
Sabrina: We had a memorable stay at both villas. I will pass your
e-mail on to other members of our party so you can get their
feedback/comments as well. First, I feel so fortunate that I found the
Villa & Charme website. Initially, I sent out e-mails to three
companies because I couldn't decide on any one company, but your
response was the most personable that I received. I am glad that I
picked your company because I felt that I was working with a trusted
friend who made sure that every question was answered and as much
information was given about each of the villas, so we could make a good
informed decision. And you were helpful in finding the villa for our
second week in Tuscany. Second, both villas were more than we expected!
The accommodations were more than adequate and the locations allowed us
to take in a lot of the Tuscany lifestyle. We felt the owners went out
of their way to check-up on us and made sure we had everything we
needed. It was nice to have owners who had pride in their house and
made us feel welcome in their “home”. The cooking class was my most
memorable experience. I am now an expert critique in pici and can make
a tiramisu that almost rivals our teacher's (Eta)! Please make sure
that Pamela and Cristina get this e-mail. They along with you deserve
the credit for our reason to go back to Tuscany. I am spreading the
word about Ville & Charme and the two villas. I already have a
party of 14 that are very interested in staying at Ville Tere in
June/July, 2008. Let me know how they should contact you directly for
the 2008 rental schedule/rates. Fondest regards, Charmaine
Sabrina, We would like to thank you for our lovely stay at Villa Tere
in Cavriglia, Italy. We loved everything about our stay starting from
the warm hospitality to the lovely home and grounds. We found Cristina,
Gino et al to be warm, lovely people that did everything and more to
accommodate our two families. Cristina and family cooked unbelievable
meals and it was so wonderful to have them find babysitters so that the
adults could go explore the Chianti wine region. The children so
enjoyed their daughters and friends. The villa was very well appointed
and we did not want for anything. Even when our friend wanted ice they
brought in a new freezer! The grounds were peaceful and the pools were
just gorgeous. It was wonderful to be able to cool off after a long day
of sightseeing! We loved the location and found it easy to get to the
areas that we wanted to go. ( Pisa, Florence ( via train), Siena, and
Chianti) We were not prepared for the breathtaking if not white knuckle
mountainous roads! Just wish we had a sports car instead of minivan!!
We also loved the cool night breezes and the sounds of nature! (
Roosters, peacocks, wild boars, etc). Villa Tere so far exceeded our
expectations and it was such a lovely place for our children. They went
without TV and Game cubes for several weeks ! They actually climbed
trees, played in the Olive groves, and had rousing games of Hide and go
seek and Ghost in the “Olive Grove”. It was wonderful for them to enjoy
the peace and tranquility and simple life of the Tuscans! We would
recommend this villa to everyone. It was very difficult to leave Villa
Tere and we cannot wait to go back very soon! Thank you for all of your
help and answering all of our questions. It was a true pleasure doing
business with you!
Nancy Weinert -Bloomfield Hills, MI USA
Sabrina, I am one of Charmaine Soo's sisters who was fortunate to be a
guest at two WONDERFUL villa stays. My husband and I agree with the
others -- choosing to work with you and Ville & Charme to find the
perfect villas in the Tuscany region was a good decision! Charmaine
sent us copies of all the e-mail exchanges between the two of you. We
are very particular and we looked MANY times at the website showing
these two villas and asked you many, many questions. You were very
prompt in giving us the answers and it was clear that you were familiar
with the owners and with the villas. Your personal knowledge made it
easy for us. We were talking to a trusted friend. We were disappointed
that we did not have the opportunity to meet and thank you in
person...maybe next time. Staying at the beautiful Villa Tere in
northern Tuscany gives visitors easy day trips to Siena, Florence
(1-hour train), Arezzo, San Gimignano, and the "Chianti" towns.
Cristina and Gino show great pride when they greet guests to their
newly renovated, spacious, elegant villa. There are many modern
amenities such as the elevators, motion-activated lights, and
well-equipped gourmet kitchen. All living areas and the bedrooms are
comfortable and beautifully furnished, and bathrooms are large and
spotless! The swimming pool area is very attractive and there are many
lovely, quiet spaces under olive trees for relaxing and outdoor eating.
