Borgo san Benedetto

The bathroom sometimes had an unpleasant smell, which seemed likely to come from the neighbors flushing. Staff offered us a larger apartment, but it smelled even worse than the one we had. Their response felt unhelpful, and the outdated facilities and ongoing odors made this a poor choice. If you care about your holiday, I'd strongly recommend looking elsewhere. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a powerful old-grease smell, especially in the kitchen. It clung to the walls and furniture, and opening windows barely helped. The refrigerator hardly cooled anything, so we had to keep perishables in the freezer. The kettle took so long to heat that even making tea was a chore. For what we paid, these problems weren't acceptable.

Casa Masi restaurant was lovely, with great food and really nice decor. The restaurant staff were sweet, too. Our apartment was large, clean, and nicely furnished, and they thoughtfully arranged a mosquito net for our baby's cot. Still, we left with a bad feeling about the reception staff. We arrived a little early, at 13.30, and were greeted with “oh, you are already here?” We first thought it was a joke, but it wasn't. We needed Wi-Fi for the baby monitor because there was no 4G network, and the receptionist just said it should work, as if it were our problem. We were without internet for 1.5 days and couldn't leave the apartment for a minute because of the baby. It turned out the router had simply been switched off, something easy to fix. She may not know much about internet, but she could have been friendly and tried to help us find a solution instead of making me feel ignored and being rude. I don't understand working in hospitality without basic welcoming, helpfulness. I asked about one other thing and was told they'd get back to me, but they never did, even after the internet issue. Maybe being booked all season leads to some arrogance. Do what you want with the feedback. In Tuscany, there are places more focused on giving guests a good experience, like Terre di Cocomo, with amazing food, surroundings, and people who really love their guests.

My four days here were a delight, and the atmosphere made me feel right at home. I'd happily stay again. The garden was beautiful, with bright flowers and lemon trees adding to the charm. There was a fantastic restaurant beside the rooms, but book ahead since it was full most days. The weak internet and phone signal were the main drawback, sometimes disappearing completely. Speeds could also get quite slow in the evenings, so it's best to sort out a reliable connection before you arrive.

We had sunshine and loved it here again. The pools and garden are great, and the garden is laaarge. Casa Masi, the restaurant on the property, is a nice bonus. The place was clean and just what you'd expect from a holiday at an authentic Tuscan borgo.