Villas in Tuscany & Umbria Since 1998

Overall impression: I was very impressed - it was very clean and the equipment was first rate. The best testimony I can give is that I could happily live in the apartment we stayed in.
Highlights: The holiday was intended to be a stress free care-free break. The bonus was the excellent weather
Unpleasant surprises:The only regret was the standard of flights we had chosen, but that was purely down to our own choice. There were no unpleasant surprises otherwise
Stephen (Accommodation: La Torre Vecchia)

Overall impression: Malvasia was just lovely. We thought it was a great villa, especially with the 3 terraces. It was clean and well stocked with everything we needed. The pool was lovely and relaxing and plenty of space for all of the guests.
Highlights: We really enjoyed just relaxing and our visits to the lovely Sienna and San Gimigiano. Malvasia was the perfect villa for a very relaxing holiday.
Unpleasant surprises: No unpleasant surprises as such, however we found that there were a number of lights that were not working and replacement bulbs were not supplied.
Liza ( Accommodation: Malvasia)

Hi Lisa,
just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our holiday in Vignale. The accommodation (Malvasia) was excellent and the view from the pool stunning. Your own help and advice before we left was also invaluable. I just thought I would mention that Malvasia has its own washing machine as well as access to the communal machine - neither of which is mentioned on the web site.[To Tuscany comment: washing machine added in Malvasia's services] As a consequence I brought far too many clothes as I thought I would have no washing facilities for the fortnight. So it might be worth updating the description of the property to reflect this.
The only difficulty we had, and I'm sure you have heard this before was the approach road. Having read to-tuscany's own description and the client comments when booking our hire car we had requested a diesel car with a large engine. Despite this, on our arrival, we were unable to get the car up the last 600 metres without removing our cases and dragging them up manually - not fun in 30 degrees of heat. I think your web site should recommend that guests hire a 4 wheel drive car.[To Tuscany comment:The road is being done in closed season]
Other than that the trip was perfect - we managed to see a lot of the surrounding towns - Florence, Sienna and even managed 2 days in Rome.
I have already started trawling your web site for next year but would like a property with air conditioning, which seems to be hard to find.
Once again thanks for all your help and advice
regards
Rita (Accommodation: Malvasia)

Overall impression: Fantastic
Highlights: The view from Vignale and getting married!!
Unpleasant surprises: No
Zoe (Accommodation:La Torre vecchia)

Overall impression: Very good with high quality accommodation and site Generally very very good facilities  BUT just a bit irritating was the fact that our accommodation lacked some key items e.g. a dustpan (we bought one!) At the pool area there were not enough sunbeds or sun shades (we bought one and left it there!) and no sun bed cushions or chair cushions (we ended up using sofa cushions which isn't good for the owners!) Plus absolutely no basics! (normally there are a few bits and pieces around or left from previous occupants e.g. foil, matches, clingfilm, the odd bit of cleaning fluids etc which you then replace as you go along - this meant that although we had been to the supermarket on the way and did a BIG shop we were missing some key essentials to start our holiday. We did notice that in the turnaround the cleaners stripped the villas of all those spare bits!
There was just a bit of a lack of niceties - it would have been nice to have a courtesy bottle or two of water (and wine!) It all just felt a little flat on arrival.
Also please, please, please provide pool towels - with our flight operators limiting luggage to 15kg per person we ended up leaving towels behind at the villa to avoid xs baggage charges. Our expectation with a high quality villa is that pool towels should be provided. (otherwise the linen provision was excellent -although more T towels pls!!!)
Highlights: Weather, pool and other children to play with
Unpleasant surprises: The hill and access!!! Our hire car couldn't make it - it was clear on the journey guide but I do think it should be clearer on the details that the access is not for the faint hearted - plus recommend diesel hire cars! (most other holiday makers felt the same way during our stay)
Mary  (Accommodation: Sangiovese)

Overall impression: Excellent – some of the best quality accommodation we have rented abroad. We loved Vignale and will almost certainly try to return some time.
However, some form of shade at the pool is essential – we ended up buying a cheap sun umbrella at the local supermarket which kept at least one of us in the shade, but some sort of permanent shade such as the reeded shade provided by the patio areas would go down well.
Highlights: Sitting by the pool in the late afternoon soaking up the shade, visiting the local sculpture park and gallery (and meeting the delightful owner – who insisted on showing my husband her meal when he went into raptures about the wonderful smell!!) , visiting Siena – only 15-20 minutes away and eating in Lecci (where the children fell in love with the owner’s dog!)
Unpleasant surprises: The track up to the property was even more difficult to drive along than we expected and was very rutted, making it difficult to manoeuvre along – it put us off going out at night The water ran out three times with no warning…or explanation what to do if it did The main bed had a plastic-lined mattress protector which was extremely hot – ones without plastic lining do exist.
Some form of air-conditioning in the bedrooms (or even just more fans) would make sleeping at night more bearable as it was extremely hot upstairs – even with all the windows open
Tracey (Accommodation: Vin Santo)

