Slow Europe: Vacation Rental Reviews

Le Casine di Castello (Italy), reviewed by Tom Robinson

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:28:10 -0500

Rating: 5/5. The Moricciani family have created a very special environment that helped us experience southern Tuscany to the fullest. Starting with Isabella "Red Book" full of day trips, eating recommendations, wine tasting and hot springs to "Pici Night where she teaches everyone to make pasta the Tuscan way. Her husband, Carlo runs the farm and occasionlly brings treats, such as homemade riccotta cheese to their guests and he is a professional olive oil taster and gives everyone a lesson in the finer points of EVOO. We stayed in Il Cielo, a spacious, well equipped, very clean two bedroom apartment in the quaint hill town of Castelmuzio. We made good friends with the Moricciani's and look forward to visiting them again soon.

Le Casine di Castello (Italy), reviewed by DanM

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:46:42 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Castelmuzio, with its population of about 250, is prched on a hilltop, and is the perfect center point for exploring Tuscan life -- food, wine, people and most remarkable of all, the incredible Tuscan sun. It's different there. Colors are more lush, edges are shaper, the air crisper. Several other small Tuscan villages and towns are within 45 minutes of driving along swooping, curving roadways with stunning vistas over grape vines, olive trees, cyprus and farmland, and each town offers its own episode to dine and explore.

In Castelmuzio, four of us in two families stayed in Il Cielo for a week in May 2012, a two-bedroom townhouse with a fully outfitted kitchen that soon became our central meeting place for breakfast, snacks and mapping our adventures. We kept our menus simple -- and costs down -- thanks to occasional trips to the local co-op, or visits to food and wine shops in larger near-by towns, or the delightful cafe in Castelmuzio.

The charismatic Isabella and the rest of the Moricciani family, our landlord, opened their home and farm to guests, who could participate in a wide variety of adventures, including hand-making Tuscan pasta, sampling extraordinary farm-grown wines, cheeses and meats; assistance in venturing further afield to Siena and Assisi; and generally making certain that everything is as we hoped it would be.

This is a family that has hospitality and friendliness in each member's DNA.

Feels Like Home In Paris (France), reviewed by Marilù Fabi

Sat, 05 May 2012 14:02:57 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Stay: April 2012.
Our 1-week stay in Paris with our 3 kids aged 9, 8 and 4 has been a lot of fun and the apartment where we stayed had a part in it. It is equipped with every comfort for a short stay and Feels Like Home in Paris welcomed us with kindness and a treat: upon our arrival we were given a bottle of very nice French wine, cookies, tea, coffee... and were invited to a great wine & cheese tasting evening. There are 2 metro stops just meters away from the apartment (Abesses and Blanche). The kids enjoyed the Playstation3 a lot and we enjoyed the comfortable bed, the big shower and the lovely neighbourhood full of restaurants, shops and bistros. We'll be back!

Agriturismo Cretaiole (Italy), reviewed by Alicesara

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:15:40 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Our family (my husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law) had a WONDERFUL time at Cretaiole with Isabella, Carlo, Luciano and meeting other guests in the villa. Everything GREATLY exceeded our expectations and we truly hope to return to Cretaiole again in the future. Isabella was very accommodating with our unique travel schedule and welcomed us with vino, smiles and loads of useful information upon our arrival. We scrapped our initial plans and took her advice to enjoy the surrounding area and take in the local lifestyle... which was very easy to do with the absolutely charming, clean, spacious, impressive accommodations, plentiful drinks offered by Luciano, stunning vistas and personal care provided by the Moricciani family. We're gladly spreading the word to our friends and family about how wonderful our stay at Cretaiole was. My husband and I have done A LOT of traveling and we honestly say that our time spent at Cretaiole and the surrounding area was one of the most memorable and fun vacations we've ever had. If you want to enjoy a vacation that is relaxing, fun, filled with authentic Tuscan experiences and culture... Agriturismo Cretaiole is the answer! Whether you want a romantic experience or a family-friendly one... Isabella and her family know just how to strike the right balance for all their guests. Happy travels and Buon viaggio!

Agriturismo Cretaiole (Italy), reviewed by Margo McKnight

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:20:24 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Magical Spot! My husband and I had a wonderful 4 day visit in March 1012 with Isabella, Carlo and Luciano. The location is spectacular, the farm house is beautiful, the beds were the best we had in Italy and the welcome from the Moriccianis was exceptional! From Isabella's detailed day trips taking us on dirt roads to tiny villages, to Carlo's delicious wine and olive oil, to Luciano's grappa, it was a marvelous experience. Isabella was available to help us whenever we needed it and all three were welcoming and hospitable. I would recommend Cretaiole to anyone - I certainly want to go back!

Gite.com (France), reviewed by mLiz

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:35:53 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I stayed in this wonderful gite for a week during January of 2012. The owners Bill and Estelle were the personification of hospitality, inviting me to enjoy the rural surroundings--including the nearby 13th-C chateau--and introducing me to all of their dogs and horses. They often offered me a glass of wine at the end of the day and always made sure I had everything I needed before I retired. I have rarely stayed in any rental where I was so warmly welcomed. The gite was comfortable and well equipped, the company was incomparable, and the surroundings were beautiful.

