Unbelievable Tuscany Escape: Belvilla by OYO, Cortona's Hidden Gem!
Unbelievable Tuscany Escape: Belvilla by OYO, Cortona's Hidden Gem! - A Raw & Real Review
Right, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your fluffy, PR-approved hotel review. This is the real deal, my unfiltered experience at Belvilla by OYO in Cortona, Tuscany. "Hidden Gem" they call it, and honestly? They weren't lying. But let's unpack this… messily, as is my style.
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- Title: Belvilla Cortona Review: A Tuscan Dream (or Maybe a Nightmare? - Your Mileage May Vary!)
- Keywords: Belvilla OYO, Cortona, Tuscany, Italy, Hotel Review, Accessible Hotel, Spa, Pool, Tuscan Vacation, Family Friendly, Romantic Getaway, Wheelchair Accessible, Italy Travel, Cortona Accommodation, Review, Unfiltered, Hidden Gem, Fitness Center, Restaurant, Wi-Fi, Free Parking, Air Conditioning, Panoramic Views, Spa, Belvilla Review, Belvilla Cortona Review, OYO Hotel Cortona Review, Hidden Gem Cortona, Best Hotels Cortona, Cortona Italy, things to do in Cortona, Tuscan escape, family vacation, couples retreat
- Meta Description: My brutally honest review of Belvilla by OYO in Cortona, Tuscany. Is it a hidden gem? Does it live up to the hype? Find out the good, the bad, and the ridiculously charming in this unfiltered look at Italian hospitality. Accessibility, amenities, food, and the occasional existential crisis all covered.
First Impressions: Cortona, You Beauty! (And Me, Slightly Overwhelmed)
Driving up to Belvilla, Cortona hit me like a postcard. Seriously, jaw-droppingly beautiful. The rolling hills, the cypress trees, the medieval magic… I swear, I felt a sudden urge to learn Italian and buy a vineyard. Belvilla itself? It looked… well, promising. It had that classic Tuscan charm, all stone walls and terracotta roofs. But my inner critic, bless her cotton socks, immediately started twitching. More on that later.
Accessibility - The Good, The Bad, and the Questionable
Okay, let's get real. I requested accessibility details before booking (because, you know, mobility stuff). The website said it was accessible. Here's where the 'questionable' part kicks in.
- Wheelchair Accessible: The main areas are accessible, definitely. The lobby, the restaurant (more on that later!), and the pool area were all navigable. However, some of the pathways and hallways weren’t perfectly smooth, and this Tuscan countryside is not always flat! If you need perfect, pristine accessibility, you might need to double-check the fine details with a phone call rather than just the website description.
- Elevator: Yep, there's an elevator. Thank the heavens. My legs were already protesting the cobblestone streets of Cortona.
- Rooms: My room claimed to be accessible. While spacious, the bathroom was… a mixed bag. The shower was a bit tight, and I had to check the grab bars were actually securely installed. This is where a pre-arrival phone call with specific requests would be useful. Don’t blame me if you don’t.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges:
- Seating arrangements in the restaurant, which had a nice outdoor area, were able to accommodate wheelchairs.
Internet - Because We're All Addicted
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Praise be! The Wi-Fi was generally good, especially in the rooms and in the lobby. It cut out now and again, which, frankly, gave me the perfect excuse to stare at the Tuscan hills instead of endlessly scrolling.
- Internet [LAN]: Yep, there was a physical LAN port in the rooms. Did I use it? Nope. It was 2024, after all.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Fine, also.
Things To Do, Ways to Relax - SPA TIME! (Or a Mild Meltdown?)
Okay, this is where Belvilla really shines. The Spa. Oh. My. God.
- Spa: This was my personal slice of heaven. They had everything!
- Pool with view: The outdoor pool was stunning. I’m talking postcard stuff. The pool had a ramp, for easy access. You could spend ALL DAY here. I mean, I virtually did.
- Sauna, Steamroom: The sauna was legit hot. The steam room was heavenly. I floated out feeling a decade younger.
- Massage: BEST. MASSAGE. EVER. Ask for Giovanna. Seriously. I have no actual words to describe how good it was. She worked out knots I didn’t even know I had. Worth every single cent.
- Gym/fitness: I saw a gym, but after the massage and pool, I didn’t need it.
