This was our first experience at a villa in Tuscany. We were a group of 13 people.

Our overall experience was wonderfully enjoyable, from being met by Jesus and the gift of the fruit basket, to saying farewell to the place we called home for three magnificent weeks.

As for what we enjoyed the most: We immediately felt the tranquility both inside the villa and outside on the grounds. Refreshing homemade meals, a place to come home to after a day of touring, enjoying walks and vistas, reading and relaxing in the hills of Siena were all present every day in such a variety of ways.

A rooster and a coo-coo bird on the neighbors property, about a mile away, was a great way to wake up in the morning. The roads to the many hill towns were great for leisurely drives and day trips. The many places to visit were easy to find using the GPS in our rental cars. We enjoyed the local markets, the historic Renaissance art, and the friendly people we met everywhere.

Siena was a 6 mile drive, or a 15 minute taxi ride. Florence was accessible by car and regional train, both of which we used often. It was comforting to have a relaxing place to call home, and still visit much of the Tuscany region on our own timetable. Many days were spent at the villa relaxing, swimming, reading, or sketching.

About the restaurants: Bring a willingness to let go of your busyness and enjoy the easy time in Tuscany. Bring an adventurous spirit to explore Siena, Florence, take a ride on a train, or tour a winery. There are very good city and country restaurants, most are advertised locally.

To arrive at the villa, we hired a driver from Rome, which is about the same cost as a train and taxi, who brought us directly to the property.

Checking in and out was easy, and genuinely personal. We were met by the keyholder and handyman, Jesus, who was friendly, helpful, thorough in his orientation, and attentive to our needs.

We would encourage anyone considering traveling to Tuscany to let RentVillas help you with your travel plans.