Your Holiday Matters (France), reviewed by Pauline

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:33:05 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Au Chicot (www.gasconymagic.com) is a 4 bedroom farmhouse, with swimming pool, in the Gascony countryside near Condom. Three of us rented the house for a week in September. We all loved the house and the area.

The house has been beautifully restored and is spacious, with a great kitchen, huge livingroom and comfortable bedrooms. The house is furnished nicely and is well equipped. There is a lovely terrace with beautiful views. The swimming pool is at the edge of a large lawn area and has lovely views. We had a couple of hot days and enjoyed the pool.

Au Chicot is set back from a quiet lane and does not have any overlooking neighbors - it is quiet and private. It is an easy 10 minute drive from Condom, which is a delightful town. We had a fun week exploring nearby towns and sites - never having to drive that far to find good shops, restaurants and things to do.

This house could comfortably fit a much larger group. Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom and there is lots of space in the house. I would happily stay here again.

Feels Like Home In Paris (France), reviewed by meganb

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:20:56 -0500

Rating: 5/5. French Kiss apartment is a wonderful location in Montemarte with easy access to bus, metro and 'hop on hop off' bus stops. All amenities were available and the apartment was very clean, well maintained and perfect for the 2 of us. We loved the idea of feeling like we were living in Paris rather than just staying in a hotel room.

Le Casine di Castello (Italy), reviewed by Lynn E

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:04:54 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We had the incredible pleasure of staying at two of Isabella and Carlos properties, though that was not the plan when we boarded a plane to Italy. Due to the floods and landslides which happened in Montorosso, Cinque Terre, our intended destination, we were forced to make very last minute plans. Our trip, which was planned around a business meeting in Milan, would only allow 4 days of travel before boarding a plane back in Milan. A quick email to the Rick Steves website yielded an immediate personal response with a couple of ideas in Tuscany. Isabella Moricciani of Casa Moricciani, responded to our phone call in minutes (speaking perfect english), directed us on train departures for that afternoon, and had a rental car waiting for us at the station when we arrived. It was very late when we arrived in the little town of Castlemuzio. Isabella and her husband Carlos were waiting for us at the entrance to the town. They showed us to the villa, unloaded us, then asked the local restaurant to stay open so we could have a late dinner. It's the only restaurant in town, and the food and service are both fabulous.

Isabella was helping other tourists that were in the same predicament. For that reason she moved us around a little so all could be accommodated. The first night we stayed in Casa Moricciani which is exquisite in every detail. This villa mixes the old with the new, as you will find antique doors, woodwork, furniture, and artwork along with beautiful travertine bathrooms and an awesome kitchen complete with fully stocked wine cooler, fresh fruit and flowers, coffee, milk in the refrigerator and more. The master suite bathroom has a beautiful deep jacuzzi tub, which lead to a relaxing end to a very hectic day. The view of Tuscany from the back yard is breathtaking - complete with rolling hills, olive orchards, vineyards, castles, and churches, whose bells would chime in unison on the hour. If that weren't enough to keep you glued to the back yard, as you look around there is an herb garden, an outdoor shower covered in jasmine and a small stone fountain/wading pool.

The next three nights we stayed in II Nido also in Castelmuzio. It is a downstairs apartment in a charming old stone townhouse called La Casine de Castillo. It is cozy, quite lovely, very clean and well appointed, with an arching brick ceiling, modern bathroom and small kitchen with a table. It's decorated in antiques and artwork with the same flair as Casa Moricciani. The king bed was perfect, the kitchen was great for making a quick meal or coffee, and the private courtyard was a nice place to enjoy a glass of wine by candlelight. There are a couple of bikes parked in the entry for guests use. A sweet little hideaway for a couple to enjoy privacy as well as a great location to adventure from.

As guests, we were invited to the three generation family farm, San Gregorio in Pienza. There, we visited with family members and other guests while learning about (and tasting) the delicious wines, olive oils, prosciutto and cheeses. Guests are free to pick fresh vegetables from a large garden. In Isabella's "Big Book", which is provided at each property, she has listed all the best restaurants to try, car tours to take and towns not to miss. In addition, the family provides experiences and activities that you can participate in if you wish. Through an established network of locals, there are activity choices beyond the family farm as well. We chose a 3 hour walking tour through the vineyards and olive orchards of the Val d'Orcia which was a photographers dream.

It was a whirlwind trip, and we are still awestruck at the speed with which Rick Steves redirected us to this fabulous destination. And we are forever grateful to Isabella and Carlos for their grace and warmth in taking us in and making our short unplanned stay into a dream vacation we will always remember. We hope to come back and bring the family one day - soon!

Lynn and Bill
Texas, USA

Rentvillas.com (France, Italy, Spain), reviewed by Diane Cash

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:27:02 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Many people have asked us how we found our villa and we told them Rentvillas.com tailored a villa to our needs. We gave Jannah at Rentvillas.com a personality portfolio of our group, and she came up with Villa Piero! She nailed it! It was perfect for our group!

