Hotel Villa La Malva

The views across the nearby valley were lovely, and the guest house has a peaceful setting, a swimming pool and a tasty restaurant. The family running it and the rest of the staff were excellent. Our room looked a little dated, but it was absolutely fine. We had a wonderful stay and would recommend it.

The view here is lovely, but our arrival and the way we were treated made us cancel our booking straight away. We went to a place up the road instead and were glad we did. At first, staff spoke to us through a fence, which made it seem like we weren’t welcome. Then the owner, who is Swedish, apparently assumed we couldn’t understand her because we were speaking Portuguese to each other. My son speaks Swedish and understood what the young woman was saying. She was very rude, judging us purely by our appearance, which is completely unacceptable in hospitality. She seemed inexperienced, so I can cut her a little slack, but she has a lot to learn if she wants a career in the industry. The owner was somewhat apologetic, though I still didn’t feel she really cared. I’ve travelled a lot, and this was the worst service I’ve experienced. The place had potential, but with staff like that, I’d avoid it.

We loved the evening atmosphere by the pool, with music outside, lights in the water and that amazing view. The hotel restaurant serves pasta and meat, and the bistecca was unbelievably good: a simple T-bone with oil, salt and sides. You have to try it. You can also order drinks by the pool. The hotel’s in-house breakfast was familiar, with some desserts, tasty Italian ham and great coffee. We enjoyed breakfast on the terrace at the top of the building, as well as the views from the pool and our room. Our room was clean and fresh, with a big bed and air conditioning that kept it cool. The staff were lovely and made us feel at home. It’s quite far from the nearest town, so you need a car. This family-run hotel made for a wonderful Italian vacation, and we’ll be coming back.

We had a lovely week here. Our hosts were kind and welcoming, and the view from the top floor at breakfast was a highlight. The villa felt very family-friendly, and having a restaurant on site was handy on days we wanted to eat in. It’s a beautiful location and good value for money. Thanks to this welcoming family, we’d love to visit again.