Name: Rentvillas.com
Address: 1697 NW Precision Ln, Bend
Rating: 4.38

“Overall: The experience exceeded expectations in all ways. The home is amazing, and even more beautiful and extensive than the photos and literature suggest. T manager offered a tour and overview of how to operate appliances and other such practical manners. She was also available to assist us with any other requests for directions, suggestions, sites, etc. We invited her to dinner the last evening and learned about the history of the castle. Her gracious style was an enhancement and a practical benefit to a group that spoke no Spanish!Previous reviews suggest "the bell" was a big problem. The house has modern insulated windows and air conditioning. With the windows closed, you could not hear the bells. Our room was immediately adjacent to the bell tower, too. Our group consisted of 7 couples plus a single. There was plenty of privacy for all, yet rooms large enough to congregate in for a large group. We could seat 15 for dinner at one large round table, and there were numerous sitting rooms lounges to offer quiet places if desired. Enjoyed Most: The proprietor was available to help with recommendations and translations- she speaks excellent English and has offices at the foot of the castle. The home was beautifully furnished and has an exceptional private patio with pool. Daily housekeeping was an added plus. Kitchen was well equipped allowing for meals to be cooked for a large group. Ample supply of good quality linens and dishes were available to set a formal table. A modern washer and dryer is available to guests. Enjoyed Least: One small bar in the village is open only on weekends. All amenities require driving, but there were shops and restaurants that were not far. Surrounding Area: Excellent access to major roads. Sites in the area range from beaches to museums to archaeological sites. The Castillo was a convenient base to support the highlights of the region, yet offered a private, tranquil retreat for those in pursuit of sheer relaxation. Nearby Events or Locales: The village of St Mori is home to "120 souls". There is a daily bread truck, once a week vegetable market, and a butcher in the village. Everything else requires a car to access. Tips or Restaurants: There is a list of suggested restaurants at the home. Linens, towels, nominal supplies such as dish liquids, soap, toilet paper, were provided. There are chefs available to cook and serve at the home and clean up! We took advantage of that the last evening.”

Helpful Report

(Castillo Catalunia) - Posted 18 years ago

“Overall: This was an incredible vacation spot. We were offered free vegetables from the gardens and free range eggs. The pool was awesome with the feel of an extra large hot tub. The pool had water jets in places which really helped in relaxing after a busy day. I would highly recommend this as a vacation destination. Enjoyed Most: The pool, the size of the apartment and the graciousness of the staff. Enjoyed Least: The beds for our grown children were small. My son is 6'4" tall and could not sleep on this bed. Surrounding Area: Lots of small villages to explore and beautiful drives through the hills. Nearby Events or Locales: No. The nearest village was about 10 km. Tips or Restaurants: Bring your bathing suit and rent a small car. The roads are quite narrow. Directions: We used a GPS that was in our car rental. However in the countryside the GPS had us traveling down a cow path. We had to figure out an alternate route!”

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(Castello Ricco - Il Re) - Posted 11 years ago

“Overall: It was really great. Enjoyed Most: Spaciousness, the gardens, and the general atmosphere. Enjoyed Least: Lack of practical kitchen items - pots too big and inappropriate glasses. Surrounding Area: The trips out of the village were great. Nearby Events or Locales: Cagli and in a pinch could be walked - it was 10 kms. Tips or Restaurants: Calgi pizza place was great, mainly because of the people. Check In Out: They were very helpful and came around immediately when we had a problem. Language was a bit of a issue but they brought their son with them who had a good command of English.”

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(Castello Flaminia - San Filippo) - Posted 11 years ago

“Overall: Very tranquil. The surroundings are spectacular. You feel so relaxed and can take in the beauty of the gardens and appreciate the workmanship of all the work that went into building the castle. Enjoyed Most: The location. Enjoyed Least: Nothing. Tips or Restaurants: Bring insect repellent. Directions: Yes we used a GPS. Check In Out: Very friendly and helpful.”

