Vacation Rentals by Owner

WOW!.....Just WOW!

Guest: Ed H.
Date of Stay: 04/13/12 Review Submitted: 05/18/12

Well what can we say that would do this apartment the justice it deserves?? Because we can tell you that if you think the pictures are sweet and quaint than wait till you see what's in store for you when you actually get there! We were greeted by the most wonderful family member and his grandfather who loaded up our luggage and escorted us to the Apartment. By the way, timing and meeting area are perfect. Just wait right inside the gates to the right and he will find you. It really can't be easier, your best bet is use texting with your phone it will save time, money and give you instant contact with the owner (Fernando). He responded within minutes of every text and it worked out great. Back to Fernando and his lovely apartment "il Roseto".....heaven on earth! You are opened up to an absolutely lovely private stone courtyard with a teak table and chairs for your dining pleasure. All of this is flanked by a brilliant rose garden and containers of geraniums surrounding the entire area. It takes your breath away that this secret garden will be yours to enjoy for your entire stay!! You will enjoy this view from inside the living room from a lovely large double window that opens to the garden. As you enter the large wooden doors you'll be greeted by a large welcoming hallway. Fabulous tile, woodwork, entry table and chair. The rest of the villa is described in the listing by the owner but what he doesn't tell you is the state of the property itself.....absolutely spotless! I mean hit you in the face spotless! Every corner, every light bulb and every surface......absolutely SPOTLESS! I think this is so important in every rental property. That and a great bed and bathroom. Well my friends this property has that and so much more. If you have any reservations about this rental please just DO IT! You will be so happy, you won't even believe what a great time you'll have, how comfortable you'll be. Il Roseto is an absolute treasure, without a doubt. Now having said all of this Fernando and his family will make sure you are looked after. They will leave nothing to chance, you have a question, you call him or text him and it's done! Deposits and returns of security money......nothing was an issue and all final receipts received. We were in Cortona for 10 of our 21 days and I must say it was one of the most memorable vacations we've ever had. This was our 10th property rental and we're having a blast. It's the only way to travel and if this review helps someone out

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

il roseto in Oct.

Guest: shabo (quebec, canada)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 11/13/11

We had a fabulous time at Il Roseto. Cortona is a great choice and it was especially enjoyable to be within the walls and part of the village. Veggies, meat, cheeses , wine, cafes, restaurants and strolling stores are all minutes away from the house.We were only lost in the maze of streets and alleys the first day and after that we had it all figured out. The house is very clean and we especially enjoyed the patio. It is difficult to find reasonable places within town walls and with such a big patio. We were there every am and evening. Everything is even better than in the photos. Fernando was a great host, meeting us at the train in Camucia and bringing us to the house. He provided a marvelous fruit basket and a great bottle of wine as a welcome. The wifi worked very well. The kitchen was small but very functional. It is perfect for 2 couples and 2 kids. We were 2 couples and 2 single women so they were a bit squashed in the kids' room with bunk beds but they were good sports and said it was not a big deal and all the rest was so good that they did not mind. We had hoped to use the train more but if you want to rely just on the train you may have some set backs. There is no one at the train to help you so you have to figure on the train schedule, machine and money on your own. You need a schedule for the bus to and from the top of the town to the train. We ended up renting a car for 3 days for visiting other sites in Tuscany. Always better prices if you can do that ahead of time. We took the train to Florence and the bus to Arezzo. But you could do more on the train, I guess we just got lazy and fell into the North American travel pattern. It is an old place but well renovated with lots of character but you still have to be careful and not have a kitchen appliance and the washer on at the same time. All in all we would recommend it to everyone. It was a wonderful experience.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Perfect Apartment in Cortona

