Prima dell'Elba Family Apartments

We arrived in Piombino after traveling all day, planning to visit Elba and maybe extend our stay if we liked the apartment. Instead, the experience was so upsetting and stressful that it derailed our trip, and we left after one night. The apartment was extremely hot when we arrived. We tried the air conditioner but found it blocked, so I politely messaged the host to ask how to use it. I didn’t realize he had deliberately disabled it. He said using the AC was “against the law” and that maybe he could unblock it the next day. We sent voice notes explaining that we had booked because air conditioning was advertised and asked again for him to unblock it. He ignored us for the rest of the evening. The night was unbearable. There are no windows, so the only way to get air was to leave the main secure door wide open and use a second shutter door. The bed is right in front of that door, where anyone passing could look straight in. I didn’t sleep at all. It was hot, birds were loudly making noise all night, and I felt exposed and unsafe. I followed up in the morning. The host replied that he still wouldn’t unblock the AC and said it wasn’t necessary. Then he came over without warning and tried to enter the room without knocking while I was undressed because of the heat. When we calmly explained why we were upset, he got defensive, rude, and aggressive. He said 21.5°C was “more than enough” and dismissed everything we told him. We said we no longer felt comfortable staying. He stormed off without a word and offered no help or apology. A host shouldn’t decide how we sleep. We’re adults and know what feels comfortable to us. He can’t know if I get hot flashes, have a medical condition that makes me sensitive to heat, or simply prefer a cooler room. It’s completely inappropriate to monitor the temperature in our room and tell us that 21.5 degrees is plenty. We paid for this vacation, time we work hard for, and expected basic respect and comfort, not to be told how we should feel in our own space. That level of control and disregard for our needs was unacceptable. The apartment also hadn’t been properly cleaned. Several things, including the remote control, coffee machine, and hair dryer, had visible grime and buildup. I wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise. We had to leave right away. A week’s groceries went to waste, we lost a full day of the trip traveling there and the cost of that travel, and we had to book new accommodation at the last minute from a bar by the station, at our own expense. It was exhausting and deeply upsetting, far beyond a simple inconvenience. The problem wasn’t just the blocked AC. It was the host’s lack of care, his aggressive attitude, and how disrespected we felt. If anything goes wrong during your stay, this is how he treats paying guests. I strongly advise others to avoid this place.

Piombino and the surrounding area are charming, well connected, and have plenty of attractions for adults and families with kids. The apartment is comfortable, practical, and well equipped, in a beautiful location. The host and team were always ready to help when needed. Barbara & Henryk

We had a wonderful week here. The apartments were very nice and clean, everything worked well for us, and the staff were friendly. We could always find a parking spot on the street, and it was a great base for a holiday. We’d recommend it and would come back. Just a tiny thing that could make it even better: the air conditioning didn’t cool the room below 24°, which was a bit too warm at night for good sleep. The kitchen utensils were also a little worn and could be replaced.

Everything was great, and the staff were always ready to help whenever you needed them.