L'Oasi

I'd paid for the night of the 19th, but by 3 PM I'd had enough and left. The lady shouted something like, "look elsewhere." I'd stayed in plenty of hotels and never had to deal with a gate that wouldn't open. Later she passed me 20 euros over the stair railing. Was that meant as a tip? It wasn't enough to silence me. I strongly advise against this place. From my arrival on Sunday, June 16th, getting through the entrance was a constant battle. The gate wouldn't open, and the badge they gave me didn't work until I changed it two days later. The key wouldn't turn in the rusty lock, as the man who met me acknowledged, so I had to lubricate it. The lady knew about the problem. I showed her the greasy key after a dear friend advised me to try that. Coming and going meant struggling with the CLOSED gate, which needed at least two people to push. After climbing 110 steps, there was still that fight to get in, or I had to call to get out. The remaining 52 euros on the bill had to be paid in CASH, even though I always use a credit card in EVERY HOTEL, like EVERYONE does. I got just one towel for three days, and only after a major argument with the owners, mostly about the gate. There was also a small bathroom garbage bag that was never taken away. A B&B shouldn't mean NEGLECT and indifference. While I was wrestling with the gate and getting understandably angry, their dogs and the neighbor's dogs began howling together. Is that supposed to be the peace of an oasis? Come on, enough. Maybe this could be considered a penance. Could a public lodging place not call a technician about a sagging gate and an electronic system that doesn't open straight away? Could they not fit a NORMAL door, since there's already a video camera?

There are plenty of things that could be fixed here, including the TV in the room, which we couldn't use. The owner was very friendly and tried to meet guests' requests. Still, it isn't a place for families or anyone faint-hearted. The uphill road is very narrow, there's no parking, and reaching the room means climbing at least 100 steps, a real struggle with luggage. The rooms are on the top floor, the second, under the roof. There's no lift or air conditioning, so you can imagine the heat. Arrival and departure times were enforced very strictly. Lots of potential, but also lots of flaws.

We were there August 13th to 15th, and the private parking was a big help since finding parking in Genoa is difficult. Breakfast and housekeeping were both excellent. The villa itself is spectacular, tucked into greenery with a breathtaking view of the sea. There wasn't air conditioning, but the evening breeze from the sea made that easier to handle. My girlfriend and I had a wonderful stay, and we'd love to return.

The breakfast just about does the job, though there's nothing savory, only a few coffee capsules and packaged croissants. The attic room is okay for sleeping, but there's so little headroom you can't stand up much. The bathroom is up there too, with a small shower and a little window without a curtain or opaque glass.