Slow Europe: Vacation Rental Reviews

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01/25/11--10:33: Homes for Travellers (Spain), reviewed by raquelrmc (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. Beautiful apartment, very spacious, fully equipped and perfectly located at central Madrid. The Homesfortravellers.com staff is very friendly and helpful I recommend them when you go to Madrid.


02/25/11--09:32: En Buenas Manos (Spain), reviewed by AnneM (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. I'm a long time visitor to Vejer, a beautiful white village on the Costa de la Luz and this time I opted to stay at Casa Rivas, a lovely two bedroom house close to the centre of town. The house itself is two storeys and the entrance is through an enclosed courtyard full of lovely plants. The house is simply but comfortably furnished with all the mod cons to make the stay convenient and relaxing. I loved the roof terrace which lead off from the top bedroom. The terrace looks onto the town of Vejer and the beautiful surrounding countryside - for those that appreciate good vistas this is hard to beat. Food wise there is a good mix of restaurants and bars selling tapas nearby, but for those who like to cook there is a daily market selling fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. Butchers, bakers, delicatessens and wine shops are all close by. My only problem was staying away from them. Linda of EBM works so hard to ensure guests are happy with their accommodation. A lot of thought and consideration is given to ensure guests have a relaxing, happy and enjoyable stay in Vejer. Go. You won’t be disappointed. Anne


03/07/11--15:55: Rentvillas.com (France, Italy, Spain), reviewed by winkyh (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. We had a fantastic stay in the Napoli apartment. We stayed in there February 2011.The location is excellent - a 10-15 minute walk to just about every major attraction. it is off the busy road, via Nazionale, and so quiet. church bells at 9:00am are a lovely wake-up call.
Enjoyed Most:
The beds and bathrooms were wonderful- clean new and comfy. The espresso machine is GENIUS and we used it every day. The best aspect, though, was having Angelo as the property manager. He handles the 2-star hotel right around the corner and was always available for questions and concerns. His English is great and he is so willing to help.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The living room was a little spare and the couch not super comfortable. The place could benefit from a sleeper couch, since 5 people could easily stay in the place. Two bathrooms is rare to find.
Surrounding Area:
Villa Borghese and the Spanish Steps - my daughter and I are runners and she went almost everyday to the park. Do not miss the Museo Borghese in there!
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring binoculars for the Sistine Chapel. Find Locando Barberini for dinner - and Cotto. Both are close. By far our best meals. Cafe Gaudi farther north by the park called via Ada was also excellent for lunch. Great bread, pizza, and a veggie buffet. Find Caffe Sant Eustachio for coffee. we also loved a new place called al Duello.
Directions:
we took an 8 euro shuttle from the airport that took us to the Termini Rail Station which is about a 10-minute walk to the apartment.
Check In Out:
Just to repeat: Angelo is an angel!


04/06/11--09:42: *Agriturismo.net (Italy), reviewed by Chiara (chan 1362434)

Rating: 4/5. Marvellous agriturismo! Amazing surroundings, kind and wonderful owners :-)


04/14/11--23:44: Feels Like Home In Paris (France), reviewed by PeterL (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. Our stay in Paris this year, our first visit, was made exceptionally comfortable by out choosing Montmartre as the headquarters for our 2 weeks of exploration of the wonderful old city. We took advantage of the convenient public transportation both bus and metro, traveling easily to each day's destination. Whether dining, shopping or seeing the sites we loved the central location. On the streets surrounding the rental we found many opportunities to fill the fridge each day: breads, meats, cheeses which all abound in the 5 block radius. The fully equipped kitchen facilitated the preparation of all our meals with the clean up made simple utilizing the dishwasher and sink.
Another feature of the rental that surprised us was the clothes washer and dryer which stretched our "one bag per person" (airline limits) of outfits for our two week stay. The Macintosh desktop computer and the availability of free calling to the US helped make our stay worry free, allowing us to touch base with children and family whom we (conveniently) left behind.
Our choice of renting a furnished apartment worked well for us, enabled us to maintain a budget and provided many comforts that we have not expected in this old european city. Our hostess, Yetunde was extremely helpful in her orientation, check-in, check-out simple and quick, yet thorough and the apartment clean, comfortable and warm. It WAS February. We'll be sure to utilize Feels Like Home again on our next visit.


