Villa Sofia

The house might have been lovely, but it feels like the owner has stopped looking after it. There were cobwebs throughout the rooms and bathrooms, and it hadn't been cleaned when we arrived, even though cleaning is included. The basement and kitchen smelled of mold, which made both staying downstairs and using the kitchen unpleasant. Cooking was difficult with so little equipment: one badly scratched pan, two pots, no large bowls, and a tiny strainer from a children's cooking set. There weren't enough forks and knives either, and the ones provided came from a jumble of different sets. The washing machine also kept stopping halfway through cycles. Outside, the table seats only six although the house is meant for ten adults, and the barbecue was dirty and rusty, with just one of its three burners working. Getting to the house is awkward, and the steep, poorly built access road can scrape the underside of your car. A 4x4 seems safest. A couple of nights' rent spent on upkeep could make this a really nice place, but the owner seems not to care about the house or the people staying there. I'd avoid it.

We all wished our stay had been longer. We were five couples and felt the same way about the place. The views from the sunbeds in the morning are unforgettable, and the property is clean, with comfortable beds and a well-equipped kitchen. It's easy to reach and close to Bellagio, and the price felt fair for the good conditions. We stayed three nights and left wishing we could have spent a month there.

Villa Sofia has a lovely, refined interior with a spacious outdoor area. It feels like an old-fashioned home brought up to date. A really beautiful property.

It wasn't the best, though not bad enough to fail.