Borgo il Castagno — Hotel in Gambassi Terme

It is a beautiful park as you can also see from the pictures but once on location it was very disappointing. There was supposed to be a fence around the pool but there is none. There are some poles around it but children can crawl under them. And the button for the entrance gate is at child height so it didn't feel safe to let your child walk en play around the park. In the playground, the barren grass was so high that children could not play there. Only at the end of our vacation was this mowed. The pool has some loose tiles, was not cleaned much (a lost patch for example was there for over a week). The cottages in themselves are spacious, but all outdated. They should refurbish everything and restock with good pans, cutlery, etc. |Our house was very dirty upon arrival. For example, there were still caked, unwashed pans in the cupboard. Even some crisps in a bowl. Under the beds there were still candy wrappers and napkins from previous guests and in pits of 2 bathrooms there were still hairs. Very dirty.|We stayed here for two weeks and after 1 week we would get a linen change. The new sheets and towels were just put in front of our door and we had to go and change all the beds ourselves. Also very strange, I had never experienced this before. Unfortunately when changing the sheets I saw how gross everything was under and around the beds. |It says on the site that there is a washing machine. There is one only it can only be used during the opening hours of the reception, which is only a few hours a day and some days it is not open at all. And since you don't have a lot of opportunities to to laundry, the machine is fully booked with other guests and...

Enjoyed our stay for a couple of days, but the feeling in the end was that this could have been so much more.

Pros

amazing views great location to visit the surrounding cities spacious appartement with well equipped kitchen nice calm pool with enough beds felt really welcome during the check-in. No waiting time, refreshing drinks and friendly staff

Cons worst beds we have slept on in a long time appartements and grounds could use more tender, love and care. Some windows had a mosquito net bit others in the same room did not, door that did not close, dirty dishes from the previous occupants, toilet kept running at times, worn couches, loose socket, road on the premises had a lot of trenches and holes, concrete tiles in the pool "slide" that were unsafe for children to name a few. really hot outside, but even hotter inside. Fans did help a bit, but would book an appartment with airco next time I'm in the area during the summer. some private areas outside the appartment have great views and are large, while others are small and closed in with no views. Unreliable WiFi (did not work most of the time) and mobile network not available which made it harder to prepare day trips and navigate the area. reception opening times schedule changed during the week and we almost never saw somebody from the organization. No entertainment for children (while there were many) or adults (dinner together with other guests or wine tasting). Welcoming package mostly contained rules and fines, for example: Anyone caught not separating waste will be subject to a penalty payment of €250. Checkout at 9am...

Upon arrival at Tenuta Il Castagno, you’re welcomed by a beautiful driveway that immediately evokes a sense of grandeur.|Although the estate consists of a villa and several apartments with a swimming pool, the atmosphere on site feels more cold than charming. During our stay, only two other couples were present, which made the place feel deserted and lacking in coziness. The accommodation offers little in terms of experience and misses a sense of liveliness.|A major downside was the condition of the swimming pool: when we arrived, it had not yet been cleaned, and throughout our stay, it was not maintained daily. This detracts from the comfort and well-kept impression one would expect from a restored estate.|The apartments are simply furnished, each with a private outdoor space and free WiFi. Additional facilities such as a bread delivery service, language courses, and bike rentals are available, but they are not actively promoted and feel more like optional extras. The restaurant across the road offers a convenient option for meals but adds little to the overall atmosphere of the estate.|Conclusion|Tenuta Il Castagno is a place with an impressive history and a beautiful location, but it lacks the atmosphere, care, and experience you would expect from a Tuscan retreat. For those seeking peace and quiet, it may serve as a pleasant base, but travelers looking for comfort and a warm, lively ambiance may find themselves...