Cristina (and brother Luca) came to the villa several times during our
stay to make certain we were doing well. We admired Cristina's
attention to details to make Villa Teresa very special and we
especially liked her prizewinning olive oil and pretty soaps! I would
highly recommend to guests that they walk/drive to Cavriglia to shop at
the alimentari, to try the pizzas at Pizza Doc, and to enjoy a lovely
lunch and/or dinner at Piccolo Ristorante/Lo Zaffo (we liked our first
dinner so much that we went again for a second dinner!). Five of us
spent three short days in Rome before we met Charmaine, Richard, and
Patricia in Chiusi. At the end of our two weeks in Tuscany, four spent
two more days in Florence and four of us visited Venice for three short
days. Then, my husband and I traveled to Vienna for several more days.
We have many photographs and many wonderful memories from our two villa
experiences. We would gladly return to both villas! We, too, highly
recommend Villa & Charme and to work with you for any stay to the
Tuscany region of Italy. Thank you for helping us!
Linda SooOak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington State
Date Submitted: August 29, 2008 Date of Stay: August 2008 When property
details seem so good there is always a risk of disappointment, but
quite the reverse was true here. Villa Tere exceeded our expectations!
We are six families, who have been holidaying together in England,
France & Italy for the past eight years, and this was by far the
best property yet. Do you want a quiet get away in fantastic
countryside? Hill walking? Fine food & wine? Then this is for you.
Or perhaps you prefer the sun, lazing by the pool? Then this is for you
too. Do you want to be an easy drive from Sienna, San Gimignano &
Arezzo, not too far from Firenze (easily reached by train from nearby
Montevarchi) & Pisa? Then yes, this is the perfect place. A group
of friends, a family get-together, a reunion? Perfect for all of these.
It might look small in the photos, but the Villa is huge, on three
floors with plentiful rooms. Big & beautifully furnished bedrooms,
most with en-suite bathrooms, & lounges on each floor - not that we
needed the lounges much, as we ate and lived outside in the glorious
weather. The seventeen of us that holidayed this year had plenty of
room to spare. Recently refurbished, with a lift between floors, nicely
decorated, clean (maid service three times a week) & with the
friendly owners close by but never intrusive, it was more than just a
villa. Outside are well watered lawns, gravel paths and terraces,
including a shaded dining area, the whole surrounded by olive trees
(the villa is in the middle of a working agrituismo, producing olive
oil). Best of all, a fantastic luxury pool is a short walk from the
villa, with sun-loungers surrounding it and a shower room located
underneath. The views are indeed fantastic, best of all being the view
from the roof terrace. Hills, mountains, olive groves & vineyards.
It is only a short walk from the nearby village, which has several fine
restaurants & shops including a co-op. There are bigger shops in
Montvarchi. The downside? It might be tricky to enjoy the area without
a car, and there are the local insects... It really is hard to think of
any others!
Sabrina, Staying at the beautiful Villa Tere in northern Tuscany gives
visitors easy day trips to Siena, Florence (1-hour train), Arezzo, San
Gimignano, and the 'Chianti' towns. housekeepers show great pride when
they greet guests to their newly renovated, spacious, elegant villa.
There are many modern amenities such as the elevators, motion-activated
lights, and well-equipped gourmet kitchen. All living areas and the
bedrooms are comfortable and beautifully furnished, and bathrooms are
large and spotless! The swimming pool area is very attractive and there
are many lovely, quiet spaces under olive trees for relaxing and
outdoor eating.
26/04 -
03/05/08 Dear We spent a fantastic week in your beautiful villa. After
we had seen the description and pictures on the web-site, wi had high
expectation the great thing was that the villa turned out to be much
above all our expectations! We would feel the warnth of this
beautifully decorated and tastefully furnished house. This made us feel
very much at home and confortable: some of us would very much like to
pay a visit again in the future! Thank you very much! Best regards from
the Dutch - family.
10/05/08 Dear Family, Thank you so much for a very very pleasured stay
on your beautiful house and gardens. It's much more than we expected,
and the rooms, flowers and everything are so nice and wellcoming. We
have enjoyed the city and surrounding very much also, and we very much
hope to come again! Lots of love and thank you once again. From the
danish family.
