Reviews of Sorrento Villa Rental Walking Distance to Town of Termini

Girasole

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Customer Reviews

Enjoyed Most:
The views.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Noisy neighbor with barking dogs.
Surrounding Area:
Everything! easy to get around to great places and beauty everywhere
Nearby Events or Locales:
Termini is an easy walk.
Tips or Restaurants:
Great restaurants in the tiny cove; towns marina nearby.
Directions:
Hire a driver or take the bus to Termini and ask - the bus will let you off within 500 feet of the place
Check In Out:
Valerio was Johnny on the spot

Michael, September, 2007

Enjoyed Most:
The grounds, the view, and the location.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The second bathroom which had the shower as part of the room. Living room and dining room appeared to be reversed.
Surrounding Area:
Not far from other towns, although driving difficult. Magnificent views.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Termini within walking distance. Had grocery store and butcher shop as well as some restaurants that we made use of.
Tips or Restaurants:
Buy paper goods. Big restaurant in town -don't know the name - had good pizza and pasta. Nice outdoor eating area. We told the property owner to have written instructions in English about how to run dishwasher and washer.

Fred, June, 2007

Enjoyed Most:
The location and size of Girasole were perfect for us, 4 people. The view is heavenly and Valerio was most helpful and pleasant to be with. We would rent this again.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The 3rd bedroom is poor, would not recommend any more than 4 staying at Girasole. The kitchen needs a coffeemaker.
Surrounding Area:
Sorrento was my favorite, great walking city. Positano, although very beautiful, was too touristy.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Termini is the closest town. One can easily walk there, and it has a market, pharmacy, etc.
Tips or Restaurants:
We found the best restaurants in Sant Agata, a quick 15 minute drive. We had dinners nearby as we didn't want to drive the roads much after wine and dinner!

Sara, November, 2006

Enjoyed Most:
The views and how private the property is.
Unpleasant Surprises:
It's located in Termini which is about a half hour drive from Sorrento.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Termini is within walking distance, even with small children. We ate at Eugenes once and I can highly recommend it.
Directions:
Driving on the Sorrentina peninsula is really something you should experience. What an adventure!

Arlyn, October, 2005

Enjoyed Most:
Beautiful views of Capri slightly obscured by high hedge which could be trimmed. Lovely furnishings, nice BBQ and outdoor area. Two bedrooms have a great access to the terrace. Nice short walk to small town of Termini.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Definitely need a car. A bit far from major sights in Sorrento but we enjoyed the feel. The bathroom water heater can easily be turned off accidentally as it is located near the light switch. Third bedrooms is small, no view - suitable for small kids. Some people may not like hearing the neighbors, or the daily visits from the dogs, but we enjoyed both!
Surrounding Area:
Marine del Cantone was a lovely beach with locals, warm, friendly folks. Nice afternoon rest stop. Eugene's pub had delicious food - local Italians almost exclusively - fun spot. Drive to the Amalfi coast was fabulous. We hired a driver and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Termini is a quick 2-3 minute walk. We also walked to Marina del Cantone - 45 minute walk, and drove to Santa Agata and Massa Lubrense, both bigger small towns - plenty to do. Sorrento is a 20-minute drive of never-a-dull-moment-of-turns, pedestrians and the delightful craziness of Italian intersections. With young adult children they enjoyed Sorrento the most. In our 40's we like being slightly out of town, and hiking.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring bug repellent. The bugs never bothered my husband but munched on my daughters and me! We brought beach towels which was very helpful. Great local markets - Pub Eugene's in Termini, Angelo's Macceleria butcher was excellent. Enjoyed Mona Lisa in Sorrento as a meeting spot, Internet cafe and friendly staff.
Directions:
We hired a driver for 4 people and their luggage from Naples to Termini for 100 Euros. Worth every penny unless you read Italian road signs well and have an extra hour or two to get lost!
Check In Out:
Valerio met us on the road. Checked in at mid-week and the night before departure. He was helpful.

