Tenuta Castellare di Tonda

The restaurant and bar staff were nice, and the food was fairly good one night, though bleak on another. That was one of the few bright spots in our four days here as a group of adults. The property seems geared more toward families with young children on a budget, and I’m not sure what standard Google Maps uses when it calls it four-star. Our two-room apartment had one double bedroom and another with two narrow singles. Staff said all the apartments were arranged that way, and pushing the beds together left a noticeable gap. The mattresses were thin, old and uncomfortable. The smaller bedroom had a very loud air conditioner, and there wasn’t room to open a suitcase properly. Inside, the lighting was harsh in some areas and very dim in others. The place felt bare: red tile floors without rugs, no artwork or cushions, and no side or coffee table by the small grey sofa. The hard dining chairs were about the only other place to sit. Outside were metal chairs and a table, while wooden hammock-style loungers were folded in a corner. Perhaps that setup works well with little kids since there’s not much to break. The bathroom was dingy and basic, with a narrow plastic-tube shower where there was barely room to lift your arms. We had no bathtub, and I don’t know whether other apartments have one. Wi-Fi was very weak and mobile reception unreliable, which made work calls and Teams meetings difficult and communication among our group frustrating. Handy if you want to disconnect, stressful if you need a signal. Getting around the extensive grounds takes a car or a sturdy bike with a light. The gravel roads have large stones, there’s no lighting at night, and there was dog or horse poo scattered in some places. The restaurant and the buildings where our friends stayed were at least a 15-minute walk away, so it can feel isolated if you care about being nearby. Units are individually owned, and staff didn’t seem to have many options if you disliked your apartment. Separate bookings for a group may also end up far apart, as happened to us.

We had a lovely welcome from the friendly staff, who spoke English and Spanish, and even a little French. The food was delicious, and the apartment’s quality and equipment impressed us. From the pool, the view was breathtaking. Castellare di Tonda was peaceful and still well connected, just the place to recharge. We woke and fell asleep to crickets, with vineyards and olive groves all around. I’d happily come back. Thanks again for such a wonderful stay.

This was our second visit to Castellare di Tonda, Redine with a group of 20. It’s a beautiful place, with a lovely yard, and we appreciated finding the keys at reception when we arrived late for check-in. Bike rental, a pool and a yard barbecue were nice options. Our one complaint was the cleaning staff. For three mornings they arrived in a van and shouted and argued in the yard, some kind of personal dispute. The grass was also mowed by machine at 9 a.m. while we were still asleep, so we couldn’t get proper rest with the staff behaving that way.

A great family holiday spot, with pools, activities, a buffet and lovely, comfortable houses. It’s also well placed for day trips to Volterra, Siena, Firenze and other places. Highly recommended.