Vacancéole - Résidence Lisa Maria

The staff were very nice, but this was a bad experience and I wouldn't recommend the place. It looked nothing like the pictures, and the recent reviews are worth checking because the positive ones seem a bit dated. There was a musty smell and a strong stale tobacco smell. The building was very run down, with holes in the stained glass in reception, and it was dirty. Heating was only in one room, and the place was very poorly insulated, so we had to cover the windows. We arrived without bedding. They gave us old chalet blankets instead of sheets; when we insisted on proper blankets suitable for a 3-star hotel, since it was still winter and we were cold, we ended up with just a duvet and no sheet.

Great.

The rest of the apartment was very nice, but the bedding was uncomfortable. Sheets and towels cost extra, and there was an electrical outlet behind both beds.

The staff were welcoming, friendly, and always willing to help. The residence is quiet and well kept, and its location is very good, though I wouldn't say it's suitable for children. It's a short 400m walk to Favone beach through a secure tunnel under the T10. The vehicle entrance is on a bend in the T10, where traffic moves fast, so take care going in and out. The gate shuts very early, at 7:30 pm, so plan ahead. There's a nearby outside parking lot, easy to reach, but it fills quickly. The grounds aren't flat. There's a slight uphill walk to the pool and a steeper one to some apartments, which could be an issue for anyone with mobility problems. Facilities are limited: a large pool, maximum depth 1.40m, a 24-hour laundry room with two washers and a dryer that takes credit cards only, and a pétanque court. There's no playground, sports field, or other children's facilities. The pool is large and maintained, though it shows its age. It has around thirty plastic loungers and a dozen parasols. The entrance shower was broken, but they'd rigged up a shower head as a temporary fix. Not pretty, but it worked. Our accommodation, 74 above the pool, was basic and functional for six people, though it could use an update. Sound carries badly: we could clearly hear neighbors and chairs scraping on the tiles. The air conditioning was quiet and worked well. The bedrooms were fairly spacious, with storage and quite a few hangers, which is unusual. The bedding was good but firm because it was so new. The bathroom has the toilet built in, which isn't ideal when sharing a small space. The kitchen is small but works well, with all the necessary equipment and a fairly large fridge. The terrace is small and somewhat enclosed, but the view over Favone Cove is lovely.