Casa Natale

Set in the green Val di Vara, this holiday home is just a 20-minute drive from Monterosso al Mare (Cinque Terre), so it's a nice place to unwind between the hills and the sea. The renovated house is peaceful, with room for three and the option to add a fourth bed. It has a terrace with a table, chairs, chaise longue, and umbrella. Inside, there's a washing machine, hairdryer, coffee machine, sheets, towels, and cleaning products. The owners also leave snacks and breakfast things included in the price: water, milk, butter, biscuits, croissants, coffee, tea, fruit juices, Nutella, jams, and rusks.

Casa Natale was a peaceful little retreat in the hills near the Cinque Terre, with a lovely view and a nice terrace. The house has been beautifully renovated. We really appreciated how warmly Francesco and his partner welcomed us and how kind they were. We'd love to return.

You'll probably want a car here. Without one, getting around would be difficult: the nearest little shop and two restaurants are in Pignone, about 3 km away along hilly roads. There's no Wi-Fi either, though mobile coverage was fine and my data allowance worked well, even abroad. We knew about both before booking and chose the place anyway. Its quiet setting is a welcome change from the busy, crowded Cinque Terre area, with no traffic noise or other disturbances. The private terrace looks over nearby gardens to the Apuan Alps. Monterosso is around a 20-minute drive and La Spezia about 15, making it a useful base for the region. The house is fully equipped with a TV, hairdryer, towels, bed linen, bottled water, butter, jam, coffee and an espresso machine, cleaning supplies, dishcloths, and toilet paper. Francesco and Jessica checked in several times to see if we needed anything.

There's room for a family of four, and outside there's a table and chairs where you can sit and take in the view. The house was clean, welcoming, carefully looked after, and stocked with utensils for cooking. It's a charming place surrounded by unspoiled nature, far from everyday noise. During my stay the evenings were quite cool. The drawbacks were no recycling, no air conditioning, and no mosquito nets. The owner said the nets would be installed soon.