Una Terrazza sul Mare The Lighthouse

Joe's hospitality made the stay feel especially easy. He was considerate, professional, and attentive without being intrusive. The house had all the useful basics, including Wi-Fi, and the sea-facing terrace was a lovely spot for sunset or an evening outdoors. We were there from August 10th to 17th. The water was crystal clear and great for swimming. You can walk to the sea in 3-4 minutes, or drive a minute to a public beach with plenty of convenient parking near the sand. The center is about 6-7 minutes away on foot, handy for a quiet evening stroll. We came away with a lot of admiration for the place and would recommend it for a holiday.

That huge terrace is the apartment's real gem, with every comfort and a wonderful view in all directions. Joe was efficient, helpful, and unusually courteous throughout. My husband and I stayed at Joe's The Lighthouse apartment from August 17th to 24th. Inside, it was spotless, nicely furnished, and clearly well cared for. I highly recommend it.

The apartment itself is new and comfortable, with good beds and a sofa, free parking nearby, and a terrace where you can sit or sunbathe. Wi-Fi was included, though it was very slow for us. We had an air-conditioning issue, which the owner sorted out the following day. There's also a hot tub in one of the apartments that you can use for a fee. Breakfast was poor, especially when Paola has excellent bakeries, and the place isn't cheap enough for that to feel like a small thing. It needs work, though for a short family stay it may be manageable. The owner is available if you need information. The biggest problem is the location. The building is in a neglected, run-down area of Paola, and even basic shopping means going to the center or marina. The beach is about a 15-minute walk, including an abandoned flight of steps, and making that climb in 40-degree heat would be miserable. If you rely on a car, things are close enough, but guests should be told beforehand that a car is essential. As a result, I found the location really terrible. After the owner's response, I was even more disappointed. There wasn't a correct Italian sentence in it, yet he acted like an Italian teacher. To me, that reflects badly on the business people expected to improve tourism. Be careful about paying people like this. There are plenty of other apartments nearby rented by honest people without deception.

Getting back from the beach is the worst part. The neighborhood sits above it, so you have to climb a very steep staircase, which is painful in the heat. The walk there is also quite a distance. Parking exists, but the street is so narrow that it's not very convenient. The building is in a historic part of Paola that seems largely abandoned. It's mostly elderly or single residents, rubbish is scattered around, and I've seen an occasional rat. There's greenery attached to the building that appears not to have been maintained for decades. The rooms have been renovated, but roughly. Our apartment had a vent that couldn't be opened, so it was cold in winter. In summer, even with the air conditioning on, it was hot, and there were lots of mosquitoes, which isn't surprising given the surroundings. There are much more convenient options in the area.