Podere Le Argille

The only downside was having to leave so soon! It’s a cozy villa of its own, nestled in nature inside a residence with a pool. There are tennis courts and entertainment too.

Augusto, the contact person, was kind, courteous, polite, and genuinely helpful. He’s the reason I’m giving this two stars rather than one. The house itself is nice inside, but the neglected outdoor area was overgrown and full of mosquitoes, with no screens on the windows. We couldn’t unload our bags at the apartment either. There were a huge number of stairs to climb, and the car had to stay far away. The booking information didn’t properly show the property, its location, or the access road. Even in remote areas the road shouldn’t be this neglected: at least a kilometer is unpaved, with deep dips along the way. The nearest town with a café for breakfast is at least four kilometers away. Without a car, getting around would be hopeless. Electricity, cleaning, and linens are charged separately. Given how inconvenient the location turned out to be, the service overall felt completely lacking. Considering the total cost and what we got, I doubt many people come back in later years. I wouldn’t return even for a free stay.

Elba is spectacular, and the sea is fantastic, maybe just as beautiful as Sardinia’s. At the village where I stayed, the staff were friendly, very polite, and sociable. They gave me lots of good tips on where to eat and which beach to pick depending on the wind. The villas are lovely, with large, clean bedrooms and a kitchen and bathroom in very good condition. My only small hassle was the parking. The village lot is uphill and has very few spaces near the stairs leading to the villas. But there’s a large, convenient lot about 100 meters farther down where you can leave the car. I’d do it all again. Happy holidays, everyone!

The caretaker was friendly and tried hard to help. That was the one bright spot. We booked eleven days over Pentecost through Intercharlet, but were so disappointed that we found somewhere else after four days. Intercharlet offered no useful help or alternative, and we had to arrange new accommodation ourselves. We enjoyed the rest of our holiday in a clean, well-kept complex. Since then, we've been trying without success to get some money back. Now they’re claiming we left because of bad weather. That’s just cheeky. Not recommended. The place wasn’t clean when we arrived. There were cobwebs everywhere, dirty dishes, a damaged table, and a completely burned-out coffee maker. The Wi-Fi and TV were out for two days, and water ran onto the floor whenever we turned on the kitchen tap. The garden furniture was old, too small for a family of four, and not usable for eating. When I sat down, the fabric on one chair tore, leaving painful bruises on my back and calf. There was also a caterpillar infestation in the surrounding greenery. They were everywhere, and at night it sounded like rain as they fell. My children got bitten a few times. In the morning, the paths and terrace were covered. Google says this species is dangerous to people and may cause allergies. Ants made a trail across the terrace and came in under the door at night. There were so many mosquitoes that we couldn’t open the windows, and there were no screens. We couldn’t use the outdoor area, which is part of a holiday for us.