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(Castello Ducale - 30) - Posted 12 years ago

“Overall: Casale terme was a beautiful property set in the mountains of Tuscany. The property was located in a central location and we were able to make day trips to Lucca, Pisa, Chianti, Florence, Via Reggio, Montecatini terme. All within 1 hour. The views and sunsets were spectacular and the house was immaculate. The house also has a beautiful pool and hot tub for relaxation after sightseeing. Enjoyed Most: So clean and the views. Central location. Wonderful supermarket located 10 minutes away. Enjoyed Least: The drive to the house could be harrowing with hairpin turns- tough to do at night- also some areas of the road were poorly paved making for a very bumpy ride. Surrounding Area: Lots to see and do. Nearby Events or Locales: Montecatini terme. No you really need a car if you are staying here. The house is at the top of a mountain. Tips or Restaurants: Please make sure you check out the spas at Montecatini Terme- a hidden jewel. The house has a small washer for clothes however no dryer. You will need to dry the clothes on a clothes rack. Directions: We used Google maps and found the house ok. Check In Out: Anna the owner was lovely. She keeps an immaculate home and provided some groceries and fruits for us on arrival which was so thoughtful. However, she speaks limited English.”

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(Casale Terme) - Posted 10 years ago

“Overall: Marvelous! Enjoyed Most: The spectacular view! The grounds were well-kept and the roses were beautiful. Surrounding Area: The quiet and peacefulness of the area. No hustle or bustle. A nice, slow pace. Nearby Events or Locales: The towns were certainly not within walking distance. The only thing within walking distance was the beautiful pool. Tips or Restaurants: Bring a good cork screw as theirs is too big for most bottles of wine. Don't bother with the restaurant at the corner where you turn as we found it to be expensive.”

Helpful Report

(Casale Lucia 3) - Posted 13 years ago

“Overall: My family and I loved the villa. We all felt that it gave us a much better experience of Toscana than staying in a hotel would have. Enjoyed Most: The house itself was amazing...truly what I always have thought of when thinking about a house in Italy Surrounding Area: The surrounding area and towns were amazing. We enjoyed exploring the little cafes and going to the grocery store like everyone else. People were tremendously helpful. Nearby Events or Locales: Pietraia was the nearest small (very small) town. Not within walking distance but we did stop at the 2 shops in the village. Terontola was next...driving distance not far. The people that manage the properties were amazing! Couldn't have helped more. They were very responsive to all requests. Camucia was the next biggest town...lovely town...great cafe in center of town. Tips or Restaurants: Everything we didn't bring based upon your suggestions was provided. We were all very surprised and very pleased with the things available to us at the villa up to and including things like a salad spinner and mandolines! We enjoyed cooking at the villa but traveled around so much and just stopped at various places--all with great food, fresh ingredients, and helpful (patient) waitstaff. Directions: We did get a GPS with the car rental and used it a lot. Not sure you can do anything to improve the directions. As per RentVillas' instructions, we went to the manager in Terontola first. She then led us to the property. It worked very well. Check In Out: Since none of us speak much Italian and the villa owners spoke little English it is amazing what can be accomplished with sign language. Check in/out were very smooth!”

Helpful Report

(Casale La Pietra) - Posted 12 years ago

“Overall: Maybe the best vacation ever. Great location, near train station, markets and easy road access to many small Tuscan cities and town. Great history and very friendly people. We were there a month. Plenty of relaxed time, but lots to do as well. Can't say enough.Also the sister of the owner is the cook...which we would highly recommend. Enjoyed Most: Location, location, location. It was hot...great infinity pool looking over the Tuscan mountains and valleys. Plenty of room for 8 people, but you'll spend most of your time there outside. Enjoyed Least: It was a little "buggy". No air, but it cooled at night to the mid 60's. You would absolutely need a car. Surrounding Area: Many, many small Italian towns and villages. You got a feeling like you lived there. Nearby Events or Locales: Certaldo; it was not within walking distance. Tips or Restaurants: RentVillas had a great list of what to bring. The tram to Certaldo Alto is also a fun easy way to get there. Directions: Don't try to drive there at night the first time. We used an app the came with the iPhone...but there are a lot of areas where there is no service. Take travelers to Certaldo proper and go from there. Our directions seemed confusing...but we were tired and it was dark. The GPS would sometimes tell you to turn on a certain road by it's Italian name and you passed it or couldn't see it in the dark. Check In Out: We missed our connection in Frankfurt. The owner of the villa picked up our son at the train station, took him grocery shopping and to the villa. They are the nicest people we've ever met.”

