Farm House La Grotta di Montecchino - Siena

9.4

Traumhafte Umgebung, gute Küche, Anreise nachts war kein Problem, sehr Kinderfreundlich, sehr gepflegte Anlage, sehr herzlicher Service,

8.0

First of all no AC (Farm House), The bed was not really a bed it was a queen size cot with coils and a thin mattres. Very unconfortable. My wife says that this cot was located in hell and even they did not want it so it ended up here. The views were beutiful and Max was very friendly and helpful. Very relaxing and very peaceful but not very confortable. The entrance to the property is not marked and very difficult to find. At the end of the road their is a great outdoor restaurant.

7.4

Very nice place to live. A bit hard to find, but quite easy once you know it (of course). Try to get there before the night and it should be easy to locate. We were there during October, so we slept with the windows closed. That made a big difference, since we didn't hear the dogs bark. If we had been there during the hot summer nights, I don't think I would've slept well because of them. Also, the bed are quite soft. I prefer a really harder mattress. A week on those and my back was sore. Other then that, the place is great. The view is magnificent and it's close to all the must see villages around. Pay in cash.

9.5

We arrived at La Grotta quite late in the afternoon but Max was still there with a wonderful warm welcome. He certainly made our stay as nothing was too much trouble, even giving us his mobile number just in case. The accommodation was good value for money and the surroundings were heaven. We would definately stay there again on our next trip.

8.9

Nice place for a family visiting central Toscany. High quality/price ratio.

2.6

The accommodation was very poor and self catering facilities totally inadequate! Furniture was old and cheap especially the bed. Definitely would not stay there again. One redeeming feature which salvaged the place was the lovely location and views.Local barking dogs did not help either.

9.1

Lage ist sehr schön, Besitzer ausgesprochen freundlich. Aussenanlagen sehr gepflegt. Wenn man sich nicht an alten Möbeln stört (Matratzen sind jedoch neu und o.K.) eine absolut empfehlenswerte Adresse. Wir hatten sehr schöne Tage und haben unseren Aufenthalt genossen.

8.1

Tony is great, and helped us a lot. Took us to town before we got our car, and helped us with directions, taxi's, etc. The other help didn't speak english, so Tony's it! Great views from room, and easy to get to Siena or other towns close by. Loved S. Rocco di Pilli village. You must bring food, drinks, paper towels, etc. with you. We learned the hard way our first night there.

8.8

This was our first trip to Sienna and we found it difficult to find our way through to get to the farmhouse but once there, we had no problems. Max, the manager, couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful. Our apartment was super and very spacious. We loved the rural location and appreciated the quietness of the countryside. With Max's helpful suggestions, we visited all the wonderful sights in the area and he even arranged an individual tour around one of the local wineries! I would certainly recommend the farmhouse to friends and family!

5.5

The pictures on the Web site did not match up with what the site looked like. I think the pictures came from another house that had the pool, but where we stayed looked nothing like those pictures.

9.8

Si vous désirez rester dans un B&B situé dans la campagne, accessible par un chemin en terre et en haut d'une colline avec vue sur la Toscane, c'est là qu'il faut aller. Lors de notre arrivée, le proprio nous a donné un appartement très petit mais très joli. Comme nous y restions pour 3 jours, nous avons demandé de changer, ce qui fut fait le lendemain sans discussion. Nous avons grandement apprécié prendre notre verre de vin sur le bord de la piscine au coucher du soleil après une belle journée de visite. Facile d'accès pour visiter Sienne et les environs, à environ 40Km de Montepulciano et autres plus au sud. Petit café, pharmacie, supermarché, banque, situé au villageà environ 1km. Seul problème est de trouver le B&B car les indications et plans reçus du proprio sont inexacts. Le proprio aurait avantage à modifier les informations aux voyageurs car une fois l'endroit trouvé, c'est le bonheur.

7.3

Max was wonderful. However, we advised them we were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and they gave us a pullout sofa outside the kitchen. Not the way I expected to spend my last 3 nights in Tuscany.

