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As this was our first trip overseas to Europe, we wanted to vacation in style while relaxing and seeing as much as we could see. Club Montecchio is the perfect distance from all our favorite cities, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Montepulciano and Siena. James and Penny were lovely. We treasured the fresh figs for breakfast and the generous welcome basket and spirits which we enjoyed daily! We loved the games outside with the children and the fireplace at night. Thank you for sharing your home with us. Blessings to you on your future travels and adventures! My Response Jennifer and family really set out to make the most of their first time in Italy/Tuscany, by planning ahead, and working with our professional 5 star Concierge, to book the best places and tours. They also made full use of the Villa and it's facilites, particularly the indoor and outdoor games, the large pool, hammock and spacious garden. Come back next year Jennifer, as it will be our last!

The Benfield's have created a little magical Eden with spectacular views, convenient location, a generous welcome basket of food, fabulous wines, every amenity imaginable down to flashlights, bathrobes, sewing kit, games, books CDs, umbrellas, maid service, concierge service for special bookings, a detailed booklet listing nearby restaurants with open times, price range, and type of menu, and a list of critical services and shopping options. When my husband became ill they arranged an in-villa doctor visit within a couple of hours, gave me delicious homemade chicken stock for soup, and were solicitous in every way. They could not possibly be more gracious, thoughtful, and charming hosts. I doubt anyone anywhere can measure up to what they provide. The value is superb as well, especially considering the provided amenities!! My Response This is a most generous review from a returning guest. We do try hard to ensure that our guests feel at home from the moment they arrive, hence stocking the fridge/larder and providing all daily esentials(from tissues to dishwasher tablets), so that they don't need to waste precious vacation time on shopping for basics. And should the unfortunate happen, and a doctor be necessary, we are only to happy to send for help. Thank you Betty, and do come again soon.

We recently spent two weeks at Il Prato, celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary. Our trip to Tuscany has been two years in the makings. We wanted to find "the" perfect place." We found it at Club Montecchio - Il Prato Villa! The location and actual property are both outstanding!! James and Penny have put quality and comfort first and take the time and make the effort to check that all is OK. James provided us with help on the best places to eat, places to visit, and the best way to get there. Penny delivered fresh figs a number of times too! Rita was extremely helpful whenever we asked for advice or help with bookings for excursions, taxi service, etc. She is a consummate professional. The property has everything you need. It really is a home away from home! Several top quality restaurants are just a few miles away, including one with a Michelin Star. The welcome package was more generous than expected, and it was nice to have the complimentary wine replenished every day! We would love to return to Tuscany some time soon and would look no further than this property for our stay. My Response We love it when guests really appreciate the "extras" that we provide, like the free house wine and the huge Welcome Hamper. Shannon(and David) also put a lot of effort into planning the time in Tuscany ahead, working with our professional 5 star Concierge, that they really made the most of their time with us. Many of the best and most exclusive places(restaurants, wine tours, cookery classes etc) and we strongly recommend booking before you arrive, to be sure you have the best for your vacation.

We were last in L'Oliveto ten years ago and it must still be one of the best holiday houses we have had. The position, in the huge Arceno estate, is magnificent and the welcome basket was enough to keep the three of us going for much of the week. It is beautifully equipped and there is a very helpful book listing the best shops and restaurants. Everything has been thought out so well that you would have to be a very difficult customer to please if you found fault with anything! My Response It is such a joy when guests return, especially when we live up their memories of us. Our generous Welcome a Hamper, complimentary house wines, free cocktail bar etc are intended to make guests feel at once "at home", without the worry of having to rush to the shops on arrival. Jane and family would be most welcome back!

AMAZING! Wow, what an amazing place! We just finished two weeks at Club Montecchio with our two small children and had such a wonderful stay here, James and Rita did an absolutely amazing job helping us plan our visit, from local restaurants, kid friendly activities, even organizing a cooking class -which was amazing as well! L'Oliveto was the perfect place for me and my family, pool was amazing, grounds, layout, rooms, really just everything! This is the first of many trips to Club Montecchio! Thank you! My Response These lovely guests clearly enjoyed what we offer - Country House living in one of the most beautifu settings in Tuscany, with Complimentary Concierge, free Cocktail Bar and continuous supply of quality House Wine; we don't want our guests to have to worr about anything, not even the local Visitors' Tax, which we pay for them!

