Castello di Casole d'Elsa (Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany) Tosca…read more We visited Castello di Casole d'Elsa for dinner. It is an extraordinary retreat where history, landscape, and luxury come together in a way that feels almost cinematic. Castello is atop a hill in the Tuscan countryside, the property occupies a restored 10th‑century castle within a large 4,200‑acre estate of vineyards, olive groves, forests, and fields. From the moment you arrive via a winding, cypress-lined road, it feels as though you've stepped into another era (as if driving through a forest). The setting alone is breathtaking, with sweeping views of rolling hills that stretch as far as the eye can see. The atmosphere is one of timeless, laid-back elegance. Despite its large scale, the estate feels peaceful and secluded, offering a true escape from daily life. The historic architecture such as stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and rustic details has been meticulously preserved, while contemporary design elements ensure comfort never feels compromised. One of the hotel's strongest aspects is how seamlessly it integrates with its surroundings. The estate is actively lived in, with agriculture, local production, and outdoor experiences shaping the guest experience. Dining at Tosca ristorante at Castello di Casole was a highpoint. The restaurant highlights traditional Tuscan cuisine, using ingredients grown directly on the estate...olive oil, wine, and seasonal produce. The food was exceptional, with a focus on authenticity and quality. We sampled items like baby squid, bread and oil, tortelli, and seabed amberjack. Service was one of the defining features of the hotel. Our servers were attentive, professional, and personable Memorable meal... Castello di Casole d'Elsa is a nice anniversary splurge that captures the essence of Tuscany in both style and substance. With its extraordinary setting, refined design, and outstanding service, it offers a deeply memorable visit that feels authentic. An immersive Tuscan escape...ideal for travelers seeking tranquility and a truly elevated countryside experience.

We had the most amazing stay!!! Every single staff member was wonderful. We ate most of our meals…read moreon the premises, and our meals were excellent! Even our driver Marian, our driver for two days, was unbelievable. All of the places he suggested to us were perfect for our group. He was on time and went above and beyond in every way. I would highly recommend Castello Di Casole. You will not be disappointed!!!!

We decided to stay in a hotel in Livorno vs an airBNB, bc we wanted a change of pace. Apts in…read moreItaly tend to be small, and the showers are tiny. The Palazzo is the nicest hotel in Livorno, and has been in biz for over 100 yrs. It has great views of the water fr the rooftop bar & restaurant. Single rooms were about €150,00 including taxes & fees. The rooms were spacious, and the bathrooms were good sized and inc a tub. We indulged in the bar & apps, bfast buffet and dinner during our stay. The service was excellent, but the pricing is high. For an example, an Americano cocktail was €18,00 vs elsewhere the drink would have been €8,00. Secondarily, the buffet is €22,00, but did not have made to order items. The scrambled eggs were runny, and the sausage were like hot dogs. I stuck to the charcuterie, boiled eggs, fresh fruit and croissants. I also grabbed take away for mija & ITC, that dropped the actual cost closer to €7,00/person. Lastly, dinner was +€100,00 for two entrees, a salad, a dessert and one glass of wine. All in all, a positive stay bc of the rooms, the location and excellent service. Apparently the Palazzo is popular for weddings and bachelorette parties too. I'm glad the Italian version of the latter are more tame vs the crap you see in Vegas - LOL!

I know I'm rating hotel, but I have to start with the food. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow…read moremorning of the breakfast buffet. It was beautiful - inside and out. Yes, inside of my belly. They have these small pizza bites (for breakfast - it's like college, I know) that were so amazing. The hotel is clean, the prices reasonable, the Internet fast and free and the parking is absolutely easy and free as well. If you pay for a small upgrade, you get a beach view. There's also a fitness studio with technogym equipment and a spa (spa I haven't tried). The TV has a few international channels. Everything fancy shmancy, you could say. My boyfriend wants me to add: the toilet paper roll isn't properly attached to the wall and there is some mold along the bathtub.

Superb hotel in Siena. Staff was superb. Location is right at the edge of the walled city, so close…read moreto the sites but quiet. Our room overlooked to courtyard in the back, with long range Tuscan views over the wall. Breakfast was wonderful. Rooms are spacious and the beds are great. Happy to stay again when we return to Siena.

This hotel is great! The room was spacious and overlooked their beautiful garden. It was very clean…read moreand well kept. My wife and I stayed for three nights while in Siena. They had a lovely continental breakfast every morning, which we ate in the garden overlooking the incredible view and hillside of the Tuscan landscape. I highly recommend this hotel over something that lacks the views.

Best spot on the island of Elba. Water in Biodola beach is sooo beautiful!!! Love the view:…read moresunrise, sunsets.... Best summer days! Service is as good as it can be. All stuff are smiling all the time, they serve the best of the best. They work so hard to make everybody happy. Food is fresh and professional presentation. There is nothing negative I could say about this place. They have everything you dream for your best vacation, for kids too. They have a great kids club with lots of activities and kids dinners with fun games so parents can enjoy their dinners:) So lucky to be coming here for past 5 years. Excellent!!!!! OK!!! It's 2017 and I am back like every year for past 7 years?! Yes, I am blessed. This year I have to say that kids club schedule is shorter and because of hat more kids present at dinner to mess up the self service salad bar and deserts. I literally saw kids sticking their hands bowls of dressings, fruit and salads... licking the serving spoon from the cakes and put them back on tray... disgusting! One of the servers should keep on eye on them, guarding the food and serve the kids. Really nobody wants to eat after kids touch and lick everything!!! If they don't fix this one star comes off. The rest is still so heavenly beautiful!!! After so many years I feel like home coming here.