Our group of 8 (October 8-15) had a fantastic time at Villa Piero! The villa and its surroundings are absolutely beautiful. It was our first adventure of driving in Italy (we used a GPS system). The directions were good to the villa. The first time making it up that mountain on the gravel road to the villa was a bit intimidating, but it soon became second nature. Nicola, Rosa and Sara were there to greet us with big smiles. They were more than hosts and hostesses, they became our Italia family. We endeared ourselves to them, their home, their country and their culture! We had asked for a pizza night the first night we arrived at Villa Piero and it was a perfect welcoming dinner! Nicola makes homemade dough and Rosa makes her own sauce and all the home grown vegetables that she grilled. Each person made their own specialized pizza! And, every morning, Nicola would make sure that he was up to start our mornings with cappuccino! We would take day trips from the villa, either by car or train. We went to Anghiari (which is approximately a 25-minute drive from the villa); Siena (by car); Florence (by train); Asissi and Perugia (by train) and Cortona (by car…we took the back way through the country roads from the villa to Cortona). We were also fortunate to make the Tuscany Wine Festival held in Arezzo! Arezzo is a charming city and it became our main thoroughfare for grocery shopping, a night out for dinner, and the international food fair held on Fridays. We were not sure about the remoteness of this villa, but we ended up liking the peacefulness and fell in love with the city of Arezzo. The train station in Arezzo was very convenient and was our network for traveling on our day trips. And, the Avis rent-a-car was right across from the train station.

We loved our nights together at the villa getting together to cook our dinner with the wine flowing! The kitchen is a professional chef’s kitchen and we had plenty of room for all the congregating in the kitchen area. Our favorite was sitting around the big table in the dining room (by the fireplace) eating, drinking and socializing with Italian music in the background. We ate inside as the weather was a bit chilly in mid-October. Rosa made a spectacular dinner for one of our guest’s birthday! She started out with at least 10 different appetizers, pasta, a pork roast, and a fish dish for our vegetarian in the group and ended with a delicious pineapple cream birthday cake and a bottle of champagne for the birthday girl! There are several areas for socializing outside the villa including a foosball table, ping pong, swimming (it was too cold in mid-October for our group0 to swim) and there were several sitting areas just to relax and watch the sunset!

The only complaint we had was the beds are hard. It would be wonderful if they upgraded the mattresses. Also, we suggest with large groups that you stagger your showers as the last person showering would always run out of hot water. There is no dryer, just the washing machine! They provided a clothes line and clothes pins! We Americans adapted quickly!

We found it difficult to say goodbye to Nicola and his family as they became our family! They have a compassion for their guests and made all of us feel welcome and at home!

The whole vacation experience was so enjoyable...from the personal service of Rent Villas.com to the villa owners. It was the trip of a lifetime!

Diane
California

Rentvillas.com (France, Italy, Spain), reviewed by jb550

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:01:17 -0500

Rating: 4/5. Four of us rented this property in early October, 2011, and we all agreed it was better in person than it had appeared in the pictures. The villa is surrounded by a wine estate and has a 270 degree view of vineyards, forest, and the nearby Tuscan hill towns. It's close enough to town for runs to the grocery store, but far enough away for peace and quiet. The property was well maintained, the house comfortable, the outdoor dining area strategicaly located to take advantage of the views, and the remainder of the property available to us for long walks. The kitchen was well stocked and the living areas tastefully decorated and comfortable. The property manager was friendly, and available to assist us with whatever we needed; the owner took an interest in us as well. The property is centrqlly located to Siena and Florence; day trips to those two cities are quick and easy, San Gimignano is similarly closeby, as are Castelina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Rada in Chianti, and a variety of other towns in the Chianti region. The property is also well-enough situated to make day trips to Cortona, Arezzo, and Assisi.
In all, this property exceeded our expectations. Great views, great location, nice amenities, and well managed. In addition, working with RentVillas was a good experience. They took a personal interest in finding us the right vacation home, communicated regularly and efficienty, and were interested in our experience when we returned home.

Agriturismo Cretaiole (Italy), reviewed by Hchaney

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:33:37 -0500

Rating: 5/5. This is the way to do Tuscany!!! You cannot go wrong by being part of the warm Moricciani family for a week. Isababella is charming, smart and extremely concerned about creating a superior experience for her guests. She has attended to every detail of your trip, from the directions complete with pictures to the organized activities that you can join if you wish. Do not miss the pici making/eating dinner! I feel very fortunate that we found Cretaiole and had the opportunity to learn so much about the customs and history of the area.

Rentvillas.com (France, Italy, Spain), reviewed by Robin Critelli

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:29:46 -0500

Rating: 5/5. I had never rented a villa - or worked with a service. It was plain luck to find rentvillas.com on the internet. Being in the U.S., it was comforting to work with someone here. They were amazing responsive, professional, friendly, and gave great advise. A few days before we departed, they frantically called (on a weekend) and said that the property manager in Italy has double booked the villa we originally rented. They got the property manager to offer the choice of two villas - both upgrades. The villa was spectacular and the property mgt people couldn't have been better. They arranged transportation, mozzarella tasting, a rental boat, and a chef to teach us to cook a real Italian meal. My only error in planning the trip was that I used a different rental company for the apartment in Rome. Next time, I'm using Rentvillas.com for all arrangements and lodging!! They were the best!

