traveler04

We have 10 adults renting a villa in Tuscany. Any suggestions for where to stay? Any specific experiences with a villa you've been happy with?
Thanks!

Dick

The best place to start is www.slow.trav.com

You wil find an abundance of info about villa rental agents and vill a rentals in general.

Betsy

Check out Villa nell'Oliveto at www.intuscany.com, then go to www.slowtrav.com and read the reviews for this property.

grandmere

For what it's worth: friends whose opinion I value are renting 2 apartments at the Lazy Olive. www.thelazyolive.com

rex

A question like this begins and ends with how well the adults know each other, and specifically, how many double rooms (i.e., as in... for couples) and how many bathrooms (especially, how many <i>private</i bathrooms are wanted - - and then, last of course, what budget.

There are dozens of villas which will sleep ten comfortably. But you will find that over half of them are intended for two grandparents, two parents, and six kids - - in dorm-style twin beds and/or pull-out couches in scattered locations.

Five couples that want to be &quot;put up&quot; in accommodations that are reasonably on par, one to the other (and still some one or two couples will get the nicer rooms) - - will often need to look for those really high end properties that are capable of sleeping 14, 16 or more.

We were happy with a villa in
Ambra (midway between Arezzo and Siena), for example, in 1998 - - with one couple, one single adult, and 11 teenagers - - it was less than $30 per night per person - - though it was rather remote from much of what we wanted to see, and it would have been a bad &quot;fit&quot; for five couples.

Best wishes,

Rex

elisabet

Try anfamtos.com for a site that has several properties. As part of a group of 15 women, I stayed at one of the Sarteano villas and loved it. Our group rented 2 buildings. I think slowtrav.com has a review.
Good luck!

bobthenavigator

As mentioned, start with slowtrav.com and read reviews. Set your location criteria first--then price--then features--then location. Do you want self catering? I would prefer within 30 miles of Siena. Good luck !

rex

I do not entirely agree with setting location first - - and I say that as someone who has rented often - - and as aforementioned at least once I chose a location that was less than stellar.

I guess it goes without saying that unacceptable accomodations (too few bedrooms, for example) in a perfect location is still a big imperfection.

For two adults, four adults, or a modest sized family, then true enough - - why not focus on location. But ten adults is a specialized need, and all of Italy is a good location compared to where you're coming from (most likely)!

traveler04

We would like to stay within an easy drive to Florence...possibly Siena? We want to be within a 5 minute drive to a grocery store/market and a couple good restaurants.

traveler04

Also, the 10 adults are 5 couples.

rex

And budget? It might be worth having a company help you in your search.

I can cite good experience with

www.regencyintapts.com
www.domani-usa.com

and

www.rentvillas.com

And for the Cadillac of higher-end listings, there is www.theparkercompany.com (I have never rented from them).

But as others have said, spend an hour (or a dozen) on slowtrav.com and you will learn a lot about what you can get and what price ranges to expect.

traveler04

Thank you. Is Arezzo a good place to base ourselves? Any good restaurants in that area?

rex

I have never actually been in Arezzo, even though it was only about 35 miles away from the villa where we stayed. I think others might advise you to stay further west.

But based on my limited familiarity with Tuscany, I would point out that it is a rich and diverse tapestry, and different parts will provide you different experiences. Safe to say - - a haven/retreat - - like Locanda Amorosa (Sinalunga) is not Florence is not &quot;Chianti-shire&quot; is not some of the truly isolated and bucolic getaway <i><b>really rural</b></i> areas.

If you are one of the five couples, you are (good for you) taking on potentially, a very big decision that involves a not-trivial expense and will play a significant part in how all of you enjoy your week there. I recommend a crash course in reading about the dozen different faces of Tuscany, and ASAP draw up a list of candidate properties - - to share with the other travelers. When is this trip proposed? This (the next 4-6 weeks) is <i><b>prime</b></i> booking season for the first 6-8 months of the year (in fact, some of the best places will already be taken for popular weeks; hope yours isn't one of them).

highledge

great idea on putting together a list of potential towns/areas for the group to looks at- and then rate 1-5. Top vote getter wins or top two get voted on.....

I rented a house near Sorrento for a group and was very worried that people would be unhappy with the choice!

Spend a lot of time googling villa in italy/tuscany/florence... and look at the different options. Many places will be listed with multiple agencies as well.
Then just jump in and hope for the best!!

traveler04

Where in tuscany is the best place4 to stay? Looking for access to great restaurants/grocery, great wine... Siena, Chianti, Florence area, Montepluciano... not quite sure where the best place to go would be.

Traveler863

I totally agree with Rex, pick the accomodation...for a large group you tend to have to do that vs. subpar accomo nearer to your location....which is not far within that area, nothing is far. Go with best accomodation. For villas the most numerous of any rental company that serves that area is Cuendet, do check them before booking anything else.

bobthenavigator

Get a good map of Siena province--at least a 200k to 1 detail. Then, put pins in the map for places you want to see. Then spend 2 hours at slowtrav.com looking at reviews of places in that area. And, above all, compromise all of your standards and merely settle for any dump in that area---LOL. There are many wonderful places to meet all of your standards. Just do not jump at the first one you like and not consider your effective driving radius to enjoy the Tuscany you envision. I have seen too many fixate on properties and then regret their choice later. I would draw a 30 mile circle around Siena which will include the best of Tuscany.

rex

I'm sorry, bob... have you actually traveled with a number of couples, sharing dissimilar accomodations in a self-catering property?

I have.

Ignoring who gets the &quot;real&quot; <i><b>matrimonial</b></i> bedroom(s) with the en suite bathroom(s) - - and who gets the bunk beds in the attic, with the need to intrude on &quot;someone else's&quot; bathroom, down one floor - - is not something I can recommend, to the <i><b>planner</b></i>.

bobthenavigator

Of course, but any area will have a wide range of good choices that will closely match their criteria. Why pick a place near Arezzo or Lucca and then realize--too late---that you will spend all of your time driving to the places you really dreamed about. I have seen it too many times.

rex

&lt;&lt;any area will have a wide range of good choices that will closely match their criteria&gt;&gt;

I guess this is where we disagree. The number will be a very small fraction of the total in all of Tuscany - - and those that ARE a good match will offer a wide range of features - - and <i><b>price</b></i>.