Slow Europe: Vacation Rental Reviews

Agriturismo Poggio Etrusco (Italy), reviewed by fugifilm

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:27:00 -0500

Rating: 5/5. A very good place to stay while exploring Tuscany. Unique B&B with private appartments, swimming pool, on a working vineyard/Olive orchard. A place where you loose track of time while sitting outside, sipping wine and surveying the contryside.

Welhome (Italy), reviewed by RBlack

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:21:09 -0500

Rating: 5/5. A beautifully self-contained, well-equipped Cottage, with great privacy and our own pool outside our door. Just 10 minutes walk from the Village Center. The owner is a charming women, who is very helpful with questions as to where the Railway Station is, and also the stores. Very scenic views from the Cottage cross the Lake. My wife and I enjoyed a very happy time at the Cottage and hope to visit there again in the future.
R Black, Manchester Connecticut

Welhome (Italy), reviewed by bendukes

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:26:08 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Needless to say we were extremely happy in the Cottage and the surroundings were delightful. The Landlady was charming as well! Hard to believe that it is all over, as always is the case when you have had such a lovely time.
Ben & Carol, Massachussets

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by OlegK

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:55:03 -0500

Rating: 5/5. This was my second villa using Martin's company, and he gave us exceptional service once again. Villa Flavia is an incredible Tuscan estate between Siena and Florence, perfectly situated and beautifully landscaped. Planning on more Tuscan villa rentals in the coming years, and Martin will be my first phone call.

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by dadams

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:17:41 -0500

Rating: 5/5. A group of seven friends spent a week in Solaria in September 2008, and we couldn�t have been happier. The villa is spacious and pleasant, on a hilltop with a balcony looking out over the surrounding farms, vineyards and, on the horizon, towers of Siena. This proved to be the perfect spot to enjoy a brilliant sunset after a day of hill towns or hikes. Though the weather was getting cool by September, we also made use of the swimming pool below the balcony, which was not due to close till the end of the month.

The house is beautifully appointed and comfortably laid out, with minimal stairs, unless the group uses the bedroom/bath on the top floor. We occupied all four available bedrooms and were happy to have a separate, though not en-suite, bathroom for each of those on the mezzanine floor. The dining room accommodated us with room to spare, and the one home-cooked meal we opted for�which turned out to be prepared by our charming and vivacious hostess�was so plentiful that we enjoyed leftovers a couple of evenings later. Our own meal preparations were limited to breakfasts, and the kitchen, while not spacious, was more than adequate for the purpose.

Martin was very helpful not only in selecting the property but also with information and tips about the region. For example, thanks to him, we found our way to a car park on the outskirts of Florence, thus avoiding the discomfort of driving in town. Settling into a special place for a week or two is a great way to visit Italy, and we will be back to IVV and Martin the next time we�re ready for that treat.

CraigsList - Italy (Italy), reviewed by waywardlife

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:26:38 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I have used Craigslist a few times in Europe now. I rented a room in Florence for two weeks, just outside of the town center. My roommates were very nice and even made a dinner when I arrived. I think that c-list is becoming more popular, especially with locals who have friends in the USA.

Craigslist is host to many scams though, so be careful. Your intuition should take care of any problems. You'll just find people who want you to wire money or are "out of the country" and can't show you the place, but will ask you to commit. Don't let this put you off though, there are some good deals to be had. NEVER send money in advance of your arrival and make sure a deposit is agreed upon in advance.

Sant'Antonio (Italy), reviewed by Sheena

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:46:34 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I sometimes wonder whether the fact that Sant'Antonio began its life as a monastery is the reason it conveys such a wonderful sense of serenity.

We have stayed at Sant'Antonio several times, and have either stayed in or visited just about all of the apartments. Conversion of the monastery to apartments in a manner that retained the historical architecture of the buildings has resulted in thirteen apartments of different shapes and sizes, each having its own charming characteristics. The similarities are found in the cleanliness and quality of furnishings and fixtures in each apartment.

Each apartment has a comfortable sitting area complete with satellite TV. Most apartments have a wood burning fireplace with an endless supply of wood provided. Kitchens have a four burner stove top (no oven), a full sized fridge/freezer, and electric kettle and toaster plus just about every cooking utensil we have ever needed to produce full meals. There are complete sets of good quality china, glassware and cutlery and a reasonable selection of serving dishes. Garbage is removed daily. Wine, soft drinks, beer and water are replenished as needed, the cost of which (very reasonable) is added to your final bill.

