The (local) neighbours are very friendly!

by Mrs and Mr Simmeren, The Netherlands

Originally published on Slow Travel

###Location

The house is in the middle of a very old, small village. The (local) neighbours are very friendly.

###Nearby Amenities

There was a very good restaurant just around the corner. Another one, that we didn’t try, 2 kilometres from the house. There were two small grocery shops in the village. There was a bakery there as well. You find two larger supermarkets 8 kilometres away.

###The House/Apartment

The house is very small, but very efficiently equipped. Entering the house, you walk straight from the hallway into the kitchen, which is the largest room in the house. The next room in the hallway is the bedroom. Then you have a small livingroom, where there are two couches. Beside the livingroom is the bathroom. This is a very small room too. The house is old, but in very good shape. The village produces the usual noise, like traffic, neighbours talking to each other, construction work, that kind of thing.

###Garden

There is hardly any sitting area outside. There is room for two chairs and a table. That’s it. If you like to sit outside a lot, it is probably too small. And it is not private.

###Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas

The house is very clean. Everything is in good shape. The 2 couches were reasonably comfortable.

###Bedrooms/Bathrooms

The bedroom is, like the whole house, small but nice. The bed is comfortable. The bathroom is small, but in excellent shape!

###Kitchen

The kitchen is as complete as anyone could wish for! Apart from a microwave oven there is not a thing I can think of that isn’t there. (And I didn’t miss the microwave oven at all.) Just maybe a few longdrink glasses?

###Problems or Bonuses

This is the most complete house we’ve ever stayed in!!! There is enough toilet paper, garbage bags; the owner provides all kinds of herbs and there is coffee, tea and sugar. There is also enough reading material about the region.

There is only one negative thing to say and that is not really something the owner can do much about I guess. Because the house is so small and old, the rooms (except the kitchen) tend to be a little moist. Even if you keep the windows open for several hours a day. Of course, this may also have to do with the time of the year and the weather.

###Agency and Representatives (and price)

When I first contacted the owner, I got a very nice and enthousiastic reply. She gave good information in the months before the actual holiday. And when we got to the house, she and her husband gave us a real warm welcome. I think that they maintain and rent the house with great enthusiasm and they make their guests feel really welcome.

###Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

I would, most certainly, recommend the house to friends. However not to disabled people. To enter the house you always have to climb the stairs. If I was to go back to Tuscany I would surely consider staying here again.

###Things to do in this area

Too many things to mention. Siena is very beautiful. I advise any visitor to buy a book about Tuscany and read it before getting there.