Bella Piazza

Simona made my stay special. She's a welcoming, sweet host who'll share useful information and local tips about places you might never find on your own. I spent some time here during the difficult winter of 2020-2021, and it became one of the best periods of my life. I'll always be grateful. The apartment sits on Colico's lively pedestrian square, right by the lake, with a balcony and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Despite being so central, it's quiet and discreet. It's recently renovated, fully furnished and equipped, with heating, air conditioning, a big fridge, washing machine, induction hob, and fast internet. It works well for a romantic break and comfortably fits up to four people. Colico train station is close by, and just down the stairs you'll find pizzerias, restaurants, ice-cream shops, cafes, and supermarkets. Nature walks and Sentiero Valtellina, the bike path heading to the upper part of the region, are nearby too. Colico is known for sports on the north side of Lake Como, including hiking, cycling, kite-surfing, and horse-riding. Chiavenna, Valtellina's mountains, ski resorts, thermal baths, the western side of the lake, and Milan are also not too far away.

The apartment was spotless, and the host was very friendly and helpful. A lift is available, and the induction cooktop made it easy to prepare a quick meal. The windows are well insulated, so outside noise was barely noticeable. The lake view from the balcony was lovely. Fresh, tasty brioche (Cornetto) is available at the bar downstairs, and there are good restaurants nearby. There are limited places to charge an electric car in the village. There's no parking at the building, though with luck you might find one of three free white-marked spaces 50 metres away. Otherwise, Easypark costs €2 per hour or €13 per day, plus a service fee.

The apartment used to be really lovely when we stayed in 2023, so it's a shame, but we won't book it again. This time, we felt it hadn't been cleaned at all. There was dust, dirt, and long black hair everywhere, dirty pots and glasses, and the inside of the windows was smeared. The sofa's decorative cushion was torn, the curtains weren't hung properly, and the kitchen baseboards had come out of their tracks. In places, the laminate floor had gaps wide enough to be a tripping hazard. The washing machine was dirty and unusable, and it badly needed cleaning, especially around it. There was a very unpleasant smell, particularly in the bedroom. After a long drive, I had to clean the apartment myself. The mattress was extremely worn, so we barely slept and woke each morning with severe back pain. The neighbors also seemed more annoyed by vacationers than they had on our previous visit. The apartment above was extremely noisy at night, with chairs and other things constantly being slammed onto the floor. It was hardly ever quiet. The neighbor next door was very provocative and slammed the main entrance door in our faces. Please check both the apartment and your staff. The location and view earn one star, and I gave another out of solidarity.

The photos show the apartment accurately, and it's in a quiet building in a very good location. Still, it could use some care, maintenance, and more storage. The bathroom needs a shelf and supports.