Mr & Mrs Smith

Wow, what a fabulous place. From the moment we arrived, we felt part of the La Bandita family. The hotel and setting are wonderful, but what really makes the place perfect is the team of staff. I know it's a cliché to say that 'nothing was too much trouble', but here it's true. We had so many problems with our rental car and they were sorted by Francesca Paoula and the team. They even gave us rides into town so we wouldn't miss a day's sightseeing, I was a little apprehensive about the communal dining, but those worries were without foundation .We met lots of interesting people, some of whom I hope will now be friends. A last word about the food: David the chef is a star.

La Bandita is right in the heart of wine country, and only 25 minutes away from Montalcino (the home of Brunello – one of the world's best wines). There is an amazing visit to the family that run the Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona vineyard, which is well worth a trip, to taste their glorious wine and only a stone's throw away from the 12th-century abbey, Sant'Antimo, one of the prettiest in Tuscany, sitting impossibly white in a hidden valley. In Montepulciano, only 20 minutes from La Bandita, Acquacheta Trattoria (22 Via del Teatro, +39 0578 758 443; closed Tuesdays) is beloved for its steak (especially the thick Fiorentina, which you’ll see being prepared on a giant chopping block in the back). They only serve the meat rare.