Bedrooms have orthopedic beds, night tables with reading lamps, a chest of drawers and closet hanging space. Fully tiled bathrooms are equipped with hair dryers and sufficient storage space for your toiletries. Water pressure is good, and the water is hot. Towels and bed linen are of high quality and are changed mid week which we really appreciate. Extra pillows and quilts/blankets are found in each apartment.

Each apartment has its own outdoor patio or garden area furnished with a table and chairs in addition to a number of communal terraces with brick BBQs and larger tables for group meals. The swimming pool is at the highest point of the property, resulting in stunning views to Mt Amiata or across the valley to Lake Trasimeno. There are loungers, tables and sun umbrellas at the pool as well as dotted around the extensive grounds.

There are computers with high speed internet access available to guests for a small weekly fee in the converted stable.

Of course all of the above, to some level, can be found at many apartment rentals in Italy. What sets Sant'Antonio apart is the owner. Nico's energy, enthusiasm and determination to exceed the expectations of every guest transforms a wonderful vacation into something magical. Nico becomes a very dear friend to the many returning guests at Sant'Antonio, and of course the reason so many do return year after year.

Sant'Antonio is well situated for visiting the Val d'Orcia, Pienza, Montalcino, San Quirico, Chuisi, Bagno Vignoni and the Abbeys of Monte Oliveto Maggiore and Saint Antimo.

Closer to home, Montepulciano itself has a number of excellent restaurants, a couple of grocery stores, pharmacy, and a Laundromat. On Thursday mornings there is a typical market with everything from farm fresh veggies to shoes and the customary porcetta van!

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by lemonsquare

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:38:24 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We had a marvelous time at Agresto. Siena, of course, is a spectacular destination, and we have stayed in a variety of accommodations in the vicinity in the past. Agresto is hands down the loveliest. Its position on a hillside a couple miles outside the center is quiet and secluded. The views on all sides are breathtaking, one of which being the skyline of Siena itself, its 13th century tower jutting into the sky. The little house itself is gorgeous, rustic charm incarnate. The two bedrooms are spacious and well-appointed, the sitting room comfortable with about 100 satellite TV channels in all languages. The kitchen is small but perfectly adequate and there is a washing machine in a little shed outside the back door. We were traveling with my elderly parents and they had no trouble with the small number of steps to the downstairs bedroom but clearly this property is not suitable for disabled clients or those with tiny children.
Apparently a bus runs close by so you could get into town or further afield that way, but we had a rental car, which I highly recommend for Tuscany as you will want to get out an explore all those little hill towns.
Dealing with Italian Vacation Villas was pleasant and Alice was helpful. The local staff was available if needed but unobtrusive otherwise. I would certainly book through them again and will absolutely stay in Agresto the next time I have a week in Tuscany.

Bavarian Forest Holidays (Germany), reviewed by Suzanne

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:51:30 -0500

Rating: 5/5. My husband and I along with two other couples spent several nights in Bayerisch Eisenstein and were thankful that we located Bavarian Forest Holidays for our lodging. Haus Peter Regen was very clean and the attention to detail of the hosts, Margaret and Martin was unbelievable. The information on things to do complete with driving instructions and areas of interest was referenced daily.
Their additional caretaker, Ulrika, was a dream to work with and so pleasant.
We stayed in the main floor apartment of Haus Peter and each couple had our own bedroom and attached bathroom. There was another group of six who were renting the apartment above us and we were so amazed that we never heard them at all.
The 'guest shop' was such a nice touch as we could sample beers of the region via the honor system and leave our Euros for what we purchased rather than having to venture into the nearby town.
Bayerisch Eisenstein was a quaint village with about 1400 inhabitants so it was easily accessible on foot. My husband is an avid geocacher so he was able to explore the area via the trail systems.
We drove into the Czech Republic to the village of Cesky Krumlow and Pilz on two separate days and enjoyed exploring those areas as well.
We highly recommend the Bavarian Forest Holidays and do hope to make it out to this area again in the not too distant future.

