Villa del Mare Ligure

The owner came into the house without warning around 4:00 a.m. on New Year's Eve and scolded us, accusing us of being disrespectful. We apologized right away and offered to turn off the music, but the owner unplugged our speaker and took it away without permission. We felt this crossed a line and interfered with our privacy and our use of the rental. We rented the house from December 31st to January 3rd for 18 people aged 25 to 30, paying €3,000 for the stay. We'd prepared carefully and brought our own sheets and towels, but couldn't even find basic supplies like detergent. On New Year's Eve we cooked, laughed, sang, and danced, and the party carried on as it does on that occasion. The Italian Civil Code (Article 1587) says renters have the right to enjoy the rented home for the contract period without landlord interference, except in emergencies or with prior consent. If the owner is so intolerant of noise, they shouldn't rent a home for New Year's Eve, especially to a group of young people paying a considerable sum. I strongly advise against this property if you're looking for a peaceful, festive stay without intrusive visits or disrespectful treatment. One star, and I'd give it zero if I could.

The outdoor area is lovely, spacious, and full of beautiful plants, with a sea view. We really enjoyed it. Inside, though, the apartment badly needs updating. Apartment 31 is listed for 10 people: it has a neat double bed, two neat single beds, two small double sofa beds with poor mattresses, and a shabby double bunk bed in the living room. It may be described as basic, but we found it below even that. The crockery was poor and incomplete, the furniture wobbly, the toilets faulty, the shower leaked onto the bathroom floor, and the fridge smelled. The pool is nice but basic, with a tile pattern rather than actual tiles, which looks cheap. He always seems busy counting the tenants' money, but never tidying up inside the house. The road up is very steep, so take care, though you get used to it. If you're going to the beach or town in July, get up very early or you won't find parking!

The pool was clean and well maintained, and the owners were around whenever we needed help. We had a wonderful September holiday here with our family, from the children to the grandparents. Our apartment was spacious and practical, with a large private outdoor area just for us. From there, the view across the bay and marina was a fantastic 180 degrees. The sea view was even better than in the photos, and we walked to the beach every day.

Maurizio wants to know EVERYTHING you do, worse than a mother. The rules about noise and the pool after 9 PM seem to apply whenever he says so, even at 6 PM, or you end up using the lights in Maurizio's house to send Morse code. Don't trust Maurizio's recommendations, he knows nothing about the places. The room's supposedly fantastic view was just a wall. Bring a decent ladle if you're making pasta, and your own barbecue because the one there is a joke. If you don't take out recycling every day, Maurizio gets a real treat, but the bins are 20 minutes away. The pool looks like a puddle, shared with five apartments and Maurizio's grandchildren, and gets cleaned during opening hours before being repainted at 4 PM. The villa is only suitable for experienced drivers with tall cars. It's great if you have tires to wear out, a clutch to replace, or brakes to check. Watch out for the neighbor under house arrest, the greenhouse glass costs €1,000. Calling this place disgusting is being kind.