Villa Teresa Maria

Massimiliano is the main English speaker among the very kind, friendly owners. Knowing some Italian or being ready to use gestures or Google Translate may help, though it didn’t cause us any trouble. They also went out of their way to provide Prosecco for a birthday at no charge, which was wonderful. The garden where breakfast is served is idyllic and well cared for, and breakfast was plentiful, with tasty pastries and cakes as well as toast, cheese, and jam. There were no cold cuts or eggs, which we thought could have been included at this price. We stayed four nights in early July. The rooms were spacious and attractive, and ours had a large balcony. The beds were much too hard for me, though my wife slept fine. Porto Cesareo is about a 15-minute walk away, the sea is 200 meters down the road, and free bicycles make exploring easy. The first lovely beach with crystal-clear water is around 500m away, but it was packed with people and sun loungers and parasols, which isn’t for us. The accommodation is excellent, though we found it a bit expensive. The steep rise in accommodation prices across Europe really does make you think :-(

Maria Teresa greeted us warmly and showed us to our room. She made us feel at home, and I want to thank her for her hospitality. We spent 8 days here, from August 1st to 8th, and found it relaxing. The location is handy: the center of Porto Cesareo is a 10-minute walk along the seafront, Torre Lapillo is 6 minutes away, and Punta Prosciutto takes 18 minutes. Parking is free right beside the property. Our room was spotless, had a balcony with a spacious and useful terrace, and breakfast included fresh pastries. I recommend this place for a relaxing vacation.

The biggest problem was the room's lack of privacy. Its terrace is also where staff and guests eat breakfast, with only two plants between the spaces. Going out there in pajamas in the morning just wasn't an option. Guests were noisy and rude, and we even had dirty handkerchiefs tossed onto our side. We couldn't sleep after 8:00 a.m., with people having breakfast practically in front of the bed. The windows aren't modern, and the plants do nothing to block the noise or view. A simple soundproof partition would help with both issues. The villa itself is very nice. The owners live downstairs in the beautiful garden home shown in the photos, which guests can't access, and they were always around but discreet. Bikes are free, but in high season you have to find parking on the street, which can be difficult. I was told no one had complained before. Sorry to be the first, but I hope this feedback helps: add a wastebasket in the room, provide a usable mirror, replace the minibar, improve the drying rack, and rethink the outdoor setup. The rack hangs crookedly from hooks on the railing and barely holds three swimsuits, not even a towel. We stayed in the room called SOLE, so I can't comment on the others. It was very clean, as were the other areas, but I'd suggest checking that rooms are locked after inspection. One evening I came back to find both the room and French window open. The breakfast was good, fresh every morning from the best bar in town, and available on request. The furnishings looked nice but weren't very practical. The bed was extremely short. I'm 1.57 meters tall and my feet could reach the end, so taller people should avoid it. The bathroom was only three steps long. The wardrobe was shorter than me, its doors hit the bed, and there wasn't enough room. The so-called full-length mirror was on the door and useless; the only other one was above the sink in the cramped bathroom, where the only wastebasket was. The safe was too small. The old minibar took almost 48 hours to chill water. The terrace was large, but its tiny table and chairs were very uncomfortable. They were carved with roses, leaving holes and raised edges, and the chairs didn't seem level. It's a shame the space isn't furnished more comfortably. It's a shame about the rude guests we encountered.

The hosts were very friendly and accommodating, and the house tax has to be paid in cash at the guesthouse. The place is quiet and close to the beach, with a small supermarket and bank just a few minutes away. You can borrow the older bicycles for free, though with this convenient location it's also easy to explore on foot. The family lives downstairs, with four rental rooms upstairs. The rooms are spacious, nicely furnished, air-conditioned, and have balconies, so they stay comfortable in warmer months. The croissants at breakfast were excellent. I highly recommend it for a relaxing beach holiday in Porto Cesareo.