Rentvillas.com (France, Italy, Spain), reviewed by MikeP

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:58:19 -0500

Rating: 5/5. The property is excellent... Perfectly situated for day trips, or just quick trips to the small towns in the area. Buildings are excellently maintained and comfortable luxury is provided in every room. The property manager was efficient, helpful, and extremely responsive. The rental process through RentVillas was easy, efficient, and professional. The amenities on the property were excellent, The pool, the tennis court and the gardens were wonderful. We had a group of 17 and had room to spare. Highly recommend using the chef during your stay.

The Luberon (France), reviewed by TracyH

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:31:56 -0500

Rating: 4/5. We just returned from a wonderful stay at the Zen House. The cottage is on the property of a larger private home in the Luberon, only 4 km from the village of Gordes. The location was well situated for easy visits to all of the top Luberon villages, and withing easy driving distance of Avignon and Arles. We made day trips to Vaison-la-Romaine and Aix-en-Provence as well, the former taking the longest time due to rush hour traffic.

The cottage is of new construction, but was built to fit in with the syles of the area: local stone, tile and wood floors, beamed ceilings, etc. It featured a gorgeous gravel terrace with views over the valley. We could see the villages of Bonnieux and Lacoste (at least we think those are the right ones!) from the terrace. There were two good sized bedrooms with queen beds. The bedding was all very comfortable: cozy foam mattresses, good quality linens and very comfortable pillows. The furnishings were lovely and very French. The bedrooms are air conditioned, but we had no need to turn them on as the weather was perfect.

The property is absolutely gorgeous and extremely well landscaped. The owners have impeccable taste. There is a nice pool with wonderful views of Roussillon. Luckily, the owners had not shut down the pool for the season, since the temps were still very comfortable for swimming. I will say that the pool area seemed a tad neglected. The pool was certainly clean enough, but much of the furniture was in a state is disrepair. We didn't mind, though, since we did not spend any time lazing poolside.

There was a small, but attractive kitchen with a gas cooktop and electric range, dishwasher and full size fridge. There was also a washing machine and espresso maker available to use (though it was in the pantry and would have used too much counter space) as well as a French press. There were good quality pots and pans, ample cutlery and dishes, etc. The bathrooms featured tiled showers and slate floors, but no tubs.

We arranged the rental through Paolo di Paolis of The Luberon, and had no contact with the owner directly. Paolo was very responsive and helpful. We were greeted on our arrival by the housekeeper of the main house, Madame Morello. She was a delightful and enthusiastic woman who spoke no English, but somehow, we succeeded in communicating with her well enough in our limited French.

We thought the rate for the rental was quite reasonable. Though we have no serious complaints, we did have a few items on our wish list. Firstly, it would be nice for the owners to provide a clothes line, since the washer is not a "combo" unit. I would have liked to have found a hair dryer - I hate having to tote my own from home. Since there is no ice maker, it would have been nice to find ice cube trays in the freezer, but they were cheap enough at the brand new Super U in Castellet (about 3 km away) Lastly, though I imagine fires are a major concern in the area, a grill for cooking would have been very much appreciated. That said, it seems the oven has never been used, so perhaps my husband is one of the few who truly enjoys cooking when we travel.

The one issue I had concerns about was that the owner required the remaining balance of the rental be paid in cash on arrival, plus the 500 euro security/damage deposit in either cash or EU travelers checks. We don't typically like to take that much cash over, and have always paid the balance by wire prior to arrival. It was a minor inconvenience in the end.

I would definitely stay here again as the location and privacy were perfect. The owners were away for the week, so we had completely seclusion, except for the resident chien et chat who kept us company every evening as we regaled in the views.

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by RobynHerselman

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:36:01 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I'm a South African living in Bermuda with a passion for Italy. I rented this absolutely adorable medieval stone apartment in the gorgeous village of Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany, for the entire month of May 2009. Alice Tetelman was an excellent resource and provided absolute support for the trip, by answering all of my travel questions and also providing required visa letters etc.

This beautifully furnished rental include 3 bedrooms, a kitchen with washer, dining room, living room, 1.5 bathrooms, a cute garden and a barbeque.

The pictures do not portray the beauty and quaintness of the place - from the babbling brook right outside your front door, to the women of the village hanging their washing out on the lines religiously each morning, to becoming very good friends with the butcher who doesn't speak any English, to waking up from an afternoon siesta to the clanging of the church bells every day at 4:30pm, to the delicious Chianti Classico - I could go on forever.