- Body wrap, Body scrub, Foot bath: All available. I tried the body wrap. It was… cozy. And sleepy. Don’t get me wrong, everything on the spa menu was amazing, but Giovanna was just next level.
- Spa/sauna: Everything in the Spa was perfectly.
- Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: The pool was the highlight.
Cleanliness and Safety - Covid, Be Gone! (Mostly)
Belvilla took the whole Covid thing seriously.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Check.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Check. (And bless them, they were still smiling!)
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Check.
- Breakfast takeaway service, Individually-wrapped food options, Safe dining setup: Check, check, check. It felt safe.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - Pasta, Please! (And Maybe a Nap)
The dining experience was… a journey.
- Restaurants, A la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant: The restaurant itself was lovely. They served a mix of Tuscan classics and international dishes. The buffet breakfast was pretty standard. The dinner menu was good, if a little expensive.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant: I didn’t see any Asian options, which was a shame. There were a few vegetarian options, however.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Decent coffee, good tea. Essential.
- Bar, Poolside bar, Happy hour, Bottle of water: Drinks were well-made, and the poolside bar was brilliant. Happy hour was… happy.
- Room service [24-hour]: They offered it. I was too busy trying all the restaurants.
- Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Western breakfast: The breakfast was good.
- Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: Fine.
- International cuisine in restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant: It served what you’d expect, but the Italian dishes were AMAZING.
Services and Conveniences - The Little Things (That Make Life Easy)
- Concierge: Super helpful. They helped me with restaurant bookings and gave me local tips.
- Cash withdrawal: There's an ATM nearby.
- Daily housekeeping: The room was cleaned daily.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Available.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Yes.
- Air conditioning in public area, Air conditioning: A lifesaver!
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: Easy parking.
- Gift/souvenir shop: They had some nice stuff.
- Doorman: Friendly.
For the kids - Family/child friendly, Babysitting service, Kids meal, Kids facilities:
- Not my area of expertise, but there were definitely kids around, and the place seemed pretty family-friendly. They advertise kid's meals and babysitting services, but ask ahead!
Available in all rooms - The Basics (and the Occasionally Unexpected)
The rooms were comfortable.
- Free Wi-Fi, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Linens, Mini bar, Non-smoking, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service, Window that opens: All the usual suspects.
- Additional toilet: Lucky me!
- Blackout curtains: Essential for a good night's sleep.
- Bathtub: I don't like baths. (I take showers.)
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Good for families.
- Mirror: Yes.
- On-demand movies: They have them.
- Socket near the bed: Essential for a smartphone addict like me.
- Soundproofing: Was good enough.
- Umbrella, Visual alarm: Not for me!
**Getting Around -
Escape to Paradise: Your Croatian Villa Awaits! (Split, Ibenik)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your average "perfectly planned itinerary." This is my attempt at conquering Tuscany, starting with a rental at Belvilla by OYO Due Olivi in Cortona. Prepare for chaos, beauty, and possibly a wine-induced existential crisis. Let's go!
The Due Olivi Debacle & the Cortona Catastrophe (AKA, My "Plan")
(Important Note: "Plan" is used loosely here. More like… a suggestion.)
Day 1: Touchdown & That Olive Tree
- Morning (ish): Arrive in Florence. Okay, so the flight was delayed. Surprise! Delayed flights: the unofficial start of any good, messy vacation. Grab the rental car (pray it's not a lemon). The GPS is already yelling at me, because apparently "taking the scenic route" means battling Italian traffic. First objective: FIND DUE OLIVI (which I'm picturing as some serene Tuscan paradise and secretly hoping has a pool).
- Afternoon: Arrive at Due Olivi. Will the photos live up to reality? (Doubtful. My inner cynic is already prepping a scathing review. But I'm TRYING to be optimistic.) Unpack. Realize I packed WAY too many shoes, but not enough sunscreen. Curse myself. Wander around the property. OMG. That olive tree in the pictures? It's HUGE. I want to hug it. (Don't worry, I won't. Probably.)
- Evening: Explore Cortona's Piazza della Repubblica. Have a proper Italian Aperitivo? (Yes, definitely yes.) Try to remember how to make eye contact without looking like a deer in headlights. Find a restaurant. Order something. Hope it's not a carbonara disaster. (My stomach is already rumbling with anticipation and fear. Italian food is a dangerous temptress.) Stare at the stars. Feel ridiculously happy. Then realize I have to drive back in the dark. Cue minor panic.
