Tenuta Ferrara

I'm glad we'd booked just one night. I don't like writing bad reviews, but apart from the room being clean, we couldn't find much to like. We should have asked whether the rooms were on the ground floor. We had to carry our luggage up two flights of stairs without help. When we arrived, the card machine wasn't working, even though we'd left our documents. Soon after we entered the room, they called asking us to try the payment again, or suggested we go to the bank and withdraw cash if needed. The fridge was off and empty. We were told we didn't need the air conditioning with the windows open, and that they'd switch it off if we left it running when we went out. Breakfast was poor, and the owner stayed around the whole time, complaining about costs and telling us to take the bag of remote controls downstairs.

We had a fantastic stay and felt at home thanks to Mr. Marcello's kindness and willingness to help. The property was very well cared for, and everything was exceptionally clean inside and out. I highly recommend it.

The estate is beautiful and fully renovated, with tasteful rooms and spacious bathrooms. But the location wasn't ideal, and the view didn't quite match the owner's description. The air conditioning costs extra, and breakfast was nothing like the brochure in each room promised. It described a generous buffet with chef-made cakes and doughnuts, plus savoury options. What we got was a small table with Nutella, jam, and toast, and the owner, who also does handyman work, brought one croissant each. It's a shame, because the property has potential. But the owner's fussiness, with rules posted around the room about air conditioning, remote control bags, and breakfast, will hold it back.

There are a few good points: the location is beautiful and well maintained, and the room is large and has everything needed. There's parking inside and outside the building. Behind the property is a lovely garden, though it wasn't in use, with no loungers, solarium, or pool. The constant rules made it hard to relax. Every time we came or went, even at 1 a.m., the manager laid down more instructions. The air conditioning had to be set to 24 degrees, switched off when leaving, or not used at all, with the window opened because the area is well ventilated. There were also rules about opening the door and not putting the key in your pocket in case it broke. We're on vacation, and if I'm paying, I don't want a pile of rules. If I damage something, charge me for it. When we returned at 1 a.m., there wasn't even a trickle of water to flush the toilet, and nobody had warned us. With all the rules for guests, perhaps the manager should have a tank or a well, because guests can't be expected to go without water. At breakfast, our plates and cutlery were cleared while we were still eating. What if I wanted more toast with jam or another glass of water? We were given two croissants, one with jam and one plain, and told, "you're husband and wife, you figure out how to divide them." What if neither of us wanted jam? These may sound like small things, but they say a lot about service when you're paying for a buffet breakfast. When we were leaving, the main concern seemed to be the remote controls and their little bag. A wish for a good trip, or even a question about the rest of our journey, would have been much nicer than, "Where are the remote controls with the little bag?" We booked through Booking.com at the rate listed on the site. They gave us a discount, and that rate has now gone up. We paid the price shown when we booked, no more and no less. If it's higher now, I feel sorry for future guests, because even the amount we paid was too much for the service we got.