Aug 17, 2019 04:49:55 PM
Summary:
Hi,
We booked this property 15 months in advance for a family trip for combined birthdays and graduation.
Chiara was excellent with communication during that time for any questions, and even split up the payments more so that getting funds from multiple relatives was easier.
Prior to arrival, she purchased some requested necessities ( diapers, milk, etc) so we didn’t have to search for a store.
Upon arrival, the house fit the description well and she and Ian gave us a complete tour.
The Good:
The house was beautiful as were the views! It was very spacious!
The location to take day trips was well situated, it is a 35 minute drive to the Empoli train station which we commuted to Siena, Florence, Venice, Naples( some of us) and Pisa.
The owners are next door and are often readily present for any questions or recommendations!
My toddler had a minor mishap with an item, and they were very kind in not applying a large charge.
No air conditioning, but they did provide several powerful fans that came in handy.
Child friendly- they had gates on each stair landing and the pool is fenced and locked. They provided a new high chair and pack and play for my son to sleep in.
Storage- huge closets and LOTS of hangers!!!
The Not So Good( subjective)
Mosquitoes!!! I know they have no control of this , and most of my relatives were fine, but I got bit so much, despite using spray, that I was covered in welts most of the time.
WiFi- A storm had come through a couple days before and knocked out a tower, so WiFi was extremely spotty and only accessible on the third floor. They did give us access to their personal WiFi for a day which was very nice- however the remainder of the time it didn’t work well.
Trash- again, subjective for various travelers, but for us it was different. They separate trash into five different containers( six counting glass drop off) and it took time to learn the system. This is probably typical in other italian ( or European) homes so I don’t fault them, but if you aren’t used to this, be forewarned.
STACEY G.
May 4, 2019 04:25:17 AM
Summary:
We spent a wonderful week in April in this house located in the beautiful hills outside of Vinci. The house fit all 10 of us quite confortably (stupendous views from every lovely room), the kitchen was fully supplied twith enough large pots and pans etc for us to cook our meals, and the dining table could fit us all. Only the living room was a bit small for 10, but the terrasse with its unforgettable views compensates for that when the weather is nice. Chiara and Ian were most friendly and helpful. They were even kind enough to offer to shop for us ahead of time, given that we arrived on the eve of a holliday when the shops would be closed. The house is 1h away from Lucca, 1.5 or 2 hours from Arezzo and Sienna, less than 1 hour from Florence, and we also loved Cerreto Guidi, Vinci of course, Pistoia, climbing in Monsummano Terme, and Montecatini Terme!
Sophie G.
Oct 1, 2018 02:23:02 PM
Summary:
Big thanks to Chiara & Ian for making us feel so welcome and relaxed throughout the entire stay! The house is very nice, especially the kitchen is better equipped / quality than usually. The location on top of Vinci village is just fantastic and it is recommended for everyone to just sit down and enjoy the evenings outside viewing towards the village and surrounding fields. Easy to get to from Florence airport, and good location also for visiting Pisa, Livorno, Florence and other nearby cities and towns. Great wine factories in the area, especially Fattoria Dianella. We were 6 people (4 adults and 2 kids) but the house easily accommodates many more so we had plenty of room. Weather was good throughout the week, we like more moderate temperatures than July/August hot season. Two days were quite windy up on the hills but otherwise perfect. Food and wine are best quality you can get, absolutely! Our vacation was perfect, big thanks to the owner family!! Hope to re-visit once again sometimes in the future!!
Juha M.
Sep 1, 2018 11:18:21 PM
Summary:
The photos don't do this place justice - the location is great, 12 min drive to Vinci and also less than an hour to Pisa and Florence. Vinci is a sleepy, small town but v pretty.
The house is very peaceful as no traffic noise, it's not luxurious and as you can see from photos the decor is a bit dated but it has all that you need, comfy beds, lots of loungers, etc. No air con but all bedrooms had fans and bug screens (bit broken in parts) - some games/puzzles/books would have been nice but there's a well equipped kitchen (inc tea pots!), pool plenty big enough and better than looks in pix (about 50 ft from house and down some steps so no sunbathing area by pool as its in steep olive grove) and a great, large south facing terrace in front of house and which catches evening sun also. Plenty of places to sit in shade and always the stunning view.
The owners live in the yellow attached property and there's also a small separate barn conversion on the yard (to the SW of the house) with its own small pool.
We were a group of 13 (6 adults, 6 teens, 1 tween) and had plenty of space - the upstairs wifi room off one of the double en-suites is a perfect teenage den (there's also large downstairs diningroom/lounge we didn't need as weather great). There were issues with the hot water and a flood in the kitchen when we were there but owners tried hard to get it fixed.
We had lots of cyclists in our group who were in heaven (more bikes than cars on the mountain road) and I would highly recommend this house for location, value for money and hospitality.
ABI H.
