La Pietra Maisonettes

The outdoor area felt neglected and didn’t work well as laid out. There were also quite a few maintenance and construction issues in the middle house where I stayed. Its marble staircase was very narrow, didn’t fit a whole foot, and had no anti-slip tape, so it felt dangerously slippery. The wooden stairs to the attic were also very narrow and steep, with steps cut off on both sides. The entrance door opened inward toward a wall, leaving barely 40 points for someone to squeeze through. The first-floor cistern wasn’t maintained well, and the screen closers didn’t work. Windows and doors didn’t shut properly, so small bugs and reptiles could get in, including samiamids and earthworms. Hot water took at least five minutes to arrive, wasting water, and the solar system vent buzzed every five minutes all day. Getting there is difficult too: the last kilometer is a rough mix of concrete and dirt, steep in places and barely wide enough for one car. If another car comes the other way, it’s a big problem, and it takes a lot of driving experience, especially in pitch darkness at night. At the houses, thick gravel sinks underfoot and under the car wheels.

The house was roomy, spotless, and had such a magical view that we didn’t feel like going anywhere. Thanks so much, ladies, for being helpful and cheerful. We’ll see you again!

The photos really don’t do this villa justice, it’s even more beautiful in person. It’s got the view, cleanliness, comfort, and quality, and everything a family needs. The road is a little narrow, though. I’d have stayed put if there had been a pool, but that’s a small thing. Just a wonderful place.

For this price, there are better houses available. The outdoor space was practically unusable, with wooden pallets in the garden and thatched roofs that had collapsed. The doors and windows badly need replacing, and because they don’t close properly, all sorts of creatures, like millipedes and grasshoppers, got into the house. I know that can happen in this region, but this was our fifth place here in a row and nowhere else was it as noticeable. House 1 is about 3 km from the beach and looks sturdy from outside, but inside there are clear construction shortcomings. The single-glazed windows meant the upstairs AC couldn’t get the room below 27°C, even though it was over 38°C outside. The kitchen gear was inadequate, just a random mix of glasses, cups, and other things. The welcome on our first day, though, was warm and friendly.