Residence Vistamare

The location is handy, with bars, restaurants and grocery shops very close by. From the villas, you pass through the gate in your swimsuit, cross a small beach of low rocks and can dive into clear water. The residence has a garden solarium with umbrellas and loungers if you’d rather stay inside the fence, and it’s well placed for Gallipoli and the southern Ionian coast. The house was fairly clean, cool and naturally ventilated. Fabio greeted us warmly, and was precise and punctual. His guide to beaches, restaurants and towns proved accurate. We appreciated the views and quiet, but had to make do with a lot of shortcomings, which was disappointing. The house had none of the basics, not even hand soap or toilet paper. We had booked bed linen and towels separately, so those were provided. The kitchen had no tablecloths, dishcloths or soap, and some stainless steel pots and pans would be preferable to peeling Teflon ones. Bedroom closets were small and had very few hangers, so we had to keep our clothes in suitcases. For the owners, I’d suggest mosquito nets, a bathroom wastebasket, a full-length mirror, a newer and more comfortable shower, and a washing machine in the apartment, since the one available is shared. The garbage bins were always overflowing and should be outside the residence and emptied more often during busy periods. The garbage collectors also often left emptied bins right in front of the entrance gate.

We’ve already spent our first week here and are getting ready for the last one, thanks to a great 15-day Groupon deal. I recommend property N6. It has a lovely garden at the back, with an outdoor shower and barbecue where you can grill in privacy, plus a nice porch out front. The mattresses are comfortable and the furnishings are new and clean. Antonio’s welcome was beyond excellent. The only flaw, if I can call it that, is no air conditioning, though we can manage without it.

There were tar deposits on the rocks by the sea. The villa also lacked chairs, cutlery and glasses. We reported this as soon as we arrived and were told they’d sort it out right away, but then heard nothing. The welcome seemed to end once payment was made. The road to the property is unpaved and rough, hard on tires.

It’s a beautiful property right on the beach, but the nearby rocks have a lot of tar on them. The rooms are poorly maintained, with spiders and mosquitoes everywhere, and blood streaks literally mark the walls. There weren’t enough dishes for all the guests, and the ones there were in poor condition. The mattresses were backbreaking. I’ve never slept so badly.