Our Al Bastini stay was a dream. With awe-inspiring views, the villa’s expansive terraces became havens for relaxation. The rooms embody spacious elegance and local charm, blending modern comfort with countryside aesthetics. The newly renovated kitchen (with dual dishwashers and fridges) exceeded expectations for food enthusiasts like us. Outdoor BBQ and pizza oven experiences, courtesy of Chef Fabrizio, were absolute highlights. Thanks to gardener Thomas, the beautifully maintained garden's fresh produce added authenticity to our meals: the kids loved picking ripe tomatoes, fragrant herbs, and small zucchinis. The saltwater pool was the epitome of relaxation: we spent countless hours floating, reading, and enjoying the ambiance. Al Bastini's standout was great service: Alex, Iris, and Tanya ensured smooth reservations, check-in/out, and prompt assistance. Our stay was flawless. Seeking beauty, comfort, and tranquility? Al Bastini is your haven.

We are so grateful to have celebrated our first wedding anniversary at Al Bastini, which offers a quintessential Tuscan experience that exceeded even our wildest expectations. Nestled into a wooded hillside, Al Bastini has the most breathtaking panoramic views which are both unspoilt and private. We were left speechless when first stepping onto the terrace, and we continued to be wowed each and everyday as the sky changed from blues, to pinks and reds in the evening and then became littered with stars in the night sky. Opening the shutters every morning to this view was a treat in itself. We opted to spend most of our time lazing by the private pool which provided the perfect relief from the late summer sunshine. There would be ample space for 10 to swim and sunbathe, so for just two of us it was a very special and secluded treat. Many evenings were spent on the terrace, or loggia, whiling away the hours watching the sunset with a glass of wine in hand. On occasion we made use of the beautifully crafted outdoor barbecue, and pizza oven. Al Bastini is well located, with local restaurants, gelaterias and supermarkets just a few minutes away by car. The beautiful medieval town of Lucca is 15 minutes away and was a daily destination for lunch, dinner or drinks. We fell in love with the town, with its cobbled streets, medieval walls and eclectic shops. We were reluctant to leave the serene surroundings of Bastini, but ventured by car to the hilltop town of San Gigmiano, Siena, and the Tuscan capital, Florence, by train from Lucca. All are well worth a visit, if you can drag yourself away from the house and pool! Bastini provides the perfect base for exploring. To complete our experience we enjoyed privately cooked dinners from two of the chefs available to hire via the property managers. Morena and Fabrizio treated us to the most impeccable service and exquisite cuisine, and to our favourite, tiramisu! On the rare occasion the weather was inclement, the indoor facilities of the house were more than sufficient entertainment. Whether watching the vast array of satellite TV channels on the comfy sofas in the living room or playing snooker/pool with a late night aperitif, we were not left wanting. Italian’s have a phrase, ‘la dolce vita’ which loosely translates to ‘the good life’ and, after the past two weeks stay at Bastini, we can fully appreciate and understand it’s meaning. Alla Prossima!

We loved our stay at Al Bastini. The views are stunning and the pool is the perfect place to relax on a hot day. Rooms were comfortable and the snooker table was great fun! It is only a short drive to the attractive historic town of Lucca and in the heart of the Tuscan wine region so plenty to do when we wanted to leave the comfort of Al Bastini. A wonderful trip that we hope to repeat in the future!

I have rented several properties for family gatherings through VRBO, but none has been as wonderful as Al Bastini. Everything about our week-long stay was perfect--the setting, the villa, the fabulous salt-water pool, the easy proximity to Lucca and surrounding towns and beaches, and the support from the property manager and the house manager, who helped us find chefs to cook for us and a boat trip to Cinque Terre. It is a very special place. Everyone loved it. Pat D. Washington, DC August 2022

Have been holidaying around Lucca for 20 years plus and Al Bastini has never been matched in terms of favourite house for my family and I. Ideally situated 15 minutes from Lucca and shops but still only 40 minutes to Pisa airport, 50 minutes from the coast and an easy day outing to the Cinque Terre. The house sits on the side of a quiet valley with an unrivalled view over green hills and total peace. No road noise and hardly any lights can be seen in the evening While the bedrooms/bathrooms are comfortable (master suite in particular is great) and airconditioned and the snooker room, piano room luxury sitting room with full music and TV are all great to have, what really makes the house is all the many places to sit, read, eat and enjoy the sun and the view. The kitchen has everything you need for a keen cook and you can eat in the superb covered terrace off the kitchen with view overlooking the valley or outside by the BBQ/pizza oven (or even in the dining room!). The pool is close but set just the right distance form the house and has plenty of chairs and loungers . It also benefits from a new non chlorine saline filtering system that makes swimming very pleasant. Tanya the onsite manager was super efficient and Tomas the gardener helpful and pleasant.