Ristorante Bel Soggiorno feels like a natural stop in San Gimignano. It is located along the town's…read morenarrow stone streets, the restaurant opens into a warm, elegant space with terracotta floors, wooden beams, and a relaxed atmosphere that reflects its long history. What truly sets it apart is the view. From the terrace and dining room windows, the Tuscan countryside stretches across rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves, turning the meal into something memorable. The menu focuses on classic Tuscan dishes...handmade pastas, rich ragùs, roasted meats, and seasonal ingredients...prepared with simplicity and care. The atmosphere is refined yet informal, with attentive service and an unhurried pace that encourages you to linger. Bel Soggiorno focuses on good food, spectacular scenery, and the kind of dining experience that makes Tuscany feel exactly the way you imagined it would.

Ambiance is great, food and service mediocre. Very salty and heavy on sauce. We did not have…read morereservations. Not sure if that had any influenced?

I just spent a weekend here with my partner and 4 year old daughter and had a fantastic experience…read more First things first, the hotel is clean, comfortable and inviting. The bathroom was super clean. Ahhh. Hotel is right in the village and we had windows and a balcony overlooking the port. It was in walking distance to the beach and the village. The hotel staff was friendly and and remembered details about us every time they saw us (in a helpful, not creepy way). They had trustworthy entertainment for kids, so that we could leave our daughter for an hour or two on Saturday evening -- essentially free babysitting -- while we strolled around the village. I eat gluten free and the sweet hotel restaurant staff remembered and always brought me a gluten free plate of bread with my meal (not that I wanted it! :) ) and brought me a basket of gluten free pastries to choose from every morning. By only the second morning, as soon as they saw me enter the breakfast room, they swept upon me making sure I had good options for breakfast (again, not that I wanted pastries, but...). And, in general, they made sure every other meal was gluten free and seemed to tell the kitchen staff to watch out for contamination. The only troubling thing I could even think to say about the hotel is that they put us in a suite with a room for our 4 yo that has a balcony that she could access. We were able to work around it to prevent her from accessing it without us, but...kinda dangerous. Overall, clean, spacious, friendly, good food....kinda homey. Did I say clean? I would definitely return.

From the owner: Immerso nella Maremma Toscana, l'Hotel l'Approdo si affaccia nello…read more splendido porticciolo di Castiglione della Pescaia. Unisce la passione per l' ospitalità ad un ambiente accogliente e "familiare" dove i nostri ospiti possono rilassarsi e ricaricare le proprie energie. L'hotel dispone di 48 camere dotate di tutti i comfort standard e realizzate con interni sobri e confortevoli. Le nostre camere si dividono in: "Classic": la nostra soluzione di riferimento, classiche ed accoglienti, la maggior parte dispone anche di un balconcino ed alcune offrono la vista sul porticciolo. "Superior": per regalarvi un'esperienza suggestiva grazie alla presenza di un balconcino panoramico che si affaccia sul golfo di Castiglione della Pescaia. La camera "Superior" è dotata di tutti i comfort e attenzioni particolari per i nostri ospiti (dotazione di ciabattine, beauty creme, accappatoio e bollitore per tisane).

Considering that this is a 5-star hotel I would have expected better rooms and more included in the…read moreprice. My stay in this hotel was very pleasant, but the bathroom was very small and inconveniently designed. Also, the thermal pools in the hotel we had to pay an additional 40 euro pp for. The service was good. As it is mid-season we were able to get a late checkout (6pm) and the hotel had upgraded our room (we didn't even need to ask for this). If you're planning to stay at this resort make sure to ask for a room with a nice bathroom. The lady at the reception recommended me to do this next time.

We stayed here for two nights during a VBT cycling tour of Tuscany. This resort is one of the few…read morefive-star facilities in Tuscany. Its main highlights are a private beach on the Estrucan Coast, an outdoor pool, and a lavish spa with treatments, therapies, saunas, steam rooms, and Roman baths. Our ground-floor room was fine, with a nice outdoor patio looking out on the resort's private park. It included free Wi-Fi, Sky TV, a bathroom with both shower and bathtub, complimentary bathrobes and slippers, a mini-bar, and a safe. Some of the people in our group requested room changes because of problems with the showers. We luckily didn't experience any difficulty with ours, but don't be afraid to ask for assistance or another room if need be; the staff seemed eager to accommodate. We opted to eat dinner out both nights instead of at the facility's restaurant, but we had the complimentary breakfast here both mornings. This was a cut above the free breakfast provided by most hotels, with hot scrambled eggs and bacon. Service at the front desk was always courteous. We especially enjoyed the beach, the massage treatments in the spa, and the lobby bar, where we enjoyed pre-dinner drinks. Please note that you pay extra for treatments at the spa, as well as for special services like laundry or ironing.

This friendly hotel on the beautiful bay of Talamone is a wonderful place to stay in Maremma,…read moreTuscany. We have visited for the previous 2 summers and have always been welcomed and seduced by the laid-back good-living of Tuscany by the sea. This is far away from 'Chianti-shire' and you are unlikely to meet other Brits here. The resort is a tiny haven and fairly exclusively Italian with a smattering of German and Dutch accents to be heard. The sea is often crystal clear and if you hire a car there is so much to do in the local area. The hotel owner Stefano and his extremely welcoming team will make sure that you experience the best of the area- we come back every year wishing we could have stayed! (The map that accompanies this hotel listing has the hotel inland but in fact it overlooks the marina on the peninsular of Talamone.)