Helpful Report

(Casale Certaldo) - Posted 11 years ago

“Overall: We absolutely LOVED our stay! The view and the apartment are outstanding. Enjoyed Most: The view and location. Easy to walk to town for eating and touring the Cinque Terre. We loved having our coffee every morning and wine in the evening on the deck while watching the boats come in an out of the harbor. It was so difficult to leave at the end of our stay! Also, the beds were comfortable and many choices for making coffee. We had everything we needed. Enjoyed Least: The small bathroom didn't have much counter space, but it didn't really ruin our stay. Surrounding Area: We took the boat to the Cinque Terre towns several times to hike and eat. Also, the town of Portovenere is charming with many excellent places to eat. We also hired the owner's son to take us wine tasting. Really enjoyed the winery as well us our lunch with him. Nearby Events or Locales: Portovenere is the nearest town. An easy 5 minute walk from the apartment. Tips or Restaurants: The only thing I'd mention is there are two flights of stairs leading up to the apartment entrance and several more to the unit itself. Not a problem for us, but if mobility is an issue might be important to know. We ate at all the restaurants the owner Roberta recommended. They were all delicious. We stay with the local cuisine of the area, which is seafood. Also, tried the local pesto. Excellent! I'm gluten intolerant and all the restaurants were very accommodating. One restaurant in Corniglia even ran across the street to buy gluten-free pasta. It turned out to be the best meal I had in the Cinque Terre. Directions: We hired a driver to pick us up at the airport. The owner Roberta actually picked us up. She is lovely. Not only did she pick us up, but she took us to the grocery store.”

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(Casa Venere) - Posted 9 years ago

“Overall: We had a wonderful vacation at Casa Taormina. The property was exceptional. Enjoyed Most: The accommodations and view were spectacular. Dining with family and friends on the patio was unforgettable. Surrounding Area: We visited Savoca and St.Teresa di Riva and found them to be charming. As you know, Savoca is where "Godfather I" was filmed.”

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(Casa Taormina) - Posted 12 years ago

“Overall: Our stay at Casa de Signa was tremendous. It is a farm house that once processed olive oil from orchards right on the property. We celebrated our 30th anniversary with family and friends and this property was perfect for our group. Neri and Sara set up a wonderful first night dinner at the restaurant on the property as well as a custom menu for the night of our anniversary. We took a tour of the winery as well as a tasting of wine and olive oil produced by Tenuta San Vito.The whole experience at Casa Signa was magical. I would recommend this property to any group of friends or family looking for the Tuscan experience! Enjoyed Most: Casa Signa is in a fantastic location. The Lastra a Signa train station (service to Florence--16 minute ride--, Pisa, Cinque Terre and many other Tuscan locations) is only a 5-minute drive from the farm house. The Florence airport is only 30-minutes by car. There are stores to buy groceries nearby as well as a restaurant on the property and restaurants in the small towns in the surrounding areas.The property itself is kept in tip-top shape. Each guest room has its own bathroom, coffee maker and refrigerator. Casa Signa has stunning views of the surrounding area and of the town of Lastra a Signa.Location, location, location! Surrounding Area: Charming towns and breathtaking views. Nearby Events or Locales: Montelupo...you could walk, but it would be a long walk. Tips or Restaurants: You might want to bring or buy bath soap (just a small bar is provided in each bathroom) and we had to buy extra toilet paper and dishwasher soap. You can have house cleaning for an extra charge if you like. Directions: We used our Google Maps and got turned around; once we figured it out, we were fine. Being off the beaten path was nice. Check In Out: Everything was easy.”