Guest: vino bambino (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/15/11

My wife, 1 year old son and I stayed at Fernando's apartment, "Il Roseto" for 8 nights in July and had a wonderful experience. We arrived very late the first night (10pm) and after a long trip we were exhausted. Fernando and his son met us, helped with our luggage, showed us around, had wine, fruit and water - as well as milk for our son - there for us when we arrived. We had lost 1 of our bags as well, and Fernando helped us get it back. He went above and beyond on every occasion and was extremely helpful every step of the way (he even provided a high chair and crib for our son, which was all set up when we arrived! And the quality of both were better than any hotel in the US). He also speaks very good english. The apartment is located very near the center of town, which is a huge asset because Cortona has a lot of steep, hilly streets... and being so close to the main square was great. It's also very close to one of the main parking lots outside the city walls, which is convenient for day trips. One of the best parts of the apartment is it's private outdoor space. We would spend nights, after dinner, having wine and relaxing outside... or happy hour having snacks and drinks outside which was so nice and unique (I didnt see any other apartment with outdoor space in all of Cortona). It's a very quiet location as well, tucked into the end of a dead-end street. there's no car traffic and only a few neighbors even walk by, so very little (if any at all) pedestrian traffic. The beds were comfortable (which isn't always the case in Italy). The apartment was completely clean when we arrived. He has free Wi-Fi internet and satelitte cable tv. Almost all of the appliances seemed new (diswasher, microwave, showers, washer/dryer for laundry - which we used multiple times with no problems). All in all in was great! This is THE GEM of Cortona... you will love it!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Peaceful seclusion right in the heart of Cortona

Guest: Dennis (San Rafael, California, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

My wife and I, our two adult sons and a friend were very comfortable at il Roseto. Dinners and breakfast in the patio under the large umbrella next to the rose garden were especially delightful, as well as indoors in the dining room. The house feels more like a home than a rental. Two of the bedrooms are large and the bathrooms modern. Fernando and his son were very gracious and ported our luggage to the house upon our arrival. We look forward to a return trip to lovely il Roseto!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Ciao Italia !

Guest: Mary (Florida)
Date of Stay: 04/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/23/11

My sister and I leased Fernando's home over Easter. Having visited Cortona previously, I wanted to stay within the city walls. The lodging is perfectly situated for easy access to the town center. The home is well appointed, with comfortable beds and nice bathrooms. The patio/courtyard is idyllic. Fernando was very helpful and accommodating. He helped us with our luggage and transport to the cab. All of his restaurant recommendations were right on par. We plan to return in the future and continue to explore all that Tuscany has to offer. Wonderful stay !

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Wonderful Vacation Spot

Guest: The Travelers (Newport Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/08/11 Review Submitted: 04/19/11

My family of 5 recently stayed at this terrific rental. The city of Cortona is beautiful and the home is ideally located. We loved the garden - and found that it was great to sit in after a full day of sightseeing. With 3 teenagers 2 bathrooms were so nice to have and the washer and dryer were extremely handy! Our hosts Fernando and Anna were lovely and very accomodating and held a terrific cooking class. I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Tuscany.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Home away from home in Tuscany

Guest: Cape Cod Family (MA, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

Our family of five enjoyed a week at il Roseto over Christmas. What a wonderful place to stay! It is right in the town, and everything is within walking distance, including shops, gelato, restaurants, churches, and museums. The apartment is comfortable and immaculate. We were able to buy all he ingredients locally to cook our Christmas dinner, including fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmer's market. We felt at home right away. Fernando and his family are very welcoming, and we had a lot of fun with the cooking lesson/dinner near the end of our stay. Cortona is now our favorite place in Italy, and it was the highlight of our vacation. We can't wait to return to il Roseto! We would highly recommend it for families.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Beautiful Home

Guest: Mac (Washington, DC USA)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/14/10

My family spent four nights here over the U.S. Thanksgiving Holidays. Fernando and his family made our stay very enjoyable. The property is very spacious, well furnished and beautiful. I highly recommend the cooking class by Anna as she made a wonderful feast for us. Cortona is a beautiful and unique Italian hill town and it made a good base for us to explore Tuscany. I would highly recommend this property to anyone wishing to stay in the area. Thank-you for everything Fernando!!

Owner response:Dear Bill, thanks a lot of for your kind words. I hope to have you and your family again as a welcome guests.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Tuscan Paradise

Guest: Pat (Shoreview Minnesota USA)
Date of Stay: 09/25/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

We were very pleased to find such a beautiful, convenient location. There were 5 adults in our group and we each were very impressed with the hospitality of Fernando and the amenities of the Villa. It was wonderful to arrive to an assortment of fruit and nuts to welcome us, along with wine and bottled water. The two men with us were both we relieved that they had computer connection and could even get English broadcasting on the TV. The rooms are very clean, comfortable and decor is very homey. There is a nice assortment of utensils and an abundance of glasses and dishes; which we made good use of. We even used the barbeque to make steak Florenza and garnished it with Rosemary from the garden. The Villa is close to markets and restaurants; we followed Fernando's recommendation and ate at Osteria del Teatro which was my favorite meal. I would definately return and will recommend the il Roseto to anyone traveling in Tuscany.

