Castellare di Tonda - Italy

Medieval Tuscany

4 star rating   4 May 2024

Sharon (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Great Experience | The horses were magnificent. Well cared for and well trained. Ailsa and the team, headed by Franco took the time to assess us and make sure we were well matched with our horses and that we understood how to ride a reining trained horse, for their continuity and for us to get the best out of them. Caring for the horses was an underlying theme that we appreciated and understood.
The terrain was typical bucolic Tuscany and the sights were amazing wherever we looked.
We had three full days of riding with fantastic picnics for lunch and then the rain moved in. We still rode, but then moved into the large indoor arena and elected to have lessons. Ailsa and Franco were very flexible and accommodating to ensure we enjoyed our time.
Ailsa looked after us outside the riding as well, smoothing out any issues and making great recommendations for restaurants and sites to visit.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your feedback and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed your riding holiday in Tuscany.]


The Riding

How well were you matched with the right horse for your ability?
5 star rating
How would you rate the variety of riding, pace or terrain?
5 star rating
How would you rate the overall standard of the horses, tack and stables?
5 star rating

The Accommodation

How would you rate your room(s) for comfort and facilities?
3 star rating
How would you rate the standard of the food?
5 star rating

Do you have any comments about the accommodation and food?

The accommodation was rustic, with the self catering units catering for families. We did however get given the unit with the best view, so sipping morning tea in the morning was well worth it. We missed picking up supplies on the way eg tea/coffee as none are supplied in the units.

The food on the other hand was amazing, a big step up from what the accommodation suggested. The selection was really good and they accommodated most food requests. The wine was surprisingly good as well.


Before Your Holiday

Did you have all of the information you needed to:

Plan and prepare for your holiday?
5 star rating
Feel comfortable about your transfers and what to expect?
5 star rating

How could we improve the quality of pre-holiday information that we send?

We had all the information we needed. We were not going to Italy for the first time, so it helped with our expectations. When we arrived, the reception gave us a daily itinerary which helped us plan and what to expect.


How could we improve the way we handled your booking and payment?

I was very happy that we could pay by card, it helped with foreign exchange issues. It was much appreciated.


Do you have any other feedback for us?

Ailsa really looked after us and was an exceptional guide.