Helpful Report

(Casa Signa) - Posted 12 years ago

“Overall: The villa is absolutely beautiful. The layout is terrific for a group as there are large spaces where you can gather or have alone time. If you have an ideal vision of the Tuscan countryside, this would likely be it. The views are breathtaking. Enjoyed Most: The peace and quiet are fabulous. The space is terrific for a group with lots of room and a well-equipped kitchen. The outside spaces are equally beautiful and although it wasn't warm enough to swim, we did sit by the pool. Enjoyed Least: The villa is reached via a very steep gravel road so you just need to be aware. A car is an absolute necessity as nothing is in walking distance. Surrounding Area: This property is very well maintained. The grounds are lovely and the little towns around there are great. Nearby Events or Locales: There is a tiny store with the bare essentials within a 10 minute drive but the little town of Talla is the closest town (about a 15 minute drive from the house). Tips or Restaurants: I would suggest you do some grocery shopping at one of the larger stores on the way from Arezzo. The town of Talla has a wonderful restaurant, l'Orcello that we enjoyed so much we went back a second time. Arezzo is a great town with great train service. We took a day trip by train to Florence. Directions: We met the owners at an easy-to-find location and she took us to the house. It would be hard to find it the first time without help.”

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(Casa Santa Mama) - Posted 13 years ago

“Overall: Tremendous. Enjoyed Most: Its situation, beautiful architecture, the eclectic selection of bedrooms, the multiple quiet places where people could be by themselves and the delightful housekeeper. Enjoyed Least: A lack of comfortable outdoor seating to sit and watch the extraordinary view - really my only criticism. Surrounding Area: The villa was embedded in the heart of Chianti with numerous wineries and several small villages to explore nearby. Nearby Events or Locales: Radda in Chianti. No, we couldn't walk, but that didn't matter. Tips or Restaurants: Rent a 4-wheel drive car to access the steep dirt road (1 km) leading up to the villa. Our front-wheel drive car struggled to maintain traction. Check In Out: The housekeeper made it very easy.”

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(Casa Romina) - Posted 10 years ago

“Overall: It was a peaceful and beautiful property and we had a great week there both using it as a launching pad for sightseeing and as a great place to hang out with the kids and relax. Enjoyed Most: We loved the grounds and the view. The villa itself was beautiful and spacious with the right number of bedrooms and good room size. The pool was terrific as was the furniture. We also appreciated the games/toys/books that were there. Enjoyed Least: Since the property is not air-conditioned the top floor became very hot at night even with the fan on. Because not all the windows were screened, we could not open them due to heavy mosquitos.Also, we liked Francesco and Liliana but it would have been helpful if someone had spoken some English. Surrounding Area: We enjoyed running/walking to the nearby villages--the nearby Co-op for shopping and proximity to Firenze and Pisa. Nearby Events or Locales: Palaia was not exactly walking distance. Genovese was within walking distance but there is not much happening there. Tips or Restaurants: Bring lots of good bug spray from the US. The Italian spray was fairly useless. Check In Out: It was smooth and painless.”

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(Casa Palaia) - Posted 11 years ago

“Overall: Very good. Enjoyed Most: Location. Surrounding Area: The small towns in the general area.Wine country was not far. Nearby Events or Locales: Orentano. Must have your own rental car to enjoy this property. Tips or Restaurants: Explore the area. Check In Out: Very smooth.”

Helpful Report

(Casa Orentano) - Posted 9 years ago

“Overall: Lovely. The villa was immaculately kept. Our host was always available to help. The grounds were larger than expected and the pool was delightful. Enjoyed Most: The views were beautiful. The kitchen was far better equipped than we could have ever hoped. Enjoyed Least: There was quite a bit of barking dogs and roosters crowing. Surrounding Area: The town of Monte Carlo was charming but the best thing was how centrally located the property was. We were able to enjoy Pisa, Florence, Lucca, Cinque Terre, and San Gimignano all in a day's trip. Nearby Events or Locales: There did not seem to be any town within walking but that was not a problem as we had a car. I think a car would be necessary for this property. Tips or Restaurants: The facility was so well-equipped that we needed to bring very little. I would recommend mosquito repellent as we did get quite some bites. Pack clothes that will dry quickly on the line as there is no drier. Directions: We did not have a GPS that worked so we relied on the written directions, which were excellent Check In Out: Our hosts were at the property waiting for us with a bottle of wine and delicious pastry. We couldn't ask for more.”