This is a great rental if you are looking to stay in a town where you can just "feel" the Italian way of living and be within walking distance to grocery stores, butcher, cafes and some of the best restaurants ever. This little village is not touristy, and there is no English spoken, so be prepared for a wonderful adventure and to speak a few words of Italian. It is also an excellent central venue for day trips to Florence, Siena, Radda in Chiani, Castellina in Chianti, Greve, Cortona, Orvieto, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Castello del Lago and so much more.

For trips further away, drive 20 mins to Montevarchi, park the car and take the train to Florence/Rome/Venice.

For excellent events, you have to go to Panzano (about 20 mins drive) for a fantastic meal experience at Dario Cecchini's restaurant, Solociccia. And for excellent wine tasting tours and cooking classes (with English-speaking guide and they'll pick you up from Renaiola) call Simonetta and Paola de'Mari at Toscana Mia. For walking distance restaurants don't leave out Carloni, it is 2 mins walk and the food and wine is brilliant. And ask the butcher for some "piquante salsiccia" and the cheeseman for some "pecorino fresca" (cured spicy sausage and fresh sheep's milk cheese) and enjoy it with some Tuscan break and EV olive oil.

There are just so many good things to say about the place but I'll leave you with the fact that I'll definitely be returning.

La Mucchia (Italy), reviewed by crebeccaw

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:30:44 -0500

Rating: 5/5. My husband, 2 teens, my daughter and her fiance all stayed at La Mucchia this past summer for 2 weeks. It was a wonderful place and we didn't want to leave! The restored farmhouse is right outside of Cortona and was a perfect base for exploring Tuscany and Umbria. The house was so comfortable and had the charm of history, but all the modern conveniences. Modern bathrooms, comfortable beds, and all the sports channels my 17 year old son could want! The absolute BEST part of staying at La Mucchia were the owner's Uri and Quiren. Anytime we had questions they were always there to help us get around and introduce us to all the wonderful places to eat in the area. They were warm and welcoming and made our stay there very special. We have told all our friends about La Mucchia and my husband is already planning on when we are going back!

Ferienwohnungen Schuster (Germany), reviewed by Kathy

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:32:33 -0500

Rating: 4/5. We rented the larger apartment. The Shuster family lives downstairs. Located on the edge of the village, this was a very comfortable and economical rental.

Apartments Kuen (Germany), reviewed by Kathy

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:25:26 -0500

Rating: 4/5. We rented through Erika's agency and would definitely rent from her again. She was efficient and helpful in our e-mail communications, and we were able to send a deposit check in U.S. dollars. The apartment we rented was very much as presented on Erika's website (but it is no longer available). We would have been happy in many of Erika's apartments.

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by SandyM

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:38:22 -0500

Rating: 5/5. A winning silent auction bid at a fundraiser led our group of four adult travelers to Siena and Villa Agresto courtesy of Italian Vacation Villas. Martin of IVV provided invaluable travel information and tips and offered advice on other locations as we travelled through Italy. His guidance made us feel as if we were seasoned Tuscan travellers.
Agresto was everything we wanted and more -- stylish, comfortable, and Italian Country. It was a perfect base for travel throughout Tuscany: Florence was an hour away by car, and we took one day to visit many quaint towns to the south. Siena was only ten minutes away. The house, nestled in an olive grove, had plenty of space for four adults and was well equipped. Staff at the property were ready with answers to all our questions. Each morning we enjoyed magnificent views as we took our coffee on the terrace. A great way to start the day. This property is definitely recommended by our group.

Well Farm Cottages (England), reviewed by Pauline

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:54:19 -0500

Rating: 4/5. We spent May 2000 in Plough Cottage on Well Farm. There are three cottages close together, but each has private outdoor spaces. Plough is 1bed/1bath with beautiful views across the Painswick valley. You can walk on footpaths to Painswick (steep downhill) where there are a few pubs, restaurants and a small shop. It is a short drive to Stroud, with good shopping (Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose). The cottages have Internet access (broadband).

The cottage is on a narrow country lane that can freak out new American drivers (only wide enough for one car, but it is a two-way lane) but you get used to it quickly. The owners live onsite and are on hand for questions and advice.

We enjoyed our stay here. There are several footpaths you can take right from the cottage, or drive to some of the other excellent walking in this area.

