Villa Conte Gualtiero

From the outside, the villa looks great, but inside it’s in bad shape and badly needs renovation. The general comfort was lacking. The wrought iron fittings were broken, so the interior doors wouldn’t close. There was dirt and dead insects on the floor, and the kitchen cabinet knobs were sticky. Under the cupboards, nightstands, and beds, everything was extremely tangled. We were surrounded by countless bugs: ants, woodlice, beetles, millipedes about 10 cm long, and mayflies stuck all over the kitchen, walls, cupboards, and windows. One bathroom had only a shower curtain, and water ran into the hallway after a shower. The other had no shelf in the shower. There were no starter supplies, such as dish towels or 2-3 dishwasher tablets, either. A ceiling light bulb in one bedroom was broken. I complained to the landlord. He arrived an hour later with the missing utensils, but played down the other problems.

The house has a quiet location and beautiful views, and it’s very spacious, with antique features like solid wood furniture and a stone sink. But that’s about where the positives end. Heating costs extra, though it’s unclear when you’re charged. The house is very old and cold in winter. Keeping it at 17-18 degrees Celsius can cost €50 to €70 per day on top of what you’ve already paid. If you want wood instead of gas, that’s another €100. The place has none of the basics, and this isn’t mentioned. Bring your own toilet paper, soap, garbage bags, dish soap, dishwasher tablets, salt, sugar, sponges, and detergents. Half the mattresses sag badly enough to hurt your back after more than 1-2 nights. The double beds use two mattresses at different heights, leaving an uncomfortable gap or step in the middle. There’s dust and there are spiders everywhere, yet you still have to pay €100 for additional cleaning. The ashtrays beside the pool table were full of cigarette butts, so people smoke there. €1,600 to freeze, sleep badly, and bring everything from home. For less money, you can get a 3- or 4-star hotel with breakfast included. It’s a tourist trap, and there are much better options nearby. The Val d'Orcia is gorgeous, so stay somewhere else.

Especially good for parties.

A really restful place.