06/04/11--10:20: Torre Bertona (Italy), reviewed by GeneMD (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Case di Torre Bertona. The medieval house, the history, the chapel and the location were all spectacular and just what we were looking for. Gloria is the perfect hostess and we really enjoyed her knowledge of the history of the house and the area. The countryside surrounding the house is breathtaking and we really loved the city of Todi. The locals that we came into contact with couldn't have been more helpful and friendly to us and we were always made to feel that we were part of the Italian experience, and not just tourists. When my wife developed a medical condition, Gloria arranged for her assistant Vittorio to pick up a local Italian doctor and bring him to the house to treat my wife; we couldn't have been more appreciative. If you are looking for a beautiful house in a serene setting with plenty of medieval atmosphere, this is where you want to stay.


06/07/11--11:27: Domaine Le Bost (France), reviewed by Marleen (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. Me and my son have been here twice. The first time was summer 2010. We stayed in a gite. In 2011 we went in may and again had an incredibly good holiday. This time we were staying in the chambre d'hote. Both times were wonderful. Menno and Jet are so hospitable. I recommend eating there in the evening. Menno is a great cook. This is a place I will recommend to everybody. Also because of the location. Thiviers is a lovely town and Perigueux is worth visiting for sight seeing or shopping.
It is a wonderful place to go to with children. We enjoyed the pool so much.


06/29/11--18:29: Agriturismo Cretaiole (Italy), reviewed by sharon koppel (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. Our visit to Cretaiole in May 2011 was awesome and exceeded all our expectations! The apartment was immaculate and well furnished. We easily made breakfast, snacks and one dinner with food from both the farm and the COOP in town. The property of the farm itself was unbelievable in beauty. It was an oasis to return to each afternoon after exploring Tuscany. It was a true experience of Tuscany! But the real charm of this place was Isabella and her family = her father in law Luciano who bought Cretaiole years ago and her husband Carlo. Isabella shared Tuscany with you in the most personal way so you felt after a week that you had a small understanding of what this remarkable part of Italy was like. There were well organized travel notebooks in all apartments to guide your explorations. There were many activities, some free and some a small charge, available to guests every week. Freebies includes a nature walk; guided tour of Etruscian ruins; pici (pasta) making and an Italian dinner; tour of a working Tuscan farm with wine, cheese, and meat tasting; tour of Siena; and olive oil tasting class. Isabella encouraged all of us to explore Tuscany the week we were at Cretaiole which we did!. Almost all the guests spent at least one day just hanging out at Cretaiole with the lovely yard with relaxing chairs (plenty for everyone=there were about 16 people at the agritourismo for the week), absorbing the views of Tuscan rolling hills, walking the 3 km trail across the hillside into Pienza, a wonderful Tuscan town, walking the vineyards, olive grove, and vegetable garden; or hiking to the ruins of a small chapel. You can do as much as you want with the other guests or do your own thing. From the organized activity list, We also did a tour and dinner at a local monastery, a tour and tasting at a local vineyard. We explored everyday, taking in local markets, hill towns, lots of Italian food and lots of gelato, everyday gelato! The week was leisurely yet full of fun and exploration because we didn’t go far each day but took the time to walk and absorb. This was our first trip to Italy and we chose not to do the tourist hot spots in the cities but rather to experience Tuscany from a homebase at Cretaiole. It was the perfect decision!!! Isabella and her family are wonderful and give you an experience of a lifetime in a place you will never forget.


06/30/11--06:25: LeMarcheHoliday.net (Italy), reviewed by sam parmar (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. Experiencing authentic Italian way of life in the Sibillini mountains, Le Marche, Italy
Our trip was organised by Moreno Moretti, who specialises in organising different types of cultural and adventurous excursions in Le March, Italy. We spent the whole day in the Sibillini mountains and it was a most enjoyable and unique experience.

Our day began when Moreno punctually arrived, as agreed, in his car to pick us up. The car was clean and in good condition and Moreno was a confident and competent driver who knew his way around the Italian countryside. This factor was quite important bearing in mind that we were to travel along ‘dirt treks’ wide enough for only one small car! If anyone came from the opposite direction then either driver had to reverse for a considerable distance where the two vehicles could pass each other safely.

We briefly stopped near Ascoli Piecino for refreshments and were back on our way to the village of Cese. Here we were introduced to our truffle hunter Morreto and his truffle dog Tina. Moreto was very professional and while he had to control and direct the dog at all times he still managed to explain to us what was happening. The hunt lasted about 2 hours and we found about 6 large black truffles to take with us to the Ramusé for our Italian cookery classes and wine tasting.

