Although this hotel was billed as a lovely relaxing place to unwind, certain things made this rather difficult. The husband and wife owners' dour and watchful presence, both at mealtimes and within the grounds of their hotel, such as round the pool left us feeling somewhat on edge. We felt like the house guests of some fussy owners rather than welcome paying guests at a hotel.

The food in the pleasantly built restaurant was particularly poor and of an amateur quality, especially when compared with the splendid local restaurants. We didn't have a decent bowl of pasta the whole time of our week's pre-booked stay. Instead we received a stodgy, tasteless mess regardless of what type of pasta (picci, tagliatelle, papardelle etc) was attempted to be cooked. What should have been examples of typical Tuscan dishes such as lamb or meat turned out to be simply gristle or bony and insufficient cuts of poor quality meat. The owners insisted on eating in the restaurant at the same time next to our and other guest's tables and it was extraordinary how much better their food was (and in the case of the meat in larger quantities) than the regular guests!!

There is no room service, nor any pool service, so (apart from a 300 meter return walk in 30~ heat from the pool to raid the drinks in the mini-bar in our bedroom) there was nothing to eat or drink at all during the day, should one want to simply relax by the pool.

Finally, we were 'hit' with some shocking hidden charges when we checked out. These included 7 euros for washing a towel we took to the beach, a further charge for our making and taking cups of tea on a tray to the bedroom at breakfast instead of drinking it in the dining room (which would have been free had we drunk it there). Those watchful vigilant eyes of the owners really were everywhere.

Tuscany is full of the warmest hospitality. But not, I'm afraid, at the hotel Acquaviva-which is a shame since it is in a lovely part of Southern Tuscany and in a delightful setting. However until the owners correct the poor food, change their petty charging system, keep out of the way of guests at mealtimes and expand and improve their service we would not recommend a stay there.