Amy, September, 2005

Overall:
Overall, we would rent this villa again in a heartbeat. One of the bedrooms was small and a bit damp but the kids didn't mind and we tried to spend as little time sleeping as possible. The kitchen was well equiped with sharp knives and cooking utencils. Valerio even left us some wine, coffee and cakes to get our kitchen stock started. The property was a perfect place for the kind of week we wanted. We had a view, great food, access to amazing places to visit and the moon setting over the sea every night.
Enjoyed Most:
The location in the little town of Termini was perfect for us. We had easy access to an alimentari, butcher shop, hardware store, great home-style and first-class dining, a beautiful pool, beaches nearby, a view of Capri to die for, and a quiet oasis in the rush of tourist activities nearby.
Unpleasant Surprises:
We enjoyed the dogs and the sounds of young Italian children greeting the day. Some people who are not dog and kid friendly might find it intrusive. We loved Valerio and the extra help he gave us in finding our way around. But he was often hard to get in touch with by cell phone. The whole telephone thing in Italy still frustrates us. But that has little to do with the property and much to do with being ready to slow down to an Italian pace of life.
Surrounding Area:
I surprisingly loved driving in the area. Once you realize that it is a constant game of chicken and that the loser is the one who stops, it is a breeze. I often found myself thinking of the little logic games where you have a square tray with 8 movable squares and nine available spaces. You must move the squares around one at a time in order to move the 8 squares into the proper position. That is how driving is in this area. There is finite space and everyone, with good patience, moves one after another to get each to where they need to go. With my daughter as navigator, we went everywhere. We used public transport to get to Pompeii without difficulty. We took a smaller boat from Marina del Cantone to Capri for a wonderful day. We hiked to a secluded beach that was out of a dream. We happened upon a blessing of the fleet one evening at Marina del Cantone. But mostly we enjoyed spending quiet moments on our patio overlooking the water drinking local Lemoncello as the sun set.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Oh yes. Termini is a two=minute walk and it has everything you need. There were days we never left the town, chosing instead to slow down and experience the quiet.
Tips or Restaurants:
OK... beach towels would be nice but there are these beautifully designed lounge chairs everywhere that do quite nicely for sunbathing and after swimming. I'm trying to find a way to be the distributor in the US... Anti-itch stuff for those of you who are prone to bug bites. I never got any but my daughter was bug bait... A cell phone is good for peace of mind but we found ours got only intermittant service... Eat in town any time you can. Pub Eugene is amazing for eating with everyone in town. You get what Eugene is serving. Don't ask for a menu because you won't get one. Just eat what he wants to bring and you won't be disappointed. And you'll get a little glimpse of what is happening in town by watching the comings and goings of the locals. One evening we ate with a huge crowd of people who all knew each other and it was like coming into a big town event. The second time, we ate with Eugene's small daughter and two sons.
Check In Out:
Once we got together with Valerio, it all went smoothly and he was a sweet as could be.

