The olfactory chamber

It is hard to overstate how wonderful Il Borgo del Balsamico team was to us. First, the property is charming. It is an historic property that is well-kept, charming, clean, and secure. There is plentiful parking, and the team makes it easy to go in and out after hours. The grounds are beautiful. The breakfast was tasty and held in a charming alcove of the property overlooking the gardens. Our room was clean, decorated nicely, and added to the experience of staying in a historic balsamic house. The tour, given by Georgia, was well done. She provided a soup-to-nuts description of the process of manufacturing DOP balsamic vinegar, and all of the variants. She was very knowledgeable about the process and fielded many questions from the audience. During the balsamic tasting, she did a wonderful job in describing the product and helping understand how it would be used. The hotel team provided recommendations for local restaurants, made reservations, and the locations were exactly what we were looking for--they helped recommend places that suited our style and day--not just places they wanted people to go to. Georgia was also very patient with us when we asked many questions in the store shop about the various vinegars that are available for purchase. Perhaps most significant, one evening I experienced a medical issue that required a trip to the hospital. The staff could not have been more accommodating to us. They were empathic and helped us extend our stay (in an upgraded room at no additional cost), which was very much appreciated after a night in a hospital! The entire Borgo del Balsamico team--and Georgia in particular--is part of what makes travel wonderful. You go halfway across the world and meet people who are kind and helpful in a challenging moment. I cannot say enough about how wonderful our stay was.