Not much to add to the other great reviews! Place and location is amazing so long as you don’t mind a hilly curvy drive - and I happen to. My one qualm, and it did make a significant difference during our 2 week stay, is the mattress quality. 2-3 of the upstairs mattresses are decent, however the downstairs beds have mattresses to be ashamed of. You can literally feel individual springs through them causing pressure points uncomfortable sleep throughout the night.

We came home with BEDBUGS and the owner was the most concerned with my review. I woke up one morning in this villa with bites all over me. Two others with us had bites too. I went to my dermatologist the very next day after our return. She thought they were bedbug bites. I called an exterminator and scheduled an inspection. I texted the property manager and she said they must be mosquito bites. She said she had an inspection done and there were no bedbugs. I came to find out that her inspection was done by the cleaning staff! They are not trained professionals and don't know what to look for. They come out at night to feed and then they go into hiding places. Some people show the bite marks and other people show no signs at all AND it can take up to ten days for the bites to even show up on your skin. I was so lucky to have such a severe reaction as that prompted me to go to the doctor and then call the exterminator. The exterminator came and we did have bedbugs. I had to pack up my entire house contents into black bags, seal them with duct tape and put them in my backyard in the high heat so any bedbugs that may be on my things would die as they do in high temperatures. On the day of treatment, we had to leave the house and after they finished treatment, we had to wait four hours before we could return home. We were having a heatwave in Atlanta and the temperature got up to 99 degrees that day and my cat had to be locked outside in the backyard for the whole day. I now have to wait a couple of weeks for them to come back and do another inspection to make sure they got them all before I bring all of my stuff back inside and unpack. I told this to the house manager and she said that they disinfect the bedding/mattress. I received an email from the property owner and he reiterated that my bites are from mosquitos. He offered me 500 euros to leave a positive review. Their lack of concern was shocking. I implored him to have the house inspected by an exterminator. I told him my main concern was future guests taking them home with them as we did. He seemed more interested in why the exterminators were going to such lengths and that in the Uk, exterminators don't put you through that. His flippancy was overwhelming. He started each email out with "without prejudice" to protect himself. I have no interest in suing or in his offer of 500 euros. I simply wanted the problem at the villa resolved. I have no idea if they are taking the proper steps.

Mamma mia! What a fantastic Tuscan gem. A glorious villa nestled within a gorgeous, unspoilt Tuscan landscape. Beautifully and sympathetically furnished, with everything needed to live la dolce vita, from a state-of-the-art swimming pool to an epic pizza oven and grill - and so very much more besides. Everything worked - and one got the sense that if something didn’t, the highly organised and attentive house management team would engage and resolve, rapido! The support staff were unobtrusive, obliging and human. We had an exquisite dinner cooked one evening by one of the local cooks recommended by the villa. We’d never been to Lucca before - but what a destination in it’s own right - as well as a marvellous base for other Tuscan forays. ‘Oh, to be in Italy - and specifically Lucca - now that May’s there’ [sic, apologies to Robert Browning]. Al Bastini is an authentic Tuscan holiday delight - with all boxes fully ticked for an immersive worry-free holiday. In fact our only complaint was that our time was over far too quickly. Oh but the views - those views were to sigh for. La dolce vita, on steroids. Grazie mille.

Wow, what a location, the views from Al Bastini were mesmerising, making it very difficult to tear ourselves away from the terrace and the coffee machine! The heated pool was the perfect temperature for early morning swims while the sun rose over the hills. Well equipped kitchen and great spaces for us all to cook eat and relax in comfort and style. Wonderful local restaurants on our doorstep and dozens of quality eateries in Lucca. We used local chefs Tamara and Morena on two separate evenings, as recommended by the owners. They were so friendly and cooked up a real Tuscan feast for us. We visited a fabulous beach only half an hour away with superb fish restaurants and glorious warm water for swimming in the October sunshine. We made a smart call to visit in October with less tourists than we expected but still warm and sunny... what could be better than that. Thoroughly recommend AB for an autumn Italian fix. We will be back.