May 31, 2008 Dear Luca Family, what a fantastic week! Thank you so much
for making it possible for us to stay in your beautiful home. The
location is perfect for excursions (we did Florence, Pisa and Lucca),
the house is spectacular yet confortable at the same time, the view is
stunning. We can't wait to come back! Our girls could not have loved it
more - the pool, the gardens, the "cave", the Teddy Bear room. It's a
perfect house for childrens. We can't wait to come back. Canadian
Family and UK friends.
12.07.08 - 19.07.08 Dear Luca Family, We are also from Norway. This has
been a wonderfull week. The villa is like taken out from Italian
history. We will allways remember this week, and hope that we someday
will come back. One of the family is american and they love the place
too. Norway Family and american friend.
19.07 - 26.07.08 Dear Luca, Norvegians seem to have invaded this
beautiful villa. This week two families from Oslo and one from
Trondheim have enjoyed this fantastic house, garden, pool - and view!
Seven children, aged 7 months to 15 years all loved their stay here and
happy kids means happy parents. We hope to come back some day! Some
nervours mothers have been afraid that active kids would tear down
these historic wolls but luckily nothing has been destroyed. Norwegian
Families Aug .
2nd 2008 Thank you - Thank you, for an unforgettable week in your
beautiful villa. We have fallen in love with this house and the
fantastic garden. The guys loved the library, the kids loved the pool
and the room in the tower, and the ladies ... well, we loved the whole
package. A big thank you from 3 norwegian families.
26 july 2008: Hi! Villa La Moresca surpassed all expectations! It was
indeed exactly like the photos show, however what the photos didn't
convey was its scale and perfect position high on the hill with the
brilliant valley view below. We were greeted upon arrival, shown around
and given all the history and workings of the house then were left
alone to enjoy our holiday. Checkout was easy and straightforward and
again very courteous. The village was a lovely setting too with about 7
restaurants all within a couple of minutes walk. I would highly
recommend this villa! Helen Layzell ------ Dear Sabrina, Sorry for not
giving you the promised feedback any earlier……. My family and I had a
wonderful time in your beautiful villa and we were astonished by its
size, location and atmosphere - it fully lived up to our expectations.
At the first glance of the house we thought we had taken the wrong exit
– and couldn't believe that this was actually the villa in which we
would spend a whole week. Best regards to the staff that gave us a very
warm welcome and assisted us as in any questions or problems we might
have had. We will definitely recommend friends and family to rent the
same or similar houses via you – and I definitely hope to be able to
come back. All the best from DK ----
Sabrina,
We loved the villa and appreciate all of your help in arranging it for
us. Francesca and Odilla are wonderful people and their home is
absolutely gorgeous and very accomodating. Thanks also for arranging
the cook, Benjamin. He was fantastic and made the stay that much more
enjoyable. I've already recommended you to friends! Thanks so much for
arranging such a special corner of heaven for us! Margaret .
Dear Francesca, Please forgive the tardiness of this correspondence as
I had lost your email address. I was able to retrieve the address from
one of my colleagues. My wife and I, along with the other three couples
that accompanied us to Bellagio, wanted to say “Thank You, Thank You,
Thank You for a most wonderful and relaxing week at your villa. The
villa and grounds were unbelievably well kept and large. We were even
able to use the large swimming pool the last two days. As importantly,
the suggestions you shared with us on restaurants and places to shop
were especially helpful. The chef you recommended for the nights we ate
in was such a wonderful gentleman and a Master in the kitchen. His
flair for great homemade Italian food was terrific. Francesca, our
small group has travelled throughout Europe for the past 12 years and
without doubt, this has been our favorite. We wish you and your sister
only the best and look forward to the next time we travel to Bellagio.
Our paths will cross again. Sincerely, Andy and Jackie Schwitter
Plano, Texas
Sabrina: What a wonderful villa!! We had such a great time, and we
really were not ready to leave!! It was all we expected and more!
