La Cisterna - San Gimignano, Italy     

The location of this hotel is perfection. In a building so old it looks like it could have been built by the Etruscans, this wonderful hotel sits directly in the main square of San Gimignano. The whole city is small enough you can walk from one side to the other in a short time, but still, this location was fabulous. We weren?t so lucky as to have one of those breathtaking views or a balcony, and as we were on the first floor it could be a little dark in our room. But they did have a location for us to store our bikes around back. The room was perfectly decorated for style of building and the bathroom was nice. We enjoyed several of our meals at the adjoining restaurant (although the omlettes were universally disliked), and the breakfasts were just right for us (this did come with an extraordinary view). And then there was the staff, who knew what you needed even before you did and were always professional.

Although we had some difficulty negotiating San Gimignano's streets in our car (you're best to contact the hotel before you arrive and ask for detailed driving directions), once we did find the hotel, we were extremely pleased with our choice. It is well located and relatively easy to access with a car (once you know what you're doing!) and the staff were helpful. We booked a room with a view over the countryside and this certainly did not disappoint.