7.5

Posizione ottima, a 10 minuti da Siena. Non tutte le camere sono locate nel casolare fotografato, ma in casette separate da circa 200 metri dal casolare. A parte un leggero odore di muffa, le camere sono pulite. L'arredamento lascia un po' a desiderare ed è poco curato (la "tv" è un pezzo d'antiquariato). La colazione e la cena (a parte) sono a menù fisso ma di ottima qualità.

3.4

main problem = dogs barking all the time this is NOT a four star agriturismo but only a two star residence inside the furniture is very very old

9.7

Our first time in Tuscany, and what a wonderful experience! We could not have asked for a more perfect setting. Beautiful scenery, large airy rooms, privacy, peace and quiet. A warm welcome from hosts for whom nothing was too much trouble - Max certainly lived up to the rave reviews we saw on the website. Even when we arrived close to 10pm on the first night, he came up to our room with drinks and fresh fruit salad in case we were hungry. Don't miss the opportunity to buy some of their wine produced on the farm! The typical Tuscan cooking was also among the best meals we sampled in all of Italy. We will definitely return if we are able, this time for longer. A definite highlight of our trip to Italy.

3.3

Caveat canis! You may want to avoid this place if you are a light sleeper/annoyed by barking dogs. There is a veritable kennel behind the main apartments which erupts into what sounds like a feeding frenzy at intervals throughout the day. Even a move to another location on the property was not canine-free; the second set of dogs favoured night communication. The beauty and tranquillity of the setting was undercut by the noise. ( Noise can be good thing when there is a purpose - ie. Rome after the World Cup -there was just no point to the dog thing.) As the property manager was quick to point out, "this is not a hotel" so be prepared to purchase soap, toilet paper, and other necessities. The seven day booking arrangment means that your money will not be refunded if you decide not to remain.

6.6

There needs to be a PRECISE map on the website to find the place, it is difficult without it. We found Max most helpful, without him the place would not be worthy of a mention, he adds value!

4.7

Rented apartment for four. Pros- large rooms, low price, kitchen okay, nice pool, covered parking Cons - dogs from nearby farm barked all day long, second bed was a fold out couch in the kitchen/dining area that was extremely uncomfortable (almost unbearable), breakfast was 5 euro extra per person, no air conditioning.

6.4

Really enjoyed stay only disappointed that pool was ready for our stay. But owners and Max very friendly.

9.8

A very memorable stay. I highly recommend it to all my friends. Tony and Max were very helpful in getting us settled in and provided us with helpful directions for touring Tuscany. The location in the heart of Tuscany made it easilly accessible to all of the tourist sights. One of the most comfortable and memorable holidays my wife and I have ever had.

10

The Grotta was everything that we were looking for. It was a perfect getaway in the countryside but right on the bus line that was 100% reliable. As everyone has noted, Max is the BEST host and I would return just to see him again. Plan to spend time outside at the tables drinking wine and enjoying the Tuscan sun.

8.2

We enjoyed our stay although the nights were really cold. Heating was not sufficient as we were there in late November 05. The place is quite difficult to find so as a suggestion to future patrons - follow Max's instructions closely.

10

Wow! All we can say is Wow. This beautiful farm house surrounded by beautiful countryside was purely magical. I know that sounds very sickly but if you are looking for a peaceful haven near a beautiful city my mother and I cannot recommend this highly enough. We were here for 4 days and even without a car we were happy taking the lovely walk to the bus stop and using the local busses that take you to the town centre. The house and rooms are very rustic and truely Tuscan - in the nicest possible way. However, our trip was made that much more special thanks to Max! We arrived very late but he happily drove to us and provided us with a plate of much needed local meats, bread and wine as we had been travelling all day. He is a fountain of local knowledge and was so happy to chat with visitors who took an interested in the area. Max - Thank You! We will come back very soon!

9.9

WE LOVED THE COUNTRY SETTING THE PEOPLE WERE VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFULL SPECIALLY MAX THE MANAGER AND TONY THE OWNER. THE COOKING WAS EXCELLENT DONE BY A LADY NAMED AURELIA. WE WILL BE BACK.