Aug 21, 2018 08:27:53 PM
Summary:
Our family - a group of six adults and four children (5 to 15 years) - spent two weeks in August 2018 in Casa Eden. Casa Eden is a beautiful old stone house with modern, well-kept furnishings. The kitchen is very well equipped and invites you to cook. There is plenty of space in the house, on the veranda, under the trees in front of the house and by the pool. Therefore, Casa Eden is also very suitable for large groups.
The location of Casa Eden is magnificent on a mountain (surrounded by olive trees) with a great view of the hilly Tuscan countryside. The pool is bigger than we expected, we could swim there and refresh ourselves. We enjoyed the peace and the beautiful view in front of the house and at the pool.
Only a few minutes walk away is a very small village with a pizzeria that offers very tasty food and a breathtaking view in particular at sunset. Vinci is a few minutes away by car, this is a nice little place with some sights.
The location is a great starting point to explore the whole of Tuscany.
If you don't want to drive so much by car, you can drive to Empoli (30 minutes away) and park at the train station. There are direct trains all day long from Empoli to Florence, to Pisa (30 minutes by train each) or Sienna (about one hour). We found that very practical.
Chiara and Ian are great hosts, they welcomed us with very tasty wine and olive oil. They gave us a lot of tips about the surroundings when we asked. We felt very comfortable there at all times.
Casa Eden is a very nice place. We all really enjoyed it and we'll be back for sure.
Fabian R.
Jul 18, 2018 10:58:24 PM
Summary:
A rustic but comfortable farmhouse on the slopes of an olive grove 4km above Vinci. Beautiful views from the patio overlooking the Arno valley. Swimming pool is just down the hill from the house: great for splashing around but not much room for sunbathing poolside. Property is well equipped, with a wonderfully eclectic mix of furniture. It does have fans, but not air con, so nighttime was quite warm in our heatwave this summer; this and the poolside are the only items holding me back from giving a 5* rating, in fairness to other people, as we really enjoyed our stay.
Ian and Chiara live next door, are wonderfully friendly, and go out of their way to make sure you're enjoying your stay. Do take them up on their offer to book you into some of the great local restaurants.
However, DON'T BELIEVE Google maps location for the house - get directions from the owners. We didn't and ended up trying to drive up a goat track!
Looking forward to a suitable opportunity for a return visit.
Graham C.
Jul 5, 2018 03:08:13 PM
Summary:
My only regret is not spending more time at the house. It is beautiful and peaceful and Ian and Chiara are gracious hosts.
Expect a bit of a drive to get there in your planning process for whatever you plan to visit while there.
We were left a couple bottles of wine and a bottle of their own olive oil which was fantastic!
If you are looking for peace and quiet and something away from the hustle and bustle this is your home!
Heather M.
May 4, 2018 05:59:39 PM
Summary:
We had a family reunion of 10 people April 16-26, 2018, and space worked out really well with 4 1/2 baths and nice size bedrooms. The owners, Chiara and Ian left us a complimentary bottle of white Wine and red wine and a bottle of their olive oil. It was a perfect setting with fabulous views of the vineyards and olive trees and the entire valley.
We all loved this house, and highly recommend this place.
Bonnie W.
Sep 6, 2016 10:41:33 AM
Summary:
We are an international family who held our family reunion at Casa Eden this year. There were thirteen of us most of the time and fourteen for a couple of days. The house easily accommodated our number of guests and could have easily handled additional people. Ian and Chiara, the owners, live nearby (who are lovely people) and could not do enough to answer questions, make recommendations, and make our stay more comfortable. The setting of Casa Eden is wondrous with breathtaking hilltop views of Vinci, vineyards, and the valley. The location was perfect as a springboard for visiting other cities in Tuscany. The kitchen is fully equipped so that you can cook or bake most anything you want. We were lucky to have a chef in the family :-) There is a large dining room inside, but we chose to eat outside on the porch with the magnificent views. The bedrooms were huge, the beds comfortable, and there were enough bathrooms to accommodate everyone. There is also a huge common room on the third floor with couches that we loved to gather in and talk of the experiences of the day (we did a lot of touring as a group) and play games. When we tired ourselves out with all the touring (Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Manarola, Volterra, Lucca, Siena, and Vinci. So much to see, so little time!), we stayed at Casa Eden and enjoyed the amenities (pool, BBQ, lots of lounge chair), and walked to a nearby restaurant with a terrace that has good food and awesome views. Ian and Chiara generously leave a bottle of red and white wine as well as olive oil made from their orchards. There is a cabinet in the hallway if you want more (that you pay for in the end).
We would highly recommend Casa Eden for large groups and family gatherings.
Nira C.
Jun 3, 2016 03:36:51 PM
Summary:
Ian and Chiara went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and to help us find everything we needed. The home is very clean and well kept, and had plenty of room for 6 adults and 8 children. The location was perfect for visiting Pisa, Florence, and many beaches. We highly recommend a stay at Casa Eden!
Gregory B.