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to Relais di Bracciano
Hi.
Thank you for your help with our trip. We reserved two cars through you and stayed at the Relais di Bracciano. Regarding the cars, everything was fine except for the carseat reservation. I had been assured that a car seat was reserved but when we arrived, the agency was out of the size carseat that we needed. (I had provided the weight of the toddler at the time of reservation.) It worked out because they swapped with another rental company. It was a little unnerving though as we were waiting.
Regarding the Relais di Bracciano, it was adequate. It was definitely a farm environment -- with dogs running all around, sometimes in packs. The smell of the horses was pretty strong also. It was definitely a rustic environment, despite the room rates. I didn't care for the very worn carpet in our room, which made me feel like the room wasn't as clean as I would have hoped. In addition, we ate dinner at the restaurant and had a negative experience. I'll preface these remarks by saying that when I expressed my concerns, I was informed that a waiter had been in an auto accident on her way to work. I was truly sorry for those events but we paid quite a handsome sum for dinner (no adjustment was made) and it wasn't worth it. My husband received food that he had not ordered and the waitress refused to accommodate him, assuring him that "it was very good." It was fine but it wasn't what he had ordered! In addition, they didn't bring the wine until we were well into the second course, despite requests to do so. The food was fine -- the filets delicious and everything else average.
All in all, I was somewhat disappointed with our stay. However, I will say that the people working in the front desk were very courteous and helpful.
If you choose to use any of this information in a review for the property, please omit my name. Many thanks.
Dear Cynthia,
Relais di Bracciano was a very pleasant place. The people were not so friendly and as it is a larger building there was not that country atmosphere like in Fattoria La Chantigiana. And the horsebackriding was only for experts, so we were out of it... Ah! Here was the best breakfast!
Now for the one I feel the most important part: the restaurants you advised
Il Grottino - Anguillara - almost as good as Locanda. Excellent food and very pleasant atmosphere and our host was really nice. Locanda Borgo Antico - Lucolena - Probably, one of the best 4/5 meals I have ever eaten my whole life! It's very difficult to find. On the first day we tried to go there but we got lost and give up. But in the second day we've found it and how glad we where for finding it. Great atmosphere, very friendly hosts and the food... simply superb!
Really thank you for helping us in our great holidays.
Best regards,
Luìs S.
Hi Julie,
The last place we stayed in Italy was Relais di Bracciano, and it turned out to be a wonderful treat. We had a great room - large, beautifully decorated, nice bathroom (with big, fluffy towels - not always common in Italy), min-bar, TV/phone, patio...etc. They have an excellent restaurant, and once again, the staff were all very helpful. There are plenty of things to do here to here and I'd be happy to go back to Italy just to spend a week at Relais di Bracciano. We went into Rome by train one day, then went riding and explored Bracciano the next day. You have to pay a membership fee to ride (plus a rate per hour), but this is a one-time thing and basically covers the cost of insurance. We had a great ride around the countryside and really enjoyed it. For more experienced riders, they have a cross-country course and nice outdoor sand ring with good jumps. I believe they also offer "riding holidays," where you can go for a week or so and plan different trail rides in the area or probably further afield.
We also found a great restaurant in Bracciano (close by), called "Vino E Camino". It's right at the foot of the castle and offers wonderful food and an incredible wine list, plus they have live jazz some nights.
On driving in Italy: we had no major problems, other than getting used to the speed and driving on the coast. Driving on the autostrade is great - the roads are always in excellent condition and it's a great way to get from one major city to the next. Gas stations on the Autostrade always seem to be open and accept credit cards, which they don't usually do in the countryside. The one thing we didn't like was having to pay all the tolls, which can add up if you're driving a lot - we probably paid about $50 in tolls over two weeks. But then, I guess that's what's pays for the nice roads!
Best regards,
Gillian S.
Hi Cynthia
Thank your for your welcome home message. I did have a great time in Italy and my stay in Relais di Bracciano was wonderful. The staff was really nice and attentive. I was treated like royalty, my room was upgraded to a suite, and Matteo even gave me a tour around the town. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great and I couldn't take advantage of all the facilities, but I am sure that this place must be wonderful in the summer.
My only complaint is that it was not as close to the Airport as I though, it is actually almost an hour away, but other than that everything was great.
Thank you so much.
Lillian S.
Dear Cynthia,
We appreciate your recommending the Relais di Bracciano. The accomodations were wonderful, a lovely suite with a REEEEEAL bed. The pleasant surprise was the food at this estasblisment. It was excellent!!! The staff was most helpful (although they are not too good on directions). We were their two nights. The cook was in an accident so the last night we had to eat at another restaurant for which they made arrangements. It was also very nice. Lots of conversation in English with the proprietor of the DaVitorria which we thoroughly enjoyed.