Day 2: Wine, Wisdom, and a Possible Meltdown
- Morning: Wake up. Coffee. More coffee. (Jet lag is a beast.) Go to a local vineyard. (This. This is the day I'm most excited/terrified about. My Italian is non-existent. My wine knowledge is, politely, basic. I will probably embarrass myself. But hey, that's part of the fun, right?) Take a tour. Taste the wine. Try not to act like a complete fool. Buy a bottle (or three).
- Afternoon: Explore Cortona some more. Visit the Etruscan Museum. Pretend to understand Etruscan history. Take a million photos. Get completely lost in the winding streets (guaranteed). (I have a terrible sense of direction. This is going to be a disaster, but a charming one, hopefully.)
- Evening: Dinner at a Trattoria. Order something adventurous. (Maybe. Or maybe I'll stick to pasta. Pasta is a safe bet.) Try to converse with the locals. (Fail epically, but laugh about it later.) Contemplate the meaning of life while watching the sunset over the Tuscan hills. (This is where the wine will really kick in. Prepare for deep thoughts and questionable decisions.)
Day 3: The Daytrip Daze (Or, "Where's My Car?")
- Morning: The BIG daytrip. San Gimignano and Siena. (Too much in one day? Probably. Do I care? Not really.) Drive. Get lost. Curse the GPS. Admire the Tuscan scenery. (Honestly, even getting lost in Tuscany is beautiful. The beauty is a convenient mask for my incompetence.)
- Afternoon: Explore San Gimignano. Gawk at the towers. Buy gelato. Eat gelato. Get gelato all over myself. (It's inevitable.) Drive to Siena. Circle the Piazza del Campo. Be amazed by the architecture. Get overwhelmed by the crowds.
- Evening: Drive back to Due Olivi. Collapse. Eat whatever leftovers are in the fridge. Drink some more wine. Reflect on the day's adventures (and misadventures). (The driving will be exhausting. The crowds will be overwhelming. But the memories? Worth it.) Begin to question if I should have taken a cooking class.
Day 4: Cortona, Comfort Food & Contemplation
- Morning: Sleep in (if possible). Enjoy the bliss of being in one place. Maybe try the pool.
- Afternoon: Stroll of Cortona. Explore the local markets. Buy some fresh bread and cheese. (I anticipate a picnic, even if it's just me, alone with my bread and cheese, staring at the view.)
- Evening: Find a different restaurant. Try something new. Maybe risotto? Maybe pizza? Drink more wine. Think about leaving and never returning.
Day 5: Ciao, Tuscany (and goodbye until next time)
- Morning: Pack. Clean. (Try to leave the place as presentable as possible. I'm not proud of my cleaning skills.) One last look at that olive tree.
- Afternoon: Drive to Florence…. Or to the wrong airport. Or get stuck in a traffic jam so epic, I'll need a new passport.
- Evening: Fly home. Dream of Tuscan sunsets, delicious food, and the olive tree. (And start planning the next trip, obviously.) Miss the chaos, the beauty, and the sheer, unadulterated messiness of it all.
(Post-Trip Ramblings - if you can read this, I made it.)
So, did it all go according to plan? Hahaha! No. Absolutely not. Did I get lost? Yes. Did I drink too much wine? Likely. Did I embarrass myself? Undoubtedly. But did I have an amazing time, full of joy, with a lot of mistakes? Yes. Absolutely yes. That, my friends, is the true essence of travel. And now, I need a nap.
Final Note: This itinerary is a suggestion. Adjust as needed. Embrace the chaos. And for God's sake, buy some decent sunscreen. You'll thank me later. And if you see a slightly crazed woman wandering around Cortona with a camera and a bottle of wine, it might be me. Say hello.
Arnhem's Hidden Gem: Luxe Holiday Home w/ Terrace!
Unbelievable Tuscany Escape: Belvilla by OYO, Cortona's Hidden Gem! - FAQ (with a LOT of rambling)
Okay, so... Belvilla by OYO, Cortona... Is it *actually* hidden? Like, should I bring a machete?
Hidden? Well, "hidden" in the sense that it's *not* plastered all over Instagram with influencer yoga poses, maybe. It's in Cortona, which itself is up a ridiculously steep hill (legs of steel required!), but the specific villa? Nah, you won't need to fight any brambles. Though, the drive *up* is an adventure. Remember that feeling of triumph when you finally reach the summit after a grueling hike? Yeah, that's the *daily* commute. And the road? Let's just say my rental car developed a deep, existential relationship with the potholes.
