Avis Cottage with private enclosed garden and panoramic pool, 1 km from the village

Wir waren mit unseren Kindern, 19 und 16 Jahre alt, in dem netten Haus von Federica und ihrer Familie. Es war perfekt für die 2 Wochen und wir haben den Urlaub sehr genossen. Das Haus liegt perfekt um Ausflüge nach Siena, Florenz und Pisa zu machen und viele kleine Städte der Toskana zu besuchen. Das Haus selbst ist hübsch eingerichtet, sauber und Federica ist bei Fragen immer behilflich und sehr freundlich. Wir können das Haus auf jeden Fall weiter empfehlen.

Erholung pur in einem praktisch und zweckmäßig eingerichteten Chalet in einer traumhaft schönen Landschaft mit vielen historischen Sehenswürdigkeiten in naher Umgebung. Die schöne Anlage und Unterkunft entsprechen der Beschreibung. Vielen Dank Federica, gerne wieder.

The property is very well maintained and very nicely finished. The interior is very nicely finished including a full kitchen with dishwasher and two nicely finished complete baths. We enjoyed sitting outside on the patio for breakfast. This was our second stay at Podere Monte because we liked it so much the first time. We have visited Italy many times and have stayed from Lake Como and Venice in the north to Amalfi in the south, and this is our favorite area. Casole and surroundings are very pretty and offer many interesting places to visit. It is laid back and relaxing yet there are some very nice restaurants. It is within easy driving distance of Florence, Siena,and SanGimignano but, this time we enjoyed driving to the many smaller old walled hill towns nearby as well. Federica and her family are very helpful and available to help with planning and suggestions. Federica has also written a very helpful guide to the area. We would be very happy to visit Podere Monte for a third time in the future.

Es war wunderschön! Das Haus war genauso schön wie auf den Fotos. Die Aussicht war der Hammer! Das kleine Dorf ein Kilometer entfernt war noch richtig ursprünglich und überhaupt nicht touristisch. Der perfekte Ausgangspunkt für viele wunderschöne Städte wie Volterra und Siena. Wir haben es sehr genossen!

Woning was zeker in orde. Voldoende kookgerei en airco op kamers. Ontvangst is in orde maar nadien is er weinig tot geen contact met de eigenaars die daar ook wonen. Bij spelen in de tuin met een bal kreeg mijn zoon wel direct een opmerking om rustiger te zijn. Haag langs terras werd pas tegen het einde van de week bijgeknipt wat het uitzicht ten goede kwam. Al bij al een goed verblijf maar iets te prijzig voor wat het is.

The cottage in

Let me first of all say, this old stone hayloft has been beautifully converted into an ideal holiday cottage - the perfect size for us & our two kids. It has everything you need for a very comfortable stay including two bathrooms with excellent showers.Secondly, the views at Podere Monti are stunning & we have never enjoyed our morning coffee more than sitting outside as the sun burst across the breathtaking landscape. What's more the view from the swimming pool terrace is even better where you can see the ancient stone towers of San Giamagno on the horizon. In fact the pool terrace is idyllic with a good sized, fresh water pool - like the photos suggest. Also, Podere Monti is just a 20 mins stroll (1km) into Casole D'elsa for a lovely evening meal. OK, it's a steep road but is well worth it especially when the restaurant Dal Brigante awaits - definitely the best of the village options and has exceptional views - we ate there twice as it does all the Italian classics brilliantly. Now the negative bits: If you think this maybe a cottage with it's own private pool then think again. The cottage description is a little misleading. There are 3 to 4 other apartments/cottages on site all which have complimentary use of the pool terrace. We were certainly taken aback when we arrived, indeed one family checked out the morning after they arrived, due to their dismay. In the the end we made good friends with the other resident families so we still had a great holiday. However, had we known the shared nature of Podere Monti before then me may have considered other options - just be aware. The beds and pillows are hard. I like a firm mattress but these were extreme. Whilst they didn't stop us sleeping the beds could certainly have be more comfy. The rules - there are too many. For starters, you are not allowed to take any bottles, glasses or plates to the pool side. Not ideal when we would have liked to enjoy an alfresco lunch and a refreshing beer poolside. Also, the pool was closed and locked from 7.30pm. OK the owner liked to clean and refill the pool with fresh water but when you are on holiday you should feel free to enjoy an evening drink whilst overlooking the sites best feature - the views. Our cottage BBQ was small and inconveniently located and the other larger BBQ situated near the pool was pointless as poolside eating is forbidden. All in all, it's a wonderful place but it could be made perfect with some refining and easing of the rules.

We returned last week having stayed with parents in Cottage Noce for 2-weeks. This is the best cottage we have holidayed in. The cottage has its own enclosed and gated garden which made it quite private and the cottage itself is very nicely decorated and comfortable with everything we needed for our 2-week stay. Podere Monti is a lovely place to stay and having the pool was great for cooling off when the temperature was hot. The village of Casole d'Elsa is within easy walking distance although we chose to drive as parking was easy which made light work of carrying groceries. And, having a couple of small grocery stores, bakery, gelateria, small bars and restaurants everything we needed day to day we got from the village. Larger supermarkets for bigger shops were about 20 - 30min drive away. This is our third time in Tuscany but the first time at Casole d'Elsa. Location was great with Voltera, Siena and San Gimignano close and Florence also not too far away. Federica was an excellent host, most helpful and her recommendations for best places to eat and visit were spot on. We thank her very much and if we return to Tuscany again we would most certainly consider staying at Podere Monti again.

This pretty complex of unique properties has been a holiday spot for sometime, and the charming and helpful owners are very proud of it and keep it beautifully clean and well maintained. There are lots of flowers everywhere and the shared pool is a good size with a fabulous view. The village of Casole d'Elsa is within easy reach and is delightful, having all the shops one needs. Day trips can easily take one to Florence or to the seaside. We had a lovely time and will return. Our only minor request, one we often experience in Italy, is that the mattress and the pillows on the bed were too firm/hard for our comfort. The owner helpfully found a small extra mattress to soften part of the bed, but we would recommend a softer/more padded mattress and a choice of pillows. The owner's guide to the area was excellent and very reliable, and we had several very enjoyable meals out in lovely spots.