Castello Bonaria - Wine & SPA Resort Toscana — Hotel in Campiglia Marittima

A Frustrating and Unacceptable Experience at Castello Boniare

We booked a week-long stay at Castello Boniare on the recommendation of a local friend, specifying that we would be traveling with two young children, one aged three years and one aged three months. However, what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation turned into a nightmare due to serious service failures and staff arrogance.

Inadequate and Disorganized Staff: From the outset, we had to deal with poorly trained and rude staff. Most of the staff spoke only Italian, and I even had to teach them how to open a bottle of wine because they didn’t know how! The language barrier was simply ridiculous: only two people in the entire facility spoke English, leading to a series of unacceptable misunderstandings. During a dinner in Piombino, I was forced to return to the hotel because they couldn’t prepare a simple pasta dish for my wife, simply because they didn’t understand English.

Lack of Respect and Professionalism: Discovering that some staff members were speaking poorly of me, my wife, and our children in Italian, thinking we couldn’t understand, was humiliating and unacceptable. When we tried to point out the problems, they treated us with condescension and arrogantly told us to “calm down.” The staff doesn’t even clear the tables, and despite serving only four tables each evening, the waits are interminable.

Experience with the Director: To make matters worse, I had a call with the hotel director, who criticized me and my family for bringing groceries from the supermarket because my three-year-old child wouldn’t eat anything and they couldn’t even prepare a simple french fry. When I pointed out that I had seen a woman in her 40s eating french fries on previous days, he responded that “that was an exception.” Additionally, the director tried to justify the 45-minute wait for a pasta dish from room service by claiming that “pasta cooks in 10 minutes,” as if this were an acceptable timeframe.

Final Considerations: If you’re used to staying in high-level hotels like the Four Seasons or any other four-star hotel, you can consider Castello Boniare as a two-star hotel. The only positive aspect is the view of the structure from a distance. If you decide to stay, I recommend getting wine from the small wine fridge to the right of the restaurant: since they don’t even know the prices, you might get wines worth 100 euros for just 35 euros, as they are not properly priced.

Message to the Director: The director probably won’t even read this review, as his belief that he’s running a luxury four-star hotel is immense and overshadows everything. However, he should consider traveling more to understand what it truly means to offer quality service. A four-star superior hotel must meet specific standards, including:

• Qualified and Multilingual Staff: The staff should be able to communicate effectively in multiple languages, especially English, and be well-trained in basic hospitality skills, such as opening a bottle of wine or accommodating guest requests professionally. • High-Quality Dining Service: A varied and high-quality menu is essential, as well as prompt and courteous service. Waits of an hour and a half for a simple dish like ham or long delays for room service are unacceptable. • Adequate In-Room Services: Room service should be top-notch, paying attention to details such as providing glasses with drinks and ensuring that every request is fulfilled in a reasonable time. • Luxury and Comfort Standards: A four-star superior hotel should offer impeccable rooms, high-level services, and constant attention to guest needs, ensuring a comfortable and problem-free stay.

Conclusion: Castello Boniare is far from delivering the luxury experience it promises. The staff is arrogant, incompetent, and deceitful, the language barrier is ridiculous, and the service is well below expectations. If you seek professionalism, quality, and respect, I strongly advise looking elsewhere. Our vacation was ruined, and I can only strongly recommend...

A Dream Come True: Our Magical Wedding at Castello Bonaria 14th September 2023

If you're reading this, wondering where to host your dream wedding, stop searching—Castello Bonaria is it! We had our wedding there on the 14th of September, followed by a pizza party by the pool on the 15th, and honestly, it was everything we could have hoped for and more.

First of all, let's talk scenery and views. Picture this: breathtaking vistas that make you feel like you're on top of the world. The backdrop was so spectacular, it looked like a painting. Trust me, your wedding photos will thank you.

