Tuscan idyll (using both sticks and wheels)
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: July 2014
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
My parents did not stay with me at Le Ragnaie - but they should have done! My father has MS: he always uses wheelchair for 50m+ distances, and walks with crutches. The hotel would have been great for him, although it probably wouldn't be suitable for someone who was in a wheelchair all the time (see below). As it's in the hills, it's also cooler than a lot of the surrounding area with lovely breezes (very important for him).
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
My room (#1) had a walk-in shower in a large bathroom; the room itself had excellent space for equipment storage, lots of suitcases, etc. However, shower and doorways were probably not large enough to take a wheelchair. There were no handles around the room. If you go all the way up the drive in a car (rather than stopping at the parking) rooms, restaurant, reception and two terraces are all on one level. The pool is down a steep slope, but electric wheelchairs/buggies might manage it; once there, there are wide steps into the pool and even a submerged bench.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
Large and very flat hotel car park. Shallow gravel, which caused the electric wheelchair no problems. You would have you drive up a slope which goes into the car park from the hotel to reach the rooms/reception/restaurant without using stairs. However, there is space for this.
Accessible Toilets
Average
I can only comment on Room #1. The bathroom is accessible on the flat. It is large and comfortable, but there were no rails or handles. There was a bidet next to the loo which might cause problems if you needed to transfer, but for someone walking with sticks it was accessible.
Staff
Good
Friendly, accommodating, and helpful with (general) enquiries throughout my stay. They were engaged when we were asking questions about accessibility during booking, but they were also very worried about my father. I suspect that they haven't had a disabled guest before, and didn't want to let him down. My parents didn't stay as a result (as they erred on the side of caution), but this was due to the friendly concern expressed by the staff rather than unhelpfulness or hostility. I'm sure that they would now be confident to have us all if we came again.
Additional Information
We stayed in July 2014. A lovely hotel with friendly staff and lovely views, in a useful location (close enough to Montalcino, and on a good road for visits to Grosseto and Siena). Driving around Tuscany is very easy. Finding the hotel, however, was not (the GPS system just had no idea at all) - head for Montalcino, and then call the hotel staff, who give very clear directions.
