A gorgeous resort nestled in rolling hills and woods. Yes, there is golf, but there is so much…read moremore. A health spa complete with sauna, hot tub and massages. A stunning outside infinity pool. Not to mention a resort stay with beautifully appointed rooms and one of the best breakfasts offered by a hotel during my stay in Italy. The Dinners were scrumptious and perfectly prepared and no one passed up on dessert. A true indulgence in every sense. Also it's very close to the Circuit de Mugello which was the reason we initially booked here. What a great place to relax after a day at the track!

The manager of the hotel, Loris, is an absolute saint! Foolishly, several months prior to my wife's…read moreand my departure I booked the Meridiana Country Hotel, not based upon the distance between where we planned on touring, but rather based solely upon glowing reviews. I am a review obsessed person by nature, and rarely eat at any restaurant, go to any attraction, or stay at any hotel without doing extensive research about the reviews beforehand. Back to our conundrum, since I vetted the reviews, but not the location I quickly realized my mistake of booking a hotel so far away once we arrived at the train station in Florence. There were assistants at the train station, who I assume were lifelong Florencians, and they hadn't the slightest clue how best to travel to the hotel's location. We ended up taking a train to the Il Neto station and then became stuck with no bus to take us the rest of the way. We were hopeless and might as well have been in the middle of wilderness since we were no longer tourists in places catering to them in leaps and bounds, but instead strangers in a very foreign land. I called the hotel for advice and the front desk agent advised us to call a taxi, however with the time of night and the distance between us and Florence I thought that there were minute chances of a taxi showing up. Enter Lawrence: we were walking blindly down the street in the dark in Il Neto hoping to come across a store where we could ask for advice, and lo and behold someone gets out of a black SUV and asks us if we are going to the Merdiana Country Hotel. The look on my face turned almost immediately from sheer shock to absolute joy, we were saved! The consummate gentleman Lawrence drove over an hour round-trip to get us. He refused my gas money and only wished us a pleasant stay with him, and pleasant stay we had indeed. Service excellence is Loris' most important competitive advantage and is his distinguishing edge. His ethos is built on the Golden Rule, of treating others as you would like to be treated. With this simple yet powerful credo, Lawrence was been able to turn moments of desperation, such as ours, into a memorable and happy stay. Thank you again Lawrence, from the bottom of our hearts, and rest assured that my wife and I won't soon forget you!

Castello di Casole d'Elsa (Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany) Tosca…read more We visited Castello di Casole d'Elsa for dinner. It is an extraordinary retreat where history, landscape, and luxury come together in a way that feels almost cinematic. Castello is atop a hill in the Tuscan countryside, the property occupies a restored 10th‑century castle within a large 4,200‑acre estate of vineyards, olive groves, forests, and fields. From the moment you arrive via a winding, cypress-lined road, it feels as though you've stepped into another era (as if driving through a forest). The setting alone is breathtaking, with sweeping views of rolling hills that stretch as far as the eye can see. The atmosphere is one of timeless, laid-back elegance. Despite its large scale, the estate feels peaceful and secluded, offering a true escape from daily life. The historic architecture such as stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and rustic details has been meticulously preserved, while contemporary design elements ensure comfort never feels compromised. One of the hotel's strongest aspects is how seamlessly it integrates with its surroundings. The estate is actively lived in, with agriculture, local production, and outdoor experiences shaping the guest experience. Dining at Tosca ristorante at Castello di Casole was a highpoint. The restaurant highlights traditional Tuscan cuisine, using ingredients grown directly on the estate...olive oil, wine, and seasonal produce. The food was exceptional, with a focus on authenticity and quality. We sampled items like baby squid, bread and oil, tortelli, and seabed amberjack. Service was one of the defining features of the hotel. Our servers were attentive, professional, and personable Memorable meal... Castello di Casole d'Elsa is a nice anniversary splurge that captures the essence of Tuscany in both style and substance. With its extraordinary setting, refined design, and outstanding service, it offers a deeply memorable visit that feels authentic. An immersive Tuscan escape...ideal for travelers seeking tranquility and a truly elevated countryside experience.

We had the most amazing stay!!! Every single staff member was wonderful. We ate most of our meals…read moreon the premises, and our meals were excellent! Even our driver Marian, our driver for two days, was unbelievable. All of the places he suggested to us were perfect for our group. He was on time and went above and beyond in every way. I would highly recommend Castello Di Casole. You will not be disappointed!!!!

The best hotel I've ever stayed in. Period. My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon and hardly a…read moreday goes by when I don't think about it. The grounds are beautiful, our room was enormous and the staff paid attention to every detail during our stay. My wife and I just renovated our house and we put in a pool and landscaping that borrows from the aesthetic of Castello del Nero's pool area. We are already planning to return for my 40th birthday...3 Years from now. We spent 3 weeks in Italy at 6 different hotels and this is the only one I think about and have to return to. The restaurants are both amazing and the breakfast is the best we had on our trip. If I could give 10 stars I would, so if you're even considering a stay at Castello del Nero I'd say look no further...it's time to book a reservation.

