Villa Il Cappero

The outdoor area was the only part we found halfway decent, but cats kept climbing onto the tables and chairs while we were trying to eat. Inside, there were cockroaches in both the living room and bedroom, and visible mold in several areas. The house felt unhealthy. For what it costs, it doesn’t meet basic standards for cleanliness, comfort, or hospitality. We were traveling with our two-year-old, who was asleep at checkout time, but the person responsible for the house made us leave right on time, without even two extra minutes of flexibility. They were rude and cold, with no respect or empathy. A forgotten bottle of water and an open bag of ice in the freezer were apparently their idea of being attentive. What should have been a relaxing stay became a major source of stress. This was one of the worst accommodation experiences we’ve had. If you want to avoid ruining your vacation, stay far away. It’s not worth your money, time, or peace of mind.

Top. ****

We only stayed one night, though it was clear this wasn’t somewhere we should stay. We took photos of everything and sent them to Booking.com and the owner, but got no serious response. Our experience at “Villa Il Cappero” was a nightmare and felt like a complete scam after choosing it from the Booking.com pictures. The listing showed a modern villa with a pool, decent rooms, and a welcoming feel, but the photos were misleading. They showed two different villas without explaining this, and the pool was at a separate property, not the one we booked. The bathroom was moldy and damp, with a suffocating smell. My partner is allergic to mold, so staying there was dangerous for her health. The sleeping setup for four was a joke: one bed in the middle of the living room and another above it, reached by a ladder, with no privacy at all. It was impossible to rest. It was also unbearably hot and humid, with no insulation and air that was impossible to breathe.

The room was dark, damp, and unsanitary, and as a pregnant woman I felt stressed and even worse physically instead of getting the rest I came for. The only comfortable thing was the bed. I didn’t find the design others seem to love welcoming, and the paintings were disturbing and in terrible taste. I hate leaving negative reviews, but this really was a nightmare. They need to be more honest and stop renting a room with so many problems. We were given a double room with so much humidity that it made me feel more ill. We’d expected at least to use an indoor kitchen. The owner leaves the description open to interpretation, but if it says you have the whole house and dining facilities, it’s natural to assume the kitchen is included. On arrival, we were told the villa is split into three parts. Make sure you understand what you’re booking, because the precise details are hidden. There was just a coffee machine, with mostly dirty water, and the coffee maker needed cleaning. We arrived at the end of the season hoping to relax, with high expectations, but had to use an outdoor kitchen that wasn’t ready. The owner kindly let us use his, but it was small, had no non-stick pan, and smelled of burning. Perhaps in summer you wouldn’t notice and could cook outside in peace. There was only one trash can, with the rest in the parking lot, and we had to take the garbage out ourselves. It wasn’t convenient. The room’s humidity was the worst part. The house seemed poorly designed, and a noisy dehumidifier running all night didn’t seem like an adequate fix. The shower was dirty, with someone else’s hair, and the toilet seat had brown streaks. It may have been damaged, but looked dirty, and inside it really was dirty. I had to clean it myself. Replacing it would cost just €20, with all the money this house must make. There was one roll of toilet paper, just one working TV channel, Sky TV, and a dirty mattress cover on the single bed. There was no trash can in the bathroom or room, so you had to use your own bags. The bathroom bulbs were burned out, the windows were hard to open and close, the sink was scratched, and the toilet brush was rusty. Many of the photos were inaccurate. Brushing my teeth was unpleasant because the sink water was disgusting, truly intolerable. There were no mosquito nets, so opening a window to air the room in the morning brought mosquitoes in, even in November. The outside area wasn’t maintained for guests either. After three days, the owner started cleaning at 7 a.m. and woke us up. He lives in the villa and was often out and about, so we didn’t get the relaxation and privacy we expected. A dog howled every night from 3:40 a.m. until 8 a.m., which certainly didn’t help.