Villa Làrio Lake Como

Eric greeted us when we arrived in October 2016, near the end of the season, and gave us a really pleasant introduction to the place. Our suite was comfortable, and the upstairs bedroom had an enchanting view. The walk to the ferry dock is an easy, scenic five minutes. We had a kitchen, and the little grocery shop on the lake road was useful for picking up good ingredients, and wine too. Thanks, Eric and Robin! 💛😎🎉🍷

The beach area is a special little gem, and the whole place made for a welcoming, relaxing stay. It's well located, with a bus stop nearby for getting around quickly, plus a few restaurants and a grocery store. By the end, the hosts felt almost like family. We're definitely coming back!

Be careful booking this place, and get trip insurance. We reserved in February for a July holiday, then cancelled less than six weeks later. They said a refund might be possible if they managed to fill the villa. We kept checking and asking, and by June the online calendar made it look like they were mostly booked, but they still wouldn't offer even a partial refund. They kept our $900 deposit, and another party's deposit as well. One party did stay and said the villas were pretty much booked, while friends were allowed to use an empty one. We paid $1800 in total, and got nothing for it. Make sure you're certain about going before you book.

We had a wonderfully peaceful, relaxing stay right by the lake. Eric and Jennifer were the friendliest, most helpful hosts we've had at self-catering accommodation by a long way. Fresh croissants at the door each morning were a lovely treat, arranged by texting either of them the night before. Having lake access just a few metres from the door was a delight. The viletta was very clean, though more basic inside than we expected, and some of the fittings had seen better days. The two-bedroom viletta has no balcony, but the gazebo by the lake just outside the door belongs to it. That was a bonus during the one downpour we had. Inside, a spiral staircase leads to the bedroom level. Take it slowly and it's manageable, but large luggage won't fit. Our cases were narrow but deep and worked fine. The stairs come up into the main bedroom, with the bathroom and second bedroom off that room. The second bedroom has a small window and feels like a loft room. Getting there involves a steep descent from the road. The car park is at the bottom of a very steep S-bend, with each section at about a 45-degree slope. If you're nervous behind the wheel, think carefully about the driveway. I managed it in the dark on arrival and drove up and down once more for a trip to Milan, but didn't want to tackle it with suitcases in the car when we left. Eric came to the rescue and skillfully drove our car up to the road. There's also a long walk down from the road to the vilettas. You go down part of the steep slope, then about 20 steps to a lift, which takes you to a level just above the roofs. From there, it's another 40-50 stairs down. The Como to Belaggio bus uses this road. You could stay without climbing back up if you went everywhere by ferry, but you'd need to plan around the schedule, since only about five ferries each way stop at Pognana. The hosts were kind and clearly wanted everyone to enjoy their stay. They were available in person or by phone, text, or Whatsapp, and helped with bus and ferry times, places to eat, restaurant bookings, and ideas for outings. They couldn't have done more. They even asked us to text when we got home so they'd know we'd arrived safely. If you want peace and quiet right on Lake Como and don't mind the 60-70 steps between the road and your place, with a lift for the middle stretch, LCBR is a lovely option. Eric and Jennifer make you feel very welcome.