9.9

We had a fabulous time during our stay and everyone made us feel very welcome. We did have quite a time finding the place but we failed to email for explicit directions before we left on our trip. Thanks to a lovely woman who called on her own cell phone outside Siena to get directions for us. Tony, the owner, who was a very busy man,would often stop by during dinner to chat with us and offer suggestions on places to vist while there. The wine served during dinner was from Tony's own vineyard as well as the olive oil from his own trees. Max, his manager, was very helpful giving us directions to various places and made great recommendations. Arelia, the cook, was wonderful and made us fabulous homecooked meals which we missed very much after we left. The countryside was spectacular and we looked forward to sitting outside after a long day of sightseeing drinking our wine and eating antipasto before dinner was served. Our apt. was roomy with a kitchen although we never cooked. We provided our own breakfast. Everyone spoke English well which was a great help. Everyone we met staying at the Grotto was nice and we enjoyed a very homey and warm ambience. The only negative was that the shower leaked which they said they were going to fix after the season was over and Tony preferred to be paid in cash. This really didn't bother us. Thanks to everyone for a fabulous stay. We only hope that we are able to visit again.

8.6

we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the "Grotto"..its history and age has been well restored..Most of all we enjoyed meeting some new friends from the US as well as other parts of Europe. We greatly appreciated the 2 dinners served while we were there, as well as the one we prepared together with our new friends. Good local cuisine(Some from the garden). The scenery is very calming..no traffic, except in the tourist towns. The location is great, just a few KM from all the special little towns of Sienna, etc. But, most of all, we enjoyed our host, Max. He was on time for us, made us feel comfortable and is a veritible "History" book on European culture/history. Plus he gave us very explicit instructions, on driving and many places to go to dinner & sight seeing and was available whenever needed. Remember to get his cell # off the internet so you can call for directions to the "farm house" or whenever you are lost. He is most eager to help. Also remember to bring your own soap and TP..not supplied by owner....We will go back next year to visit, we hope....David and Bonnie Wolfe, Carmel, Ca. USA

9.4

The host, Max, was extremely friendly and very helpful about places to visit/ excursions in Tuscany (even making reservations on our behalf). Also very knowlegable about local food and culture. Speaks excellent English. Beautiful farmhouse in a lovely setting (though difficult to find from map on venere). Handy for visiting Siena and a great base for exploring Tuscany. Has own restaurant and a lovely house wine from their vinyard. Overall 10 out of 10.

8.4

It was a very nice place. But I wasn't impressed when the owner told me his VISA machine wasn't working. We had to make a special trip to town to do a cash advance - and I think he could've told me sooner - it had been broken for a few days apparently. I didn't really believe that it was broken - I assumed he just wanted cash. And although it says he charges half on the CC at the time of booking on venere - he told me he didn't put it through so - I had to trust him and give him the full amount. bit of a pain really. My only other issue was that the room smelled strongly of smoke. And while I know it's Italy and lots of people smoke, if you're not a smoker, then it's particularly annoying to come back to your room at the end of a great day touring tuscany to a smoky room. Max - one of the staff members was great and very friendly. The place was in a great setting and close by car to Siena.

9.8

My husband and I loved staying here. The apartment we had was very large with a kitchen stocked with all utilities. The surroundings are beautiful andvery close to the pictures. The pool is a little smaller than picture, but adequate and clean. The property manager was great, and there is very little supervision. We highly recommend eating dinner there(closed wed & thurs.). The property is very close to a small town with a big supermarket, two atms & restaurants. It was a great position to drive all over Tuscany or/and relax by the pool all day. You must watch the amazing sunset from the top of the hill. There are not any luxuries, but if you want to enjoy the countryside this is a great place.

10

Tony the owner and Max the manager made our dream come true in Tuscany, the place was wonderful,Max gave us plenty of info of the surrounding areas and places to visit. And every Monday - if you love football !..they have an informal footie match - so it was England v Italy...and we won...also a wonderful American couple John &La Grotto to anyone !...

