Il Poggio B&B

The main letdown was the pool the host advertises. It’s really a murky pond, with cloudy, slimy water, frogs, lily pads and other water plants. The outdoor grill was in such rough shape I wouldn’t cook on it, even for an enemy. The grounds have potential for tourism and accommodation, but right now they’re overgrown and neglected. The drive there was awful. It’s a gravel road that looks abandoned, and I think it may have damaged my car’s suspension. I wouldn’t have taken it without GPS. It’s not suitable for sports cars or low-clearance vehicles. I drive a Renault Megane GT-Line and scraped the underside on the stones. When we arrived, a German Shepherd ran out barking loudly. It turned out to be harmless, but it was stressful and unpleasant when we didn’t know the dog. There were some good things: our first-floor room had an old Tuscan feel, was clean and tidy, and looked onto the garden. The corridor windows gave a lovely view of the countryside. Breakfast was tasty and self-service, with plenty to eat. The host and the young woman helping her were friendly, though both seemed sad and low-spirited. When you only get a vacation once a year, a smile and a few warm words mean a lot.

The building felt like a castle, and the views from the windows and pool were beautiful. It’s surrounded by lovely nature, and we especially liked the vintage feel and natural pool. We did have some problems: there was no Wi-Fi, some nights were really hot for sleeping without AC, and mosquitoes left us with lots of bites. Still, we loved the place.

We had to leave right away because we couldn’t stay there. The listing gave a completely misleading impression: the access road was dangerous and off-road, the old villa wasn’t maintained well, the mosquito nets were broken and the stairs felt unsafe. There was also a dog wandering around. The owner initially agreed to a partial refund but is now refusing. I’m extremely disappointed and believe we deserve a full refund. Don’t trust this listing.

The house and the area around it are lovely, but I’d strongly suggest booking somewhere else nearby. The landlady didn’t make us feel welcome, and our non-refundable booking didn’t have the Wi-Fi connection it was supposed to offer. We had no signal when we arrived, so we couldn’t even look for another place. The bathroom’s glass door didn’t feel safe, and someone outside could see in. There was construction happening nearby too.