La Favola Sirmione

We were tense throughout the stay because of the owner's behavior, and I would sooner stay in a dirty shack than return. It's a shame, because the villa itself is gorgeous, clean, set among lovely vineyards, and well located if you have a car. No taxis would come to us. We were welcomed warmly with wine, so this is a regrettable review. We mistakenly invited my in-laws, who were staying elsewhere, to have breakfast with us and see their grandchild. The owner said visitors weren't allowed, later explaining it was related to law and insurance. I understood, stayed polite, and they didn't return to the property. Still, she insisted we were secretly bringing two extra people to stay, wouldn't accept it was an honest mistake, and became rude and irrational. The management company sent us a threatening email too. At checkout, she hurled abuse at me. I've never been spoken to like that. My family and I have travelled all over the world and agree this was the worst treatment we've ever had. I was shaken and upset, and it ruined the end of our holiday. We're good people, and I was always nice to her. The whole experience was shocking. The first day, the pool was full of bugs and we couldn't swim, so I asked if I should turn on the filter or do something. She replied sarcastically, asking what I expected since we weren't in the city. The pool stayed clean for the rest of the holiday, so something did seem wrong with the filter at first. There were also two wasp nests outside the front door, and we were killing wasps in the house all week. With a four-month-old baby, that worried me. I was scared to tell the owner because she'd already said she was too busy with her other hotel, in a rude way. We knew the pool was shared, but it was shared with the owner's family, who weren't friendly, and we felt like we were intruding. There was no privacy, and they watched our every move. People in town told us the family had a reputation for being unpleasant. If you stay, don't get on the owner's wrong side. She's horrible, angry, and completely irrational. When she says to contact her with questions, what she really means is, "Don't contact me, I'm busy, and you're probably lying if you have a complaint."

Dominique and Michele were patient and always available, and Gianni and Paola were lovely company. The villa has a captivating, distinctive feel and is thoughtfully designed down to the smallest detail, tucked among the Lugana vineyards. Donatella

Surrounded by vines, the house sits beautifully on a vineyard. It's a lovely home in a real Italian style, and having the private pool right outside completes the setting.

From the warm welcome right through to leaving, everything was wonderful. This place is a real hidden gem, and we thought it was simply perfect. We'll definitely come back. Thank you!!!