Relais il Castello

You'll need a car here, otherwise you're stuck on a very steep hill with nothing to do. The place itself is beautiful and the staff are lovely. The bedrooms feel very dated and could use updating, and the water pressure is limited. The food could be more exciting too, but it's a good spot for a couple of days.

The building has wonderful architecture and views, and the hotel staff are great. The rooms are a good size and the beds comfortable, but the place is getting worn, with fixtures and fittings needing repair. The bar is very poorly stocked. Wi-Fi is available throughout, though the stone building can make it quite slow. There’s no heating until November unless you ask. Same with a kettle in the room, just ask and they’ll provide one. As a three-star place, I think it’s reached its peak.

Luca made a huge difference to our stay. He was always ready to help, gave us precise information and printed maps, and knew the surrounding area inside out. He clearly loves his job and, in our view, has the makings of a fantastic future manager at Relais ll Castello. His manager was a delightful and helpful lady, too. The detail they put into making travel easy for guests is incredible. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived, and the staff all smiled as they went about their work. We spent a week at Relais ll Castello and really enjoyed the hotel. The cleanliness throughout was immaculate, and room service was there when needed. Service was prompt, with no long waits. Breakfast was replenished quickly, and dinner offered a different, delicious menu each night. The chef makes amazing cakes for breakfast. Meals weren't rushed, so we could sit on the veranda and take in the green fields. The views around the Castle were breathtaking on our morning walks. The local shop is about a two-minute walk away, and the locals remembered us and smiled. It felt very welcoming and relaxing. The pool was spotless and peaceful. I could hardly tear myself away, and topped up my tan there. Drinks were available on request. We’ve stayed in many hotels over 25 years, and the service here felt better than five-star throughout. We’ll definitely be back, though our holiday ended too soon. I’d rate the experience ten out of ten, and give Luca much of the credit for his friendly, helpful, thoroughly professional manner. Thank you, Team Relais ll Castello. Thank you, Luca.

The village is adorable, the locals are lovely, and the views are five-star. Relais Il Castello itself needs updating, though, and if you expect a four-star hotel, this isn't it. We had one of the better third-floor rooms, with a balcony area you could stand in and look out at the view, plus an updated bathroom. Friends paying the same price got a tiny, nasty shower and a view of the kitchen trash. The place is cheap, but the rooms are monastic: no decorations except maybe a small picture, hard beds and pillows, just one pillow each, and a hard blanket because it can get cold. Breakfast was okay, about what you'd expect: eggs that were usually cold, toast, cold cuts, pastries, cereal and so on. The coffee wasn't to my taste, and in Italy I'd expect good coffee. We didn't eat dinner at the hotel, but were told it wasn't great. Gianluca at Ristorante Le Terrazze is only a five-minute drive down the road and has a wide selection of food. Luca, who I assume is the manager, was pleasant and helpful, but there seemed to be some kind of scheme to get guests moved to the sister hotel in Gubbio, almost like a bait and switch. Don't let them talk you into it. Sporting Hotel is in a truck stop, gross, and not really closer to anything else, even if it is near Gubbio. After seeing it, we had to complain to our travel agent to get taken back.