Bed & Bike Casa dei Papi

Marco was a great source of advice for the second leg of our route. He's local and into mountain biking, so his tips made the stage beautiful, comfortable, and enjoyable. I'd suggest asking him for ideas before setting off on the first leg, too. We stayed for a night after arriving for the first of our three stages on the Grande Traversata Elbana. The welcoming apartment is in the countryside and right on the GTE route. It's roomy and charming, with everything we needed and very comfortable beds. There's a bar and restaurant 700 meters away, reachable on foot along farm tracks and then about a hundred meters on the provincial road. We'll return someday, perhaps for a more laid-back holiday.

We spent a week in the "Melograno" apartment with our two children, and it suited our holiday perfectly. It's close to the sea and other amenities, with a lovely outdoor area, too. Marco was especially kind and helpful, always ready with suggestions that led us to wonderful adventures. We'll definitely come back.

We came back from August 18 to 27, 2025 after enjoying our previous stay in 2024. This time we were given a different apartment without being told in advance. It was on the ground floor and very damp, which made the stay less comfortable. There were some good points: the garden and outdoor space were nice, the location made several beaches easy to reach, and the owner was available with suggestions for places, events, and activities. But several problems got in the way. Though our unit was the farthest one from the provincial road, traffic noise still carried inside. Getting in from the road felt dangerous and difficult, and there wasn't clear lighting for evening or nighttime access. The apartment was missing basic items, including an iron, bowls, and some dishes and pans. One set of sheets and a bedspread wasn't enough for ten days. The gate remote didn't work at all, so we had to get out of the car each time. We had power trouble twice. During one blackout we were left in total darkness and couldn't charge our phones, and nobody checked the next day to see if we needed anything. On another day the gate lost power without warning. We had to find a member of the owner's family to open it by hand, and the refrigerated food in the car could have spoiled. There was mold in the bathroom, which was a concern for our allergies, and gecko and lizard droppings on the windowsills. After we spoke with the owner in good faith and offered feedback and suggestions, his attitude seemed to change. Last year he greeted us warmly and handed us the invoice. This year it was left on a table outside, and we didn't even get a goodbye or a message when we left. That surprised us, especially since his mother had complimented how we'd looked after the apartment in August 2024. It gave us the impression that the owner is friendly and helpful only when nobody criticizes the property. From this stay, we feel the place needs a lot of improvement, if there's a real willingness to make it.

Marco is a welcoming host who was always around with tips for places to visit and restaurants. Our apartment was clean and had everything we needed, including a dishwasher and air conditioning. We also had a comfortable private patio with a table, chairs, a swing, and even a dartboard for the evenings. The location makes it easy to visit many of the island's beautiful beaches, and the price was good for what we got. Casa dei Papi is a great choice if you can find a vacancy.