Birthdays are a giant deal within the Cooke household, and Rachel Cooke, alongside along with her husband Brian, made a pact with their two daughters, Ayla and Revely: on every of their sixteenth birthdays, they select a vacation spot for his or her annual household trip. Ayla, who turned 16 in February, selected Italy (sensible choice, Ayla!). However in line with Rachel, her elder wished to go to the Amalfi Coast at first. “Like many teenage ladies, our ladies actually like Instagram and that is why they see quite a lot of lovely footage. That was undoubtedly a part of her resolution,” says Rachel.
Ayla’s selection was comprehensible. Simply listening to the title of the area conjures up photos of coastal roads and craggy cliffs, alfresco eating within the lemon-scented air, bougainvillea-draped villas and sunbathing by pearly seas beneath orange-and-white-striped parasols. However when Rachel tackled journey planning for his or her lively household of 4 along with her Ciao Bambino household journey advisor, Kiki, issues took off for Tuscany.
Tuscan paradise present in Castello di Casole, Lodge A Belmond
Castello di Casole, A Belmond Lodge, turned out to ship all of the Instagram-worthy birthday magnificence the Cookes wished and extra, due to its lovely hilltop location within the coronary heart of picturesque Tuscany and spectacular nightly sunsets. A restored citadel and a gentle sprinkling of that Belmond welcoming pixie mud added to the magical moments created and photographed this summer season.
“After all, we seemed on the web site and each image is breathtaking so we knew what to anticipate, however nonetheless, we have been blown away,” says Rachel.
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Rolling yellow and inexperienced hills coated with medieval villages and undulating valleys dotted with vines and olive groves, form a panorama that fills the traveler’s creativeness with marvel. Even driving the cypress-lined street to the 4,600-acre resort is a scenic second for me.
“We spent the primary a part of our trip visiting Rome and Florence,” says Rachel. “However come June, the massive Italian cities have been lovely and galvanizing, but additionally sizzling and crowded. So by the point we bought to Castello di Casole, we would have liked it. It was heaven.”
Refined services and relaxed service
In line with a standard Tuscan property, Castello di Casole, A Belmond Lodge, consists of a medieval citadel and village surrounded by idyllic vineyards, hills and wooded views. The citadel itself dates again to the tenth century, however has been modernized and refined with all the small print and facilities that discerning vacationers anticipate from a 5-star keep. Over time it has been frequented by Hollywood and real-life royalty, in addition to different VIPs and households just like the Cookes.
There are 39 rooms and suites within the citadel and neighboring buildings, whereas 28 renovated nation homes within the surrounding countryside could be rented as non-public villas. All mix Italian appeal and trendy touches, from vintage headboards and custom-made linens to upholstered velvet sofas, alabaster cleaning soap dishes and extra.
However what actually nurtured the Cookes’ dolce vita goals was the relaxed workers. “We love good motels, however generally they’ll really feel claustrophobic if now we have to really feel cooped up on a regular basis,” Rachel stated. “I favored that our ladies might simply be youngsters. Somebody was there once we wanted them, however we by no means felt like we needed to appropriate ourselves or act a sure approach.”
Ciao Bambino is a member of Belmondo’s Bellini Membership, a choose circle of handpicked luxurious journey advisors who can cross on unique advantages to their shoppers. Rachel used the credit score for a spa resort, housed within the citadel’s outdated wine vault, full with barrel-vaulted ceilings, restored stone partitions and luxurious valley views.
Rachel additionally discovered champagne ready for her in her room upon arrival, in addition to a welcome reward of laptop computer stickers and postcards — a giant hit along with her girlfriends, who took them residence as souvenirs. The workers additionally left necessities like lip balm and sunscreen for outings or lounging by the pool within the Tuscan solar.
The Cooks additionally took benefit of the on-site health heart. As early risers, Rachel was delighted to discover a espresso machine within the room, and Ayla and Revely liked hanging out by the pool, in addition to attempting out the Dyson hair dryers.
“Each little factor Castello di Casole did appeared to have thought behind it. We have been pampered and brought care of and we did not miss something,” says Rachel.
Location, location, location
Given the dimensions of the Castello di Casole property, it could be straightforward to skip sightseeing altogether and spend your days exploring the huge property and close by villages. Whereas the resort has scrumptious eating choices, together with oven-baked pizzas, Rachel says her household additionally appreciated the entry to the encompassing countryside.
They visited Mensano, only a kilometer from Castello di Casole, and Radicondoli, 5 miles away. Each quaint Tuscan hamlets are made for meandering and informal eating on Tuscan steaks and something made with truffles, two issues Rachel says they typically take pleasure in. “And naturally, we additionally ate tons of ice cream,” she provides.
For individuals who wish to wander additional afield, Castello de Casole is the right springboard to go to different fascinating Tuscan locations. The Chianti wineries could be reached in half an hour. Siena is just 45 minutes to the east and Florence an hour and quarter-hour to the north.
The Italian coast is an hour’s drive away, whereas the favored cities of Volterra, Montalcino and San Gimignano are inside straightforward attain for a morning espresso or a day Aperol spritz. The small medieval village of Casole d’Elsa, the resort of the identical title, is lower than quarter-hour away.
“I am actually grateful that Kiki was trustworthy with us and redirected us to Tuscany and Castello di Casole,” says Rachel. “She actually understands the rhythm of our household and has discovered the proper steadiness for us between exploration and rest.”
And although Ayla’s birthday was in February, the Cooks celebrated their newly minted sixteenth birthday in Italian type. “We gave her a bit glass of Chianti after which roasted her,” Rachel says with fun.
Related hyperlinks:
Browse all household locations and lodging in Italy on Ciao Bambino
52 issues you must know earlier than touring to Italy with youngsters
1 to 2 weeks in Italy: How you can create a family-friendly itinerary
Primary ideas for staying with youngsters on a farm in Tuscany
The key to a child-friendly vacation in Tuscany? Hello Bambino!
5 ideas for planning a household wine tour in Italy
What to do in Florence with youngsters
Editor’s be aware: Photographs courtesy of Castello di Casole, A Belmond Lodge, besides the place famous.