San Gimignano Hotel
Sep 18th, 2008, 03:36 AM
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San Gimignano Hotel
In one of the thousand iterations for our May 09 Italian Vacation we would spend a single night in San Gimignano (coming from Pienza and going to Vernazza afterwards).
I have looked at the Hotel Pescille which looks absolutely great (and has the right rate) but it is outside town and does not have a restaurant. We would still need to drive into town for dinner so I am thinking that it is better to just stay in town. Is there something wrong with my logic here?
So...I have been looking at a few hotels: La Cisterna, Bel Soggiorno, L'antico Pozzo, etc. They seem to be rather equivalent in services and rates. Anyone wants to recommend one vs the other? Why?
I have looked at the Hotel Pescille which looks absolutely great (and has the right rate) but it is outside town and does not have a restaurant. We would still need to drive into town for dinner so I am thinking that it is better to just stay in town. Is there something wrong with my logic here?
So...I have been looking at a few hotels: La Cisterna, Bel Soggiorno, L'antico Pozzo, etc. They seem to be rather equivalent in services and rates. Anyone wants to recommend one vs the other? Why?
Sep 18th, 2008, 08:25 AM
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mari:
for the "minor inconvenience", just for one night, I would opt for the Pescille...the views of the SG towers in the distance are magnificent. Ask for the Tower Room, which is a two story room in the bell tower...(same rate)it's a fun place to stay, with 360-degree views of the suroounding vineyards and the above mentioned towers of SG (a mini-Manhattan-like skyline).
Breakfasts at Pescille are good, and if its warm, their outdoor pool is very welcome.
Since it was getting short-time,I called for reservations a few years ago based on recommendations from friends who stayed in that room.
The person who answered the phone was in a state of disbelief...when he said.."Yes, Mr. Tower, the Tower room is available"..and when we arrived that next month, the same person announced.."Mr. and Mrs. Tower, the Tower room is ready for you". Quite a scene, making us to appear to be VIP's.
stu
for the "minor inconvenience", just for one night, I would opt for the Pescille...the views of the SG towers in the distance are magnificent. Ask for the Tower Room, which is a two story room in the bell tower...(same rate)it's a fun place to stay, with 360-degree views of the suroounding vineyards and the above mentioned towers of SG (a mini-Manhattan-like skyline).
Breakfasts at Pescille are good, and if its warm, their outdoor pool is very welcome.
Since it was getting short-time,I called for reservations a few years ago based on recommendations from friends who stayed in that room.
The person who answered the phone was in a state of disbelief...when he said.."Yes, Mr. Tower, the Tower room is available"..and when we arrived that next month, the same person announced.."Mr. and Mrs. Tower, the Tower room is ready for you". Quite a scene, making us to appear to be VIP's.
stu
Sep 18th, 2008, 08:30 AM
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You may want to see if there's any recent reviews of these hotels on www.tripadvisor.com. My family and I stayed at L'antico Pozzo way back in 2000. We have an "L" shaped triple room and it was beautiful and large. It was on the main street (San Mateo?) and just down the ways from the main piazza. They allow you do drive to the door to drop off your bags, then you must go back to the main parking.
Sep 18th, 2008, 11:30 AM
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Thanks!
I am still debating wether to stay in town or out.... too many options.
How 'difficult' is it go into town for dinner. I would assume that the day trippers would be gone and parking would not be an issue. I still would have to park outside the wall and walk into town, right?
I am still debating wether to stay in town or out.... too many options.
How 'difficult' is it go into town for dinner. I would assume that the day trippers would be gone and parking would not be an issue. I still would have to park outside the wall and walk into town, right?
Sep 18th, 2008, 12:58 PM
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You cannot park inside the city walls. If I remember correctly, there is a steep main road that is one-way (this may have changed), and at the top and bottom are traffic lights so you know when it is clear to go up or down. You must park in the lot and walk into the city. I liked staying there overnight, especially when the crowds leave you really have the city to yourself it seems. Don't forget to climb the highest bell tower (a few euros) to get an incredible view of the beautiful rolling Tuscan landscape. While we were up there, in the early morning, the fog rolled in and eventually we could see nothing but white.
Sep 18th, 2008, 03:06 PM
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We've stayed at (goodness) Hotel Pescille, La Cisterna and Bel Soggiorno (owned by the same people as Pescille, BTW).
Pescille was peaceful and quiet, with lovely views, but DH and I prefer being in town.
The biggest factor re driving home from dinner, on dark, windy Tuscan roads, is the wine with dinner. Italians are very strict about drinking and driving, and even though the distance is short, I'd just rather walk home from dinner.
Parking outside the town walls in the evening, you're correct, should be no problem at all.
The morning views over the countryside from La Cisterna and Bel Soggiorno were wonderful. So were my morning runs on the path that runs outside the walls around San G. (you can walk them too, of course).
Whatever your choice is, enjoy!
Pescille was peaceful and quiet, with lovely views, but DH and I prefer being in town.
The biggest factor re driving home from dinner, on dark, windy Tuscan roads, is the wine with dinner. Italians are very strict about drinking and driving, and even though the distance is short, I'd just rather walk home from dinner.
Parking outside the town walls in the evening, you're correct, should be no problem at all.
The morning views over the countryside from La Cisterna and Bel Soggiorno were wonderful. So were my morning runs on the path that runs outside the walls around San G. (you can walk them too, of course).
Whatever your choice is, enjoy!
Sep 18th, 2008, 05:16 PM
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Stayed at Bel Soggiomo for 3 nights in May and was very pleased----a lovely room with a gorgeous view over the valley. If you stay there. be sure to get that view since it is so special. Had dinner at La Cisterna and enjoyed it a lot.
Like you, wanted to be in town. I would make this same choice.
Kathy
Like you, wanted to be in town. I would make this same choice.
Kathy
Sep 19th, 2008, 02:49 AM
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Thanks againg for the replies! The good thing about this type of dilema is that one cannot really go wrong 
...yes, the -hum- wine situation might have something to do with my wanting to stay in town
OTOH, right before we will stayin in-town in Pienza and after San Gim we are ditching the car in Pisa, so restraint for one night is not going to kill us...
...yes, the -hum- wine situation might have something to do with my wanting to stay in town
OTOH, right before we will stayin in-town in Pienza and after San Gim we are ditching the car in Pisa, so restraint for one night is not going to kill us...
Sep 19th, 2008, 08:11 AM
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We spent a night at the Bel Soggiorno and got one of the 3 rooms on a terrace. In the afternoon, while the town crawled with tourists, we picnicked and read on the terrace with a fabulous view of the town walls, the valley and vinyards. Then we went out in the evening and early morning.
