are situated in the most beautiful countryside you can imagine, between Cortona and Montepulciano, two gorgeous hill towns,and are only 1 1/2 hours from Florence. You can stop looking for another place...this is the one!

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

Beautiful villa. Wonderful setting. A perfect choice for our group of nine. I'd do it again!

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

5 ^/5 Excellent   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

Fantastic dream property with the most welcoming owner. Do not have any doubts just book it

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010

4 ^/5 Very Good   Villa Review Rating Details   Share

The hosts were wonderful, the property clean, and the town charming. Loved that the bakery, butcher, produce market, grocer and restaurant were within a block - and that the experience was very truly local. We were the ONLY non-locals in the restaurant both nights we ate there.

We scored a cooking class with Marina and another couple staying with them. We had a BLAST cooking in her kitchen and dining with their family. Make this part of your stay if you can.

La Miccia is a lower level apartment so delightfully cool, but a bit dark. The hot tub is not "hot" by most american standards, and seems a little odd in the middle of the living room, but everything else was great. If we ever get back to Pergine Valdarno, we'll be back at La Miccia.

Would you recommend this property to a friend?  Yes

Rental Week: 29 May 2010