Eremito

For what we paid, this was a very disappointing stay. Eremito sells the idea of rest and silence in a remote setting, but we got neither. The hotel isn’t isolated from sound: we could hear everything, even the neighboring room’s toilet flushing. We were unlucky to overlap with a yoga retreat of more than 10 women. They seemed not to consider the other guests and made noise until midnight. It felt like a bad high school summer camp, with groups acting hostile and childish toward each other. I love remote hotels and have visited many beautiful ones, but at this price the hotel should provide the peace it promises, or charge less for what it offers. There was no drinking water in our room, though the hotel says it provides it. The shared bathrooms on our floor weren’t cleaned or cared for. The no-plastic message also felt inconsistent with blue plastic bathroom bin liners and plastic-material lounge chairs. The farm-to-table claim didn’t ring true either: even the herbal teas were processed, with no fresh touch to set them apart. The food was unimaginative, as someone else has already said in a review. The silent dinners seemed to serve marketing more than any real purpose. And the wall of fame displaying magazine awards felt out of place in a hotel that promotes other values.

The calm atmosphere and peaceful energy of the space really stayed with me. I loved the thoughtfully laid-out rooms, simple but still luxurious, and the grotto jacuzzi. The location was beautiful, the food nourishing and well balanced, and the staff friendly and accommodating. I was there for a retreat, and it felt ideal for this kind of self-development work. Big thanks to Margarita for the wonderful morning yoga sessions and to Enzo for the excellent, delicious food. Our group did feel that three-course meals would have suited us better than four, and hand cream in the shared bathrooms would have been a nice touch.

I spent seven magical days at Eremito. Hard to put the experience into words, but I came away with a lighter heart, new friends and a promise to return.

The drive from Venice to Eremito was quite an adventure. If you’d rather take it easy, you can get the train to Fabro Scalo and arrange a pickup. There’s no network connection for the last 15-20km of the drive. I’ve never been anywhere quite like this. Going without internet and social media for two days felt more freeing than I can explain. The vegetarian meals were delicious, with plenty of variety. There’s yoga, a spa and quiet hikes, though I was happiest reading in the sun and taking naps. Give it a try!