As for the town of Anguillar Sabazia, we did not have time to see and do all the wonderful things there as we took the train to Rome. From Anguillar the last train stop in Rome is San Pietro which is exactly where we wanted to be, Saint Peters. That was really great because we did not have time to do much more than the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.
We would highly recommend the ranch. Thanks again for your assistance.
Doug & Debby S.
Dear In Italy,
Hello! I am writing from Relais di Bracciano, and we've had a truly wonderful time. We love the lodgings, the atmosphere, the horses and dogs, the climate and the food! We'll take back with us some very nice cheese from Relais di Bracciano. I cannot tell you how pleased we are, as this was more wonderful than we can expect, even better than villas!
Thank you so much!
Tina T.
Hello Cynthia,
We did have a marvelous trip but are pleased to be home again, although we wish we had managed to bring the weather with us!!
Relais di Bracciano was a welcome sight after a long hot drive, following minimal directions and appalling Italian signs. The room we were shown to was pleasant and functional but dark, not what we had imagined at all. We asked if there was a room with French doors or a view of some kind but only the suites had this luxury (all pictured in the leaflet), so we decided to "upgrade". The suites are all air conditioned and decorated to different styles, we were shown 3. If people plan on staying more than a night, we would highly recommend they have a suite, it has a living area and doors to a small terraced area which is shared (along with the one tiny coffee table and 2 chairs) with the suite next door - luckily we had no neighbours for most of our stay, so didn't have to fight for the chairs!!
The service varied, much as it does in most places but mostly it was efficient and reasonably friendly. There is no porter service, so lugging our two weeks worth of luggage (which must add up to about 3 months worth in reality) in from the car and then changing rooms was a bit of a chore.
There is no information about the hotel or its services in the room or at reception, you have to ask - obvious problem for us English!! We did manage to borrow the mountain bikes (there were only 4, they are not in great condition, only two were serviceable) and ride to the smaller of the two lakes. This was rather adventurous. They told us it was about 3km, we felt it was further, but that could well be because of the heat and our level of fitness, ok but not great. We think we missed the turning they told us to take but found another entrance through a farm, at a price of course (undoubtedly the other entrance is the same) 10,000 lire each, but you get to see ostriches at close quarters and then there are facilities at the lake - sun loungers and hammocks and somewhere to eat/drink and relieve oneself. It is a beautiful setting, had we have known, we would have 1. driven, 2. taken swimming costumes and towels, 3. spent the day swimming and relaxing. As it was, we stayed a good few hours swinging in the hammocks attempting to recover after the bike ride and the thought of the return. The return wasn't quite as bad as we had imagined as a long stretch is downhill - yipee.
Horse riding is available as we saw other guests partaking, but the thought of tackling the staff and the bike saddle burn was enough to put paid to further adventuring.
The pool was nice and huge, the downside being it has opening hours which we really felt was unnecessary, the gate was padlocked until 09.30 precluding an early morning swim. Having to pay for the sun loungers was perhaps an unnecessary twist?
The restaurant in the hotel is good, but has quite a small menu. The pasta with kid sauce is wonderful and the steak fantastic - they rear their own beef on the farm, we think it is organic. The wine, red or white, wherever we went and no matter what price we paid was always good - always choose local to wherever you are staying.
As for other places, Anguillara Sabazia is very small, old and cobbled and if you manage the climb to the church at the top of the town the views are over the lake are lovely. Not much there though! Bracciano however is larger and worth going to. Castello Odescalchi on the hill looked very interesting but we only went there for dinner so it was already closed. We ate at a lovely restaurant underneath the castle, more or less in the car park!! Enoteca Vino E Camino, Piazza Mazzini 11: 110 000 lire for 2, three courses with wine and water. The food was fantastic, definitely have the mussel and bean soup, wow!
Although we didn't time to do this, there is a ferry service on the lake, which would be a nice way to visit Bracciano and Trevignano. It would certainly give a break from the frenetic driving conditions!! But then that is half the fun.
In all our time at Relais di Bracciano made a nice break to our journey down to the south. Thereby ends our tale!!!
Kind regards,
Graham & Lisa
Dear In Italy,
wish I'd planned for more days at Relais di Bracciano. It is a large, recently rebuilt farm villa, quaint furnishings, wooden ceilings and walls, rolling meadows, beautiful farm animals and great horseback riding. The staff went out of its way to make us feel comfortable. Especially noteworthy is Mr. Matteo, who's always got a handy piece of advice and a smile available. Recommended activity - Lake Martignano.
Regards,
Avi F.
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