The only downsides are that the bed is a double (not a queen) and is upstairs, while the bathroom is downstairs.

The furnishings are all very good quality. You can book by the night or week.

Note that these cottages are also represented by Stately Holiday Cottages and were previously represented by Rural Retreats (2009 and earlier).

Bavarian Forest Holidays (Germany), reviewed by rowlandrebele

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:37:23 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Bavarian Forest Holidays in Bayerisch-Eisenstein, a lovely town in Bavaria on the Czech Republic border in the largest National Forest between the Atlantic and the Ural Mountains, operated by Margaret Leach and Martin Holborow, truly represents one of the finest holidays we have ever enjoyed.

Ms. Leach and Mr. Holborow have thought of everything: the accommodations (we stayed in a one-bedroom apartment at one of their three houses, Haus Martin Wald) were superb; the outline of things to do in the area was thorough and accurate; the restaurant recommendations were excellent; and the attitude of Ms. Leach and Mr. Holborow was thoroughly helpful, patient, and cheerful.

We stayed at Bavarian Forest Holidays from July 15 until Sept. 25, 2009. Every day was a pleasure. Our hosts furnished us with a TV that had scores of channels, including our favorites - CNN and BBC - and their selection of DVD movies and classical music concerts was outstanding; most nights we either watched a top-notch film, or an classical opera, orchestra or soloist concert (we love classical music; for those who prefer other kinds of music, BFH also had DVDs for those tastes).

We took all of our hosts' suggested hikes on the excellent trails through the Bavarian Forest around us, played tennis on the excellent clay courts within a short walk of our apartment, and enjoyed shopping both at the local market and the larger one in the town of Zeiesel 10 miles away. Whenever we had a problem or a question, the Leach-Holborow team would come up with the answer. We would recommend a stay at Bavarian Forest Holidays enthusiastically and without question.

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by craigc

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:01:32 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I arranged the villa rental for a bike group of 12 people. Martin was extremely helpful in selecting this property. I did not have any experience with villa rentals in Italy. For most of our group, it was the first time to Italy. The villa is located in an operating vinyard. The owners were absolutely terrific. They assisted us with local arrangements and advice. The villa is in a great location. Close to Florence and closer still to Siena. Easy driving. The vinyard offers lots of space for hiking and just plain wandering. The pool was not open (out of season, also the weather was cool). Make sure you ask the owner for a tour of the vinyard and the other facilities. It is extremely educational and informative. For most in the group, the owner's tour was the best part of our trip. We took advantage of the local chef (Fanny) on two occasions and we were not dissapointed (several of the group wanted to stay an additional week just for the meals). The vinyard's wine is terrific, make sure you try it. The pictures in the brochure / web site do not do this villa justice. The location is idyllic. You won't make a mistake renting this villa.

Beau Paris (France), reviewed by xcanatun

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:39:37 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I highly recommend the Beau Paris properties. They were the best and cheapest we found on the Internet, and, now that I'm living in one of their offerings, I know they are truly good value. To see our apartment, go the Beau Paris website and scroll down to Magenta.

Click for more information and you will find many photos. Imagine us right now sitting on the couch in the living room!

Enjoy your stay!!!

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by susank

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:59:27 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We worked with Alice from Italian vacation villas to find the perfect home to rent for our extended family of 7. I had very specific requirements for our stay and Alice did a tireless job suggesting various properties and answering my many questions. She seemed to be giving me very honest feedback and when I finally found the house we rented, I knew it would be right and it was .

We stayed at Il Mulino which is a recently converted old mill. It was done with simple, clean lines and the pictures matched the interior perfectly. The property managers, Carla and her husband Geramundo ,while not english speaking, could not have been nicer in trying to meet our every need. Carla cleaned the home every day and cooked a lovely dinner for us one night which she served on the back patio. The town was well located for the area we wished to explore which included the Chianti region, Cortona, Pienza, Sienna and Florence. The house was situated outside of a charming small town where they had several good restaurants.

Alice provided a good packet of information before we left and we used her suggestions on tour guides and restaurants.

I would rent from Italian Vacation Villas again and would most certainly return to Il Mulino. Frankly of the several companies I contacted-- I am an obsessive researcher--it was clear to me that Alice was giving me the most honest insights which I really appreciated.

