Borgo Argenina

I would love to say we had a marvelous time at Borgo Argenina, but sadly, that was not the case. I have never written a bad review like this ever! First of all I have to say that Borgo Argenina is a very nice place as far as the buildings and accommodations go. Our problems were with the owner/innkeeper. There were so many issues that caused frustration (to put it mildly), that I decided to list them so you would not think I just didn’t like the owner and decided to write a bad review. So her...

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I would love to say we had a marvelous time at Borgo Argenina, but sadly, that was not the case. I have never written a bad review like this ever! First of all I have to say that Borgo Argenina is a very nice place as far as the buildings and accommodations go. Our problems were with the owner/innkeeper. There were so many issues that caused frustration (to put it mildly), that I decided to list them so you would not think I just didn’t like the owner and decided to write a bad review. So here goes…

1. Upon arrival in Rome from US, I discovered I had lost my ATM card and had no way to get any cash. I did not have a pin number for my credit card to get a cash advance so that was not an option either. Knowing we had 3 weeks in Italy, finding resolve for this was our first priority upon arrival to Borgo Argenina (BA). To begin with, we were a bit confused trying to follow Elena’s directions to her place, and finally decided to call her. When she answered the phone the first thing she said with what sounded like anger was ’Where are you? I have been waiting all day!’ She seemed shocked we could not easily drive there following her map. She would not stop talking and truly seemed angry with us for getting lost. She kept repeating that her map is perfect, that we could not be lost. I actually had to assertively ask her to stop talking so I could tell her where we were and to ask again how to get to BA from there.
2. First thing the next day she came to our room and told us she was angry that we did not sit down with her for her ’Formal introduction talk’ immediately upon our arrival for sight seeing and dining in the area, but instead talked to other guests for their ideas. She said we should ask her, not others, as this is her country. It was as though we ’broke her rules’. I am serious, she used the word ’angry’. I also heard her tell this same thing to other guests.
3. After breakfast we wanted to use her phone to make a collect call to our bank to request a new ATM card. I looked for Elena to get her permission, but was told she had left to go shopping. Since she knew about our problem concerning the ATM and the call was collect, I went ahead and used her office phone for the collect call. She came back while I was on the phone. As soon as I got off the phone, she ANGRILY confronted me saying I had no right to use her phone!!! She was raising her voice with me and I had to try interrupting her several times before she heard me say ’I called collect’.
4. My husband ask her if she would please call her bank and ask if they would accept a money wire from his brother in the US to hold us over until we could get a new ATM card. She refused to even make a call to her bank to ask.
5. A couple of times a week she cooks dinner for guests and they also help her cook if so desired. We had reservations to do this, but she refused to let us have dinner there because she only accepted cash for the dinner even though she knew we had the ATM issue. Alena accepts credit cards for the rooms, and she knew we were attempting to get a credit card cash advance from a bank in Florence 2 days later.
6. When we made our reservation, Alena let us know that we would have to change rooms 2 times while there and we agreed to this. In the email she wrote:
“Anyway don’t worry we’ll think about moving the luggage and you will enjoy your vacation just coming back in a different accommodation.” But she flatly refused to move our luggage at all. She told us she could not possibly do that by herself. When I suggested she have her staff help her, she said, “That is not possible” and left the room.
7. She approached us on our 3rd day there and said she “made a mistake” and she owed us for one night since she noticed that our reservation was only for 4 nights, not 5. I told her it was for 5 and we would be leaving Saturday. She said, ’That is not possible. I have already rented the room to other people’. We had to show her our confirmation email she sent us for 5 nights and then she backed off. Thank goodness I traveled with my computer!

Overall, Borgo Argenina was a horrible experience. You may find it hard to believe that all this happened, but it did. Luckily, touring Tuscany was still as nice as ever!

Dear Sandy,
I’m very sad you were not happy here and you had so many problems with your bank and credit card. Sorry if I couldn’t give you cash money in exchange to your credit card.
You didn’t realize I would be charged the tax on that amount....

Also if you remember it was...

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Dear Sandy,
I’m very sad you were not happy here and you had so many problems with your bank and credit card. Sorry if I couldn’t give you cash money in exchange to your credit card.
You didn’t realize I would be charged the tax on that amount....

Also if you remember it wasn’t not easy for me to follow you in your reservation.
You changed your mind many times and I got confused.
I tried to calm you and make all my best to show the beauty of here. But you didn’t want to see.

I hope you will find peace with your husband and quietness in your heart.

When we arrived after the gorgeous drive on the curving roads through the vineyards, the dogs, Pasqualina and Guiseppina quickly ran up to greet us like long lost friends. Elena leaned out of the second story kitchen window, and uttered the first of her warm, loving welcomes. We were in Chianti at last! We soon quickly discovered that we had found a home away from home. Elena offered hugs and kisses, then a glass of Chianti, and a seat at her kitchen table, while she chatted with us as she c...

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When we arrived after the gorgeous drive on the curving roads through the vineyards, the dogs, Pasqualina and Guiseppina quickly ran up to greet us like long lost friends. Elena leaned out of the second story kitchen window, and uttered the first of her warm, loving welcomes. We were in Chianti at last! We soon quickly discovered that we had found a home away from home. Elena offered hugs and kisses, then a glass of Chianti, and a seat at her kitchen table, while she chatted with us as she cooked our fabulous dinner! This is not really a bed and breakfast; it is like staying with a member of your family. Elena could not do enough for us. She offered maps and sightseeing information as well as restaurant recommendations. One morning she was worried we would miss a particularly enchanting vista, so she drove us to it! And in the late afternoons, the wine bottle was on the kitchen table and she was ready to hear about all our adventures. It is hard to adequately describe the inn; it is charming, lovely, and comfortable. It is difficult to imagine it was a humble farmhouse and stables in total disrepair 15 years ago before Elena completely redid it, doing much of the work herself, and all of the interior design. Our room was spacious and relaxing, complete with sitting area; the bathroom was huge, bright, and modern. Everything was immaculate and decorated charmingly. Breakfast was served in a lovely room looking out over the vineyards. The buffet offered something for everyone...meats, cheese, fruits, cereal, sweets, but the highlight was always Elena’s fresh baked coffee cake. Elena’s helpers, Desy and Qanie, never let a coffee cup be empty, and always with a smile. And the biggest surprise was that everything looked exactly like it did on the website. Was it heaven on earth? That, and more. We will come back to Italy, if only to come back to Borgo Argenina. It was truly a dream come true.