B&B Casa Dalma

We came for the annual Truffle Exhibition in November and found a cute little place run by a very nice owner. There are only a couple of rooms, and ours was spacious, as was the bathroom. It all felt clean, which mattered a lot to us. The owner gave us a generous breakfast with lots of food and drink to choose from, and even drove us to and from the train station. San Miniato is tiny and we could hardly see any taxis, so we really appreciated both rides. One thing to know: the room we chose didn't have an en suite. The private bathroom is next door, outside the room, and you need to take a key to lock it from the inside. It wasn't very convenient, and going back and forth meant you could run into the guests across the hall. The bathroom also echoes a lot, so at night you can hear everything from your room and the hallway, whether you're getting ready for bed or up in the middle of the night. I worried we might disturb the other guests. The walls are quite thin, so I hope we weren't too noisy.

Elena makes you feel at home and was quick to reply before we arrived. She even added extra protein to an already excellent breakfast for our Via Francigena hike. Breakfast deserves a mention: there was yogurt, cold cereal, the usual sweet things, fresh fruit, plenty of milk and juice, and coffee from a self-serve pod machine. Coffee and hot chocolate were available in the common room as soon as we arrived, which was a treat. Our room was cozy, with a comfortable bed and a fabulous Tuscan countryside view. The private bathroom across the hall had a great shower with lots of pressure and hot water, plus a sink big enough for hand-washing clothes. We dried laundry on the rack on the small balcony outside our room, which was a real bonus. B Casa Dalma is a lovely, well-run place and excellent value for money. Great for a night or two in San Miniato.

Elena is a genuinely lovely host, and the room was warm, quiet, and had a comfortable bed. I slept really well, and the shower was hot. Breakfast was great, especially the coffee. A thoughtful touch for pilgrims is the packed lunch, since food options are extremely limited on the 24km stretch after this village. All in all, perfection.

Elena was gracious and accommodating from the start. We arrived by train on a rainy afternoon, and she came to pick us up at the station. The room was spacious and comfortable, with a lovely view of the Tuscan countryside, and little touches like chocolates and a carafe of water made it feel welcoming and cozy. We also had use of a fully equipped kitchen. Breakfast had plenty to choose from, including panini, toast, cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruit. Since we were starting our Via Francigena walk, Elena also gave us provisions to make lunch. This stay exceeded our expectations.