Le Casine di Castello (Italy), reviewed by CincinnatiVic

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:01:16 -0500

Rating: 5/5. My wife, Lynn, and I just returned from our 2+ week visit to Tuscany. Our 1st week was spent at Le Casine di Castello in apartment Il Nido. Isa's skills as a host, decorator, and "travel guide" (her "red book" is wonderful & full of detailed day trips) are outstanding. As SueBeth commented, Isa has thought of everything - if you forgot something, chances are Isa already has it in the apartment. There was enough coffee, tea, milk, snacks, not to mention their superb olive oil & rosso wine, to get you started for the first couple of days. I think our wine bottle had a hole in it because the wine disappeared much too quickly! The apartment is equipped with all the amenities you will need, including a washing machine. The outside courtyard was very secluded and was a perfect place to relax. When Isa found that our cell phone wasn't working, she let us borrow one of hers for emergency's. Le Casine di Castello is situated in the center of Castelmuzio and really gives you a sense of being more of a local than that of a tourist passing thru. We found staying in Il Nido/Castelmuzio both relaxing & invigorating; we were perfectly situated to explore all of the beautiful hill towns of the d'Orcia valley (we even managed to find San Quirico d'Orcia much to Carlo's surprise).

Based on amenities, hospitality, and location, I can't imagine staying anywhere else when visiting this area. Isa and her family made us feel like we belonged, and that is what separates Le Casine di Castello from the rest of the pack. You won't be disappointed.

Vic & Lynn, Cincinnati

Feels Like Home In Paris (France), reviewed by Leo Romm

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:55:07 -0500

Rating: 5/5. This is the second apartment we rented through “Feels like home in Paris”, and this time we enjoyed our stay even more. “Serene Caulaincourt” is very good flat to stay in. First, it has everything one needs to be comfortable. I can’t think of anything we missed. Perhaps, only a full size mirror (there is one on the fireplace). Frankly, I didn’t need one, but my wife and daughter noticed . We didn't need to call Yetunde, our hostess and FLHP general manager, during our recent two-week stay to request anything (well, we probably should’ve called and thanked her, sorry).
The apt is well situated with a short (less than 5 min) walk to the subway station; furthermore, the bus stop is just outside of the door. Yetunde gave us detailed maps of bus routes, so we used buses mostly. It takes about 15-20 min to ride to the city center (say, Opera house). The apartment is also pretty close to the CDG airport – we took a taxi, and it cost us EUR35, about the same price three of us would pay for public transportation. G20 supermarket is just across rue Caulaincourt, a boulangerie is next door, and Café la Cepage is just downstairs. Sacre Coeur is a 10 min walk away.
A great advantage of this apartment is that it is quiet. In fact, the loudest outside sounds we heard were the doves cooing. Besides it has everything carefully, thoughtfully and professionally set up for pleasant staying. There is a detailed manual (on the laptop) for what is inside the flat and very useful and valuable tips for outside activities.

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

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:04:23 -0500

Rating: 5/5. 4 couples enjoyed the Villa as a central location in Tuscany. Some stayed for the entire week and some traveled to nearby cites for a night or two.
The nearby owners were simply wonderful. They were there if you needed them and very sensitive to our privacy. In my opinion, they are a very big part of the experience. The views are majestic and the weather was perfect.
The property is amazing! The rooms are large and very well appointed. The kitchen was a blast if you enjoy cooking.
The pool is beautiful. By the pool is a ping pong table where we enjoyed many fairly tipsy games of ping pong! The trip was amazing!

Little help on the directions: When you get on SS73 they have kilometer markers every tenth of a kilometer or so. When you get to kilometer marker 163 you will be very close to the turn for the villa. It is between marker 163 and 164. Enjoy!!!

Vivasiesta (Spain), reviewed by Holly Lloyd

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:10:52 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We have travelled throughout Europe this past year and this is one place we will truly miss. All four of us felt at home right from our arrival. John and Judy are easy going hosts who left extensive information about the surroundings and made themselves available at our convenience. The village is absolutely fabulous. The people speak no English but are friendly and helpful and truly delighted to have guests in the village. The white-washed walls, the red tile rooftops, the narrow winding streets, the stray animals, the glorious sunshine and heat all combined to give us exactly what we came for: the Andalucian experience. And then there is the house! It has every convenience imaginable including English TV and internet! What a treat! The rooms are well stocked and comfortable but it is the view off the roof terrace that I will miss the most. I could live here the rest of my life and never tire of the spectacular view. We did get out to sightsee all over Andalucia during our visit and some drives were longer than others but truly, the village charmed us into lounging right here for much of our stay.

Vivat Trust (England, Scotland), reviewed by Pauline

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 08:57:36 -0500

Rating: 5/5. The Vivat Trust purchase historic buildings throughout the United Kingdom. These buildings are restored and turned into vacation rentals (holiday cottages) to bring in an income for the trust. I made my booking by phone and paid with a credit card.