Broadway Manor Cottages (England), reviewed by Pauline

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:40:56 -0500

Rating: 4/5. Broadway Manor is a beautiful farm on a quiet lane on the edge of Broadway in the northern Cotswolds, England. The original manor house was built in the 1500s and is beautiful. The owners, Debbie and Ross, live in the manor house. They offer five vacation rentals: Rafters, an apartment on the top floor of the manor house - Willows, three attached cottages (2bed/2bath or 1bed/1bath) in their own area on the farm - and The Stables (2bed/2bath), a renovated out building near the manor house. They offer Internet access in some, but not all, of their vacation rentals.

The location is perfect. You can walk into Broadway in five minutes, following a footpath through a field. The long distance footpath, the Cotswold Way, passes through one of the farm fields - you can do several day hikes right from your doorstep. The farm is on a quiet lane. This is a very peaceful area.

Debbie and Ross are lovely people and take great pride in their farm and vacation rentals. They were a pleasure to deal with. You have all the privacy that you want, but they are close by in case you need help with something. The grounds of the farm are lovely and include a tennis court that "tenants" can use. A nice big parking area is provided.

The Willows Cottages are pretty and well built (they are modern buildings and not renovated historic buildings). There are shared outdoor areas (table and chairs in the courtyard and another out in a large lawn area), but only The Willows 3 has their own patio. There is a laundry room with washer and tumble dryer which is shared by all the vacation rentals except The Stables, which has its own.

We were in The Willows 1 which has 2 bedrooms upstairs with a full bathroom and a half bathroom downstairs. The living room is spacious and bright. The kitchen is well equipped (good pots and pans, good gas stove and oven, no dishwasher, small fridge) and we cooked most of our meals there. From the kitchen we had nice views of the sheep grazing on the hills. The cottage was spotlessly clean. Garbage and recycling was well organized. My only complaint is that the bed is a double (common in England) which I find is just too small for the two of us. The second bedroom had two single beds which we probably should have pushed together to make a larger bed, and we will next time.

We got to look at some of the other cottages. The other Willows cottages are nice - similar to the one we stayed in. We also saw The Stables and it is fabulous. It is a renovated out building between the manor house and the road. It was remodeled more "upscale" than the Willows cottages, with a gourmet kitchen (dishwasher, larger fridge), big bedroom with a Super King (two singles made up together I think) and fabulous bathrooms. It has a nice yard area with outdoor seating.

Broadway is a very good Cotswolds location. The village is beautiful, has several pubs, restaurants and tea rooms, has good shopping (a good deli and a small supermarket) and has very good walking trails (footpaths). Read more on Cotswolder - Towns & Villages - Broadway.

I met the owner, Debbie, through Twitter and she invited us to come and visit while on our trip. We liked their farm so much that we booked a week at the end of our trip. We had a lovely week at the end of July exploring Broadway and the nearby villages and doing some very good walks. I recommend these vacation rental cottages.

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by KathyJ

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:30:27 -0500

Rating: 5/5. My husband and I have actually been able to stay at Molino del Ponte on two separate occasions: in 2006 as a couple renting the absolutely beautiful lower floor apartment, and then again in 2009 when we rented the entire house for a week long vacation with our daughter, son-in-law and out two grandchildren. We find this stunning, beautifully kept property so relaxing and easy to be in that we are renting the house again in the summer of 2010 so we can spend two weeks with both of our children and their families.

How do I begin to describe the property of Molino del Ponte, a place even more beautiful than the pictures in the catalog? The stone mill has been meticulously renovated into living spaces that delight the eye and provide ample space. The house is wonderfully cool with the mill run still running under it. The spacious grounds contain beautifully maintained flower gardens, a lovely pool, gazebo, and wonderful new barbecue, all meant to add to the quiet and relaxation.

Perhaps one of the most wonderful parts of a stay at Molino del Ponte is the welcome one receives from the owners when one arrives, and the the opportunities to talk with Pietro, the groundskeeper, who not only does his job exceptionally well, but who is also full of warmth and charm.

Molino del Ponte is centrally located so that one is only minutes away from lovely little hill towns and only 45 minutes from Florence, a half hour from Sienna. We also discovered that we were ten minutes from Radda (the place where we shopped on a daily basis) and five minutes from one of the best restaurants we have ever eaten in, a place called Ponzenelle in Lucarelli, a tiny town literally a kilometre down the road from Molino del Ponte.

