Tours by Roberto - Resources

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Resources - Accomodations

These are recommendations only. Our clients who have stayed at the places listed here have been very satisfied. These are not paid ads, we are not involved with these businesses ourselves, and we aren't able to guarantee your satisfaction at any of them. IN FACT, we rather depend on YOU to let us know what you think of them... so please, do drop us a line both good or bad, as we want our links to be of value.

NOTE: We have heard through the grapevine that other b&bs and farmhouses have links on their sites to our site. While we are flattered, if we do not have THEM on OUR site, we do not necessarily know who they are or anything about their level of service. If it matters to you, do ask us if you are choosing a place based on "our" recommendation.

Other pages of resources can be found using the links below.

Accommodations Transportation Tourist Information Special Interests Air Travel Tuscany and Beyond

HOTELS

3-star Accommodation

Hotel Santa Caterina
We heartily recommend the Hotel Santa Caterina in Siena, having been friends with the owners and management for years. Small, impeccable, courtyard garden (worth asking for garden-side room), walking distance from center of town but outside the wall so has easy parking. Elevator. Sometimes they give a discount on rooms if you say Roberto Bechi sent you, feel free to do so and say hi on our part. Rooms about €140 for a double.
Telephone - 0577-221105
Email - info@hscsiena.it
Website - http://www.hscsiena.it

Palazzo di Valli
Elegant Palazzo di Valli opened in 1999, by the same owners as tiny Antica Torre. A short shuttle ride from center. €140/night with breakfast for a double.
Telephone - 0577-226102
Website - http://www.hotelsiena.com/valli.htm

Palazzo Ravizza
Another nice place to stay with a lovely garden is the Palazzo Ravizza. It is in town, newly remodeled and lovely. Costs more because they insist on including dinner as well as breakfast. About €200 for a double.
Telephone - 0577-280462
Email - bureau@palazzoravizza.it
Website - http://www.palazzoravizza.it

Budget Accommodation

Cannon d'Oro
With fewer stars, Roberto has sometimes worked with (and Rick Steves' groups always stay at) the Cannon D'Oro hotel. Simple, fine and friendly but some rooms a bit loud. About €80 for a double.
Telephone - 0577-280868

Email - cannondoro@libero.it

Siena Quiet Villa
Our friends Orlando and Helen (he's Sienese, she's American) rent 4 rooms in their comfortable home (read: pleasant, modest, family atmosphere.) They have 2 kids and live upstairs. There's a kitchen/living area for guests' use. Short walk to downtown, quiet street, parking. Minimum 2 night stay in high season. Breakfast not included.

Email - orlando7@libero.it
Website - http://sienaquietvilla.net

Orlando's Palio website (all about the famous horserace) http://www.ilpalio.org

Siena Rooms
Deborah and Attilio (She's American, he's Sienese) rent several simple rooms with private baths in a very central location close to their own apartment, for a terrific price. No breakfast. www.sienarooms.info for website, sienarooms@hotmail.com.

4-star Accommodation

Hotel Garden
just outside Siena.
Telephone - 0577-47056
Email - info@gardenhotel.it
Website - http://www.gardenhotel.it (btw, site music is the Palio horserace theme)

Villa Scacciapensieri,
again just outside Siena. A double ranges from €180-200 depending on the type of room. Some suites available.
Telephone - 0577-41441
Email - villasca@tin.it
Website - http://web.tin.it/villascacciapensieri

Villa Patrizia is splendid as well. About €250 for a double including breakfast.
Telephone - 0577-52388
Email - info@villapatrizia.it
Web site - www.villapatrizia.it

BED & BREAKFAST

Unlike country rentals, these two take night-by-night reservations.

Frances Lodge
Frances Lodge opened in 1999. Finally, a proper and refined bed and breakfast a stone's throw from Siena. Franca and Franco are charming hosts at this villa outside Siena with a splendid view over the city. Double rooms, as well as a mini-apartment with double room and sofa-bed available. Large garden and pool. Price includes abundant breakfast, varies from room to room, family discounts. Olive oil of their own production available.
Telephone - 0577-281061
Email - info@franceslodge.it
Website - http://www.franceslodge.it

Villa Fiorita
Clients have also been quite happy with the modest Villa Fiorita. Although not in central Siena, a do-able walking distance from town or a quick cab/bus ride. Comfortably furnished. About €60 for a double without breakfast.
Telephone - 0577-44877

