pavot

I'm investigating rental properties for a two-week trip to Tuscany. Ideally, I would like to find a small house (there are just three of us) with access to a pool.

Most of the places I am finding seem to be part of really big agriturismo-ish complexes--former castles or hamlets turned into tourist accommodation with spaces for 30-50 people, with or without any current farming connections. I really want to go back to Italy, but I'm not sure if my family would enjoy something like that. I'm willing to admit that perhaps my assumptions about what it's like to stay in one are all wrong. What is the level of privacy like at a big agriturismo?

Have you ever stayed in one? Can you help me out with the pros and cons?

(I guess deep down I worry it will be like the French camping experience the family from "Next of Kin" has when a camping trip to France is the only way they can afford to go. Not that anyone but me remembers that show. Or that episode.)

massimop

This website is good to use for locating family-run agriturismi. If you spot something you like, you can usually find lots of reviews of the agriturismi on TripAdvisor. When you search this website you can specify that you are looking for one with a pool.

http://www.agriturismo.it/en/

You can also use Google maps to find agriturismi. I would suggest looking around the town Buonconvent. Look up Buonconvento on Google maps, and use its "nearby" feature to type in the word "agriturismo" and see what pops up on the map. It's interactive and you should find links to the actual agriturismo's website.

You can also look on Booking.com for agriturismi near Buonconvento, and specify one with a pool.

You might also try looking in Umbria, where there is more farming, less tourism & wine-making.

zoecat

There are many smaller places to stay that are not that large. I've only stayed at places with 6-8 apartments, each with private entrance and patio. The pool is shared but usually most people are out exploring and not hanging around the pool, although sometimes there have been a few people at the pool at the same time. Many places have some additional spots throughout the property for hanging out and enjoying the views. I've never felt there were too many people sharing the property.

My favorite place is Fonte Bertusi, located just outside of Pienza and very central for exploring the lovely towns and landscapes of the Val d'Orcia and Crete Senesi (IMO the most beautiful landscapes in Tuscany). The area is abundant with smaller and lovely agriturismi.

schnauzer

Can't help with the agriturismo but I only just rewatched Next of Kin on YouTube and laughed myself silly again... that was a great show. No, you certainly don't want to end up like that..

tuscanlifeedit

I've stayed in a place in Umbria that was lovely, with about 6 apartments. They served breakfast and dinner, and the meals weren't crowded. We didn't have pool weather, but the only time that I saw the other guests were at meals, and dinner was by reservation (no one was obligated to eat dinner there, but the choice was available).

bilboburgler

It really depends on each site, I've stayed in a few and they range from, sharing a swimming pool, restaurant and extensive grounds, with your own private space/room/mini-garden to just having your own room.

The upsides of having a larger place is there is a chance to have the kids organised (in my case, away from me) but for people with kids a chance for them to be entertained cheaply and with other kids of different nationalities. This could be pony trecking, football, mountain bike etc.

The upside of agriturismo is that they tend to come with a lot of land and something to burn off energy

pavot

Thanks for the replies. Some of these places look really nice for the price, but I'm wavering because we are all pretty introverted, and a lot of togetherness with strangers honestly wouldn't be relaxing. Sounds terrible when I type it out, but that's the truth.

We've been in places with three or four other units, and that has been pretty nice. Perhaps I need to seek out the smaller places, like zoecat describes.

I can definitely see the appeal of having other children about for young kids; we're in the throes of awkward adolescence at our house. A recent stay at a gite turned uncomfortable when the hosts' very extroverted daughter took a shine to my very shy son. He is worried he might be engaged, now.

bilboburgler

yep smaller sounds better

pavot

Thanks again for the responses. I think we'll head back to the UK and France in 2018.

Italy in 2019. It might take me that long to find somewhere to stay....