Villa Maria

The hills and peaceful views around Hotel Villa Maria made it feel like a real break from everyday life. I especially liked relaxing on the terrace and taking in the scenery. The staff were kind and helpful, made me feel at home, and were flexible when I needed to change my check-in time or adjust my itinerary. Their recommendations and willingness to accommodate requests made a difference. Breakfast was a highlight, with a generous spread and good variety that set me up for the day. I also thought the price was very good for the quality and service. My stay was memorable, and I'd recommend this hotel to anyone looking for comfort, a chance to relax, and good value.

The staff were friendly, the food was excellent, and the location was perfect, but our room had some real problems. It was tiny, with most of the bedroom tucked under the sloping roof and just a small roof window. Light from the hallway came through the glass parts of the door and made sleeping difficult. There was a lamp by only one bed, and the electrical outlets were far from the bedside tables and hard to use. Hotel management also turned off the Wi-Fi on our last day and the following morning.

The young woman at reception was the only staff member who was nice to us. The owners were hostile from the start, and throughout our stay we felt unwelcome and uneasy. I speak Italian fluently, so I could tell when they were talking about us unpleasantly. If you don't speak Italian, communication may be very difficult, as the staff don't speak English well. The owner's rude comments even made my mum cry, and I felt humiliated by the way we were treated. We repeatedly asked them to respect our privacy and stay out of our room, but they went in anyway. They moved our belongings without permission and rummaged through our suitcases and bags. I've stayed in other hotels where staff came in to collect rubbish and used towels, but this went much further and felt completely inappropriate. Our room was dirty, the towels had marks that suggested they hadn't been washed properly, and the sheets weren't any better. It smelled odd and felt stuffy because there wasn't a proper window. The breakfast included in the price was practically nonexistent, with very little food served. I didn't eat dinner there, but other guests weren't happy with it. Staying here was the biggest mistake I've made, and I've never left a negative review before. I regret not researching the place better, since many previous guests had also had a bad experience. If you want to enjoy your vacation, I'd stay away. The owners, or whoever replies to the many negative reviews, can skip the suggestion to try a hostel next time. I would rather stay in a hostel where the staff don't seem to enjoy making guests miserable, and I think it would be much cleaner.

The outside space was lovely, with a nice garden, terrace, views, and pool. My room was dark and stuffy, though, with no proper window, just a tiny one in the roof. The furniture and bathroom were old, and the rooms weren't somewhere you'd want to spend time. Management staff weren't very friendly, and breakfast was mostly factory-made sweet food.