Overall impression: Wonderful! The villa and the views were beautiful.  The villa was very well equipped and tastefully decorated.  We hated to leave. It was a little remote which was in the description or comments, but didn't understand quite how remote.
Driving to it was an adventure, but the view made up for the drive.
Highlights: Waking up getting my coffee and walking out to see the morning sun over the hills, the food and wine.
Actually, the whole trip was highlights.
Unpleasant surprises: The plane trip could have been better.  But you or Italy had nothing to do with that.
Cynthia (Accommodation: Malvasia)

Overall impression: Vignale/ Pinot Bianco was a fantastic place and the vacation exceeded all our expectations!! The apartment was even better than described, which is not always the case. We are definitely planning to book again for next summer.
Highlights: Just relaxing in Vignale. We even skipped a few of our planned excursions to be able to spend more time by the pool and enjoy the view. Even our children (ages 5, 8 and 10) loved the place!
unpleasant surprises: The road up to Vignale could have been in better shape...

It would also have been nice to have a brief history of the building in the welcome-folder.
If you have any such information we would still be very interested to find out more details of the house and its past!
Johanna & Pekka (Finland)

[Our comment: Vignale was an old farm that was abandoned when the water well dried up around 100 years ago. This would have been a self sufficient hamlet of 3 families working the land on a crop sharing basis with the land owners. The main land they would have worked on is now where the vineyards from the Dievole winery are planted. The apartments were part of the farm - Pinot Bianco was the hay barn, I Cipressi was where the pigs were housed. The farm workers lived in the main building and the animals such as oxen and chickens lived in the ground floor area of the main building. The original bread oven of the farmstead is still at Vignale]

Overall impression: We were very pleased with the accommodation. You do not often find that the actual holiday accommodation is better than the photographs and description offered, but in this case it was. Pinot Bianco is a lovely accommdation and we would not hesitate to return or book an alternative through To Tuscany.
Highlights: The accommodation and general location of the accommodation. After we had been to Tuscany we had a few nights in Rome and although this was pleasant we all wished we had stayed for an extra week in Pinot Bianco instead.
Unpleasant surprises: No.
Michelle (Accommodation: Pinot Bianco)

Very clean and in wonderful surroundings. Very well equipped, especially the kitchen. Previous holiday experience dictates that there is always something missing in the kitchen - a decent knife, vegetable peeler or cork screw etc but this time we had everything we needed. The borgo had just the right number of houses for the pool which the most incredible views across the countryside.
Caroline Wills (Accommodation: I Cipressi)

The property was excellent.  On arrival it was larger, and more well equiped that had been expected.  The location although up a steep dirt track, was lovely, it was very quiet and peaceful.  The swimming pool was clean and of a good size, with fantastic views.
Andrew Neil Hall (Accommodation: I Cipressi)

Hi Michela.
Greetings from a grey and dreary Dublin.
Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed our holiday at Vignale.
The location and the accomodation far exceeded our expectations and even having seen the photos on the website the reality was just so much better. Lorraine and I were very pleasently surprised by the high standard of the furnishings and decor, and the kids were delighted with the pool and the video collection.
What a place!!! Fantastic.
Many Thanks.
John, Lorraine, Sophie, and George. (Accommodation: Pinot Bianco)

Wonderful - it was at least as good as described which is often not the case. It was beautifully presented wonderfull clean and just altogther absolutely wonderful. The fact it was quite out of teh way and issoloated but near local services at teh same time. the site was spectacular, the house well equiped beautiful furniture, lovel towels and sheets - the local info an guide books a n added nice touch the pool unbeleivable etc etc - it was really very very good
Susan Mac Donald (Accommodation: Sangiovese)

Dear Linda,
Arrived back in dreary Melbourne early this morning after a fantastic time in Italy.  Pinot Bianco was even better than it looked on the to tuscany website - we were absolutely thrilled with the accommodation - the views, the location, the serenity and the excellent standard of furniture and fixtures at the villa. 
We had a totally trouble free vacation, no mishaps at all.  We can also highly recommend the accommodation in Rome ( a b and b) near the Spanish Steps - I can pass on the details if you would like them.
Thanks for all your help and advice over the past few months - it helped make our trip to Italy a fantastic experience!
Regards,
Lisa, David and Karina Conway (Accommodation: Pinot Bianco)

Michela,  We had a truly wonderful time - the villa was excellent and Tuscany beautiful!  We'll definitely be coming again.  Many thanks for a wonderful holiday - it was much needed and I'm now being much nicer to people at work!!! Jane
(Vin Santo)

Hi Michela,
Back to real life with a bump - I have to say I much prefer the holiday
version. Our time in Tuscany at Pinot Bianco was excellent in every
respect - thanks for helping towards a superb family holiday for us in
2003.
With best regards
Steve Brown