Hotel Vecchia Oliviera in Montalcino
 

Hi to all the helpful Italy experts,

(Sorry if this will come up twice, I am having some trouble).....

Once again, I am stuck with trying to make a decision on staying in this hotel Vecchia Oliviera, at end September 2006.

They have offered us a deluxe superior double room plus a single room, since we are a couple and a single person.

Here are my questions :

Is it really worth so much more money than say, staying at Hotel dei Capitani or the dependence of Il Giglio (which have also offered me accomodations for much less).

They have only one single room there and this is obviously one of the two rooms they have offered. Has anyone personally stayed in this room and/or can give me advice about it (I ask this because it is disproportionately priced with reference to the double, i.e. 80 Euros as opposed to 170 Euros and so I just wonder......)

Where is it located with reference to the fortezza in the town, which is the only place that I can refer to when trying to position a place there?

If anyone has personal recent, or not so recent, experiences in this hotel, I greatly appreciate your input.

For the money Palazzina Cesira ,is probably my first choice. Oliviera is nicer than Capitani. Giglio is better than Capitani, but not quite as nice as Oliviera.
Oliviera is actually built in the walls of Montalcino at Porto Cerbaia.
As you drive in,look to the right and you'll see it.
It really depends on what you want to spend and whether you want a view. Capitani and Oliviera have the views.

jabez - thanks so much for your input. I have also considered Palazzina Cesira, since I read many good reviews and have had good e-mail correspondence with them. The problem is that they require a 30% down payment of the entire sum. The rest of these places only require a credit card number to hold the reservation and do not require pre-payment. Since October is far away and one cannot know what may happen along the way, I prefer to do it this way.

You write that Giglio is better than capitani. May I ask why? And whether you are including their dependence Anna in your assertion? Since that is where they still have rooms available for us, not in their main hotel.

Have you stayed at any or all of these places?

ttt

I have not seen the dependence Anna, so I can't comment.
Even B&B's in the USA often ask for a deposit. I understand the Cesira's request.
Interestingly,we've made a policy (on all our trips)to not send any "deposits" for the places we stay at. It's just too big a hassle .
If they take a credit card, fine.
Up to now, no one has turned us away. I don't remember the Cesira asking for a deposit,but I know that I didn't send one.
If the Giglio is already booked, you better get a reservation in soon. There aren't that many rooms in the city. At least, not that many that may be of the type you want.
If money isn't an issue, I'd go with Oliviera. I would only do Capitani if I had a view/small balcony.
There's also a very good agriturismo nearby that we visited and I think we may stay there next time .That is, if we go in the fall.
We stayed in Montalcino last October. I like staying there, but much more in the spring and summer. In Oct. things really slow down on the evenings (quite dead). It's usually too cold to sit outside for dinners and there wsasn't any gelato available after 10pm (generally the earliest we finish dinner). So,we'd probably stay outside the walls (or in another town) that time of year.

The Oliviera is the best in town. You must decide the $$$.

I am also interested in this thread since I'm thinking of staying at Il Giglio in early November, although we would be in the hotel (room w/ terrace) not the dependence. I have heard from other posters that Tuscany is "not as it's best" that time of year, but that's when we can make the trip, so c'est la vie. I was curious, though, about jabez's comment regarding lack of nightlife in Montalcino that time of year. I don't think we'd mind having quiet nights (anniversary trip) as long as there is plenty to do during the days (tours, wine tastings, etc) and some nice dining options for the evenings. Can you comment further on the general "vibe" of Montalcino? What other nearby towns might you recommend as an alternative? Many thanks.

The days can be great. The town will be wide open. If you want more things "happening" in the evenings, you'll need a bigger town.
The restaurants are open and there's at least two that I like very much.

Dear Flame, katimac and others,

I think you are all agonizing too much on exactly which town to stay in, which hotel is slightly better than the other. All the hilltowns are wonderful, each slightly different. You will love where ever you stay.

Unless you happen into a real dump (which you won't if you choose a Fodorites recommendation) you will probably be pleased with your hotel too.

Make a decision and buon viaggio!

Well said Dayle...I'm going to rip that band-aid off, so to speak. Montalcino and Il Giglio it is! Thanks all!

katiemac,
Send me an e-mail and I'll send you possible side trips in southern Tuscany.

jabez - thanks for your input. I also have the same "rule" whenever and wherever I travel. I do not send pre-payments or deposits. I send my credit card info and that holds my room. I will write to Cesira once more and ask whether I can just hold the room this way. If not, I will just have to let it drop.

I do indeed have a valley view with balcony room at the capitani.

Dayle - I appreciate your wise words and you are most probably correct. It is just so difficult for me, personally, to make a decision on so many different options, each with their very many pros and cons. Oh well, I will have to "think on it" a bit still.

And meantime, if anyone else wants to chime in, please do!!

Thanks again.

P.S. There is another place called Hotel Bellaria a bit outside of the town. Also are offering great rooms at very very low prices. Anyone been there?

From what you have posted so far I would not think the Bellaria would be at the top of your list. It doesn't seem like you will want to walk to town (its quite a hike up the hill), and I would think driving in would not be what you were looking for. We found parking to be hard to come by the first week of June.
I don't really know where it is and have no idea what it is like though. I would think the views from the other 2 in town would be just as great.
And I really am enjoying reading everyones input, as I would like to go back next year. Take all the time deciding that you want!
-Katie

katieb - where did you stay last year and how was it?

Flame-
We stayed at dependence Anna, I am the one who went on and on about how much we loved it! No view though, just the street below (which I happened to love).
-Katie

That's right katieb. I had forgotten, sorry. You stayed in the apartment if I remember correctly. We have the possibility of a single and a double room. I gather you had not seen any of those right?

No, we stayed in a double. I thought they offered you the apartment on the first floor? With a kitchenette? We just had a room, no kitchen.
-Katie

Yes, at first they did but since we are three people, a couple and a single, we preferred a double room and a single room. This is what they are now offering. So you were in a double and you loved it. OK. Good info. Did you happen to see the single room?

Just a peek-it looked exactly the same.
-Katie

Oh thanks!!! Does that mean it was the same size as the double?