Il Trebbiolo Relais

We spent a dream week surrounded by olive trees in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The hotel is peaceful, away from city noise, though Florence city centre is only about a 30-minute drive. The food was delicious and homemade, with fruit and vegetables grown there and chickens raised on site. The staff were excellent. Jitka, the lovely and resourceful manager, always had an answer for our questions and couldn't have been more helpful.

The air conditioning didn't work, so our room got hot, but the place was beautiful and romantic, with a great shower and a quiet atmosphere. We were four people hiking via degli dei. The restaurant was closed on the day we arrived, so Sabrina drove us to a nearby food truck where we found tasty, affordable dinner and wine. Breakfast was good, and Sabrina also took us back to where that day's trek starts. You can contact her ahead of time for a ride from town. There's a nice swimming pool too.

We used this as a relaxing base, visiting Florence during the day and unwinding by the pool in the afternoon. The pool area had a fantastic view and was a great place to relax. The restaurant was very nice, though a bit pricey. Our rooms were large and simple, with an authentic Italian feel. We really enjoyed the stay.

The dirt was what really spoiled an otherwise nice Tuscan stay. Our room had dust everywhere, and I spent about 30 minutes cleaning the filthy mini fridge before using it. We had to ask twice for toilet paper and soap, and even after the second request the soap was still missing. It's a shame they don't look after such a lovely place. There were good things too. In the main building, the rooms are around 35 m², with ceilings roughly 3.5 m high, a big comfortable bed, and old furniture that gives the place a 17th-century, almost castle-like feel. The painted ceiling adds to that. Breakfast tasted good and used local ingredients from gardens with lots of fruit and vegetables. The pool is set among olive trees, with sun loungers beneath them. Breakfast service was strange, though. It was a buffet, but guests had to queue and ask staff to fill their plates. They served tiny amounts, sometimes just one slice of ham, and seemed uncomfortable if we asked for more. We couldn't take a whole bottle of water either, even if we'd finish it. For 500-600 ml, we'd have to ask five times to get a small glass refilled. Maybe they didn't want guests serving themselves because of the pandemic, but I don't understand why the portions were such an issue. The road was rough, and our sports car struggled to get there. Dinner was pricey and not very good. Communication was difficult because most employees didn't speak English; two women knew a little and could manage a short conversation, but it was hard to discuss anything with the others. The room was about €135 a night in August, not especially cheap or expensive. We'd paid the full stay in advance, otherwise it would've cost more. I could get past the awkward breakfast service and other inconveniences, but not the dirt.