Casa Kita is a guesthouse in Cortona, Italy. My husband and I contacted the owner, Osvaldo, directly after being directed to their website by Cortona's official website as a recommended accommodation. I received a very prompt reply in perfect English, and we negotiated the dates of stay and rates. I was able to secure a slightly better rate by extending my stay one night. Osvaldo provided great directions and was very helpful over our email conversations. Our rate included taxes, heating, water use, and one day of cleaning service.
We arrived in Cortona and had a little bit of difficulty finding Casa Kita but once we got our bearings we found it. Rang the bell and an elderly woman answered the door, she spoke no English whatsoever and hand gestures didn't get us too far. A few moments later Osvaldo arrived and much to my surprise, he also did not speak any English. Since he had been responding to my emails in flawless English I was expecting the same in person. Once we got our hand gestures figured out and exchanged keys and cash, we were all set.
The room was very clean and good sized with a king bed, armoire, desk, television and nightstands. The bathroom was also very clean and included a hair dryer as well as several towels and shampoos, etc. The view from our room was amazing, overlooking the valley below with panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside. Osvaldo and the older woman, who I assumed was maybe his mother, live on the second floor of the home but we never really heard any noise from up there. The location of the guesthouse could not be any better, it is located off the main street and is just steps from Via Nazionale but it is very quiet which can be nice at night.
There were only two complaints I had about our stay: the first is that there was a down comforter on the bed but it did not have a duvet cover on it and there was some minor staining. Which was all in sharp contrast to the overall cleanliness of the entire space. The second is that Osvaldo has a dog, a large German Shephard who started barking right outside our window every morning no later than 8am. We were usually up by then but I would prefer not to have my morning disturbed by the doggy.
Overall we very much enjoyed our stay at Casa Kita and I would highly recommend it for budget travelers who enjoy privacy and want a homey place to stay. Bear in mind when making your reservation that Osvaldo signs the emails but it is his business partner Gusmang who answers English-speaking emails, so it is best to brush up on your Italian in advance of your arrival. Happy travels and enjoy your stay in Tuscany!