Francesca was a fantastic hostess and was very helpful in getting the
chef as well as setting up reservations for dinner!! We would love to
go back, sometime. The villa was perfect for our group and everyone
felt comfortable and relaxed. We would recommend the villa to other
travelers and encourage them to stay longer than we did!! Thank you for
all your help in getting us the PERFECT villa for our 40th wedding
anniversary celebration, Judy Smith
Dear Sabrina, Our stay at Villa Belvedere was beyond our expectations.
The Villa itself was very nice, but the grounds were spectacular. So
well kept and beautifully organized. We spent most of our time outside
and didn't do much touring around because we hated to leave this
glorious place. We loved the sisters, Francisca and Odilla, they were
very good to us. It really helped that they could speak English. The
piece de reistance was Benjamin the Chef. We had booked him for the
night we arrived and were so taken with his cooking and how reasonable
it was we booked him for the next 5 nights.He was utterly charming and
his food was to die for. All in all it was a wonderful experience and
we hope someday to do it again. Thanks Mary Jean Dellaquila
We really enjoyed all of our time in Europe but the highlight was the
time we spent in Bellagio. It was magical for us and I liked the owners
so much! They are both such lovely women. The house was perfect, and
the setting was unbelievably beautiful. Villa Bellagio was large enough
to accommodate my big family quite comfortably, allowing space and a
sense of privacy when needed. The kitchen was very well equipped which
was important to me and we had perfect weather for enjoying the pool
and gardens. Kind regards, Judith
We had the loveliest holiday ever at this perfectly wonderful villa
overlooking both arms of Lake Como. The villa is charmingly furnished
and in great condition. It was a short walk to the market for food/wine
and a little further into town. Our realtor, Sabrina, was most helpful
in planning the visit to Bellagio from the States. And, at our request,
the two sisters who own the property arranged to have the villa stocked
prior to our arrival. They provided an excellent chef to prepare
dinners for us and made the food purchases for dinner in consulation
with the chef. It made life very easy for us. All fourteen members of
our family very much enjoyed our Bellagio holiday and recommend it as a
memorable, delightful week. It was perfect in every way!
Date Submitted: July 03, 2008 Date of Stay: June 2008
My family and I have just returned from the holiday of a lifetime spent
at the Villa Belvedere. This is one of the most beautiful places we
have ever been and the entire villa is so immaculately presented and
tastefully furnished it really is a pleasure to be there.
However, the most amazing aspect of this fabulous place is its near
perfect location and breathtaking views. We spent some time travelling
around the Lake and visiting other places although we were relunctant
to spend too long away from the villa as it is just such an amazing
place to be.
We were all so desperately sorry to be leaving when our holiday came to
an end and are already making plans to return, testament to the first
class amenities, location and very warm welcome we received from all
concerned.
We couldn't recommend this more highly. Go!!! Charlotte
During our annual trip of three families, we decided to go back to
Northern Italy. After research, we choose this villa in Bellagio. This
was a wonderful choice. Having rented many villas over the past 12
years, we are usually more disappointed versus being pleasantly
surprised. This facility was wonderful! It has recently been totally
refurbished and the quality of the furnishings and appliances are first
class.
It has extraordinary outside spaces. Every morning we would take coffee
on the upper balcony overlooking Bellagio and the western edge of Lake
Como. The view from the villa is spectacular. They also arrange to have
chef come in and prepare dinner for us each evening. The food was
wonderful; I wish I could cook pasta like the chef Beniamino. We also
spent time playing bocce and swimming in the beautiful pool that when
you look out over Lake Como is like an infinity pool. We would finish
off the evening watching the sun set sipping wonderful Italian wines.
Dear Sabrina, thank you for the mail. Here is our feedback. We had
funny holidays in Pamelas house! The service was very good. We can
recommend the landlords and this house! Best regards Fam. Berger and Fam. Hildebrandt
Sabrina: We had a memorable stay at both villas. First, I feel so
fortunate that I found the Ville & Charme website. Initially, I
sent out e-mails to three companies because I couldn’t decide on any
one company, but your response was the most personable that I received.
