Mormoraia — Local services in San Gimignano

I really regret having to write this review, and it's fair to say that my low rating is for one reason but it was a major reason, and it was totally down to a completely unreasonable decision made by the owner. The staff couldn't have been nicer and had to deliver the instructions of the owner, but it soured our entire stay! I warned them I would have to give a poor review, and so here it is. The location is outstanding, the views, the pool, the room, the staff, the restaurant were all absolutely fabulous. Normally these would be what I would review, but sadly I am only going to review the bad experience, because it was a terrible blight on our stay. Mormoraia advertises an EV charger for electric vehicle drivers. When we got there after a long journey, and with another early start the next day, it was important that we were able to charge. I was told the charger was broken. No problem, usually, because we can also plug into a regular socket. Every other hotel we've stayed at has gone out of our way to help, if their charger is broken or in use. So I found a socket, but it was near the wine cellars and for whatever reason, I was told that socket couldn't be used - the owner wouldn't allow it. No problem, since I didn't want to destroy the wine. I found another socket, near the hotel, and after a ten minute wait for permission, I was told that it would be no problem to charge my car there, but a fee would be added to my bill. After ascertaining that it wouldn't be more than 20 Euros, I plugged in. A few hours later, during dinner, a member of staff asked if I would contact reception. There, I was told that the owner had demanded that I unplug. Why? Because, I was told, the owner didn't want my car plugged in overnight. Charging a car is no different in a regular socket from charging your phone, or a lamp. So we had to unplug, leaving us with a minimal charge meaning we'd have to find a charger in the morning in order to start our journey towards Calais. That meant we had to miss breakfast, for which we'd paid. Checking out, I said I was unhappy to pay for breakfast, and the receptionist, who was also confused as to why I'd had to unplug, agreed to do so without argument.

As I said above, all other hotels on our two week trip, went out of their way to assist with EV charging if necessary. Our experience of this hotel, will mean we don't recommend it to others because it was an irrational, unreasonable, and unsatisfactory decision by the owner. It's a great shame, because otherwise our stay would have...

Certainly the most beautiful place we've been during our trip in Toscany. Splendid view with san Gimignano towers crowning that view. Would return in a minute. ||However, the room alloted to us was so small that once our 2 suitcases were in and my husband on the bed, there was no places to circulate. Did not correspond at all to the photos but, nowadays, this is a given. Still. The manager of the estate wisely alloted us a bigger room and we stayed. It rained but we rested and looked on at the country side belonging to a Quattrocento frescoe..... we looked not from our room as the entrance door is also the window on all these rooms. Not very practical for privacy.||We were a month in Toscany and discovered that this is the only place, that is between an Gimignano and the freeway 60 km North of it, where the Toscany we dreamed of still existed. This goes all the way to Volterra on the east, a bit to the South, and to the Chianty valley to the West.| Nothing to displease the eye. All the farms, wine and oil producers have been transformed,....thanks to the italian organism known as "Agricultoro tourismo" to more or less fantastically redone places whose prices keep the "normal people" out of it. This part of Toscany is now for the rich.... and usually the Americans.||We visited several other options which ranged from 300 to 1200 euros a night and decided on the Mormoraia because it has a restaurant..... and that is the only restaurant which disappointed us during our trip : polpette (boulettes de viande) chopped to death, pasta not very convincing and ONE ... ONLY ONE "joue de porc", very small in the plate but very good. We had a word wit the manager about that as it looked so cheap an attittude.||Suffice to say that the heat died on us that last night....and that nobody was on hand to help us.|||||||The last night was rather difficult as the heat decided to die on us. ... and...

We stayed at Mormoraia for two nights and instantly regretted not booking at least four! Tuscany is so peaceful, and at Mormoraia, every single person we met was warm, helpful, and genuinely happy to see us.||From the moment we arrived, we felt like VIPs. We were met in the car park by Sara, who was like our own personal assistant for the entire stay. Our bags were whisked away, our car parked for us, and we were escorted straight to the restaurant where we were welcomed with a complimentary glass of their own rosé wine (they only serve wines they make themselves – and they are excellent!). Sitting there, soaking in the view with a glass in hand, we couldn’t quite believe we were actually there. By the time we went to our room, our bags were already waiting for us.||Night one, we dined in the restaurant and were blown away by the food – bursting with flavour, with herbs and botanicals grown right on the estate, alongside their beautiful vineyards and olive groves.||The next day we relaxed by the pool, where drinks were regularly topped up without us even needing to ask. There’s also bike hire, a health spa, and even pasta-making classes if you can tear yourself away from the view.||Day two was my wife’s 40th birthday, and Sara asked if I trusted her to plan something special – of course I said yes. She organised a table in San Gimignano for aperitivo while watching the sun set, followed by a 9pm dinner reservation. When we returned to our room, a chilled bottle of their rosé was waiting for us. It was absolutely perfect.||Breakfast each morning was plentiful – hot dishes, pastries, fresh fruit, and proper coffee – you will not leave hungry!||Mormoraia is a place that knows how to make every guest feel special. I’m honestly kicking myself for only booking two nights; a minimum of four would have been perfect. We will absolutely be back – and next time, we’re...