B&B Villetta Rosa

The apartment is small but has all the basics. The owner is really sweet, though she may not be around when you need her. It can also get pretty noisy.

The biggest problem for us was discovering that the owner had come into the apartment without telling us. We were out, but later noticed two bathroom rugs that hadn't been there before. That felt very serious and is why I gave one star. We also struggled to lock the door when we arrived and would have appreciated a faster response from the owner, which left us uneasy during the stay. There is plenty nearby for enjoying the lake, plus a couple of restaurants, and the apartment is well placed for visiting Lugano. Inside, it was in good shape and had what we needed, though the furniture looked dated and the garden needed upkeep. The road beside the apartment brought constant traffic noise. It made sleeping hard, especially in summer when we had to keep the windows open because there was no air conditioning and the fans weren't enough. In winter it might be less of a problem, since the windows seemed well insulated.

The apartment has the essentials, including a little kitchen, and I slept fine even though it faces a busy street. The shutters block the light well. There are a few cafes and restaurants nearby, but the area is pretty quiet and subdued, and the closest shops are about a 20-minute walk. One thing to know: hot water comes from a boiler, so after somebody showers you need to wait a little for it to heat again. I was satisfied with my stay.

The garden is a real plus, with three parking spots behind a gate, and the location worked well. We arranged things with the owner ahead of time and picked up the key from the neighbor. Inside, the apartment had good WiFi, a kitchen and bathroom, a large wardrobe in the bedroom, and shutters to darken the rooms. It is on a busy road, so you have to look past that. I gave it five stars because its Google rating is so low, though I think four would be fair. The mattresses are old and much too soft, the shower curtain leaves the whole bathroom wet, and cleaning could be better.