8.1

It's a nice property. PAceful place with beautiful typucal tuscany views. Well located. Massimiliano was very helpful recommending us where to go, how to get there... The only ting was that staying with little children it was a bit unconfortable to be at the upper part because of the staris, carring on the buggy up and down...and consequently when children were sleeping we had to be in the apartment insted of sitting outside drinking a coupe of wine...it was a shame! Anyway, we'lll recommend this place to our friends, for sure!

8.2

Having never stayed in an agritourismo, it was an interesting experience. Bring your own soap. It is a nice property and we had a large room with kitchen and bathroom. The location is good and pretty close to Siena but it helps to know that the Siena "by-pass" in the directions is the "Tangenziale". I would not recommend it for a traveler without a car. The proprietor, Max, was very helpful on recommendations for where to go and how to get there.

8.6

A great host a lovely property in a wonderful setting. Although there is a bus, a rental car is handy. Good cooking facilities.

9.9

this place is an absolute treasure. only problem is finding it! head for rocco a pilli and you can't go wrong. don't rely on the bus service, we waited an hour and a half, and ended up taking the car into siena. tony, the owner is a doll, gave us maps and hints on best places to visit. the surroundings of this villa are breathtaking! olive groves and vineyards right outside your window. sitting in the spacious gardens with vino in hand, watching the sun set over the tuscan hills. we were ther in november, so his restaurant was closed, i was disappointed ,as were expecting to taste the results of the cooking classes that take place here during the summer. thought it was year round. only a small glitch though. we found the the deli in rocco a pilli was great for breads ,cheese, meats and so forth. the room was delightful. it's a villa so don't expect the ritz. it's pure tuscan charm! we stayed for 7 days, wish it had been longer. siena is amazing, as is florence which is only an hour's drive away. overall, i can highly recommend this villa.

8.9

This farmhouse has a beautiful location, and once we ironed out the kinks, it was one of our favorite spots in Italy. However, it was not without problems. We arrived in Sienna without a phone number for this place, since it was not on the website. I showed the woman at the Sienna bus station where we wanted to go, using the website map and address. She said no bus went there and sent me next door. They sent me back, and yes, in fact, a bus does go there, although I would say buses run every hour, not half hour. We also showed the bus driver the map, and it turns out he let us off at the wrong place, perhaps a mile away and in the middle of nowhere....we hiked down the road, luckily in the correct direction. When we arrived, no one was at the farmhouse. We didn't have a cell phone. We rang the bell at the supposed reception. No one answered. We waited almost two hours and suddenly a disheveled woman appeared. She spoke no English but called a number and put us through to the owner, who told us he'd be there in 15 min. He was and things turned around. He is a very busy guy and quite a character, a dentist, farmer and wine maker who really tried to make us happy. Eventually he showed us a closer bus stop, but that was the day we also discovered the buses were on strike. This place is doable by bus, but would be much easier if you had a car. Our room was old and cozy, but hardly the photo in the brochure. The "living room" was in fact two chairs at the end of the kitchen/dining area. We did notice one upstairs apt. was large and spacious; if the weather is nice, you won't be inside anyhow. We managed to find a small town 1 1/2 miles away, also accessible by bus,which is where we bought groceries and wine. We loved having time to cook in the very nice, modern kitchen. It was past swimming season, but the pool looked much smaller than in the photo, although the good doctor said they are going to enlarge it. We spent one entire afternoon sitting outsi

5.2

Yes we also had trouble with the directions ! The trick is to ask for directions to S Rocco a Pilli – which is omitted from the map on the website ! Although the rolling Tuscan hills were a fabulous outlook and we enjoyed the pool, our apartment did not quite come up to expectations. Obviously the furnishings were completed on a very tight budget and looked second hand. A few creature comforts would have been appreciated. In the heart of fabulous wine country – but no wine glasses, just tumblers. Having said that, Tony was very helpful and friendly.