Karen, June, 2005

Overall:
The local contacts were not anywhere to be found. We were told it was essential to call them immediately upon our arrival in Rome so they could arrange a meeting to deliver us to the property. The number we were given answered with a rapid Italian voice message, and gave an alternate number which I could not understand. Even when we did find a way to make contact, the numbers we were given to contact the rental folks during our stay were ineffective. We had to be self reliant, but did not really feel that we needed any help, even though it would have been nice to be able to reach somebody if we needed help. Maybe this was a symptom of the Feragosto-everyone in Italy was on vacation, so why not the real estate peple?
Enjoyed Most:
Beautiful setting, overlooking the island of Capri, in a tiny little Italian hillside village. The living room was huge, with an ample table and a few semi-comfortable chairs, but the outside table and lounges got more use. Being able to do wash and hang out the laundry was very welcome. We had no trouble with hot water, electricity shortage, or appliance malfunctions. We even managed to use the barbeque, which worked very well. The bedrooms were a bit plain, but comfortable and we did not have a pesty insect problem. One of the best things was that the fig tree over the parking space shaded the car and yielded a daily supply of ripe figs for us-so plentiful that they decorated the car if we did not pick them daily.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The kitchen was a little small, but who wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen on vacation? We did not have any trouble preparing meals or keeping the beverages cold and ice on hand for drinks.
Surrounding Area:
Even though the village itself was small, there was a family restaurant just 100 feet from the end of the driveway-road with wood-fired oven pizza and local dishes at reasonable prices. Alfonso's restaurant was decidedly upscale and also was very, very good, but more expensive the local place was so good, it's hard to justify the added expense, except for the variety and desire to step out a bit. We visited during Ferragosto, with temperatures around 100 for the two weeks we were there. Even though a bit crowded at the height of the Italian holiday season, the beach at Marina del Cantone was daily requirement. The guys who parked our car every day were very friendly and reliable, even though my Italian was terrible and their English was no better. The proximity to Sorrento was welcome we went several times, usually stopping there on our way back from Pompeii or Herculaneum or for a purposefl visit. The grocerybutchervegetable shops in Mass Lumbresa were only 10 minutes away and pr
Nearby Events or Locales:
Termini town center is just a five minute walk away, even though there is not much there. We usually drove to Massa for supplies, although my daughter liked the ice cream cones at the local shop there. The alimentari in Termini is OK in a pinch, especially for freesh bread if you get there early.
Tips or Restaurants:
Be ready for a simple but private house in a tranquil setting. There are no beach towels, and to miss the beach during the summer is a mistake. We went every day. You really need a car to stay here, even though the SITA buses can be used to get you around if you don't want to drive. Rent the smallest car they have-we had a mid-size, which we needed, but I would have been happier with a VW Golf. Be aware that you have to pay additional for the cleaning services during your stay.
Directions:
I think directoions to the property itself should be provided. Given that we could not contact anyone on our arrival, and were only given directions to a meeting place 15 minutes away, it was rather distressing after a transatlantic flight and a 4-hour drive from Rome. The house is really not that dificult to find, and a map of the area could easily get you there.
Check In Out:
No, when the real estate person finally did arrive, he was nice and gave a thorough explanation of the area so that we really did not need much help after that. Would have been nice if he gave us proper phone numbers to be able to call someone for help if we needed it.

David, August, 2003

Overall:
I would really recommend that this property only rent to 4 adults as there is only a small living room area and most of the time we sat at the large dining room table.
Enjoyed Most:
Overall, we were well-accommodated. The property was in a great location to explore many areas that we all enjoyed immensely. The view from the property was spectacular. We would really have loved it had we rented later in the year so that we could sit outside on the patios. We also loved being greeted every time we came home by the dogs, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar. So friendly.
Unpleasant Surprises:
It was very cold during our stay, and the heat had not been put on in anticipation of our arrival. We felt as though the heating was very expensive. We even blocked off a bedroom and only used 2 of 3 to save some heat.
Surrounding Area:
Everything. We were close enough to go to Capri, Sorrento, Pompei, Amalfi Coast Positano and all the small villages in the immediate area such as San Francisco di Paolo. Just a wonderful area to walk and explore even for the least adventurous. We hired a guide in Sorrento at the International Visitors Club. He took us on a 2 hour walking tour. Very nice tour.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring your own wood if you come before April. Many restaurants were closed till April but we found plenty available and all quite good. Don't go to Quatro Passi unless you want to spend a lot. Stop and get some snacks and drinks to have on hand. Not much open in the area at night.

