Tieja de Gotart Vigo di Fassa

We’ve been coming here for four years, and the location is perfect, close to everything. The owners are kind and helpful. About the comments on sugar, salt, and detergents, I wonder why people would use things when they don’t know who used them before. And do they expect the owners to buy those supplies for them? Hmm.

The garden is the real highlight, with an incomparable view. There’s a barbecue and a pile of logs for all guests, plus a lit wooden gazebo with a table in the middle. We spent three lovely weeks in the Rododendro apartment. It has everything needed to feel at home, and Rita and her family are available and attentive if anything is missing. It’s only a few minutes from the Ciampedie cable car, the starting point for hikes in the Catinaccio mountain range. I highly recommend it for the quality-price ratio.

We left the next morning, and lost a week of vacation. The lady was grumpy, knew nothing about public transport, and was waiting for a friend to get us a Trentino card. By then, we’d had enough. The mattress was uncomfortable, the toilet brush dirty, and sleep was difficult because we could hear footsteps upstairs. I opened the window that night and confirmed how cramped the bedroom felt. It was hot inside despite the crisp air outdoors. At dinnertime I found no kitchen rags, detergent, dishcloths, or bathmat. The knives couldn’t cut bread, and the salad bowl was dirty. The washing machine cord was wrapped in duct tape, so we decided not to use it. Even though it was 2 PM, the kitchen and bedroom were dark. The toilet seat was worn and the cabinet dilapidated. I let those things go because the apartment was clean, as I did with the bad first impression from the neglected garden and what seemed to me like a converted garage. The lady had shown us a more expensive first-floor apartment that had just been cancelled, but its furniture seemed just as old and shabby. We rented in January, and it wasn’t cheaper than other places in the area.

The owner is friendly and, despite the language barrier, communicates well. This apartment is well situated for most of the Val di Fassa ski resorts. It suits people focused on skiing, snowboarding, or trekking rather than luxury. The interior looks like it dates from the early 1980s, but the heating and hot water both work. I did think it should have come with a small supply of toilet paper and garbage bags. The ski lockers are outside, and I missed having a heated one.