My husband and I stayed here 4 nights of a two-week trip to Italy to celebrate our 10 year wedding…read moreanniversary. This hotel is a really high-end boutique hotel that really goes above and beyond to deliver an outstanding experience for all guests. The hotel is conveniently located in a small town about 30-40 minutes by car from Florence (between Florence and Siena). It is in the Chianti wine region of Tuscany. We stayed in a basic room, which was very nice. It was very large (one of the largest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in that wasn't a suite). There was a welcome bottle of champagne (already chilled for us) as well as a bottle of red wine and a huge basket of fresh fruit ready for us on our coffee table. There was a hand-written note to us that was a nice personal touch. The room had a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside. The things that really stood out to me were: 1. Complimentary welcome champagne and wine 2. Abundant fruit basket that got replenished daily. 3. Complimentary bottled still and sparkling water replenished daily. 4. A pillow menu for guests! 5. Full breakfast every morning included with the room - there were 10 different kinds of milk out to suit everyone's preference (almond, soy, rice, goat, etc.) 5. The very nice spa 6. The setting of course! You literally couldn't ask for a more picturesque place! 7. Complimentary up to date movies on your TV 8. Great hiking trails right on the property My only (very small) complaints are that there was no dresser or shelves in the room - I had nowhere to unpack any of my folded clothes (there is only hanging space in the closet), and the mattress is very firm (this is just a personal issue though!). This hotel is very special and truly understands how to deliver a higher than 5-star experience to guests. I would highly recommend it for honeymooners, or anyone wanting a relaxing getaway in a beautiful place!

We booked late and were happy to get the last room available at the property, the "small room"…read morecalled the Elena. This room is very small but super nice for the price! I have no complaints about the room. It was clean, comfortable and well furnished. While it was indeed very small, we were able to move around with no problems. The bed was cozy but comfortable and hard, like most beds in Italy; (some extra pillows would've been appreciated, we had to roll up our clothes underneath to create a makeshift pillow). Everything was in perfect working order and the room's decor was homey and comfy. The common areas are adorable with a communal kitchen, workspace with computer, and tea / dining room. There are even two friendly fish by the entryway (I really wish they had a bigger bowl, though -- I am worried about their health and happiness)! The owner has really thought of everything -- there were tourist books in various languages, a nice coffee machine, fresh flowers in the room, an in-room refrigerator, nice toiletries and even umbrellas to borrow by the door. Upon check-in, the staff was eager to offer suggestions for places to see and things to do. On our departure day, they called us a taxi. It was great service. The room had a very modern bathroom with a lovely rainfall overhead showerhead with terrific water pressure. The bathroom space was cramped but not unworkable. There was no bidet, only a kitchen-style sprayer that came out of the wall. We laughed at that but we don't use bidets anyway. The property is difficult to find. Look for the Hard Rock Cafe (it's across the street) and the new Nespresso store (it's right next door). You can walk there from the train station but I wouldn't recommend it if you are carrying heavy bags. The location is phenomenal; you can walk just about anywhere you'd want to see in the city. I was thrilled with the location. I almost hate to write this review because I don't want to secret to get out! The #1 best thing about this hotel was the in-room A/C! It is INDIVIDUALLY CONTROLLED and cooled our room down like an icebox! This is so very important in Italy and Europe in general and as an American from a desert city, I know heat and I like to be cool. We were chilly as penguins at this property. The Elena small room had zero view, but it didn't matter to us (see my photos of the view from our room). We only slept there so I didn't care if we had a city view or not. The entire city is steps outside your door! We enjoyed the complimentary breakfast. It was served at a cafe around the corner / a short walk away. You can take a table inside or outside without paying any extra. We had breakfast there twice; the first time the employees seemed SUPER annoyed at all the B&B guests and were less than friendly and welcoming. The second day it was smiles all around. And yes, we speak Italian and communicated with them in their native language (though others did not; they were really annoyed at them)! Good, fresh and sweet pastries and tasty espresso. Note that this B&B is in a very old building that is shared with full-time resident tenants. You will see locals coming and going with their dogs, groceries, etc. There is only one very old-style cage elevator that, if it is ever out of service, you'd have a very hefty climb up several flights of steep stone stairs. Just be aware of this if you have mobility issues. I'm not sure a wheelchair would fit in the elevator either, just FYI. This is a beautiful, romantic B&B. And don't you dare call it a "hotel," the owner really, REALLY hates that! He will correct you (again and again) if you do.

Stayed here for two days location was GREAT! Staff was friendly really liked the decor... You are…read morereally centrally located. My only complaint is when I booked the room online it clearly stated it had AC... The first night was horrible we had the AC on and it only pumped in hot air also the room we where in was sooo hot. After having a horrible nights sleep and being attacked by misquito's I called over to the main desk a woman answered when i asked about the AC her only response was " We recently switched the AC to heatas it was cold a few days ago" I asked if anything could be done as the room is miserably hot. The only thing she said was "i'll notify the owner" so we went out around Florence seeing all it had to offer only to come back to a VERY HOT room.