Villa San Paolo - San Gimignano, Italy     

Just returned from Villa San Paolo after 10 lovely days in this tranquil haven in the heart of Tuscany. Can thoroughly recommend the hotel, the staff are friendly and courteous, the rooms are clean, the food is very nice but dinner is expensive in the restaurant. Great breakfasts! Request a room with balcony facing the pool. The hotel is really quite isolated and a car is essential. We recommend pick up car at Pisa airport, because it's a long way (i hour in a taxi) to the nearest big town, Sienna. We found 2 excellent restaurants within 10 minutes drive from hotel. Do try Le Renaie 5km from San G and Il Borgo di Racciano, both restaurants belong to the same family who own San Paolo, the latter being the only restaurant we could find with sea-food on the menu. (try the warm sea-food salad starter--lovely!) The surrounding area is breathtaking, vineyards as far as the eye can see (do try the local wines). The medieval town of San Gimignano is interesting and beautiful. The swimming pool at the hotel is lovely. We didn't use the spa, the treatments were very expensive. (nothing under 50euros)

Honestly this entire review may be jaded as I was spoiled in 2 other Hotels in Italy in Rome and Sienna but this hotel tries to be more than it is. I initially booked a room for myself and another and no problem when we wanted two seperate rooms. However the rooms were somewhat small,musty,and in the second building and felt second rate. What really irked me was that when my mom asked to change about 100$ in travelers checks, they would not do it-note, the bank was in town not next door, and much to my surprise after letting it go the evening before was that,the next day, one of the Concierege actually admitted it would mean for him to go to the bank in town and do the actual exchange-it appeared as if he just didn't want to. Note, we were in the countryside, not in the town. I also noticed on our departure that a gentleman carrying U.K. pounds asked for an exchange and was told to go into town. The restaurant was o.k. but very expensive and on the whole the feeling was we were doing them a favor by staying there not the reverse. I would not return to this place. Also staff were sparse, they rate themselves a 4/5 while I would say 3/5