Podere Casetta

We were a group of 15 family members and a dog, and the fenced pool made it feel safe for the kids. There were cribs, baby toys, a high chair, and other useful things ready for us. The farmhouse has four connected apartments, fully restored with lots of room, three kitchens and dining rooms, plus two outdoor dining spaces and a grilling area by the pool. We spent most of our time relaxing on the main patio and in the outdoor dining room. Liesbeth and her family were wonderful hosts and arranged two dinners for us, a pizza oven meal on arrival and a Tuscan-style dinner another night. Both were delicious, and it was a treat not to have to drive.

The farm is in beautiful Tuscan countryside, about a 20-minute drive from Siena. We were 16 friends staying for three nights, and had a great time. The house has a spacious rustic feel, with three separate living units and large shared areas, including long tables where a group of 16 or more can eat together. There’s a huge area to explore, and plenty to do: barbecues, seeing the horses and pony, football, volleyball, ping-pong, and table football. Liesbeth and her husband were kind, easy to reach, and quick to respond to requests. This is the best Airbnb I’ve stayed in, and I highly recommend Liesbeth's place.

Liesbeth was lovely and quick to respond, which made planning easy. She sent a list of things we could book ahead, including a Tuscan steak dinner prepared by her family with their own olive oil. That was our best night. The house was even more beautiful and rustic than the photos suggested, with air conditioners in every bedroom. It felt like stepping back in time, and we can’t wait to return. Grazie Mille!

The place is lovely, but the host was extremely difficult to deal with and rigid. Check-in was at 4pm, which felt very late, and she wouldn’t let us drop off our luggage. She kept coming onto the property to check on us, including arriving at 9am when checkout was at 10. She left expensive bottles of wine around; after I paid for the ones she checked, she asked for more money the next day for additional bottles. There was no rubbish removal service for our large group, then afterward she tried to charge $750 for the shower floor and rubbish, which seemed very basic. We couldn’t get a taxi, so we had to use three cars to drop guests off, and she was also annoyed when we checked out late. I’m on my honeymoon and dealing with Airbnb claims. I’ve never had a host so stressful, inflexible, or seemingly ready to charge for anything, especially given the already high cost of the stay.