Al Bastini has a wonderful setting with panoramic views from all parts of the terrace. It is a delight to sit or lounge on the terrace and take it all in. The lovely pool is conveniently located on the terrace and all is set up perfectly for outside relaxation. There is table tennis and snooker/pool/billiards for indoor entertainment and the covered loggia is ideal for outside dining in the evening. There is a great restaurant down in the village connected to the butchers for those liking a good walk to and from an excellent lunch and Lucca is only 20 minutes away by car with all of its charms. Florence, Pisa and the beach are all within easy drives so Al Bastini is a good location for Tuscan exploration We went early October and the weather was still warm and ideal for site seeing and relaxation, although a jumper at night might be required We had a lovely time at Al Bastini

It was wonderful stay! The house is charming, comfortable, stunningly beautiful nestled on a hillside with breathtaking views. We all wished we could have stayed longer. Ask to have a private chef, Morena. She is just superb! Thank you so much for your hospitality!

We enjoyed our stay at this spacious villa and would recommend it to others, despite a few negatives. Pros: The location (10 minutes outside Lucca, a great city in and of itself and to use as a base for exploring Tuscany), the grounds are immaculate, and the view is sublime. We loved the pool and the excellent air conditioning in the bedrooms and living room, as the weather was very hot during our stay. The outdoor eating area was great (bring bug spray!), right next to the kitchen and with a wonderful view. Plenty of space for our party of 8 (4 adults, and 4 teens), with 6 bedrooms and 4 full baths. The pool table and ping pong table were very fun. Kitchen is functional and well equipped; we made dinner several nights and had a chef come one night for a pizza making lesson. The communication with the on-site manager and thru VRBo was excellent, making check-in and check-out easy. They provided helpful suggestions for activities and made reservations for us. The cons: the villa was burglarized during our stay, resulting in the loss of a watch and some jewelry. We realize this wasn't the fault of the owners but it was distressing, to say the least. The house manager wasn't particularly sympathetic t start, but she later helpfully went to the police station with us and the owners contacted us directly to demonstrate their concern. Other more minor issues: the 1/2 mile driveway up to the villa is very steep and twisty; it is challenging at night or with a manual car and would be very tough in winter. The bathrooms needed some work (clogged drain in master, for example). But overall we had a very good time at this villa and would recommend it.

Al Bastini is a spacious well equipped villa, it benefits from a fantastic private pool and several areas to relax and enjoy stunning views of the outstanding beauty of the area. The additional benefits of the games room with billiard table and outdoor table tennis, grand piano in the lobby, added to making the overall stay very memorable. (We are fortunate enough to have talented pianists in our family members.) Al Bastini is in need of a little refurbishment, however, this said there is everything you could possibly need for your stay. We used the services of a chef for one of our evenings, organised by Tanya the Property Manager. We selected a four course menu for the 10 of us, the meal was delicious, quality ingredients used for everything, and we can highly recommend this option. The road up to the villa is a slight challenge, so arrive in daylight if possible as negotiating this in the dark is not to be recommended. The property is ideally set to visit a number of interesting locations but due to COVID at the time of our holiday we spent our time in our family bubble at the villa. Due to this we cannot provide feedback on these local places of interest or the beach. There are plenty of places to shop in the nearby town of Lucca the largest supermarket being the Co-Op. The manager and owner of this property could not have been more helpful throughout the entire booking process, keeping in touch via e-mail answering queries etc, so a big thank you to Alex. We wish Al Bastini well for the future and say thanks for a wonderful family holiday.

Al Bastini is a spacious well equipped villa, it benefits from a fantastic private pool and several areas to relax and enjoy stunning views of the outstanding beauty of the area. The additional benefits of the games room with billiard table and outdoor table tennis, grand piano in the lobby, added to making the overall stay very memorable. (We are fortunate enough to have talented pianists in our family members.)Al Bastini is in need of a little refurbishment, however, this said there is everything you could possibly need for your stay. We used the services of a chef for one of our evenings, organised by Tanya the Property Manager. We selected a four course menu for the 10 of us, the meal was delicious, quality ingredients used for everything, and we can highly recommend this option.The road up to the villa is a slight challenge, so arrive in daylight if possible as negotiating this in the dark is not to be recommended. The property is ideally set to visit a number of interesting locations but due to COVID at the time of our holiday we spent our time in our family bubble at the villa. Due to this we cannot provide feedback on these local places of interest or the beach.There are plenty of places to shop in the nearby town of Lucca the largest supermarket being the Co-Op.The manager and owner of this property could not have been more helpful throughout the entire booking process, keeping in touch via e-mail answering queries etc, so a big thank you to Alex. We wish Al Bastini well for the future and say thanks for a wonderful family holiday.

