James Villas had a strong advertising campaign over the last 2 years and, after a very happy holiday with them to Mallorca in 2004, we decided to book a week in Tuscany for the end of August 2008.
The website is very informative and we decided on our accommodation - Villa Podere Il Renaio in Legoli. A helpful section of the website allows you to check availability and prices for the week you want and weeks either side and so we were sorted. Actually, no! I know flights from Newcastle to Pisa were available with Jet2 (I had checked the prices on Jet2 website) but the James Villas website insisted I could only fly from Manchester, so I had no choice but to make a phone booking.
Phoning to book the holiday was easy. There was no queue, I got straight through to a very friendly operator who assured me that she could book Jet2 flights (pity the website didn't know this) and also gave me plenty of information about the villa and surrounding area. The cost in total was £1600 - a lot for 3 people for a week's holiday, but still cheaper than any of the bigger tour operators I tried. We also got free car hire (we upgraded to larger car at the cost of £40) and could have got free travel insurance, but we're picky about insurance so arranged our own.
So, to the holiday. The flight there was on time, leaving Newcastle at 8 am (excellent time) and arriving on time at about 10.45 am. Then the fun started! Pisa Airport obviously want Brits to feel at home because we had to queue...again and again and again! First to get into the terminal building (40 minutes), then for the bus to the car hire building (45 minutes) then again to get to the car hire desk (1 hour). We spent more time in queues that we spent on the flight.
Anyway, we got our car and, armed with James Villas directions, off we went. The directions were spot on. I had a map open as well, just in case, but it wasn't needed. In an hour we had found our villa. One gripe though - we were told the villa was down a 300 m track. What we weren't told was that it resembled a theme park ride without the safety bar. 300m of partially cemented track littered with stones, a steep drop into the valley on one side, a cliff on the other side, death defying sharp turns and the steepest drop we've ever experienced to get down to the villa. My father, the driver, was fine. My mother and I assumed the brace position and whimpered.
When we got to the villa though, it was worth it. The most beautiful setting surrounded by olive groves and a pine copse. Nobody around - perfect! The villa was a wonderful old house, beautifully renovated and, though the brochure said 3 bedrooms, with all the sofa beds it could easily have slept 10.
The first night we all slept like the dead (remember this phrase...) The following night I got to sleep about 11 pm but wakened up less that an hour later to hear footsteps and movements from downstairs. Then talking and laughing. Assuming my parents were having a party and hadn't invited me, I went to investigate. As I opened the door at the top of the stairs, it all went totally silent. Downstairs was dark... I decided cowardice was a good option and scuttled off back to bed.
Spooky! The following morning my mother told me she had also heard the noises but wasn't getting up for anything. We didn't hear any more nocturnal noises all week, but the rumours are now going round the family that my ability to kill off a good party transcends even death!
I can't emphasize enough how lovely the villa was (previous inhabitants notwithstanding). The pool was not too deep so very safe for children, there was a table football game and table tennis in the grounds, well appointed kitchen and comfortable furniture. The information provided in the villa with things to do and nearest supermakets etc was excellent. I would happily travel with James Villas again. Hopefully the next villa will not come with resident ghosts!
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May 18th, 2009
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