Three of us rented The Chantry, a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom house in Bridport, near the coast in Dorset. The house dates from Medieval times - 13th - 14th century. It is magnificent. The house was beautifully renovated and furnished. The stone walls are thick, the ceilings are high, the rooms are a good size, the curtains and furniture are beautiful. You know you are in an historic building but you get modern-day luxury. Everything was comfortable.

We cooked several meals in the kitchen. They left the best welcome basket I have ever seen - with basics for breakfast, snacks and for a quick dinner. There is a nice garden behind the house, with a big outdoor table and chairs. There is off road parking.

There are partial frescos in the dining room (covered in glass) and carved stone work in several rooms. You can see where the "garderobe" (toilet) was in the master bedroom (now just an interesting stone niche). In the top level bathroom there are some steps leading to a small door that brings you out onto the roof! The first and second floors (US second and third) have good views.

Bridport is a lovely town with several restaurants and pubs, and good local shopping. We went to their antique market. There is a Waitrose (my favorite supermarket) on the High Street, just a 10 minute walk from the house. And one mile south brings you to West Bay on the coast. The pebble beach is at the foot of the red Jurassic Coast cliffs. You can walk the South Coast Path from here. 20 minutes drive west to Lyme Regis and 30 minutes east to Dorcester - a great location.

The only downsides are that the house is on the main road in town (but it is not that busy and you don't hear the traffic noise in the house) and the floors and doors are very squeaky, so you can hear other people in your group moving about. Noise traveled between the two bedrooms also. But, I would happily rent this house again just to be able to stay in such an historic building.

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

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:39:50 -0500

Rating: 5/5. This was our first experience at a villa in Tuscany. We were a group of 13 people.
Our overall experience was wonderfully enjoyable, from being met by Jesus and the gift of the fruit basket, to saying farewell to the place we called home for three magnificent weeks.

As for what we enjoyed the most: We immediately felt the tranquility both inside the villa and outside on the grounds. Refreshing homemade meals, a place to come home to after a day of touring, enjoying walks and vistas, reading and relaxing in the hills of Siena were all present every day in such a variety of ways.

A rooster and a coo-coo bird on the neighbors property, about a mile away, was a great way to wake up in the morning. The roads to the many hill towns were great for leisurely drives and day trips. The many places to visit were easy to find using the GPS in our rental cars. We enjoyed the local markets, the historic Renaissance art, and the friendly people we met everywhere.

Siena was a 6 mile drive, or a 15 minute taxi ride. Florence was accessible by car and regional train, both of which we used often. It was comforting to have a relaxing place to call home, and still visit much of the Tuscany region on our own timetable. Many days were spent at the villa relaxing, swimming, reading, or sketching.

About the restaurants: Bring a willingness to let go of your busyness and enjoy the easy time in Tuscany. Bring an adventurous spirit to explore Siena, Florence, take a ride on a train, or tour a winery. There are very good city and country restaurants, most are advertised locally.

To arrive at the villa, we hired a driver from Rome, which is about the same cost as a train and taxi, who brought us directly to the property.

Checking in and out was easy, and genuinely personal. We were met by the keyholder and handyman, Jesus, who was friendly, helpful, thorough in his orientation, and attentive to our needs.

We would encourage anyone considering traveling to Tuscany to let RentVillas help you with your travel plans.

Agriturismo Cretaiole (Italy), reviewed by Susan G.

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:54:19 -0500

Rating: 5/5. There are many reviews of the wonderful times people have had at Cretaiole. So I won’t repeat much of what has been mentioned already. Traveling alone on my first trip to Italy for my 65th birthday, I was a bit apprehensive, but I needn’t have been.
Il Pollaio, my apartment and home for three weeks, provided all I needed for comfort and joy. Each morning I woke to sunshine streaming in to welcome me to a new day. The memories are many, but those that remain the strongest are:
I never locked my apartment door; it felt extremely safe and home-like at Cretaiole. Walking alone at night in Pienza felt very peaceful, too.
Isabella is a gem. She was very concerned when I became ill with bronchitis. She arranged visits to the doctor in Pienza and translated my medications & instructions (the doctor didn’t speak English). She also helped track down my luggage the airlines lost and was extremely helpful in many other ways.
Nighttime socializing with Luciano and other guests with his homemade grappa and vin santo in the veranda felt like spending time with friends. Love the twinkle in that man’s eyes!
The Hermitage tour and Isa’s telling of how Luciano and his son, Carlo, created Cretaiole is not to be missed.
Location! Fabulous view of Pienza, just a short drive away, and near many intriguing hill-top towns.
Tuscan food and wine are a food lover’s dream. Particularly the tomatoes and salad makings from the Cretaiole garden; Luciano’s gifts of fresh eggs and ricotta; Carlo’s cooking their homemade sausage and ribs over a log fire for the Pici dinner; and the Moriciani family wine and olive oil (my only regret was not leaving enough space in my luggage to bring some home). Three weeks wasn’t enough to sample all the fabulous food and wine the area has to offer.
I enjoyed my time at Cretaiole so much, I made a return two-week reservation in the same apartment for September 2012. This time my husband will be joining me on what feels like a return to my Italian home.