Our 6 weeks Al Bastini were really perfect. 20 people over the period and it all worked. Our host Les and Erlana went above and beyond to please. The gardener and care taker extraordinaire Thomas became our translator, our driver, and our friend He keeps everything in top shape. We chose Al Bastini because of the total space. Inside and out. The gardens were my favorite. The Wind Chimes in the breeze and the birds singing were magical. The pool (we heated) was perfect temp for my California and Florida guest. Best of all, early morning coffee on porch overlooking the valley and Lucca in the distance. We will never forget Al Bastini.

A piece of my heart will always be here.

Would definitely rent this house again.

Les, your home was just spectacular!! Where do I begin....The villa was much more than we had expected, it's stunningly beautiful nestled on a hillside with breathtaking views. Old charm with modern convivences, spotless with ample room for all of us ( 9 people). Our favorite spot was the loggia where we would start each morning with coffee and breakfast then end each night with a glass of wine. The pool was refreshing as the temperatures were in the 90 each day. Our party of nine had such a wonderful stay we will be taking about it for years to come. Great location we visited Florence, Sienna, Cinque Terre, San Gimignano and Lucca. A special thank you to Alex for assisting us with booking a wine tour, a chef and answering all of my many questions, she was a pleasure to work with. Morena our chef for one evening was just superb. We all wished we could have stayed longer. Thank you so much for your hospitality and sharing your home with us as it truly made our trip to Italy that more special. Ciao, Cheryl

The house is charming, comfortable, with everything you could want for a perfect stay. The outside area is beautiful with a great pool and beautiful views. Our family of 10—3 generations—had plenty of space. The owner was welcoming and helpful sending lots of information about the Lucca area before our stay. Easy day trips from this location. The time went very quickly and we all had such a good time we were sorry we didn’t book a second week. You won’t be disappointed, the house is even better than it looks on HomeAway.

What a lovely villa, beautiful surroundings, great location

An amazing property, with stunning views, and everything you could want for a two week holiday. 10 minutes from Lucca, 40 from the airport and the beach, you can drive or train to Florence. Big lounge with satellite tv, large dining room, kitchen with everything you could need, 4 big bathrooms and 6 good sized bedrooms. The views are to die for, waking to incredible views across the valley, then breakfasting on the covered terrace (also a great spot for a glass of brunello in the evening!). Outside then, to one of the terraces for fresh coffee or to start that book, then out to the heated pool, lots of sun beds, and more great views whilst working on that tan! Great local eateries like Brachiere, top quality Sunday lunch at Lombardo, then pick up to one of the 600 restaurants in Lucca for dinner, with everything from the family trattoria to Michelin star dining. Les is a top notch host, none of this “leave the keys and bugger off”, a full explanation of where everything is, how it works, and what to do if it doesn’t. Peace of mind is a great thing to have on holiday. When we did have a couple of minor issues they were dealt with almost instantly, and I couldn’t speak highly enough of him. This is the only way to have your dream Tuscan holiday, believe me! Thanks Les, for a wonderful house and a memorable fortnight!

Les and Erlana were good hosts, leaving us a clean home and arriving the next day with lovely small pastries and lots of helpful information. The house is close to Lucca and grocery and wine stores. It has a magnificent view and a great deal of privacy, along with four spacious rooms, and two smaller ones with single beds, really only suitable for children. The other bedrooms had good beds and their own bathrooms. New towels might be a suggestion but the sheets were lovely and the air conditioning worked well. (In extreme heat the kitchen is very hot and perhaps you could also use an air conditioner). It is a good home for families and for a group of friends. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

My family and I (two adults, two children 8 and 10) spent a truly lovely week at Al Bastini. The grounds are stunning; the pool offered a perfect place to escape from the summertime heat; and the view is lovely. This is a terrific spot for families or small groups who want a home base for exploring Lucca, the Tuscan/Ligurian coast, the Apuan Alps, and the Florence/Pisa corridor. Les and Erlana were generous hosts: responsive, friendly, and full of good advice. We'd gladly return someday.

