10 friends will be celebrating our 50th birthdays Summer 2008. We'd like to rent a villa together in Tuscany. Some desires: cook, maid, proximity to vineyards, bicycling, and charming small towns. Some people want to lounge around a pool all day, so a pool would be a plus, but most of us want activities. We're thinking about a 1-week stay.

Any suggestions of villas, or any recommendations of resources for finding villas?

Thanks.

I know you specified Tuscany and villa, but Locanda Solomeo in Umbria is not only beautiful but can accommodate ten and does have a pool. But more importantly, the location is charming and the service at every level is simply outstanding and you can easily take day trips to many towns, including Florence, Assist, Siena, Orvieto, Perugia and so forth.

Just an option.

Spend time at www.slowtrav.com for all things about rentals in Tuscany.

how up-market do you want? if you are looking for luxury
i love the the villas at
http://www.castellodicasole.com/defaultHTM.php
owners will rent
btw,
i turn 50 next year! awesome idea!

Here is suggestion:
http://www.tuscanweb.com/property/?ID=4474

Hope it helps.

We have used and have been pleased with villas we have rented through villeinitalia.com. They have a good section of villas all over Italy, including Tuscany.

Also try Tuscan Enterprises (www.tuscanenterprise.net). They're local and I have some friends that have been very pleased with them in the past.

Hi Nognig,
let me suggest this amazing villa close to Florence. It has all you mentioned in your post. Take a look to its website http://www.villaluciano.com