10 friends will be celebrating our 50th birthdays Summer 2008. We'd like to rent a villa together in Tuscany. Some desires: cook, maid, proximity to vineyards, bicycling, and charming small towns. Some people want to lounge around a pool all day, so a pool would be a plus, but most of us want activities. We're thinking about a 1-week stay.

Any suggestions of villas, or any recommendations of resources for finding villas?

Thanks.

Contact the "chamber of commerice" in Radda in Chianti. i think it is these people:

http://www.comune.radda-in-chianti.si.it/
which seems also to be this:

http://www.raddainchiantilife.com/arrivare_eng.html

when I was last there, they had a large book with every farmhouse, winery, and villa in the area. they knew each one, and had excellent english.

Thanks for the info.

any recommendations of resources for finding villas?


Parker Villas (http://www.parkervillas.com)

book early, the good ones go fast !

[QUOTE=Nognig;7185903]
Any suggestions of villas, or any recommendations of resources for finding villas? QUOTE]

Go to http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/europe/italy, a good possibility might be http://www.vrbo.com/64617. We have used this "by owner" web site many times and have always been happy with the results.

MED

We stayed here:

http://www.vrbo.com/47909

Absolutley loved it! The house is huge.....we had 10 of us, and we still had loads of room! It is near Chiusi (10 minute drive), and close to the Autostrada (15-minutes or so). Also quite near Casteligione del Lago, a town of about 8,000, with good grocery store and plenty of services.

The villa has fabulous views of the countryside and the Lake. There is a great swimming pool, and it is isolated down a long country lane, so very private.

There is a maid and groundskeeper who come in every day. The maid can do cooking as well (great food!!).

It was a fabulous base for day trips to the Hill Towns. We went to Orvieto, Deruta, Cortona, Assisi, Sienna, Montepulciano, and even Rome.

It's about halfway between Rome and Florence off the Autostrada.

Enjoy!

I rented Borgia Castle (yes, those Borgias ... one of them's even entombed in the castle chapel) with a bunch of friends ... 14 of us, I think. Came with two cooks, full-time maid, etc. Great location for cycling, vineyards, Umbria Jazz Fest, etc.

Here are some photos, but I do have the owner's email if you're interested in contacting him directly. It does tend to book up about 18 months in advance.
http://www.yourtuscanvilla.com/apartments/borgia_castle/property/property_tuscany_villa.htm

We stayed in Tuscany a couple of years ago with www.to-tuscany.com, who were pretty good.

Villas of Distinction
LaCure

You might find some good ideas on this Italy focused blog.

http://dreamofitaly2.blogspot.com/

You should check www.poggiogolo.com
I've been here last year and It was a paradise, you're close to the best spots but however you can sleep around the pool all the day!!!

10 friends will be celebrating our 50th birthdays Summer 2008. We'd like to rent a villa together in Tuscany. Some desires: cook, maid, proximity to vineyards, bicycling, and charming small towns. Some people want to lounge around a pool all day, so a pool would be a plus, but most of us want activities. We're thinking about a 1-week stay.

Any suggestions of villas, or any recommendations of resources for finding villas?

Thanks.

hi i had a tour to italy a few days back and really enjoy my stay at villa castelletti, check this url http://italy-travel-to-tuscany.com/italy-florence-villa.html