Tuscany rental recommendations
 

Hello,
My husband and I are thinking about spending a week in Tuscany this coming May/June.

We'd like to rent a villa (or part thereof) or similar property and are overwhelmed at the number of websites offering properties to rent in the area. It's hard to know where to start!

Does anyone have any recommendations for particular properties or rental companies/websites that they've been impressed with? I thought it would be nice to get a few personal recommendations to give us a bit of guidance.

Just for info, we don't mind which part of Tuscany and are mainly hoping for a week of relaxation and very low-key sightseeing. We'd like access to a pool and a terrace for eating outdoors (Rental budget - up to 700 euros per week). We'd be driving there from Belgium so will have a car.

Any/all recommendations welcome! :)

we are renting one in june and was told by a travel agent to not plan on sidetrips because the roads to the villas were so steep that we would not want to drive them. (i have also heard that this was greatly exaggerated) so,you might want to check the road status.

We've rented several places in Tuscany and Umbria and, yes, the roads to get there were often steep. We found that it was just a bit daunting the first time you drive there (best to do it during the daylight), but then it really wasn't a big deal. I can't imagine any travel agent seriously telling you not to take sidetrips from where you are staying in Tuscany. We've had a lot of success with vrbo.com, but usually do ask for some references before we book.

We spent a heavenly honeymoon at Politian Apartments in Montepulciano last June. Giacomo, the owner, has two apartments for rent, each a 2-bedroom. The apartments are beautiful, and very reasonably priced.

Though we mostly spent our week in the town of Montepulciano, it is a great base for touring other areas as well.

I did a trip report of the apartments on Fodors and SlowTrav, and you can also check out the website at www.politian.com.

Enjoy! :)

Slowtrav.com has lots of recommendations for the type of property you are seeking. Plan on spending some time at the website. We were happy using intuscany.com as an agency last spring.

Not all properties are on steep roads by a long shot. Driving in Tuscany is not difficult. I'd guess that P Texas' agent has never been there.

My friend has used the Parker Company several times and based on his experience will be using them as well.

Check out - http://www.montefili.it/ and say hi to Roberto
if you want to be in Chianti. Or If you want a wilder experience, in Barga at look at http://apartmentvacationsitaly.com and say hi to Kerry from the Roses. Both wonderful places to stay. Chianti is a bit overtouristed but if you have never been there its fun. Barga is gorgeous and is where the real Italians live- you won't run into lots of tourists.

I've done a lot of work with the people who own and run www.florencevillas.com

They have properties all over Tuscany, and they are great to work with.

I have no interest in this company, but you can tell Meaghan (the owner with her husband) that Debbie from the newsletter sent you.

I've stayed in some of their rentals, and they were all excellent: roomy, clean, nicely furnished and located, and more.

If you find a property you like through Parker, Google it. You may be able to find it for less with another agency. Parker is pricey. Some villa owners use more than one agency to market their property, sometimes even under different villa names. Heads up.

Castello di Montegufoni is something a bit different. It is a 12th.Century Castle that has been converted into apartments with adjacent villas by the Posarelli family www.posarelli.it. It's location is on the old via Cassia just 20ks. south of Florence so you have no winding roads to negotiate.The via Cassia is now a very quiet road mainly used by tourists and locals,anyway the castle is just up from the road. It has 2 swimming pools, an outdoor dining area and a terrace for prosecco and limoncello! The views are also pretty spectacular. We have stayed there several times as it is very convenient to Florence, Siena, and the wonderful Chianti region. Guido Posarelli is manager of the Castle and is a most accomodating host.

Try Casale Le Masse in Greve in Chianti. The owners name is Elisabeta. This is a stunning and very inexpensive agriturismo located on a vineyard with a five minute walk to town, parking for your car, and a great base to visit vineyards in the Chianti region, Sienna, Montepulciano, Montalcino.. the list goes on.

And by the way, if you are comfortable with stick shifts and pay attention when youre driving, the roads are fine. Compared to driving in Greece, this was a breeze. However, I would not want to drive at night after visiting a vineyard!

Downunder, do you remember what quarters (rooms) you had at Castello di Montegufoni? I am staying there May 6-13th for a conference but they are not assigning rooms until March 1st and I'm 2nd on the list. Can't wait. It sounds so great!

see www.slowtrav.com
we used "la bella toscana" and were very pleased. Had trouble with rental car and went to their office in Colle val d'est(sp?) and they were extremely helpful in calling AutoEurope and negotiating in Italian for our benefit. We rented "Il Carro"...check out their rentals.

We have stayed in Montegufoni 7, 13 & 23. Montegufoni 7 is our favourite as it has wonderful views (although most of the apartments have great views) and is easily acessed from the main salon. I'm sure you will love the place. The staff are very friendly and ask Cosimo Posarelli who I think is now there more often than Guido, to show you the Castle Chapel complete with relic!
The Olive Oil from the estate is excellent and the Lemon Orchard is one of the oldest in Italy. There are many good restaurants nearby including La Tenda Rosa at Cerbaia, a Michelin star place that is excellent, but expensive! The restaurant in the small town near the Castle is also very good for steak Fiorentina.
The Castle was once owned by the English aristocratic family of Sitwells, who entertained Princess Margaret etc.

HANL:

I can highly recommend the Sant'Antonio country resort which is right near Montepulciano, which for me is the most delightful part of Tuscany (Val d'Orcia).

Just got back from a week there in October. The pool is kind of small but the I think the place fits your requirements. It's apartments, not a villa but it's very nice and the price is right.

Here's the URL of Sant' Antonio:
http://www.santantonio.it/

And here's the URL of my web page on this last trip to Tuscany:
http://www.travel.stv77.com/tuscany2005/tuscany05.htm

My husband and I stayed @ Locanda del Amorosa. It was near Sienna and it is to die for. Check their website and you will see what I mean. It has it's own vineyard and chapel and the food in their very own restaraunt is amazing. What a lovely intimate place. Great place for a wedding or honeymoon.

Wow, thanks for all your replies! :)
I'm going to start checking out all of your recommendations right away. (I love holiday planning, especially on a cold, grey January day ;)).

By the way, we have no qualms about driving on winding, hilly roads. We used to live in Lyon and would often drive up into the nearby Alps or Beaujolais hills.
And a couple of years ago we stayed in a property in a tiny hilltop village just outside Nice - we had to navigate 18 hairpin bends just to get up to the village! Not to mention the extremely narrow, walled, Medieval streets of the village itself...

Thanks Downunder! Sounds like a dream, lemon orchards, olive oil, great steaks, ... give me a glass of wine and it's perfect. We won't have a car there since we're in seminars till 5pm. Are the restaurants far? Thanks again.

Sorry to bust in on your post hanl. Hope you have a wonderful trip too!

The Castle has it's own restaurant and trattoria, otherwise the closest (for Fiorentina steak) is at Montagana 1km. and walking distance, Cernobio (restaurants) is about 2ks. and walking distance, Cerbaia is about 4 ks. and Montespertoli is also about 4ks. Believe me you won't go hungry!

Oops! I don't know where I got Cernobio from (Ithink it is on Lake Como, a bit of a walk) I really meant Baccaiano about 2 kms. away and walking distance. Anyway have a great time Lauricelli as the Val di Pesa is a wonderful part of the world.