The villa was even better than we imagined. There was lots of space for us all (seven adults). Les was friendly and welcoming and happy to advise where to go/eat and what to see. Lucca is a must - a lovely walled town. Pisa well worth a visit and the beach not too far. Parking easy for all three (try Bagno Zara). Morena cooked a wonderful meal for us and the well equipped kitchen (and barbeque) made self-catering simple. Relaxed by the pool, played table tennis and pool. Wonderful after the bustle of Rome. We didn't want to leave! Dave, Colette & Gang

We found the house with no problems at all and it was even more impressive than the photos with excellent views. The house is a genuine home and large enough for our family of 10 to not feel all over each other. The loggia off the kitchen was our dinner and chatting area where we sat and enjoyed the evenings. We were very fortunate with the weather and the whole family appreciated the beautiful pool especially the children. We had a couple of minor problems with the wifi not working and an umbrella being broken but Les was very quick to resolve both for us. The beds are very comfortable and we all slept very well - the air con being an added bonus. Overall this really was a holiday of a life time that we'd promised our children and grand children for some years. Thank you Les for letting us enjoy your lovely home for a week and as my granddaughter says " creating life long memories"

There were 8 of us adults and two toddlers for a mid-June week of sun, swimming, sightseeing and, of course, eating well. Al Bastini was great. The pool was so well heated the youngsters could stay in all day. The peace and lovely views , the shaded sitting out balcony beside the kitchen, the excellent barbecue, the air conditioning in the bedrooms and living room all made life very pleasant for the adults. Lucca is a twenty minute drive away and was a very pleasant place to wander around in and taste good food and wine. The walk/bike ride along the walls was memorable. We had so much to do in and around Al Bastini we didn't even make it to the beaches which are not far away. Les was extremely helpful as were his little support team.

We were a family of 8 adults and two small children and Al Bastini was magical for everyone. The house was very comfortable and spacious with stunning views over the hills. Everyone is still talking of evenings on the terrace drinking very inexpensive prosecco with a gentle cooling breeze. Les the owner was always very helpful and nothing was too mch trouble. He even arranged for lasagnes to be in the fridge so we didn't have to worry about food as soon as we arrived. There is a very good Co-op nearby and an excellent butcher in the village. The pool is excellent, the three years old learnt to swim, and in the evenings there were table tennis tournaments! Lucca is close by and there is a good bus service to Florence. Everyone loved Al Bastini and there are already plans to go back soon. A fantastic memory, thanks Les, your house needs more than 5 stars!

Great. Forget it - you don't seem to want my review. Your query makes no sense.

We had a wonderful week at this house. 4 adults, 1 teen, 3 children. More than enough space for everyone. Clean and comfortable. Everything you could possibly need. Location perfect for travel to Florence, Pisa, Lucca, beach, etc and just amazingly beautiful. Gorgeous landscaping and pool. Les was responsive and helpful with any questions or needs. I would have stayed forever if that was an option : )

It was our first time back in the Lucca area for many years. We have been many times over the last 20 years and looked forward to returning to favourite places and finding some mew ones. Al Bastini was a fabulous base for our holiday and when the weather turned hot in the second week, it was great to be able to just enjoy the villa and all the facilities it provided. Les and Alex were very welcoming at the start. As they live there for part of the year, it meant that everything worked. The villa is someone's home and not an investment property for tourists. I recommend getting Morena in to cook some Tuscan food. Our favorite restaurant in Lucca was Miranda. Overall we had a lovely holiday in a beautiful home. Sunsets on the terraces will be happy memories until we get to return.

We spent the last week of July and was very exited about averything. Great house with charm and high quaility. It's very spacious and stayng 10 persons together just works perfect. The pool area, out door barbecue, ping pong table, pool table etc allows you to have a great time. The location of the house is ideal, close to Lucca and situated with a great view and lots of privacy. Would without any hesitation recommend this house to friends.

The house was better than we expected! It was just lovely and was well located ... Far enough from the center of the city and near enough to get there! We were 10 and the house was large enough and never felt crowded! It was homey and comfortable! It is a unique, charming house! The owners were so nice and accommodating!! When we come back to Lucca, we would think of staying no where else! If you stay there ... ask to have a private chef, Morena, come to the house and give a cooking lesson and make a meal! She was just great! Expect to have one of your better meals in Italy ... and a bit of left overs! If I could give this more stars I would! Lester Naples, Florida July 2016