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(Casa Montecarlo) - Posted 12 years ago

“Overall: The villa was everything we hoped for and then some. Enjoyed Most: The grounds were beautiful and the pool was clean and lovely. Enjoyed Least: The access road was a bit rough. Surrounding Area: The location was ideal for day trips to other Tuscan towns. Firenze was very close.The immediate area was clean and lovely. Very rural. Nearby Events or Locales: Montaione was the nearest town. It was not necessarily within walking distance but it was a very short, easy drive. Tips or Restaurants: Bring binoculars to view the distant mountains and towns. The little restaurant right across the street from the entrance to the villa's road was wonderful. Directions: I arrived a day late and so was picked up by others.”

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(Casa Montaione) - Posted 11 years ago

“Overall: Fabulous. Enjoyed Most: The view, the grounds, proximity to small towns and Florence and Siena, peace and quiet. It was great! Enjoyed Least: Directions. Surrounding Area: Picturesque and places to eat. Nearby Events or Locales: Mercatale...yes, and we drove. Tips or Restaurants: Restaurant Il Gallo Galleo in San Casciano.Shop and create your breakfasts and lunches in the villa.Use the grounds for walking. Directions: We used a GPS, finally. The printed directions were confusing. Check In Out: It all worked.”

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(Casa Mercatale - Secco) - Posted 11 years ago

“Overall: We spent 2 very nice weeks there. The house is very nice and well taken care of; the care taker is very responsive and helpful. We would definitely recommend it. Enjoyed Most: The pool and the exterior dining area with pizza oven and grill. Enjoyed Least: The last stretch of road to get there is narrow, winding, and unpaved. Surrounding Area: Quiet, views, easy 1-hr drive to most places of interest. Nearby Events or Locales: Bucine is a 15-minute drive; there is a grocery store there. In Ambra there are smaller food stores but it is not walking distance, either. Tips or Restaurants: The restaurant Villa Leccarda just down the road at the junction of the main road is great and opens late. Bring bug spray or some type of repellent and ask Naleen (the care taker) to cook for you--he is a great chef.”

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(Casa Medioevale With Annex) - Posted 13 years ago

“Overall: We loved the property. The view was breathtaking. It was convenient to many sites like Florence, Cinque Terre, Pisa etc. It was our first "villa experience" and we were very happy. We liked the décor of the old building. Enjoyed Most: Having pre-arranged to have a local lady come in to cook us a typical Tuscan dinner was a real treat. The view from our villa was something we will not soon forget. Enjoyed Least: The drive up from Lucca was challenging and the driveway down to the villa is unlike anything we have ever experienced. Those are the only 2 dislikes. We loved everything else. Surrounding Area: We went to a winery and olive oil press just down the road. The views were truly outstanding. The few neighbours that we did meet were very pleasant. Nearby Events or Locales: The one part of Matraia was as easy walk. There was a small store, pharmacy and restaurant there. Very pretty walk. Tips or Restaurants: We should have read the fine print about nothing being open on Sunday so strongly suggest that future renters have some food. Great little place way up the mountain in Matraia North and the local place, The Colonade, was very good as well. Directions: We had a terrible time finding the place as there was a thunder storm going on and the sign was very small. Luckily, for us, we stopped at a house near the village and a fellow who spoke English helped us. GPS was not helping us that night. Check In Out: We got there late and although often in telephone contact, we never did meet our contact person as she left the key for us.”

Helpful Report

(Casa Matraia) - Posted 11 years ago

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