The staff at Castello Bonaria were simply amazing. Special mentions have to go to Chiara and Marco. They were like our fairy godparents for the day—every little detail was taken care of, and everything ran so smoothly, it was like magic. They were on top of everything and really made our day special. Also a mention to Claudio and Sheila, you were amazing and made us feel so special! We love you all!!

Now, onto the food. It wasn't just food; it was an experience. The chefs at Castello Bonaria really know what they're doing. Each dish was a work of art and tasted even better than it looked. The catering team absolutely nailed it! If you're a foodie or even if you're not, you'll be blown away. Our guests are still talking about how incredible the food was.

We also had access to a spa that was top-notch. Our guests couldn't believe the quality of treatments they received for such reasonable prices. It was the perfect way to unwind before and after all the festivities.

For the wedding dinner, imagine sitting in an olive grove surrounded by beautiful string lights. It was so romantic and intimate, like something out of a movie. We had our aperitifs by the pool and held the ceremony in their stunning beer garden, which offers 360-degree views of the surrounding beauty.

Our after-dinner party was held outside and it was fantastic! The band set the tone for a night full of dancing and celebration—all arranged by the staff at the castle. We couldn't have done it without our wedding planner, Irene from FairytaIetalyWeddings. She worked so closely with the castle to ensure that everything was perfect. If you need a wedding planner, she is it!!

To wrap it all up, the pizza party on the 15th was the cherry on top. So much food, so much fun, and it even turned into a pool party. It was relaxed yet top-notch—the service, the drinks, the atmosphere were all spot on.

So, if you're coming from Ireland or the UK or anywhere else for that matter, know this: Castello Bonaria is perfect for a destination wedding. We were absolutely blown away by our experience, and we're confident you will be too. If you're looking for a wedding venue that's truly magical, look no further. Your dream wedding is waiting for you right here at Castello Bonaria.

I have added a screenshot of all of our suppliers as part of this review for anyone who is looking! Check them out , they were...

This hotel was not on the agenda but after a terrible hotel stay elsewhere, we checked out and discovered this hotel and luckily, they had one room left. The hotel looks like a mock castle from the outside and it’s slightly themed inside which is a little twee but it really didn’t matter as everything else was so perfect.||The hotel was spotlessly clean throughout and our room was well proportioned with an outdoor terrace and great views. We had a lounger, deckchair and a table and chairs to enjoy the views. The bathroom was big with toiletries (it would have been nice to see more sustainable packaging) and amenities, a free safe and hairdryer. We also had water, replenished daily, and a mini bar. It was incredibly peaceful and we both slept well. ||The views from the pool and restaurant were amazing, and we enjoyed lovely sunsets from the outdoor seating area near the bar. The pool was the perfect temperature, very clean and had a jetted area and easy access steps. The loungers had the shades on which was very welcome in the heat we experienced. Possibly one of the best hotel pools I’ve encountered.||We had a free spa circuit included in our rate which meant we could use the pool with hydromassage jets, rainfall shower, a salt room, sauna, scented showers and the ice machine. It was a great way to spend our last early evening before dinner and a well equipped hotel spa.||The food was delicious although the menu is limited for vegetarians. However, the chef was more than happy to speak with us and come up with some tasty dishes for us which was so kind. Even on the last night when we booked a table late, the team went above and beyond to seat us outside. The cocktails here were great and the staff, Gianluca, Martina and Stefano were so kind to us and gave a great service. The views from the restaurant were stunning.||Located just a 15 minute drive from the beautiful Baratti beach, it’s not that far at all to enjoy a day out by the sea but the hotel also provides a relaxing base.||We had to leave early for a flight and Martina and Stefano put together a breakfast box for us with a lovely note inside which we read when we got to the airport. We were only there two days and we felt so welcomed and were sad to leave this very special team behind!||Overall, beautiful views, exceptionally clean, great food and service. It’s such good value here when you compare what there is nearby and I would definitely stay again and recommend it to family, friends...