Rosemary, February, 2003

Overall:
Miracapri is in a beautiful, quiet, coastal area. The location was superb, the view of Capri, and the surrounding area was outstanding and the villa itself was quite spacious and nicely furnished. If we had it to do over again, we would choose the same property but go at least two weeks earlier. It was a little chilly and quite damp so our outdoor time was limited. Unpleasant Surprises:
The second shower the didn't drain well and had no separation from the rest of the bathroom.
Surrounding Area:
The location was wonderful. Very private yet close enough to walk to Termini and accessible to fabulous walking trails through the local area's olive groves and coastline.
Events or Locales:
The market in Sorrento - its held on Tuesdays from 8 am til noon - a true cultural experience and great bargains.- really fun!
Tips or Restaurants:
St. Agatha is very close to this property and it has two great restaurants - Salvatore's where the service was wonderful and the food well prepared and moderately priced. Don Alfonso 1890 - a Michelin rated restaurant that was a lifetime experience to be sure. Very pricey but worth it - the atmosphere, service, food choices and presentation were exceptional - truly worth experiencing!

John And Gail, November, 2002

Overall:
The villa was beautifully located, spacious, clean, well appointed and very comfortable. We really needed more towels and to have the towels changed during the week as we took them to the beach; we did not have beach towels with us. There were great walks from our property and Termini. The pool was a short walk away and was great---if a little expensive. The pizza place at the end of our road was great. Driving to other towns and the Amalfi coast was easy and rewarding even if the Italian drivers are maniacs.
Enjoyed Most:
Very comfortable
Unpleasant Surprises:
No tumble dryer! It rained most days.
Surrounding Area:
Beautiful and tranquil.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The walk to Marin Del cantone was great
Tips or Restaurants:
Pizza place a the bottom of Li campi was great and good value.

Nick, July, 2002

Overall:
Thank you - it was a beautiful experience and we hope to contact you regarding our next trip, probably next year!
Enjoyed Most:
The rooms were excellently furnished. The bathrooms, in particular, were exceptional for Italy - the shower had ample water pressure and an ingenious slidding shower head., The towels were the best we've ever had in any 4 star hotel in Italy - plush terry! The grounds had more than enough comfortable patio seating and the view exceeds the phtos on the website. The binder of suggestions in the house was extremely valuable! Every suggestion was accurate and took us to places we might not have found on our own. Our local representative was amazingly helpful and always available to answer questions by phone. (We rented a phon and would recommend others do as well).
Unpleasant Surprises:
The Italian espresso pot was smaller than the American coffee pots that we are used to. As is typical in rental properties, we needed to bring our own "staples" (such as toilet paper and sugar) and we did our shopping in Massa Lubrense or Sant' Agata where there are excellent provisions in the alimentari.
Surrounding Area:
The town of Termini was lovely - very friendly and it has a lovely pizzeria for lunch or dinner. Great restaurants as noted in the house book. Returned several timnes to Salvatore's which was our favorite, though we also had an elegant special evening out at Quatro Passi.Driving around afforts many many photo opportunities which we took full advantage of. It is the most gorgeous part of the country!
Nearby Events or Locales:
We traveled far and wide - Pompeii, Sorento, Capri, the Amalfi Drive.All of these are easy to do by car, bus or train. However, you could have a wonderful time in the nearby towns of Massa and Sant' Agata and Nerano. They have a lot to offer, though we only had time to explored the restaurants!
Tips or Restaurants:
See above re: Salvatore and Quatro Passi. The house book suggestions were great!

Grace, July, 2002

Enjoyed Most:
Gorgeous view of Capri and the Mediterranean from the garden. Very quiet area.
Surrounding Area:
The Sorrentine Penisula has many very well marked walking trails. Several were within 200 yards of our house. Great walks to little towns, or down to the sea, or through the Termini and up the mountain.

Joan, June, 2002

Overall:
Comfortable, beautiful view, well-maintained.
Enjoyed Most:
Location, view, quiet, proximity to Amalfi coast.
Unpleasant Surprises:
All the appliances and heating system need instructions on operation. The heat was a challenge...changing out propane bottles, resetting a safety switch etc. Occasionally noisy neighbors.
Surrounding Area:
Great scenery, great local restaurants.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Local festival in Termini 10-13 Feb, great hikes.
Tips or Restaurants:
I Quattro Passi in Marina Cantone; Primavera in Massa Lubrense; Al53 in Naples.

