Hotel Borgo Casato

We stayed two nights at Agriturismo Podere Casato for a friend's wedding and came away very disappointed. The final bill had a few drinks removed, which was a kind gesture, but some care and kindness earlier would have made that unnecessary. We paid 270 euros a night, presumably inflated for the wedding, and it felt like a rip-off. The pool was dirty, the small room's air-conditioning didn't work, and dirty towels were left strewn in the corridor when we arrived. After we complained twice, the aircon was fixed. Breakfast was minimal and basic: you seat yourself and set out your own placemat and cutlery. We'd asked if we could arrive before check-in and relax by the pool, but the receptionist said we could only come at 3.30pm because of insurance issues. The email replies had been extremely abrupt, and the receptionist was cold on arrival. When we asked for pool towels, we were told they cost 5 euros each. I challenged the charge and got a confrontational, rude response that left my pregnant wife very uncomfortable. We wouldn't recommend it.

We booked because the photos showed a spacious, fully equipped kitchen that looked suitable for a family. In person, the kitchenette was a tiny closet with a mini sink, two burners, and almost no counter space. With three children, it wasn't adequate for preparing meals. The photos and the description of an “apartment with kitchenette” felt misleading. We asked to cancel, but the host refused a refund and said the problem was ours. There was no flexibility or goodwill, just a cold response pointing to the policy. We won't return or recommend the place. It might work for a solo traveler who doesn't plan to cook, but I wouldn't choose it for a family expecting to make meals. After we posted our review, the host publicly accused us of being aggressive and offensive to other guests. That reply has since been deleted. We want to clarify what happened: after we complained to Booking.com about the kitchenette and cancellation, the host sent a message saying, “I urge you to stop defaming Podere Casato, or I will have to contact the relevant authorities.” We felt this was a direct threat, not a polite clarification, and unacceptable toward paying guests with children. We also found that we had been charged €32 for the local tourist tax instead of the correct €16. We only learned this after asking for a receipt, and the host didn't return the difference. Booking.com had to refund us. The whole stay involved misleading advertising, no accountability, and unprofessional communication. It was especially disappointing to be publicly discredited with claims we say were false, then see the reply quietly removed. We strongly advise others to be cautious before booking.

The view has to be the best in Tuscany, and the wine is extraordinary, truly one of a kind.

This hotel has a lot going for it: it's in a beautiful area, the pool and yard are well kept, and the building and furnishings are tastefully done. Breakfast was more than okay, and I can see the place's potential. Still, our experience had some big frustrations. The bed was the worst part. It squeaked at the slightest movement, and the mattress was deeply uncomfortable, shaped like a boat. When I asked if we could change the bed or room, the receptionist said changing the bed wasn't possible. Siena is a 30-minute drive away, so I thought they might at least try to find a replacement mattress or arrange delivery. She said she'd check for another room at the same price, since an upgrade wasn't an option. Then she sat down to watch funny videos on YouTube and never came back to say whether a room was available or apologize. Nothing was done. We'd arrived two hours before check-in. At a normal hotel, if the room isn't ready, you can at least leave your bags somewhere, but there was apparently no one there outside check-in and checkout times. I explained by phone that we only wanted to leave our luggage, and after a long pause the receptionist simply said no. At breakfast, the waiter didn't even say good morning and acted as if we'd eaten his dessert whenever we asked for something.