Impronte Nel Bosco

We keep coming back to this peaceful place, and have stayed here six times already with our dog, who enjoys it as much as we do. The owners are lovely, the rooms are exceptionally clean, and the recently installed internet connection and pool make it even better. It has such a wonderful atmosphere. Nicest B&B we've ever stayed in.

The hosts are a big part of what made our stay so comfortable. The two women are warm, helpful with recommendations, and speak good English. Breakfast was carefully prepared and had plenty for us, from toast, coffee, fruit, cold cuts, cheese and yogurt to pastries, spreads, honey and butter. We could eat indoors or on the lovely terrace. The pool was a welcome treat after a day of sightseeing, and the garden has sun loungers and parasols. The house is in a peaceful mountain setting. The view is pretty, even if not spectacular, and La Spezia is about a 30-minute drive away, with trains from there to the five Cinque Terre villages. Our room was spacious, with a modern, stylish bathroom. There isn't air conditioning, but we didn't need it in September, when evenings were chilly. The windows had shutters and mosquito screens. It was a fantastic first stop on our Italy trip, and we'd happily return.

A wonderful, spotless, beautifully cared-for and welcoming place. Raffaella and Alessandra go all out to make you feel at home, and they do it so well. When Carlotta told us, “I like those two,” we knew we'd do whatever we could to come back.

We'd notified the owner by email that we'd arrive at 10 PM, but couldn't reach her when we got there. The doorbell, horn and direct calls got no response, and Booking couldn't be reached either. With no internet in the area, we were stranded in the hills at night, unsure what to do. Eventually we woke a neighbor, who made several calls and reached a friend of the owner. Only when that friend thought to try WhatsApp did the owner answer. She arrived around 10:50 PM and calmly said nothing had happened and that any problems weren't her fault. She knew the doorbell wasn't working, though the next day she said she hadn't known. She also knew about the Wi-Fi and phone issues, and seemed to understand we were due the following day. Booking stopped responding after an initial contact and didn't help resolve things. The owner's behavior and the upkeep of the outdoor areas were both very poor. We'd agreed on breakfast between 8 and 9, but at 8:20 she still hadn't arrived. When we called, she told us to stay calm because we'd agreed on a time before 9. We were also charged an extra 20 euros, as expected, despite the way check-in had gone. She stayed composed and kept saying there were no problems and it wasn't her fault, but Booking.com's. After I complained, an operator listened, checked into what I said and understood me. Booking.com refunded a small part of what I'd paid, at least as a symbolic gesture.