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

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:27:22 -0500

Rating: 4/5. Pati Elmore
The BEST two week vacation ever at Villa Francesco con Duetto in Monterchi. There were twelve in our group and we even had one bedroom/bathroom left over. The palace, village, supermarket, restaurant, food, wines, beds, linens, cleanliness were great. The owner prepared our arrival Tuscan meal and was available for any and all of our needs along with her assistant. Our day trips were the best and ended with drinks in the fabulous rose garden by the pool and gazebo with the Tuscan sun setting in the west. We enjoyed "Living Like a Local" and feeling like a local. Great way to learn more about Italy.

Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays (England), reviewed by wendy

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 06:36:06 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We spent 2 weeks in this lovely property in early May 2011.

It is quietly situated in a very desirable residential area of Sidmouth and offers outstanding views over the town and coastline.

This former coastguard or admiralty building offers a newly fitted kitchen which is a pleasure to prepare meals in. The kitchen has been thoughtfully organised to offer everything you might need and all crockery, utensils and white goods are of a high standard.

The sitting room is large, comfortable, light and airy and affords wonderful views, a flame effect fire and a good dining area. There is also a wall mounted television and lots of technical things for those who appreciate them but no broadband connection whilst we were there.
French Windows open on to a charming, secluded decked terrace well furnished with table and chairs for all the family, nice benches, lovely flowering pots and sun loungers, should you be lucky with the weather.

There is a delightful single bedroom downstairs too, perfect for a child or teenager, decked out in a nautical style with good lighting and storage.

Off the entrance hall is a shower room and then upstairs to a further 3 bedrooms. The Master bedroom is magnificent ! It is light, airy and very big offering floor to ceiling windows, a second television, extremely ample and attractive storage and a very comfortable king sized bed.
Lighting is good here too but the star is the lovely white and blue decor framing the splendid coastal views.

The second bedroom is a small, attractive, comfortable double and there is a second single room on this floor too.
The newly fitted family bathroom offers an over bath shower and a very efficient hot water system.

We found this property via Sweetcombe Cottage holidays, a nice traditional agency whom we liked very much. They offer a portfolio of around 140 properties in and around East Devon.
We found them to be responsive and helpful and thought their descriptions of the property we rented to be accurate and their rental prices to be fair.
This is an agency with the personal touch and we found that to be a great asset.
They produce a brochure and offer an excellent website.
Highly recommended. We are returning in September.

LeMarcheHoliday.net (Italy), reviewed by sam parmar

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:25:58 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Experiencing authentic Italian way of life in the Sibillini mountains, Le Marche, Italy
Our trip was organised by Moreno Moretti, who specialises in organising different types of cultural and adventurous excursions in Le March, Italy. We spent the whole day in the Sibillini mountains and it was a most enjoyable and unique experience.

Our day began when Moreno punctually arrived, as agreed, in his car to pick us up. The car was clean and in good condition and Moreno was a confident and competent driver who knew his way around the Italian countryside. This factor was quite important bearing in mind that we were to travel along ‘dirt treks’ wide enough for only one small car! If anyone came from the opposite direction then either driver had to reverse for a considerable distance where the two vehicles could pass each other safely.

We briefly stopped near Ascoli Piecino for refreshments and were back on our way to the village of Cese. Here we were introduced to our truffle hunter Morreto and his truffle dog Tina. Moreto was very professional and while he had to control and direct the dog at all times he still managed to explain to us what was happening. The hunt lasted about 2 hours and we found about 6 large black truffles to take with us to the Ramusé for our Italian cookery classes and wine tasting.

At Ramusé we met with the owner Paolo Ciccioli, who is every bit as eccentric as only Italians can be and a very cheerful and friendly guy. We also met another chef Emiliano (aka Crazy horse or as he prefers Cavallino, in Italian). He was also a very friendly and cheerful guy who did not speak much English but managed to explain everything clearly with help from the other two and plenty of hand gestures.

We made fresh gnocchi from scratch with a very simple but delicious sauce using the fresh herbs from the garden. Cavallino made some crostini with fresh courgettes (zuchinni) and lardonella (seasoned Italian ham). After cooking we sat down to enjoy the fruits of our labour in the way of a most sumptuous Italian meal in a totally relaxed and very scenic atmosphere with beautiful, panoramic views of the sunny Italian countryside all round. Paolo chose some excellent wines to accompany each course and also to keep the spirits up while cooking and between the courses. After lunch we spent the hot afternoon by the lovely pool side taking the dip in between picking and eating luscious, sweet, ripe cherries from over 130, hand-high cherry trees that shade the swimming pool.

We left Ramusé when we finally felt the need to rest and were driven back home by Moreno, who had not touched a single drop of alcohol throughout the day, what a hero!

All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day, living, breathing and experiencing Italy in a truly Italian way with the Italians and would most definitely do it again and recommend it to anyone without reservations.

