Apartments Celine 606

Charming, pleasant apartments, and a wonderful family hosting them.

The steep path down to the sea was one of the few things we knew about before booking. We chose the place because of the good reviews and its location near the water, and rented a room for three days with our seven-month-old. That turned into the worst room I've stayed in, and the first time in years of travel that I've left a negative review. We arrived on May 25 to a freezing room, icy tile floors, and a switched-off fridge. The owner said we were the first guests of the year. He turned the fridge on while we were there, and brushed off our concerns about the cold by saying Italians like it in August. He didn't say how we'd manage in May with a baby. After we asked again, he came back and turned on the heating, which made things bearable. The room still smelled damp with no fresh air. The place was old and worn, and the kitchen was missing forks, knives, and deep plates, pretty much everything. The counter was only 30 cm wide. My wife had to chop salad in the sink and use a carving knife to put it into the pan. The owner said nobody had complained before. The bed creaked so loudly that our child woke whenever I got up. We could hear street noise clearly, and people upstairs kept stomping, even early in the morning. The owner's relatives live there. He said his family had rented the room for 42 years, and it showed. It seemed not to have been renovated in just as long. The so-called terrace was uncomfortable too. There was no real order or supervision around the property. Several neighboring rooms were occupied by the owner's friends and their families. On our second evening, at 10 PM, we were putting the baby to bed while loud music played from the barbecue area. I went to ask the owner if that was normal and met his holiday guests on the way. They were drunk and aggressive. It took a huge effort to stay safe that night. I asked the owner to refund at least one night's payment and call the police because I was afraid. Instead, he called the travel agency, whose advice was to lock the door, wait until morning, and then contact Booking about a refund. I couldn't find the owner the next morning, so we left a day early and contacted Booking, hoping to get some of our money back. The owner's attitude felt indifferent. If you want a ruined holiday, lost money, threats, and an uncaring host, go ahead and book. Photo attached.

The hosts were the highlight for us. They were wonderfully hospitable but never intrusive, helped us pick vegetables from the garden, and even made us a dessert before we left. Guests can use the zucchini, tomatoes, and figs growing there, and share the garden barbecue with the other guests. We never had trouble sharing it, and it often brought people together. The apartment is in a quiet part of town, around 300 meters from the sea by steps that cross the road. Shops and a bakery are close by; down at the seafront there's another supermarket, a greengrocer, restaurants, and bars. The furnishings are simple and a little dated, but had what we needed for a beach holiday. It's a breezy spot, so although there's no air conditioning, I didn't find I needed it. There are no window screens, though I didn't see many mosquitoes. Our place had a double bedroom and another with two single beds, plus satellite TV. The kitchen had three gas burners, an electric stovetop (not induction), an oven, kettle, and drip coffee maker, but no microwave. Coffee lovers should bring a moka pot or pod machine. There's also a bathroom with a shower and a shaded outdoor table in a breezy area.

We had a lovely holiday here with our dog. The apartment was clean, and the landlords were kind and helpful. I'd happily recommend it. Thank you!