B&B Villa Vanessa

We stayed for three days, and it wasn't the holiday we had hoped for. The rooms felt old and worn, and several things in the house didn't work, including the TVs and air conditioning. The washer took us two days to get going because its door was stuck; we were told to use the laundromat in town. There must be better places to stay around Castro.

We were a group of 12, adults and children, and spent a week at Villa Vanessa Luxury at the end of July 2024. The place worked really well as a base for exploring the area, which has plenty to see and do, and we all felt at home. Although it's on what seems to be the busiest road into Castro, we hardly noticed any traffic noise. There was room for everyone both inside and out. The upstairs kitchen also served as our dining and living room, with plenty of seats, and there was another seating area on the terrace in front. We made breakfast there every day and cooked dinner a few times. The kitchen had what we needed, with a useful dishwasher and a good-sized fridge-freezer. Outside, people could choose to sit or stretch out by the pool or on the lower terrace. The barbecue area was well lit, even late at night, so we didn't need headlamps. Wi-Fi worked throughout our stay. The house had plenty of beds and bathrooms for a large group. Michela was easy to reach and gave us lots of tips over WhatsApp. Communication was in Italian, which wasn't a problem for us, and she even arranged a last-minute restaurant booking in Castro. Garbage collection works by type on different days, so we followed the signs and put the right bin out by the gate. We'd happily recommend Villa Vanessa Luxury for a holiday with friends or several families.

We had a really nice stay and thought the price was fair. The house is clean and carefully put together, even if it's not new, and the pool was a lovely way to cool off despite being on the small side. We barely noticed the cars on the nearby road while on the property. The landlady was great to deal with. We managed to communicate in Italian using a translation app. Upstairs, the kitchen is roomy, though there's not much counter space for cooking, and a proper oven there would be useful. Everything else we needed was available. My only other tiny gripe is that the glasses could be bigger for evening mixed drinks, but that's really a minor complaint.

We had a lovely stay, thanks in large part to Mino. He was welcoming, kind, helpful, and very well organized, especially for guests like us who depend on his recommendations. The property sits among green olive trees and has a pool for guests. Our room was clean and quiet, and breakfast was generous. With someone like him looking after things, the stay feels even better.