My advice? Pack comfy shoes, a sense of humor, and possibly a chiropractor's number, just in case.
What's the villa *actually* like? I'm picturing a leaky roof and cobwebs.
Okay, okay, so *some* Belvilla reviews can be a bit... optimistic. Look, the one *I* stayed in wasn't a five-star palace, alright? It was... rustic. Charming, yes. Characterful, definitely. But also... let's be real… slightly wonky. The bathroom door stuck. Seriously, it took the combined strength of myself and my travel companion (who, incidentally, is built more like a tea cosy than a weightlifter) to persuade it to open *and* close.
But the views? OH. MY. GOD. Tuscan rolling hills, vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, the sun setting in a blaze of glory… it was almost enough to make me forget the perpetually damp towels. *Almost.*
Is it family-friendly? I’m thinking toddlers, tantrums, and the potential for a wine-soaked disaster.
Family-friendly... that depends on your *definition* of family-friendly. I mean, there's a pool (a huge plus!). And a garden (more running space!). But… those Tuscan villas? They're usually filled with things. Beautiful, breakable things. Seriously, I tripped over a terracotta pot *twice* (don't judge me, those cobblestones are treacherous!).
Toddlers and breakables? Proceed with extreme caution. Wine-soaked disaster? Absolutely a possibility. Maybe bring bubble wrap. And consider a second mortgage to replace the inevitable casualties. But hey, the memories (and the photos) will last forever, right?
Okay, but the FOOD. Tell me about the food! I live for carbs and olive oil.
Listen. Forget your diet. Forget your New Year's resolutions. Tuscany is where your carb-loving dreams come true. And the olive oil? Forget buying the fancy stuff at the supermarket. You'll practically be *swimming* in the stuff.
I went to a cooking class. I, a person who once set a microwave on fire trying to make popcorn. And I managed to, with some *very* (and I mean *very*) patient instruction, make pasta from scratch. It was glorious. The tomatoes? The basil? The garlic? I could cry just thinking about it. (And I did, a little bit. Mostly from chopping onions.)
Pro-tip: Find the local market and buy everything. The cheese. The cured meats. The bread. The wine. (Definitely the wine.) You'll need a bigger suitcase. Trust me.
What about mosquito situation? I'm a walking buffet.
Oh, the mosquitos. Yeah, they’re there. And they view you, your delicious blood, as a five-course meal. Pack the bug spray. The hardcore stuff. And possibly a full-body net. I mean, I didn't *need* a net, but I wouldn't have regretted it.
The evenings, with the setting sun and the chirping cicadas? Beautiful. Romantic. And utterly infested with tiny, bloodthirsty vampires. Consider yourself warned.
Anything else I should know BEFORE I go? Any secret tips? Spill the beans!
Secret tips? Okay, buckle up, buttercup.
- Learn basic Italian phrases. Seriously. Even "Buongiorno" and "Grazie" will get you further than you think. Stumbling through a pasta order in broken Italian is half the fun!
- Pack an adapter. Obvious, I know, but you *will* forget. You always do.
- Embrace the "slow travel" philosophy. Don't try to cram everything. Just wander. Get lost (you probably will, anyway). Sit in a piazza and sip an Aperol Spritz (or five).
- Bring good walking shoes. That hill, remember?! And the cobblestones. They're death traps.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. The locals? They're usually lovely. Even if you're just trying to figure out how to operate the washing machine (which, trust me, you will).
- And finally... RELAX. This is Tuscany. It's almost impossible *not* to have a good time, even if you trip over terracotta pots and get eaten alive by mosquitos. The food, the wine, the views... it's all worth it. Even the wonky bathroom door. (Okay, maybe *especially* the wine.)
And… would you *really* go back? Honestly?
Oh, god, yes. In a heartbeat. Even with the mosquitos, the wonky doors, and the potential for toddler-induced chaos. I'm already looking up flights. My credit card is screaming. But something about that Tuscan sun, the smell of rosemary in the air and the feeling of being utterly, gloriously *lost*… it's addictive. It's a little slice of heaven, even if it’s a slightly ramshackle slice.
So, yeah. Book it. Just... maybe send me a postcard.