June 2011

Agriturismo Cretaiole (Italy), reviewed by sharon koppel

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:29:57 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Our visit to Cretaiole in May 2011 was awesome and exceeded all our expectations! The apartment was immaculate and well furnished. We easily made breakfast, snacks and one dinner with food from both the farm and the COOP in town. The property of the farm itself was unbelievable in beauty. It was an oasis to return to each afternoon after exploring Tuscany. It was a true experience of Tuscany! But the real charm of this place was Isabella and her family = her father in law Luciano who bought Cretaiole years ago and her husband Carlo. Isabella shared Tuscany with you in the most personal way so you felt after a week that you had a small understanding of what this remarkable part of Italy was like. There were well organized travel notebooks in all apartments to guide your explorations. There were many activities, some free and some a small charge, available to guests every week. Freebies includes a nature walk; guided tour of Etruscian ruins; pici (pasta) making and an Italian dinner; tour of a working Tuscan farm with wine, cheese, and meat tasting; tour of Siena; and olive oil tasting class. Isabella encouraged all of us to explore Tuscany the week we were at Cretaiole which we did!. Almost all the guests spent at least one day just hanging out at Cretaiole with the lovely yard with relaxing chairs (plenty for everyone=there were about 16 people at the agritourismo for the week), absorbing the views of Tuscan rolling hills, walking the 3 km trail across the hillside into Pienza, a wonderful Tuscan town, walking the vineyards, olive grove, and vegetable garden; or hiking to the ruins of a small chapel. You can do as much as you want with the other guests or do your own thing. From the organized activity list, We also did a tour and dinner at a local monastery, a tour and tasting at a local vineyard. We explored everyday, taking in local markets, hill towns, lots of Italian food and lots of gelato, everyday gelato! The week was leisurely yet full of fun and exploration because we didn’t go far each day but took the time to walk and absorb. This was our first trip to Italy and we chose not to do the tourist hot spots in the cities but rather to experience Tuscany from a homebase at Cretaiole. It was the perfect decision!!! Isabella and her family are wonderful and give you an experience of a lifetime in a place you will never forget.

Domaine Le Bost (France), reviewed by Marleen

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:27:24 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Me and my son have been here twice. The first time was summer 2010. We stayed in a gite. In 2011 we went in may and again had an incredibly good holiday. This time we were staying in the chambre d'hote. Both times were wonderful. Menno and Jet are so hospitable. I recommend eating there in the evening. Menno is a great cook. This is a place I will recommend to everybody. Also because of the location. Thiviers is a lovely town and Perigueux is worth visiting for sight seeing or shopping.
It is a wonderful place to go to with children. We enjoyed the pool so much.

Torre Bertona (Italy), reviewed by GeneMD

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:20:16 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Case di Torre Bertona. The medieval house, the history, the chapel and the location were all spectacular and just what we were looking for. Gloria is the perfect hostess and we really enjoyed her knowledge of the history of the house and the area. The countryside surrounding the house is breathtaking and we really loved the city of Todi. The locals that we came into contact with couldn't have been more helpful and friendly to us and we were always made to feel that we were part of the Italian experience, and not just tourists. When my wife developed a medical condition, Gloria arranged for her assistant Vittorio to pick up a local Italian doctor and bring him to the house to treat my wife; we couldn't have been more appreciative. If you are looking for a beautiful house in a serene setting with plenty of medieval atmosphere, this is where you want to stay.

Feels Like Home In Paris (France), reviewed by SusieQ015

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:31:55 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We stayed at this apartment in April 2011. The apartment was in a good location in Montmartre close to Sacre Coer, bus services and an easy walk to two train stations - Lamark/Caulaincort & Jules Joffrin. Close to cafes/restaurants, patisseries, boulangeries (bakery), fromageries (cheese and wine), supermarket, ATMs etc. Bedrooms were spacious with comfortable beds and good linen. Kitchen is well appointed for self catering and includes a good size fridge, cooking facilities, coffee machine, washing machine and dryer. A welcome basket is also provided. It also had extras that we didn’t expect like the laptop computer, free phone calls home to Australia (VOI), umbrellas, transport maps and travel guides. The bedrooms were spacious, had good storage space, and the beds were comfortable (much better than those we encountered in Italy). The bathroom could do with an upgrade but was serviceable, separate toilet. Apartment also has central heating. Provides a guide to local walks in the area and recommended restaurants etc. Close to French cooking school for tourists, Cook n’ with Class - our son did a dessert class there and really enjoyed it. Don't be put off by the faded exterior of the building and the foyer, the apartment was clean and very comfortable. This part of Montmarte gives you a taste of the real Paris rather than being in the really touristy areas. We really enjoyed our stay there, particularly the fresh chocolate croissants from the local patisseries each morning! Yetunde and Elinor at Feels Like Home In Paris were great - answered all our queries during the booking stage and got back to us promptly (you just need to be mindful of the time difference when communicating). Yetunde was there to greet us when we arrived to show us how everything in the apartment worked and to answer any questions we had. Based on our experience I would definitely use FLHIP again to book an apartment, and stay at Clair de Lune again.