Montecchio was an amazing experience for my wife and I and are two kids. I highly recommend it for a great Italy/Tuscany experience - food, wine, enjoyment, history, and more. For us, three things stood out - the house & grounds, the broader location, and the services. Starting with the services, we had a full time concierge who was fantastic. She had booked great places prior to our arrival, balancing travel, good food, relaxation, etc - is was the perfect balance. And as some of our plans changed, she was readily available. In terms of the place, the house and surrounding greats were simply amazing. The house is beautiful with all the necessary supplies, and the yard, wildlife, and pool were fantastic. Upon approaching the villa, you drive through a long road surrounded by Cypress trees. The location was great...Montecchio is within 10 minutes drive to 3 great villages all of which have great restaurants including michelin star high end ones and more casual settings. Further, there is a really good winery literally within a 5 minute walk of the house, highly recommend this. You are in the heart of tuscany with many great wineries very close by, and being less than 30 minutes from Siena was a major selling point for us. If you are visiting Italy and want a brilliant experience with all that Italy has to offer, stay here - you won't be disappointed. Ryan My Response Thank you so much Ryan! You really have summarised exactly why we bought Montecchio 15 years ago! We are spoilt foodies, who have been fortunate enought see many beautiful parts of the world, and Montecchio, in it's setting, on the highest point of an historic wine estate, compares with anywhere. We offer our guests the opportunity to share our "dolce vita" for a time, and you clearly made the most of it. Thank you for realising that Rita, who provides our Complimentary Concierge, really is 5 star! Do come again! James

We selected L'Oliveto at Club Montecchio because we wanted 3 bedrooms and baths and proximity to Siena and we were impressed with the positive reviews. We have stayed at other villas in Italy and Europe but never for four weeks. It is a beautiful sitting; the villa is beautiful and spotless; it has a massive pool which is cleaned frequently; the villa kitchen is equipped with everything you need; the town of Castelnuovo Berardenga is five minutes away with a lovely old town, restaurants, gym, grocery store, butcher, wineries, and lovely welcoming people. Even closer there are two small beautiful old villages (Villa a Sesta and San Gusme) with a number of wonderful restaurants and all the charm of Tuscany. What sets Club Montecchio apart, however, more than the endless wine, olive oil etc, is the concierge service and particularly the host James. There are so many day trips to towns, sites, wineries one could take how does one decide: email James and Rita. James will tell you which chef to hire, which winery to see, which restaurant to go to and Rita will make the reservations. We went to Florence, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Cortona, Montelupo, Gubbio, Colle di Valle d'Elsa, Siena and so many other great towns all from our lovely home base with advise an email away. Rita and James even arranged for a fantastic Palio experience in Sienna. The concierge service saved us time, money and the stress of stumbling for the answers ourselves...invaluable! If you have the opportunity to visit Club Mintecchio do it! My Response Beth & George were so good to work with, because they trusted us for recommendations, and hence we were able to give them the benefit of having lived in this special place for 15 years. They made full use of our complimentary Concierge service, and we loved it. Do come again folks!

Thank you, James! Our stay at Club Montecchio exceeded our already high expectations. Your attention to every detail of comfort *were greatly appreciated by THIS weary traveler as a follow up to a 2 week bike trip. Christina is an angel, providing us with a lovely welcome basket including everything we needed for our first dinner. Your instructions were comprehensive and the restaurant recommendations were spot on. Josephine, our favorite waitress at Villa a Sesta, has made us honorary godparents to her anticipated bambino (a). Club Montecchio is the perfect home for exploring the many hill towns, restaurants and historical sites in the area. Oh - I forgot to mention the wineries. Well, we may have had a few TUDs (totally unnecessary drinks), but they only enhanced our ability to dance. On a more serious note, I have already sung the praises of Club Montecchio to my friends here in Seattle. My sister and brother-in-law from Boulder, CO and my brother and sister-in-law from Northern Virginia join me in thanking you for sharing your special piece of heaven with us. * Just a word about the comfort - The bedding, toiletries, dishes, etc were on par with a 5 star hotel. The grounds, gardens and outdoor furniture were comfortable and inviting, in spite of the rather unsettled weather we experienced. Thanks for providing umbrellas!! Ciao! Linda B, Mercer Island, WA, USA My Response Wow Linda, I loved reading your review,p and it is true that we try very hard with the "details", but this review is so beyond what we deserve........and now we have to try and live up to it! Thank you, thank you! We know we are blessed with Cristina, who was in charge for your vist(we had to b in UK), Plus you are right, we are very centrally located in Tuscany, and in an amazingly beautiful wine estate......so the supply of TUDs never runs out! Please come again, so that we can meet! James