COUNTRYSIDE, FARM-STAYS, VILLAS

Farm-House.it
Countryside B&B: Our friend Luca's small Chianti farmhouse is a cozy and inexpensive place -- two bedrooms and one bathroom, and even by night as opposed to by the week. You can rent the one bed/bath/kitchen, or both bedrooms, with garden and pool. Great for a family with a rental car. Price about €40 per person per night (up to four).
Email - info@farm-house.it
Website - http://www.farm-house.it

Apartments:

I Sodi
The farm I Sodi has a brand-spanking new agriturismo called Le Trappoline. Roberto (full disclaimer, a cousin of one owner) prefers it because, unlike many in the Chianti, it is actually convenient to Siena, not 40 minutes on winding roads. One bedroom with bathroom apartments, with possible extra bed.
Email - info@agrisodi.com
Web site - http://www.agrisodi.com

Il Chiassale
Simple, comfortable apartments on the Savelli family's working farm. Fun for families with cows, rabbits, chickens, and friendly hosts. Children next door. No English spoken, mind you, but the kids are studying it! Very reasonably priced. Location is close to a highway, but the noise is not bad and that does make it easy to use as a home-base for folks who want to travel around but stay in one place.

Website - http://www.ilchiassale.it

Agriturismo:

Il Molinello
Our dear friends Elisa and Alessandro Draghi run a down-to-earth, family-friendly Agriturismo Il Molinello in a valley of the clay hills, about 30 minutes southeast of Siena. They are very relaxed, and Alessandro likes being involved with clients, offering wine-tastings, and insights on Italian cuisine which arise from his involvement in the Slow Food movement of which he has started a local chapter.. They have four apartments and are welcoming to children (they have 2) and pets (they have Labs). A large above ground swimming pool, mountain bike rentals, organic vegetables and fruit, and children's outdoor toys are available. They offer a discount and shorter stays off-season. Book quickly (we've flagged them to Rick Steves' books.) Do contact them anyway, though, as they have lots of friends in the field and will help you with alternatives.
Telephone - 0577-704791, Mobile - 335-6925720, Fax - 0577-705605 Email - info@molinello.com

Website - http://w ww.molinello.com

Pereto
Our friends Franco, Barbara, Claudio and Isabella rent three very simple, (quite basic) apartments on their working organic farm from which we buy all the food we can. Also great for kids.

Website - http://www.wel.it/Welcome/Toscana/Senese/Serre/Alberghi/pereto.it.html

ROOM/APARTMENT IN A VILLAGE

If you hire Roberto for several days or have a rental car you could consider lodging in or near a countryside village, Serre di Rapolano, in the picturesque clay hills southeast of Siena, or Asciano, also on the train line. Room prices range from €65 per double. Not practical unless you are doing tours with him, or had a car, I think but email me. I can help with recommendations, contacts and/or reservations, as owners of some of the best deals often don't speak too much English and rent independently of agencies.

Bed and breakfast in a hidden-away Chianti hamlet. Email Anna and mention that Patricia Robison Bechi of Tours By Roberto Inc. sent you.

Website - http://www.borgolecchi.com/

ASSORTED ACCOMODATION LINKS

Note: The first sites below are real-estate agents who speak English and can provide assistance if needed during your stay in Tuscany. The other sites list numerous farm-stays or villas and offer to make reservations for you but are not offering other services, and may simply be drawing a commission without doing much in exchange. If the email of individual farms is available, you might consider making the reservation directly.

http://www.casaclub.it- Italian real estate agents in Siena area.

http://www.tuscanagritour.com - Chiara Rossi, real-estate agent in the scenic clay-hills area, based in our village.

http:www.superdossier.com - Site leading to enormous hotel data-base. As with most reservation services, rates may be lower if you contact the hotel directly once you find the one you like.

http://www.agriturismo.regione.toscana.it - Regional site for farm-stays in Tuscany.

http://www.agriclub.it/ - Lists numerous farm-stays in Italy. Search by region.

http://www.agriturismo.net/welcome_i.html - Lists numerous farm-stays in Italy, search by region.

http://web.tin.it/ABC/descsi/agriturismo.html - For the adventurous, a bit intimidating as a site!

Email: info@toursbyroberto.com
toursbyroberto@gmail.com

Tel/Fax- 011-39-0577-321004
Cel- 011-39-320-1476590
from 9am until 9pm

Tours By Roberto, Inc.
c/o Patricia Bechi
Podere Casalciccia 17
Località Vescona
53041 Asciano SI Italy

Due to problems with email, if you do not have a response from us within 48 hours, you can call us between 9 am and 9 pm Italy time and we will call you right back.

No fears if we answer with the typical Italian "pronto", everyone speaks English, even the children.