This property is literally a little bit of heaven. If we sound like we are in love....we are!

Welhome (Italy), reviewed by jennyjohno

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:35:57 -0500

Rating: 4/5. A delightful spot!Very attractive cottage with swimming pool and garden and a lovely view of the lake.Close to the town of Bracciano and the Castle and not far from the lake.
Cottage is quite small and not really suitable for more than two persons and space is limited. The owner, Fiorenza is charming and most welcoming and helpful. We spent a memorable week there and can certainly recommend it.

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by SophieL

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:11:48 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We stayed at La Flora for two weeks in June/July 2009. It was fantastic from the beginning. Martin was a great source of information, guidance, and security through the whole process. My family had many criteria to meet in looking for our vacation stay and Martin was an integral part in meeting those criteria. La Flora was exactly as pictured and as Martin had described since he was familiar with the property.

His guidance on places to eat in Lucca and points of interest was right on the mark. The information packet that was sent before we left was extremely helpful with listings of restaurants, sites, shopping advice, etc. We felt completely at home at La Flora. Dee, the manager of the property could not have been more kind and helpful. This was our family's sixth trip to Italy and we will, of course, be going again. We will most definitely be using Italian Vacation Villas in looking for our next home away from home!

Beau Paris (France), reviewed by terrym

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:56:15 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Beau-Paris.com is a great place to find just the right apartment to meet your needs. The selection that it offers ... in price, location, accomodations, etc. is hard to beat, and dealing directly with the owners gives it a nice personal touch.

I travel to Paris on a regular basis and Rue Beuret, the Beau-Paris listed apartment that I stay in, is just perfect for me and has become a "home away from home". It just doesn't get any better than that!!!! You can check out Rue Beuret - Rue Beuret.

Terrym
Minnesota, USA

Italian Vacation Villas (Italy), reviewed by scottyf71

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:42:45 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I had a wonderful experience working with Martin from Italian Vacation Villas for my spring 2008 rental in the Chianti area of Tuscany. Martin could not have been more helpful in providing information about properties and recommending houses based upon my group's needs.

Our eventual choice, La Fontanella, provided a fantastic home base for our daily road trips around the region. The house was immaculate, well-maintained and surrounded by olive orchards ... almost as if we became part of a real-life travel brochure. Best of all, we had a wonderful time socializing with the owner of the house, who was extremely accommodating and helpful. I really cannot recommend this agency enough and look forward to our next trip to Italy to utilize its services again.

Campden Cottages (England), reviewed by Kathy

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:59:21 -0500

Rating: 4/5. We rented this cottage for two weeks in July 2009. The location was great-- on the residential end of High Street in Chipping Campden. Chipping Campden is an excellent base in the Cotswolds, with a variety of restaurants, pubs and shops.

The cottage is compact: three floors, one room wide and two rooms deep. (You must be able to deal with steep stairs to stay here!) The small kitchen/dining area is an addition on the back. There are two bedrooms and two full baths, but I wouldn't recommend this cottage for four adults due to the small dining area. Otherwise the cottage was attractively decorated and has everything you need for an extended day, including movies and books, games, music, and an extensive cookbook collection. We also enjoyed the garden in the back of the house.

I would definitely rent from Campden cottages again. They offer a wide variety of cottages in Chipping Campden, Blockley and other nearby villages. The agency was efficient and responsive.

Welhome (Italy), reviewed by LauraDB

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:27:18 -0500

No rating. E' da qualche anno che collaboriamo con Welhome e ci siamo sempre trovati bene. Credo che la serietà di quello che offre sia sinonimo di qualtà e professionalità. Grazie Laura e Giorgio appartamenti a Verona

Translation: We have worked together with Welhome for some years and it has always worked well for us. I believe the reliability they offer to be synonymous with quality and professionalism. Thank you - Laura e Giorgio appartamenti a Verona

Giorgio e Laura Appartamenti (Italy), reviewed by mjg

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:57:31 -0500

Rating: 5/5. The apartment was very clean, nicely furnished and well equipped. We were within easy walking distance of the city and had parking conveniently close by. Dealing with the owners was easy and straightforward. We found the apartment very pleasant and it added a lot to our stay in Verona.