8/10 Good
Catherine H.
4 Sept 2019
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Wonderful views and a well-cared-for villa (with dreadful WiFi)
Overall this is an excellent villa, very well suited to a small family. It is wonderfully situated in the hills between the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, providing spectacular views across both, with gorgeous views from one of the villa's terraces towards Capri, and views in both directions from a second terrace on the roof. Sorrento and Positano are easily accessible by car, but Sant'Agata is out of the way enough not to be heaving with other tourists, as well as being a delightful small town with several excellent restaurants and food shops.
The villa itself is a 15 minute uphill walk from Sant'Agata, which is not where the homeaway.co.uk advert suggested it would be. This is odd and, although we had a car and it did not matter to us, we can see how this might be annoying to some travellers. Likewise the fact that the villa is not self-contained, but part of a complex around a courtyard, the rest of which is occupied by the owner and his family.
This did mean that, when things went wrong, they were very quickly put right. The boiler broke at one stage, leaving us without hot water, but it was fixed with commendable speed, the same day.
The proximity of the owner's family also meant that the pool (which was absolutely delightful) and terraces were kept spotlessly clean at all times.
The place was not without issues - although ants are clearly a feature of Campanian life, the speed with which they attack any form of cooking activity in the kitchen got unpleasant from time to time. The other main drawback was the WiFi, which was poor at the best of times, but which frequently disappeared entirely, mainly at night, which was unhelpful.
Aside from a strange exchange on our check out day, where a family member seemed to accuse our 2 year old son of ripping the fabric of a sun lounger (he had not), the family were generally extremely friendly and helpful.
Although the place was not entirely without its issues, it is a well-cared-for, relaxing place to spend a holiday, in touching distance of the main attractions, but away from the bulk of the tourists. And we defy any small child not to like the pool.
