Ostello Del Chianti is everything a hostel should be. The staff is helpful and friendly. The accommodations are clean and fresh. The building is safe. And the location offers access to Florence, Siena, and the small towns of the Tuscan countryside.
The Location
Tucked away in the small wine-country town of Tavarnelle, Ostello Del Chianti is rare treat. Tavarnelle is thirty minutes, by bus, from Florence and the bus station is a five minute walk from the hostel. Busses are also available to other towns in the region and, with one transfer, to the popular walled fortress-town of Siena.
The town of Tavarnelle is charming and small. Surrounded by working vineyards and full of beautiful Tuscan houses, small cafes, and smiling Italians it is a great place to relax and explore as well as a great base for exploration of the more well-known cities of Tuscany.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Each guest is provided with impeccably clean accommodations (including free sheets), a large private locker (large enough to fit an entire hiking backpack inside), and the option of a two-euro Italian breakfast (pastries and coffee). Each guest is given an individual door key and the front desk is always manned when the hostel doors are unlocked, making the hostel incredibly secure. The hostel provides a small parking lot for those guests who may be driving in. And the staff is always available, helpful, and cheerful.
The hostel is closed for several hours every day to be cleaned. Upon returning the guests find ourselves astonished at how spotless it truly is. This hostel takes great pride in its clean bathrooms, rooms, and common areas.
Common Spaces
Outside the main lobby is a large common area with several chairs, a television, a couch, and access to the dining room. The kitchen is private, but the dining area is open to the guests, with its tables and chairs providing the ideal area for chatting, card playing, or eating some snacks from the local grocer.
There are also several outdoor spaces--a terrace and two patios--with tables and chairs for guest use.
It's a very friendly hostel and encourages, with its wide range of common areas, the guests to intermix and be social. At the same time it manages to keep common areas separate from rooms and keep the noise level at a reasonable level.
Summary
Whether you are a backpacker traveling alone through Europe, a family looking to get away in the Tuscan countryside, or a group interested in Chianti wine this is a great an inexpensive place to stay. They take great pride in security, cleanliness, and friendliness. And bus access is easy and close.
by Gigi Griffis— Recensione esclusiva Hostelz.com
September 2007
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