L'Andana, a Boutique Villa Retreat in Tuscany, Italy

One of my trusted Insiders, Michela Lanteri, stayed here recently and reports back: “A former summer home of Leopold II, Duke of Tuscany, L'Andana is now a refined hotel thanks to a successful partnership between its owners, the Moretti family, and famous French chef Alain Ducasse.

“Located in the heart of Italy's Maremma region, between Chianti and Siena, this lovely boutique villa-hotel is perched at the foot of a hill covered with olive groves.

“Each of the 41 rooms and suites has been tastefully decorated by various Italian architects and the director of Architectural Digest, Ettore Mocchetti. Rooms 17 and 18 have a very nice mezzanine, but beware of the room on the parking side and especially the ground floor rooms.

“The setting is beautiful with the secluded villa overlooking rolling vineyards. The staff is exceptionally attentive and offers many tips for guests on how best to enjoy the estate. There's a delightful 3-mile path leading up to a church on a hill, well worth the effort if you're feeling energetic.

“ESPA manages the intimate spa, which includes a fitness area, sauna, hammam and vitality pool, as well as a very nice outdoor swimming pool, although the poolside service doesn't live up to expectations. The scarce breakfast also didn't match the rest of the place.

“The hotel's restaurant, La Trattoria Toscana, deserves a special mention. Marzio, the sommelier, will help you to discover the wines from the Moretti family winery, Petra. The food is delicious, especially the Fiorentina … all of the vegetables and herbs come directly from the estate.

“The staff is generally accommodating, especially the concierge, although at times there is only one person on duty to welcome guests and handle requests. The waiting period was sometimes very long.”

Closed January & February. Rooms from €500 (about $700) per night.

Insider tip from Mr & Mrs Smith, one of my trusted resources:

"The hotel can supply tennis equipment, but bring your clubs for the golf course."

Get more tips, see photos, and book the guaranteed best rate on Mr & Mrs Smith:
www.mrandmrssmith.com/landana