What were the highlights of your holiday? We enjoyed the fact that by staying in this villa, with it's location and facilities, meant that as a family, we could spend quality time together without the disturbances of electronic devices and TV channels (there was a TV for watching DVDs but we didn't need it).
What was your overall impression of the accommodation?    Outstanding! It was, by far, the most stunning place we have ever stayed in whilst on holiday. The Villa (converted barn) had been renovated to a very high standard. We were very impressed. The pool too was very impressive..given it's location, were were expecting a swarm of bugs and beasties sharing the pool with us but, amazingly (and perhaps down to Marco's flitering work) we hardly saw any.
Did you have any unpleasant surprises during your stay with us? None but we have a couple of 'developmental' suggestions.....(see below)
Do you have any other comments regarding the accommodation or service? Would be worth putting up a clear sign at the gateway/roadside that this is Le Caciaie (there's is one there but it is very faint - if you blink you'll miss it) and may be worth suggesting in the directions that, when approaching the villa driveway, cars should approach the steep slope downwards from an angle - not head-on as we first did - which probably did an untold amount of damage to the undercarriage of the hire car. Otherwise, one of the best holidays we had.
Rob Lally
United Kingdom
August 2010

What were the highlights of your holiday? Seeing and hearing the wild boar at dusk. BBQ's on the nights we ate in. The wrmth of the people. Marco (property manger) was the perfect host, discreet (we only saw him occasionalyy but friendly when we did - we invited him to join us one evening for a drink which was very pleasant. Trip to Il carlino d'oro restaurant - typically italian, very friendly we loved it to bits. The resturant nearest to the villa was also great value with good food, and a "visble" kitchen. My two boys nicknamed the chef - the crazy chef - for his dance antics, and meat swinging in the kitchen! Even the waitress said he was crazy- he arrives after the guests!
What was your overall impression of the accommodation?    Excellent. Ancient barn, with contemporary fittings, in a secluded setting. Quite ideallic, on the edge of the forst, with attractive views. Clear skies revealed star filled skies. Local wildlife in abundance- wild boar and deer.
Did you have any unpleasant surprises during your stay with us? no- although the track to the villa was slightly rutted which meant the car "grounded" on t the first occasion we drove down it. The pool was very deep - which was fine, but it also made it slightly cooler than we would have liked - but great in the heat!
Do you have any other comments regarding the accommodation or service? Fantastic location, good quality. Highly recommended.
Chris Wynne
United Kingdom
July 2010

What were the highlights of your holiday? The lovely deep swimming pool, visiting Florence by the train and a trip to Siena, the weather was also fabulous.
what was your overall impression of the accommodation?    Beautiful setting, spacious house with very good facilities.
Did you have any unpleasant surprises?
Do you have any other comments? The directions for finding the accomodation mentioned things to look out for which we never did see, luckily we found the turn off more by deduction. Also the washing line is shared with the owner and there is not really enough space if you both decide to do washing on the same day, didn't cause a big issue though as didn't really want to be doing too much washing on holiiday anyway. It was helpful having the owner on site to offer advice on local attractions and trips etc.
Karen Kashdan
United Kingdom
August 2009

Overall impression: Excellent
Highlights: Having a meal cooked in the villa by a local chef, visiting Florence by train, relaxing in the villa all one day then eating in a local restaurant in the evening
Unpleasant surprises: The pool rapidly became deeper so was difficult for non swimmers
Colin (UK)

Dympna
Sorry I haven't replied earlier - indeed we had a marvellous holiday at le Cacaie - which is a most tasteful, beautiful conversion with a terrific, sheltered pool in an idyllic part of Chiantishire - with lots of garden and stunning views.  We have no complaints (the disturbance caused by the stone-breaking machines was an integral part of the agriculture there, and is a once in 20 years occurrence! To redefine the landscape for vine planting... I understand!) It is perhaps a pity that the smallest room does not have some kind of window out to the garden in front - perhaps at the top of the room, it only has a sky-light, dormer window, so some people might find that a little claustrophobic - my daughter who stayed in it didn't mind, however).  A larger coffee pot would have been handy!  But these are only small things, and not of much significance.  The host was charming, and we would love to exchange lives!
Many thanks
Susan (United Kingdom)