8.1

Sur les hauteurs de Sienne, cette "grotte" (en fait une ancienne ferme) vous accueillera pour un séjour au calme en pleine nature, rythmé par les sons bucoliques des coqs, vaches et chiens... Les chambres et appartements sont grands et bien agencés. L'été, les vacanciers bénéficient d'une piscine et d'un court de tennis. En toute saison, le propriétaire-fermier-dentiste vous accueillera chaleureusement et vous conseillera sur les lieux à visiter dans la région. Attention: comme il ne loge pas sur place, il est nécessaire de lui téléphoner à l'avance pour le prévenir de votre arrivée. Pas de petit-déjeuner sur place, mais les cafés-pâtisseries sont nombreux dans les environs (nous recommandons celui de Rocco a pili). Well located not very far from Sienna in the middle of typical Tuscanian landscape, this little converted ancient farmhouse will welcome you with comfortable and nicely decorated rooms. The host is part-time farmer, part-time dentist (good to know!) and will give you some hints about what to do in the area. Do not forget to call him before arriving as he is not residing directly on the premises. No breakfast, but you can go for one of the nearby pastry & coffee shops, such as Pasticceria Betti e Sinatti.

9.9

Our stay was everything we expected and then some. Tony was an exceptional host who even loaned us clothing and a hair dryer after our baggage was delayed 5 days. The farmhouse was the perfect place to stay if you are looking to immerse yourself in the local culture instead of the tourist areas. We had the time of our lives! (even without fresh clothing!)

4.3

We were not happy to find that our accommodation wasn't near the pool as indicated on the website. Pool tiny. The owner was not around to answer queries and did not fully introduce us to the accommodation. Shower hot then cold. Lamps with no shades. Bulbs missing. The owners dogs were allowed to walk freely in the accommodation area. One was ill and whined. Dog mess was left in public areas. Elderly people (parents?) walked up and down all day through public areas to a dog compound (in the accommodation area), often hitting dogs. Tuscany was beautiful!

4.5

very disappointed ! The website don't tell that some of the rooms are not in the house near swimming pool but 600m away and for the same price. Although the owner told us that we had paid by visa card on the website, he asked us to pay again at the end of the stay with cash ... this is not very professionnal.

7.2

Chambre correcte mais mauvaise literie et propreté insuffisante. Le petit-déjeuner est proposé en supplément (très bon). La maison et l'environnement sont magnifiques. Attention : le propriétaire débite 50% du prix avant le séjour.

9.8

this was an absolutely beautiful spot in tuscany and our favourite place on our 6 wk trip through italy, england and france. kind gracious owner with excellent english and great food and service. a little hard to find with the website map but well worth the trouble. thanks for a wonderful stay. we hope to be back and will recommend this place to all our friends. Ross and Melinda

9.9

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The surroundings were beautiful and accomodation was close enough ( 5 minute drive, park and 30 minute bus ride ) to Venice. We enjoyed the rural respite from hectic days in Venice and vacinity. Highly recommend.

8.4

Road map to drive to the Grotta di Montec. has to be improved for better understanding

8.8

The owner actually met us and had us follow him to the property. Our apartment was large but the furnishings were sparse. since we spent little time in the apt., it really did not matter. They do not deliver clean towels daily, so be sure to ask for them. Also, you will need matches for the range which they do not supply and bring your own soap too. The surroundings were beautiful and the views too. We would definately recommend it as long as your expectations are reasonable.

9.5

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We were made very welcome, given advice on where to go and found the apartment comfortable and the location is suberb - just outside Siena. The apartments are on a farm so you are occasionally woken by dogs and have to avoid hares that leap across the road

6.1

I would recommend this farm stay to couples, it's a cheap alternative to some of the others we saw, and was still very cosy. The only other comment I would make is that I may not recommend it to single females, the gentlemen in charge you could say was a little too friendly and made our stay a little uncomfortable.

9.8

The place is easy to find. It's just out of Siena. The farm is very big and beutifull. The host speaks English and was very nice and welcoming. In the room we had a full equipped kitchen which enabled us to prepare food. We enjoyed our stay very much and certainly will return.

