Tenuta Il Tresto - Iris

The extra charges were frustrating: heating cost 5.5 € / m³ of gas, the washing machine was 5 €, and a swim cap cost 5 € if you wanted to use the pool. The villa also didn't feel pleasant to stay in, with dust, spider webs, and a damp, mouldy smell. My son bathed at 15:00 and stayed at the villa afterward. His skin looked clear before bed, but by morning his neck was covered in insect bites. We were there in October, so there weren't any flying bugs around.

The setting is a real highlight, with lovely views all around and a particularly beautiful outlook from the well-kept pool. The pool was in great shape, which was a big plus with temperatures around 35°C and above. Staff were polite, friendly, and always willing to help. Breakfast was generous by Italian standards, and you could request eggs prepared in different ways. Our spacious room was tidy, the bed was comfortable, and the shower met expectations. One small drawback was the wait for hot water, around 4 minutes. Take some wine or olive oil with you when you leave this lovely B&B.

The Tuscan hills were right there from the pool, where each room had its own sun umbrella. Everyone also had a parking spot. Breakfast offered plenty for an Italian-style spread, including jam, meat, fruit, coffee, tea, juice, homemade cake, and eggs on request. Aneta and Gabrio made us feel welcome and looked after us well. The room was clean, with the bed and towels changed regularly, and the grounds and pool were in good condition. The rooms have a vintage, authentic feel. Some people online complain about the rough road to Tenuta Il Tresto, but I think it depends on your driving and car choice. Aneta manages it in her Fiat Uno without trouble, at Italian speed. It's not paved, and the cypress trees along it are part of the charm of staying away from a mass-tourism hotel. Poggibonsi has several restaurants and gelateria's, and the freeway is easy to reach from here. Thanks for a wonderful stay and the memories we made.

The practical thing to know is that you'll need a car to get around from Il Tresto, though the location worked well for our trip. Gabrio kindly put together an itinerary for us, and we visited San Gimignano, Volterra, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Montalcino, and Pisa. Earlier, we'd taken the train from Florence to Poggibonsi, then travelled by train to Siena, Bologna, Venice, and Cinque Terre. We later rented a car in La Spezia and happily drove back to Poggibonsi. We were there in October as a family and fell in love with the view from our room. The rooms are spacious and nicely decorated, and breakfast was included. We enjoyed cappuccino and latte each morning. Gabrio, the owner, was kind and helpful with suggestions for places to visit. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I plan to return to Il Tresto on my next trip to Italy.