Feels Like Home In Paris (France), reviewed by Kim Daniell

Tue, 31 May 2011 09:14:55 -0500

Rating: 5/5. We stayed at Serene Caulaincourt the first week of April, 2011, with our 15-year-old twins. Location, charm, convenience, and comfort are the words which come to mind when we think of this apartment. It was perfect for our family!

The beds are fabulous! The sofa bed was every bit as comfortable as the luxurious bed located in the bedroom. This is not one of those cheap hotel fold-out beds. There is no bar in your back or creaky springs. No need to worry about whether a couple sharing this bed will be comfortable. And the down comforters and blankets make it feel like a 5-star hotel!

The layout of the apartment is perfect for a family of four or two couples. There is a central hallway with doors for all of the rooms, so anyone sleeping in the den/living area can close off that room for privacy. And the bathroom and water closet are also separate which is very convenient. There is a huge walk-in closet in the hall with plenty of room to store luggage, clothes, and toiletries.

This apartment has been remodeled beautifully. With high ceilings, floor to ceiling French windows, and original wood floors, it has old world charm. But step into the bathroom and kitchen and you’ll think you are in a chic New York loft. The kitchen is equipped with everything you will need to enjoy cooking authentic French cuisine using the groceries you purchased at the shops within a block of this apartment. And it was wonderful to have a dishwasher AND washer and dryer. The MacBook and free wifi were icing on the cake!

The location couldn’t be more perfect. The apartment is nestled into a steep hillside so that the entry is on street level, but the back of the apartment is several stories off the ground, overlooking beautiful trees and the “Mary Poppins” rooftops of the buildings below. It is extremely quiet and serene. There are so many shops, boulangeries, and cafes, within a 5 minute walk. And the Metro Station is only a block away! Exploring Montmartre was the unexpected highlight of our trip to Paris. Don’t miss the chance to explore this beautiful area!

We highly recommend Serene Caulaincort and Feels Like Home in Paris. Yetunde was the perfect hostess! She thought of everything to make our stay pleasant. She was waiting for us at the apartment when we arrived and provided loads of information including an invaluable pdf file on the MacBook located in the apartment. There was also a basket of coffee, tea, wine and assorted goodies to tide us over until we could visit the local market. She even provided laminated pages with walking tours of Montmartre and cloth shopping bags to carry to the market. We never expected such personal service!

Thank you again, Yetunde and FLHP! Hope to see you again soon!

P.S. Yetunde, the macaroons were “to die for”!

Feels Like Home In Paris (France), reviewed by Missing Paris

Tue, 17 May 2011 06:07:49 -0500

Rating: 5/5. (We actually stayed in 2011 but there was no option for that in the pulldown menu)

My family and I recently had the pleasure of staying at Paris With a View. The apartment was extremely comfortable for my family of four and you can't beat the view! We really enjoyed staying in Montmartre because it is easy enough to get away from the tourist areas that you have the chance to feel like a local. It was wonderful to get up in the morning and head out for fresh pastries or to walk right down the street to the small but well stocked little market. The kitchen in the apartment is small but nice and equipped for simple meals. If you have read any other reviews you probably already know that there are a few stairs involved if you stay at Paris With a View. Well, there are stairs involved if you stay just about anywhere in Montmartre and we found that the stairs did not pose an issue for us, even with two children and sore legs from running the Paris Marathon. Besides, all the steps make it completely guiltless to enjoy all the delights that Paris has to offer. The personal touches were what clearly set this apartment apart. Yetunde was at the apartment when we arrived and provided us with an excellent overview of the apartment and the area. She has created a fantastic reference for the Montmartre area which has suggestions for everything you might need during your stay. While we had our own laptop, the complimentary Mac Book in the apartment is a very nice touch. We traveled on to Berlin after Paris, and while our apartment there was nice, we lacked the personal details we had received at Paris With a View so it paled in comparison. I would not hesitate to stay at Paris With a View again or recommend it to a friend and based upon our experience with Yetunde, I am quite sure that the rest of Feel Like Home in Paris' properties are equally wonderful.

Rentvillas.com (France, Italy, Spain), reviewed by Donald Posegate

Sat, 14 May 2011 07:26:40 -0500

Rating: 5/5. Al Villa di Torre Alfina was absolutely fabulous for my 65th birthday trip to Italy. I had invited 6 of my family and friends to join my partner and me in our celebration of my birthday.

The villa was more than we had expected. We had rented villas before but this was beyond our expectations. Everything was prettier and better than the ad pictures. There were all the items a traveler would need; a computer, phones, and even a GPS. The beds were very comfortable, the frig was stocked, there were nice crystal and flatware. The pots and pans were top notch quality. Olga and Alex were the caretakers. Both were a pleasure and made sure that everything was to our liking. I was spoiled.

The village was great! We ate at the 2 local restuarants most of the time. Carlo at the New Castle made sure our traveler with a gluten problem had "rice" pasta and special "no gluten" food. The seafood restuarant made one of the best risotto di tutta mare that I have ever had.

I can not say enough about our experience. The location, the villa, the village and the people. It was GREAT.