8.9

We only stayed one night, but it was wonderful. The surrounding countryside was beautiful, the property was well located for our purposes and the kids enjoyed having room to play in the garden. Would recommend the property without any problems. A taste of Tuscany - well worthwhile.

9.1

The map to the place was very inaccurate. When we were 10 minutes from the place, it took us 3 hours to find it. None of the streets were marked and the street sign that existed and would have helped was not on the map. The place itself and the people there were very nice.

9.9

Really enjoyed our stay, just wish we could have stayed longer!

9.9

We enjoyed being away from the anxiety, in the country and vineyards. With a rented car, we were able to travel everywhere.

9.6

We had such a good stay that we are already planning to go back next year. Surroundings and location are both beautiful and convenient to travel around the immediate area and beyond. We were made really welcome and the apartment was super - if a little too hot! However, the summer weather has been extreme so this is not really a criticism. Thank you for a superb holiday!!

9.6

We really enjoyed staying at La Grotta di Montecchino. Thank you

6.0

The farmhouse is difficult to find. I recommend that you print the map on venere as a guide, but also get driving directions off yahoo and invest in a good street map of the outskirts of Sienna. When we arrived, there seemed to be some confusion as to which of the apartments we should be given. There are actually three separate buildings on the property (only 1 of which is shown on the site) I think that they were overbooked. Since we were only staying 1 night, we were shown to an older apartment that had not been completely renovated and looked much worse than the photos on the site. Check out was a little difficult as this is not a hotel. You have to let the staff know exactly when you will be leaving and they will make sure that they are available, otherwise, you will end up waiting like we did. Also, make sure to get a mobile number of the property owner as he is not always on site. The property owner was friendly enough and, in the end, we would probably stay at this place again.

9.8

It took us some time to reach this agriturismo (especially if you follow the map provided on the internet) but we were fully compensated by a magnificent place with a very nice owner who gave us some good hints about Siena and other places to visit. The apartments are spacious and well equipped and the surroundings are really beautiful. It is a great place to stay if you want to visit Siena since it only takes 10/15 minutes to get there. Highly recommendable!

8.7

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here, returning at the end of our holiday for another 4 nights. The farmhouse is in a beautiful location 5km from Siena. You can also easily visit the rest of Tuscany from this ideal location. The accomdation is good, with bedroom, bathroom, large kitchen/dining area. The small pool was perfect for cooling down in and we were often the only ones there, which made it even better. There is also a BBQ and outdoor tables and chairs on the well kept lawn. It is probably best if you have a car as the bus to Siena appeared to be quite infrequent. There are also various places you can travel to from this location, although I would say that it is not a good idea to take your car to Florence as it is very busy. The owner (a farmer by day and doctor by night!) is quite a character and will provide you with advice in broken english. Be aware, that you need to check in at the first farmhouse at the entrance road as he does not live at the holiday farmhouse.

8.6

I found la Grotta di Montecchino a lovely place to stay, very relaxing, and in beautiful surroundings. The italian couple who lived on the site were very welcoming and helpful. However we were given limited information in the website and email correspondence about getting there, or when and where to check in. Also there was a problem with the 50% deposit in booking online which we were not warned about, and which caused some problems at the end of our holiday.

9.5

La Grotta di Montecchino is set in a beautiful location right in the heart of the rolling Tuscan hillsides, and is very good value for money. Our stay was very relaxing and the owner very welcoming. The location map however on the website could be better as it was difficult to find initially.

6.5

very noisy howling dogs from the surrounding areas, it was diffuclt to sleep at night

9.8

Despite struggling to find La Grotta due to some dodgy navigating and a spot of innacurate advice from tourist info in Siena, our overall impression of the place was one of regret. Regret that we couldn't have stayed longer in the beautiful Sienese countryside. Regret that we didn't have enough cash to avail the proprieter's wine cellar of his own fantastic Chianti. Regret that we hadn't made more use of the excellent cooking facilities provided. And most of all, regret that we couldn't have stayed in Tuscany for life. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.