Vista D'Oro Ulivo Apt. 15

The apartment itself was clean, well equipped, and nice, and the letting agents communicated efficiently. The views are lovely, and the area is peaceful. Getting to Varenna village is the hard part. It’s quite a walk, and I wouldn’t stay here without a car. The road has several hairpin bends and feels dangerous after dark. The alternative cobbled paths are uneven and unlit, so they don’t feel safer. There’s nowhere nearby for an evening meal or drink, and taxis are scarce, though the drivers were helpful when we managed to find one.

The views are stunning, and the letting team kept us updated by email and were always available. Having a car would be better. We walked into Varenna several times, but it never got easier, especially after a full day of walking. These photos are from apartment 8. There’s a narrow opening between the bedroom and living area that could be covered with a mosquito net or some material. We didn’t see any mosquitoes at the start of the week, but swatted 12 in bed on the last night.

Sept 2017, I spent 450EUR for 3 nights and found a living scorpion in the shower. I have a picture of the unwelcome creature where I found it among the Google images for this location. The management company sent cleaners after I told them, but refused to move us to another apartment unless we paid for it ourselves. They were pleasant and gave us lots of information about places to visit, but when we needed help, their customer service was awful. They never tried to find a solution, reduce the price, refund us, or relocate us. They just put poison down the drain. If you love bugs, this is your chance!

We really enjoyed our stay here. The scenery is lovely, there’s a pool, the staff are great, and the village isn’t too far away. The nearest shop is up in the hills and has a pretty good selection.