Our Recent Stay: Hotel Il Castelfalfi

Our travel designer, Robin, and CEO, Jennifer, stayed at the beautiful property of Castelfalfi while exploring properties across Tuscany. This is a great, modern hotel in the heart of the countryside and home to the best Tuscan sunset arguably anywhere!

Continue reading to see some of their favorite parts of the property:

Why we went:

Castelfalfi is just an easy 45 minute drive from Florence, making it a perfect getaway from the city. We chose to pick up a rental car at the airport and head that way upon landing into Italy.

Sidenote: picking up a rental car in a foreign country while severely jet lagged, it not always suggested- but because Castelfalfi is such a short ride away, it was the perfect choice for us!

What we loved:

We rolled up to this hotel to find two buildings - one with a rustic exterior and one that was sleek and shiny. Come to find out, one is their 4-star hotel (La Tabaccaia) and one is the 5-star resort (Il Castelfalfi). Spoiler: they are both charming and perfect!

Our room was in the main resort of Il Castelfalfi, which is where this hotel really differentiates itself from every other Tuscan resorts. Many Tuscan properties are created off of pre-existing buildings, which can come with interesting quirks and rooming configurations. While Castelfalfi boasts all the views (and we are talking ALL the views) of the Tuscan countryside, it also has modern and traditional-style hotel rooms that are perfect for anyone who may not love more rustic options.

How we slept:

Our room faced the Tuscan countryside, which offered a view directly from my pillow when I woke up. The area was so quiet, and we awoke to birds chirping and a serene sunrise. However, I'm not sure if our review is completely fair, because at that point, they could have had us sleep on the floor of the lobby and we would probably still gotten in some pretty heavy Z's.

What we ate:

What gives this resort an edge over other Tuscan retreats, is that it has its own town. Literally. There is a tiny town connected to this hotel that offers places to grab a late night gelato, do a little shopping, and get a taste of quaint village life. In this town, there are also beautiful restaurants. Because we got into town late, and had just hopped off a plane from 17 hours of travel - we opted for the casual pasta/pizza spot called Il Rosmarino. It was a short walk down the street, but offered the warmest welcome, coziest ambience, and most incredible Diavolo pizza that a gal could ask for. We swore we'd take it easy and go to bed early (ha! we said that every night...) but ended up splitting a bottle of Chianti and toasting to our Italian adventure.

What you get with your stay:

I mean, if I haven't sold you yet with gelato and pizza, I'm not sure that I can sell you (or if we could be friends). Although, a few things that I have been remiss in mentioning so far are:

  • The luxurious spa

  • The incredible golf course spanning the countryside

  • The bean bag chairs where you can enjoy the sunset with an apertivo

  • A pool with unreal views

  • A breakfast room boasting unlimited Prosecco

  • Horseriding available

  • Wine and olive oil tastings

  • Private villa rentals available

  • Friendly staff

  • Unbeatable sunsets overlooking the rolling Tuscan hills… I mean, honestly!

Why we would recommend this property to our clients:

This is the perfect landing spot for anyone who wants an easily accessible Tuscan getaway, but wants all the comforts of a modern hotel. There are great food options on-site, plenty to do, and even private villas for larger groups. Whether you are looking for an economical stay (La Tabaccaia), a five star experience, or a private villa for a group - this is an ideal destination!