I am glad that I picked your company because I felt that I was working
with a trusted friend who made sure that every question was answered
and as much information was given about each of the villas, so we could
make a good informed decision. And you were helpful in finding the
villa for our second week in Tuscany. Second, both villas were more
than we expected! The accommodations were more than adequate and the
locations allowed us to take in a lot of the Tuscany lifestyle. We felt
the owners went out of their way to check-up on us and made sure we had
everything we needed. It was nice to have owners who had pride in their
house and made us feel welcome in their “home”. The cooking class was
my most memorable experience. I am now an expert critique in pici and
can make a tiramisu that almost rivals our teacher’s (Eta)! Please make
sure that Pamela and Cristina get this e-mail. They along with you
deserve the credit for our reason to go back to Tuscany. I am spreading
the word about Ville & Charme and the two villas. I already have a
party of 14 that are very interested in staying at Ville Tere in
June/July, 2008. Let me know how they should contact you directly for
the 2008 rental schedule/rates. Fondest regards, Charmaine ----------------
Sabrina, I am one of Charmaine Soo's sisters who was fortunate to be a
guest at two WONDERFUL villa stays. My husband and I agree with the
others -- choosing to work with you and Ville & Charme to find the
perfect villas in the Tuscany region was a good decision! Charmaine
sent us copies of all the e-mail exchanges between the two of you. We
are very particular and we looked MANY times at the website showing
these two villas and asked you many, many questions. You were very
prompt in giving us the answers and it was clear that you were familiar
with the owners and with the villas. Your personal knowledge made it
easy for us. We were talking to a trusted friend. We were disappointed
that we did not have the opportunity to meet and thank you in
person...maybe next time. Pamela Galli and her parents are very
gracious, welcoming people and their renovated Villa Romanticawas the
best introduction for us to the "Tuscan villa life." Shops and
restaurants are just a short drive away in nearby historic Radicofani.
Day trips to Assisi, Pienza, Siena, Orvieto, Montepulciano, Montalcino,
Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Bagnoregio/Civita, and many other delightful
cities are easy, scenic drives. The villa is very clean, tidy, and
spacious; the decor is sophisticated but very comfortable; bedrooms and
bathrooms are well furnished with linens; and the kitchen and laundry
room are well-equipped. The swimming pool area, the landscaping, and
the outside living spaces (pergola, verandas) are maintained well. AND,
the views/vistas from the entire villa property are spectacular! We
thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We LOVED our "cooking lesson" with Eda,
Pamela, and Fabrizio!! On the first day, Pamela told us that "their
villa was now our home and we should relax and enjoy it." We did! We
especially appreciated Pamela's delightful personality, sense of humor,
and the pride she has for her family's villa. Five of us spent three
short days in Rome before we met Charmaine, Richard, and Patricia in
Chiusi. At the end of our two weeks in Tuscany, four spent two more
days in Florence and four of us visited Venice for three short days.
Then, my husband and I traveled to Vienna for several more days. We
have many photographs and many wonderful memories from our two villa
experiences. We would gladly return to both Villa Romantica and Villa
Tere! We, too, highly recommend Villa & Charme and to work with you
for any stay to the Tuscany region of Italy. Thank you for helping us! Linda Soo Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington State
--------------- Hi Sabrina - too busy telling all my friends how
fabulous our holiday was. We would all like to say a big thankyou to
yourself, Pamela and Fabrizio for helping us to have an amazing time.
The villa was just perfect, and Radicofani wonderful -esp the
shopkeepers who were all wonderful and just loved little Joseph and
Gabriella. We hope you have a succesful year and hope to be able to use
your services next year, Once again - a big thankyou - Best wishes Paul x
------- Hello Sabrina, We loved the villa and the location and the
owners. Pamela and Gianfranco were gracious hosts and we felt very
welcomed to their home. The views from the villa were wonderful and
although it is 17km to the autostrada, the drive was not bad. The
dinner that was arranged with Etta was beyond compare. She is a
wonderful cook and Pamela and her make a great team.
Dear Sabrina,
We had a fantastic time at Villa Romantica, and Pamela was a lovely
host. We happened to have perfect weather while we were there, and the
house had everything we needed. We took day-trips to different spots in
Tuscany from our base in Radicofani. We wished we were located a little
closer to the major highways, but the view from the veranda our of
villa made it wonderful to come home to! We also enjoyed the memorable
meal Eta prepared for us at our villa. Thanks for your part in making
it a great vacation. Sincerely, Gail