Country Life Relais

We had a lovely week here in October. The apartment was bright, clean, and had everything we needed. There were three terraces at the front and another off the twin bedroom at the back, overlooking a garden. We were warmly welcomed and shown around when we arrived. A well-stocked supermarket, bars, and restaurants are all within walking distance. I think there are two buses to Sorrento, one from the town centre and one just down the hill. The coffee machine and dishwasher were great, and having a washing machine was a bonus when I needed to do an emergency wash midweek. TVs in every room and plenty of storage in the main bedroom too. We didn't use the pool because it was cold in October. Parking is available, but check with reception since there's one space per apartment.

I found the place without much trouble using Google Maps, and check-in was quick and easy. The apartment matched the online pictures and was very clean, with plenty of room in the living area and bedroom. The kitchen was well equipped, and the shower and washing machine were useful, especially after weeks of travelling. It was nice to find a little welcome pack of pasta and sauce waiting for me. I arrived on a Sunday, when all the shops were shut. The town is just a short walk away, with supermarkets, small shops, and lots of restaurants. A pleasant, restful stay.

The place itself is beautiful and in a great location, with everything as described. But the service was so poor that I can't recommend it. We were 12 people for eight days, and there wasn't enough toilet paper. We were told to buy our own, along with dishwasher tablets, since none were provided. There were no rubbish bags or basic cleaning products either. Both coffee machines stopped working after two days. The fridge door was broken in the Magnolia flat, and the downstairs bathroom cistern in the Oleander was broken. Although the weather was quite cool, the heating was switched off after five days. In my opinion, this is a fairly high-standard place with serious limitations. I've never had such a low level of service in Italy, and this was our sixth trip.

Our flight was cancelled because of the war in Israel, so we couldn't reach the property. We got in touch to ask about canceling or rescheduling and heard nothing back. During such a difficult time, that lack of communication and compassion was incredibly disappointing.