At Ramusé we met with the owner Paolo Ciccioli, who is every bit as eccentric as only Italians can be and a very cheerful and friendly guy. We also met another chef Emiliano (aka Crazy horse or as he prefers Cavallino, in Italian). He was also a very friendly and cheerful guy who did not speak much English but managed to explain everything clearly with help from the other two and plenty of hand gestures.

We made fresh gnocchi from scratch with a very simple but delicious sauce using the fresh herbs from the garden. Cavallino made some crostini with fresh courgettes (zuchinni) and lardonella (seasoned Italian ham). After cooking we sat down to enjoy the fruits of our labour in the way of a most sumptuous Italian meal in a totally relaxed and very scenic atmosphere with beautiful, panoramic views of the sunny Italian countryside all round. Paolo chose some excellent wines to accompany each course and also to keep the spirits up while cooking and between the courses. After lunch we spent the hot afternoon by the lovely pool side taking the dip in between picking and eating luscious, sweet, ripe cherries from over 130, hand-high cherry trees that shade the swimming pool.

We left Ramusé when we finally felt the need to rest and were driven back home by Moreno, who had not touched a single drop of alcohol throughout the day, what a hero!

All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day, living, breathing and experiencing Italy in a truly Italian way with the Italians and would most definitely do it again and recommend it to anyone without reservations.

June 2011


07/03/11--04:36: Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays (England), reviewed by wendy (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. We spent 2 weeks in this lovely property in early May 2011.

It is quietly situated in a very desirable residential area of Sidmouth and offers outstanding views over the town and coastline.

This former coastguard or admiralty building offers a newly fitted kitchen which is a pleasure to prepare meals in. The kitchen has been thoughtfully organised to offer everything you might need and all crockery, utensils and white goods are of a high standard.

The sitting room is large, comfortable, light and airy and affords wonderful views, a flame effect fire and a good dining area. There is also a wall mounted television and lots of technical things for those who appreciate them but no broadband connection whilst we were there.
French Windows open on to a charming, secluded decked terrace well furnished with table and chairs for all the family, nice benches, lovely flowering pots and sun loungers, should you be lucky with the weather.

There is a delightful single bedroom downstairs too, perfect for a child or teenager, decked out in a nautical style with good lighting and storage.

Off the entrance hall is a shower room and then upstairs to a further 3 bedrooms. The Master bedroom is magnificent ! It is light, airy and very big offering floor to ceiling windows, a second television, extremely ample and attractive storage and a very comfortable king sized bed.
Lighting is good here too but the star is the lovely white and blue decor framing the splendid coastal views.

The second bedroom is a small, attractive, comfortable double and there is a second single room on this floor too.
The newly fitted family bathroom offers an over bath shower and a very efficient hot water system.

We found this property via Sweetcombe Cottage holidays, a nice traditional agency whom we liked very much. They offer a portfolio of around 140 properties in and around East Devon.
We found them to be responsive and helpful and thought their descriptions of the property we rented to be accurate and their rental prices to be fair.
This is an agency with the personal touch and we found that to be a great asset.
They produce a brochure and offer an excellent website.
Highly recommended. We are returning in September.


08/20/11--06:57: Vivat Trust (England, Scotland), reviewed by Pauline (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. The Vivat Trust purchase historic buildings throughout the United Kingdom. These buildings are restored and turned into vacation rentals (holiday cottages) to bring in an income for the trust. I made my booking by phone and paid with a credit card.

Three of us rented The Chantry, a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom house in Bridport, near the coast in Dorset. The house dates from Medieval times - 13th - 14th century. It is magnificent. The house was beautifully renovated and furnished. The stone walls are thick, the ceilings are high, the rooms are a good size, the curtains and furniture are beautiful. You know you are in an historic building but you get modern-day luxury. Everything was comfortable.

We cooked several meals in the kitchen. They left the best welcome basket I have ever seen - with basics for breakfast, snacks and for a quick dinner. There is a nice garden behind the house, with a big outdoor table and chairs. There is off road parking.

There are partial frescos in the dining room (covered in glass) and carved stone work in several rooms. You can see where the "garderobe" (toilet) was in the master bedroom (now just an interesting stone niche). In the top level bathroom there are some steps leading to a small door that brings you out onto the roof! The first and second floors (US second and third) have good views.