Owner response:Hello Pat Thank you very much you have been very kind i hope to having you as a guest soon as possible ciao Fernando

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Bloody bewdy mate :-) !!

Guest: Liz (Gold Coast, Australia)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Highly recommended. An absolute delight for our group of 6 to stay at this house. Well appointed, clean and very comfortable. Attention to detail and the roses in full bloom have made for very pleasant memories of happy times. The welcome platter of fruit and nuts was very much appreciated. Thank you Anna and Fernando. p.s. Hope you can still pronounce "bloody bewdy mate".

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Grauer Family Visit May, 2010

Guest: Grauer Family (Regina, Sk Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/25/10 Review Submitted: 05/25/10

To say we had a wonderful experience at IL Roseto would be an understatement. Fernando and his family including Marco were very helpful with extras such as car rentals, etc. Very, very helpful! Il Roseto is a beautiful, relaxing place in Cortona. All of us are sad to leave but know you will fall in love with the Cortonese people, food and the breathtaking views. Enjoy the walks!! We will be back and THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Enis (Istanbul)
Date of Stay: 08/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/18/09

The house is gorgeous. Kids loved the terrace, and the house is in the heart of Cortona. Besides, you and your family are very hospitable. Briefly we loved Cortona and would like to come back again some day(of course with a new bottle of turkish RAKI for you!!!). Thank you for the 7 star hotel comfort. Best regards, Enis Tar?k Gokmen

Owner response:thank you very much Enis! It has been a real pleasure to have you as my guests and by the time you're here again, we'll just sit in the patio, enjoying a good bottle of Red Wine from Montepulciano or your LOVELY Raki!

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Guest: Beth Thompson (San Francisco, CA )
Date of Stay: 08/06/09 Review Submitted: 08/06/09

What a terrific place to stay. A great apartment in the heart of the city with the benefits of a beautiful patio where you can relax and drink wine. Wish I could have stayed longer!

Owner response:Thank you Beth, it has been a real pleasure to have you at IL ROSETO! Come back soon!

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Guest: Cooper Family1 (Sandy Springs, GA)
Date of Stay: 07/05/09 Review Submitted: 07/05/09

Our family loved Il Roseto! The accomodations were roomy for the 5 of us. We spent most of our time either in the gorgeous courtyard or in the lovely living room. Cortona is a wonderful place to visit. It is located in a beautiful area of Tuscany with Umbria quite close. Fernando went out of his way to make us feel welcome. He even picked up my sister at the train station when she was unable to get in contact with us. The apartment is located in a central location in Cortona and everything was easy to access (in spite of all the hills). We highly recommend this accomodation.

Owner response:Having you and your family as my guests at IL ROSETO has been a wonderful experience and i thank you very much for this, wishing to meet you again, maybe next year!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/02/09 Review Submitted: 07/02/09

We completely enjoyed our stay at Il Roseto in Cortona, Italy. The accomodations were first rate and our host was very eager to make our stay as enjoyable as possible We could not have been more pleased and I would highly recommend this home to whoever is looking for a beautiful place to stay in Tuscany.

Owner response:thank you very much and let me tell you that i really appreciate your stay and wish to have you again as my guests here in Cortona

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Guest: Jane Mullen
Date of Stay: 05/04/09 Review Submitted: 05/03/09

Our stay at Il Roseto in Cortona, Italy was a wonderful experience. The place is beautifully remodeled with all the amenities of home. We could not have been happier.

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Guest: S Lynch (Wiltshire, England)
Date of Stay: 01/08/09 Review Submitted: 01/08/09

At Il Roseto you can experience life in a medieval hill town in comfort and lovely surroundings. The house is beautifully furnished, has a well-appointed courtyard, and we enjoyed cosy meals in front of the wood fire in the dining room. Bakery, groceries and restaurants are all a short walk away, but you must be fit enough to manage some short but steep climbs. The Donati family are very welcoming and eager to please and help you enjoy your stay.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/03/09 Review Submitted: 01/03/09

We had a wonderful stay at Il Roseto in Cortona. Very convenient location! Five minutes walk to the shops, restaurants, parking and the central piazzas of the town. The furnishings are all new and comfortable. Our only regret is that we didn't get to sit in the lovely garden as it was too cold in Nov.

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