Overall impression: It was stunningly gorgeous...the pictures on the website don't do it justice at all (and they look really good)!  Marco has such an amazing attention to detail: all the finishing touches--from the at least 250-thread count sheets on the beds, to the fluffy towels, to the marble countertops in the kitchen and the brand-new state-of-the-art appliances, to the fabulous paintings and antiques placed throughout the house--were perfect.  We felt completely and totally spoiled, which made us very glad that our stay here was during our second week in Italy!  Otherwise, we'd have been ruined for anyplace else. 
 Also, Marco was SO helpful to us, especially in trying to get back some items that we left in our previous villa--the language barrier between us and the caretaker of that villa was too great for us to manage successfully.  He talked to that caretaker twice on our behalf: once to set up the original time to pick up the items, and once to set up a second pick up time and explain that we got lost and had a minor car accident the first time.  He really took care of us.  We ran into him at a restaurant in Gaiole our last night there and chatted some--he's just the nicest guy and the best host we could have ever thought possible.
Highlights: Aside from touring around Chianti, Florence, Montalcino and Montepulciano, we really had some of the most fun doing "normal" things.  For example, we became big fans of the Ipercoop in Montevarchi (great pizza, by the way, in case you get hungry from shopping), taking trains from Montevarchi station into Florence and Rome, hanging out at the villa making dinner, and even just taking showers in the fabulous bathroom and going to bed every night in those wonderful sheets!
Unpleasant surprises: No; not at all.
Tracy (USA)

Overall impression: Excellent, beautifully fitted out with lovely antique furniture and extra effects plus lots of interesting books, also the pool was super and kept very clean . We loved the wild boars in the forest, it was truly a wonderful setting. Pool too deep and not fenced off, two level ground floor, and top quality funiture make the house possibly not very suitable for young children. However we loved it and would like to return next year.
A folder with tips about the house and equipment plus suggestions for places to visit with instructions how to get to and from them would have been a great help. Silly things like where the bakery was etc..
Highlights: Siena
Unpleasant surprises: After the tranquility of Saturday and Sunday a team of bulldozers and rock
sifters moved into the next door vineyard to start work every morning at 7am. We felt very sorry for Marco as it must be an owners worst nightmare as well as ours. Anyway the upside was the boys all 60plus spent many hours watching progress of the diggers etc and we hope to return having been present at the birth of a new vineyard to sample its produce eventually. 
Joy (UK)

[our comment: The vineyard work is now complete (July 2007), this is something that only occurs extremely occasionally when they need to redo the vineyards after many years of production]

FAQ - Foire aux questions

A quelle heure peut-on arriver et à quelle heure doit-on quitter les lieux ?
L'heure d'arrivée est à 16 h 00. Si vous prévoyez d'arriver après 19 h 00, merci de téléphoner.
L'heure de départ est à 10 h 00
Pouvez-vous nous aider avec l'organisation de notre voyage ?
Pour obtenir de l'aide avec l'organisation de votre voyage, que ce soit en voiture, en avion ou en train, cliquez sur le lien Se rendre en Toscane depuis la page d'accueil.
Les prix sont-ils entendus par personne ou par maison ?
Les prix affichés valent pour la location de la maison.
Les draps et les serviettes sont-ils fournis ou dois-je apporter les miens ?
Les draps et les serviettes sont inclus dans le prix. Merci d'apporter vos serviettes de plage/piscine.
Le chauffage est-il compris dans le prix ?
Non. En cas d'utilisation, le chauffage est facturé proportionnellement à la consommation.
Y a-t-il une piscine ?
Oui, il y a une piscine de 15 x 6 m, avec une profondeur allant de 1,40 à 2,25 m. Elle est ouverte de mi-mai à septembre.
Y a-t-il le téléphone, un fax et l'accès à Internet ?
Il n'y a pas de téléphone. En cas d'urgence, vous pourrez utiliser le téléphone des propriétaires. Cependant, nous vous recommandons de louer un téléphone portable auprès de votre loueur de voiture.
Vous trouverez des cabines téléphoniques et un service de télécopie à Gaiole. Radda in Chianti possède un cybercafé.
Y a-t-il des commerces à proximité ?
Oui, à environ 3 km, à Gaiole in Chianti.
Où peut-on louer des vélos ?
A Radda in Chianti, au Bar Dante. Pour tout contact : tél. +39 0577 738815, e-mail kferru@tin.it
A quelle distance se trouvent les aéroports de la région ?
Florence 1 heure, Pise 2 heures, Bologne 2 heures, Rome 3 heures.
Quand obtiendrai-je l'itinéraire me permettant de me rendre sur place ?
L'itinéraire vous sera fourni lors de la confirmation finale de votre location, après réception du paiement dans son intégralité.
Où puis-je trouver l'itinéraire ?
Vous pourrez accéder à l'itinéraire en cliquant sur un lien qui figurera dans le courrier électronique de la confirmation finale de votre location. Vous pourrez également y accéder en vous identifiant à l'aide de vos nom d'utilisateur et mot de passe.