Bridport is a lovely town with several restaurants and pubs, and good local shopping. We went to their antique market. There is a Waitrose (my favorite supermarket) on the High Street, just a 10 minute walk from the house. And one mile south brings you to West Bay on the coast. The pebble beach is at the foot of the red Jurassic Coast cliffs. You can walk the South Coast Path from here. 20 minutes drive west to Lyme Regis and 30 minutes east to Dorcester - a great location.

The only downsides are that the house is on the main road in town (but it is not that busy and you don't hear the traffic noise in the house) and the floors and doors are very squeaky, so you can hear other people in your group moving about. Noise traveled between the two bedrooms also. But, I would happily rent this house again just to be able to stay in such an historic building.


08/20/11--18:10: Vivasiesta (Spain), reviewed by Holly Lloyd (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. We have travelled throughout Europe this past year and this is one place we will truly miss. All four of us felt at home right from our arrival. John and Judy are easy going hosts who left extensive information about the surroundings and made themselves available at our convenience. The village is absolutely fabulous. The people speak no English but are friendly and helpful and truly delighted to have guests in the village. The white-washed walls, the red tile rooftops, the narrow winding streets, the stray animals, the glorious sunshine and heat all combined to give us exactly what we came for: the Andalucian experience. And then there is the house! It has every convenience imaginable including English TV and internet! What a treat! The rooms are well stocked and comfortable but it is the view off the roof terrace that I will miss the most. I could live here the rest of my life and never tire of the spectacular view. We did get out to sightsee all over Andalucia during our visit and some drives were longer than others but truly, the village charmed us into lounging right here for much of our stay.


10/15/11--12:01: Le Casine di Castello (Italy), reviewed by CincinnatiVic (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. My wife, Lynn, and I just returned from our 2+ week visit to Tuscany. Our 1st week was spent at Le Casine di Castello in apartment Il Nido. Isa's skills as a host, decorator, and "travel guide" (her "red book" is wonderful & full of detailed day trips) are outstanding. As SueBeth commented, Isa has thought of everything - if you forgot something, chances are Isa already has it in the apartment. There was enough coffee, tea, milk, snacks, not to mention their superb olive oil & rosso wine, to get you started for the first couple of days. I think our wine bottle had a hole in it because the wine disappeared much too quickly! The apartment is equipped with all the amenities you will need, including a washing machine. The outside courtyard was very secluded and was a perfect place to relax. When Isa found that our cell phone wasn't working, she let us borrow one of hers for emergency's. Le Casine di Castello is situated in the center of Castelmuzio and really gives you a sense of being more of a local than that of a tourist passing thru. We found staying in Il Nido/Castelmuzio both relaxing & invigorating; we were perfectly situated to explore all of the beautiful hill towns of the d'Orcia valley (we even managed to find San Quirico d'Orcia much to Carlo's surprise).

Based on amenities, hospitality, and location, I can't imagine staying anywhere else when visiting this area. Isa and her family made us feel like we belonged, and that is what separates Le Casine di Castello from the rest of the pack. You won't be disappointed.

Vic & Lynn, Cincinnati


01/14/12--03:33: Your Holiday Matters (France), reviewed by Pauline (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. Au Chicot (www.gasconymagic.com) is a 4 bedroom farmhouse, with swimming pool, in the Gascony countryside near Condom. Three of us rented the house for a week in September. We all loved the house and the area.

The house has been beautifully restored and is spacious, with a great kitchen, huge livingroom and comfortable bedrooms. The house is furnished nicely and is well equipped. There is a lovely terrace with beautiful views. The swimming pool is at the edge of a large lawn area and has lovely views. We had a couple of hot days and enjoyed the pool.

Au Chicot is set back from a quiet lane and does not have any overlooking neighbors - it is quiet and private. It is an easy 10 minute drive from Condom, which is a delightful town. We had a fun week exploring nearby towns and sites - never having to drive that far to find good shops, restaurants and things to do.

This house could comfortably fit a much larger group. Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom and there is lots of space in the house. I would happily stay here again.


01/19/12--12:35: Gite.com (France), reviewed by mLiz (chan 1362434)

Rating: 5/5. I stayed in this wonderful gite for a week during January of 2012. The owners Bill and Estelle were the personification of hospitality, inviting me to enjoy the rural surroundings--including the nearby 13th-C chateau--and introducing me to all of their dogs and horses. They often offered me a glass of wine at the end of the day and always made sure I had everything I needed before I retired. I have rarely stayed in any rental where I was so warmly welcomed. The gite was comfortable and well equipped, the company was incomparable, and the surroundings were beautiful.