B&B Il Lago Dorato

The best part was handing back the keys and shutting that door for good. We spent three nightmare nights here, a makeshift B&B, with my wife and son. The room was tiny, with a third bed that was like a closed-up camping bed. We opened it and fixed it ourselves. The bathroom was across the hall, and the double bed mattress was so bad even my grandmother couldn’t sleep on it. Extra blankets weren’t an option, even though it was January. The first night the heat pump worked and warmed the room. On the second night we couldn’t find the AC control and had no heat. The next morning, the owner said the cleaning lady had probably taken it away, who knows why. After we asked again, on the third night we found the control outside the room, and the room hadn’t been made up. Maybe we’d used it too much, since the control didn’t even have batteries in it. Parking outside is a pipe dream. Every night we had to make countless detours to get back, and I’m on crutches. The woman only appeared when we arrived to collect the money, strictly in cash, because the POS terminal supposedly wasn’t working. My wife had to go straight to an ATM to withdraw cash. It felt like the attitude was “pay, come in, and don’t complain.” I don’t think some people have any idea what they’re doing or how guests should be treated. Breakfast was an espresso machine and four kinds of jam, though luckily there’s a well-stocked bar 40 metres away. The place clearly isn’t suitable for people with disabilities. You’d have to manage a steep cobbled road and steps at the entrance. And you know, friends who leave you five-star reviews are easy to find.

The location is quiet and works perfectly for visiting Lake Bracciano and the village of Anguillara Sabazia. Our bed was comfortable, the room was light, and the bathroom was private. There’s also a shared kitchen. Beautiful place!!

The large bathroom was lovely, and the rooms, though small, were clean and furnished with care. There’s no parking at the house in the historic centre, but there are plenty of spaces nearby. We had trouble with the hot water at first; the owners fixed it quickly, though it came back, as can happen. The breakfast was classic, varied and well prepared. The main flaw for us was the third bed in the large room, which we’d strongly recommend replacing. For a family who wants the house to themselves, this is a great option in the area.

Everything was spotlessly clean, down to the towels, and the goose-down blanket was lovely. The B&B felt welcoming, and the owner was friendly and helpful. She let us choose between a well-stocked self-service breakfast there or breakfast at the bar. The bathroom isn’t in the room, but we had our own keys for it, and luckily the other rooms were free. There’s a nice balcony with chairs where I could relax and smoke. The room also has a TV, heating and air conditioning, though we didn’t need those. A positive experience.