Casale Cameli

If insects don't bother you, this might be the right place. For us, it was a vacation in hell, and we counted down the days until we could go home. The house is totally isolated, with no Wi-Fi except near the main building, where the signal is weak. When we asked the owner about it, the answer was, “go down to the city if you need it.” Mobile service was very poor with every carrier and only worked in some parts of the house. The owner was often unreachable, and the house needs maintenance. It seemed like he didn't care. There were spiders in every corner and behind the furniture, and scorpions all over the house at night while we tried to sleep in the hot summer nights. There is no air conditioning. We couldn't leave a window open because the garden is freely accessible to anyone, and it's completely dark. There are no mosquito nets, so all kinds of bugs can get inside. Horseflies bit us all day at the pool. Why not put out a trap? An experience to forget.

James has a lovely property surrounded by nature, and it's completely peaceful. My room was clean and had everything needed for a short stay. He also gave me recommendations for the rest of my trip. Even though it was remote, I felt very comfortable there with James and his two dogs. I hardly saw any insects either.

We couldn't sleep there and left after just an hour. The sheets and duvet were damp, and some of the bedding was dirty. It was a stone farmhouse in December, but the heating had only been switched on a few hours before we arrived. I expected better after reading the other reviews, though the negative ones I saw were only about summer stays. Avoid this place.

The four days passed so quickly. Our yoga teacher was as good as ever and exceeded our expectations, and it was lovely to share the everyday parts of life alongside the practice. James welcomed us into a beautiful, pastoral landscape. The estate is near other homes but still feels tucked away, and it was just right for reconnecting with nature. James was funny and warm, and cooked delicious meals for everyone to share around one table. On Saturday, some other guests joined us and dinner had a real family feel as we swapped stories and talked about our lives. The weather was great, hot in the daytime, then cool and breezy at night. Our room was beneath the attic, but we didn't need the windows open or a fan. I also didn't see the huge number of insects mentioned in one review. With all the greenery, I expected more. We found just one little scorpion, about the size of a toenail. I came away really happy with the retreat and would absolutely come back.