Here is what Kristen Mitchem of Morrisville, North Carolina, says about her balloon ride and stay in Montisi. Mille grazie, Kristen!

I took an incredible hot air balloon ride over the Crete Senesi, about an hour outside of Siena. I was travelling in Italy via their rail system, so I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to make my balloon ride because Montisi didn't have a train station. I contacted the balloon pilot, Robert Etherington (the company is Ballooning in Tuscany), and he was more than helpful in giving me options for places to stay near the launch site and for the nearest train station. He and his wife are both English and they fell in love with Tuscany and decided to make it their home.

I stayed in a small village called Montisi. It was beautiful: some incredible views and just a beautiful quaint little village. Besides a restaurant at the village entrance, there isn't much to do here, but it was a perfect rest point for my 18 day stay in this wonderfully hectic country!

I stayed at La Locanda di Montisi, probably the NICEST hotel I have ever stayed in, ever! The rooms were huge, the view was great, and Roberto (the owner) was so welcoming and such a perfect gentleman! He offered to pick me up at the train station, gave me a tour of the village, and introduced me to some ex-pat Americans who were willing to show me around and share a meal. It was brilliant walking around the village in the evening, it was so charming. The old men sat at the front of the village outside a little store playing cards, while the old women sat at the other end of the village and gossiped thru the early morning. They were all so friendly and like most Italians, were willing to show me good places to take photos (even though I didn't understand all of their Italian). I think that Montepulciano is not too far, but Montisi was a perfect spot because it was just a short walk to the balloon launch site.

My balloon ride was fantastic! Seeing Tuscany from a hot air balloon is not an experience that I can easily describe. I took my ride on the morning of July 4, 2005. Aside from myself and Robert, there were two other Brits. At first, I was a little nervous in a hot air balloon with 3 brits (with the war and it being July 4!) but they were so pleasant, so funny and the balloon ride was very smooth - they even wished me a Happy Independence Day! I'd never been in a hot air balloon before and was somewhat nervous, but there was no reason to be. Robert didn't just have us in the air the entire time. He took us up, and down in the valleys and nooks and crannies, then we'd rise again. The scenery was so beautiful. He said that in the spring, it is best because you see all the different greens and various colors from the crops. I thought it was absolutely perfect then. Robert really knows the area. He told us different stories about the farmhouses and villas that we passed, about various Sicilian parties and weddings that have taken place. He was very entertaining! We passed over a field of sunflowers and again, he dipped down in them and told us a story of 2 sons that brought their mom on one of his balloon rides. He said that the wind sent them towards the same field of sunflowers and one son held his brother by the ankles as he reached down and plucked a sunflower for their mom! Robert looked up and saw the farmers looking at them..he just waved! I got some great shots, some of the best from my trip. At least, these are the ones that people ooh and ahh over the most.

The flight lasted for about two hours, and after the flight, Liz met us for a champagne breakfast at our touch down site. Champagne, red wine, orange juice, pizza, cookies and the best cantaloupe I've ever had. It was wonderful. They then took us to a small village called, Buonconvento and shared some of its history about their Moor leader. It was here that I had my first, yes first, Italian cappuccino. We then went around with them for a bit as Liz had to drop off some fliers, so I got to see more of the Tuscan country side which I would not have been able to do because I was traveling via Trenitalia. When we got back to their villa, were were presented with our flight certificates and we were told that we were always welcome back at any time for a visit or to see their updates to the villa. This was the best day of my trip to Italy.

That afternoon, Roberto from La Locanda di Montisi drove me to the train station (the right one this time) and I headed for Siena. He made sure I purchased the right ticket and saw me off. Though Montisi is small and not as flashy as some other spots in Tuscany, it is the place that I remember and cherish most above Venice, Florence, and Rome. The people made it great and the scenery made it greater. The cost for the balloon ride was 200 euros, this was my splurge, as my room was only 50 euros! This is an exciting way to see this beautiful Tuscan country side and I highly recommend it, from the village people, the cozy and relaxed setting, the tremendous scenery from a birds eye view. Montisi is an Italian must for me.

From Rick Steves' Europe: Guidebook Feedback, October 14, 2006.