ekscrunchy

I am posting this for my sister, who is headed for a week at La Saracina in Pienza. After that, they would like to spend a few days in a location (more or less) between Pienza and FCO (Rome airport).

I have suggested (without looking at a map, so I hope I am not off base, or off route!) both La Posta Vecchia and Villa Clementina; what other ideas can I pass along? Aesthetics are important and rooms must be very comfortable. They have a car.

http://www.hotelvillaclementina.it/

http://www.lapostavecchia.com/


Many thanks!!

bobthenavigator

Look at Castello Velona near Montalcino, or La Badia near Orvieto. If you really want upscale then consider Il Pellicano near Porto Ercole on the water.

Zerlina

From Castello di Velona's Web site:

"Castello di Velona is presently closed
and will welcome its clients back on April 2010
with the new SPA and 15 new accommodations"

ekscrunchy

Thanks to you both. I passed on the idea of both Il Pelicano and La Badia.

I also gave her a couple of recommendations in the Castelli Romani:


http://www.locandadellospuntino.com/...ttaferrata.htm

http://www.villagrazioli.com/english/


Can anyone comment on the hotels that I linked in this thread? Thanks!

ekscrunchy

anyone??

Traviata

Hi ek,

Since they will be staying in a country setting at Saracina, they might like to try something different...L'Orto degli Angeli, a palazzo hotel in Bevagna. We enjoyed our stay here..it is a very pretty property. The town of Bevagna is not as charming as Pienza, but, still very nice...and, has MANY fewer tourists.

They are also just a very short ride away from Montefalco where they can drink good wine and taste great food at Coccorone, one of my favorites.

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Traviata.

It looks really nice so I sent her the link; it seems to be an hour and 40 minutes from Pienza:


http://www.ortoangeli.it/index3.php?lang=ita

This thread seems to have good ideas for people looking to spend a few days in a nice hotel before heading to FCO.

lovisa

I have no personal experience, but two upscale choices are

Hotel Terme di Saturnia:
http://www.termedisaturnia.it/en/main/hotel/

Relais I Due Laghi, Anguillera Sabazzia:
http://www.iduelaghi.it/eng/hotel/country_relais.shtm

ekscrunchy

Thanks! Both my sister and I appreciate the help! I will let you know where they end up and how they fare.

Jean

A few years ago, we stayed at La Posta Vecchia as a guest of a wedding that took over the entire hotel. Oh my. I don't think I'll ever again take a bath in a tub of Carrera marble, pass Gobelin tapestries on my way to breakfast or sleep surrounded by a billionaire's (J. Paul Getty) art collection. In the palace's basement archeology museum, you can view the ruins of an ancient Roman villa that stood on the site. This hotel is in a different class than the others mentioned, and the room rates reflect it.

Il Pellicano is managed by the same company and has an outdoor pool and sunning deck. La Posta Vecchia has an indoor pool and an outdoor terrace that's less suited to sunning.

ekscrunchy

Wow, Jean!! That sounds like quite an experience! I will pass this along to my sister, although even as the luxury lovers that they are, I am not sure they will want to spring for those prices. I checked a few dates and they appear well booked this month!

ekscrunchy

They decided on La Posta Vecchia and I will report back after they return home. Thanks to all who offered help!

Jean

Yes, the wealthy are still wealthy, and this hotel certainly caters to that class. Both La Posta Vecchia and Il Pellicano were running discount offers when they opened for the season, but I see those deals are no longer available. If it were a different sort of hotel, I'd call and try to negotiate a lower rate. Heck, I guess in this economy it doesn't hurt to try, especially if your sister's night(s) there would be Sunday-Wednesday.

Jean

While I was checking about those discounts, I missed your last post. I'll be very interested to hear your sister's reaction to the hotel.

ekscrunchy

Jean: My sister just arrived home. They spent one night at La Posta Vecchia and were very pleased with that choice. I neglected to ask about their room number, but she said that the configuration of the windows made them feel as if they were on a ship looking out at the sea.


The service was reportedly lovely, but not too solicitous as to feel stuffy. She contrasted the service here with that at the Certosa di Maggiano near Siena, which she said was so overly solicitous that it became annoying. (??)

(She also reported that among their fellow guests at Posta Vecchia, were quite a few deeply tanned and heavily gold-adorned Americans that appeared to stay at the hotel either before or after cruising.)

I hope to get the full report soon, so please let me know if there is anything you would like me to ask her!

Jean

eks, I'm always interested in other people's impressions. Although I haven't stayed at Certosa di Maggiano, I don't like hovering hotel staff either. Our experience with La Posta Vecchia was unusual in that the hosting wedding party had taken over the entire property. It felt more like being guests at a very wealthy person's villa, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

ekscrunchy

Jean: I forgot to mention that their favorite place on this recent trip was La Saracina in Tuscany. She just gushed about how wonderful this was and repeatdly urged me to plan a visit.

They were in Italy in late May and early June, she reported that reservations did not seem to be essential at any of the 3 properties and that the occupancy seemed to be fairly low at both Certosa di Maggiano and La Saracina.

http://www.lasaracina.it/home.en.php