Francis, February, 2002

Overall:
It was excellent, except for the absence of a dryer, and window screens (typically Italian!)
Enjoyed Most:
Nice house, nice decorations, nice furnishings; Amazing view of Capri and the sea!
Unpleasant Surprises:
Not enough screens (this is a problem in Italy, in general, and at least this villa does have some screened windows). No dryer (again, they're not common in Italy, and we were thankful for a washer). There were some barking dogs that made it hard to sleep at times. The hot water tap can get very hot.
Surrounding Area:
Great restaurants, and friendly people.
Nearby Events or Locales:
All the recommended restaurants turned out to be good. Also, we enjoyed The Wine Corner's wine tour of the Avellino area.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring a shortwave radio or earplugs. Bring mosquito spray. Maybe bring a portable fan. Be very very careful when you drive. Restaurants: the closest, Salvatore, is very good. So is Quattro Passe, and of course, the venerable 3-star Don Alfonso.

Steven, September, 2001

Overall:
Even though there were some minor issues, I would definitely return again and would recommend it to anyone.
Enjoyed Most:
It’s a dream location. It was perfectly secluded in a lovely hill town, but was still close enough to Sorrento and Positano for any activity. The view, looking directly at Capri (hence Mira Capri) was stunning. The house was very well suited for 2 couples with 2 small children. The owner next door loves kids (as all Italians do) and was very kind to us.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Because we arrived during a small storm, the house was not ready for our arrival (no lights, no heat and no gas for the stove). They fixed the lights the first night, but didn't fix the stove or heat until the next day. The property manager and owner were responsive (the owner brought us a bottle of homemade olive oil the next day for our trouble. The shower in the master bath doesn't seem to regulate the water very well, so half the showerhead is very hot, while the other half is cold.
Surrounding Area:
The tiny, little town of Termini was wonderful & within walking distance. The people in this area are very warm and helpful and curious about visitors. There's a spectacular restaurant in the town with the best food in the entire area called Salvatore. The owner Nino stayed open late for us the first night we arrived & treated us to the most divine local fish dishes. Also it was really well situated for exploring the entire area. And there's a nice little beach below Mira Capri on the coast.
Tips or Restaurants:
Tip #1: The kitchen is well stocked with cookware, but there was no spices (not even salt or pepper), so we had to buy everything in order to cook dinner. Take inventory before going to the store. Tip #2: Be sure you don't touch a little switch above the light (it's not marked), it turns off the water heater and you will have NO hot water in the house.

Jennifer, May, 2001

Overall:
The property exceeded our expectations! Everything was perfect!
Enjoyed Most:
The size, newness, cleanliness, view,...everything. The owners were extremely hospitable and helpful.
Unpleasant Surprises:
It spoiled us for the future!
Surrounding Area:
The view was awesome! The surrouding area was beautiful! The local agent did a great job in providing places to see and eat at! We enjoyed the proximity to other sites like Amalfi, Positano, and Capri. The local town added color with the lemon orchards and lemon liqueur factory. The local bakery had excellents tortes.
Tips and Restaurants:
Relax and enjoy the view. The Pizzaria has one of the best antipasta's I ever had in 29 trips to Italy!

Donald, May, 2001

Overall:
It is a new house built in the traditional form.
Enjoyed Most:
It had beautiful views and a beautiful location.
Unpleasant Surprises:
It is a little difficult to find without the contact. Also, the owner is right next door and their house sits right above our villa making it less that private. There is no separation between shower and bathroom, which can be typical in Italy.
Surrounding Area:
It is very close to the Amalfi Coast. We went to Capri and Ischia by ferry. There were great relaxing views. It is an easy walk to town, which is well equipped.
Nearby Events or Locales:
We went to Pompei. There is a great restaurant if you drive through Termini there's a town at the bottom of th hill and there are only two restaurants. On is called Quattro Passi. The owner bent overbackward for us. He brought out eight dishes that weren't even on the menu. He poured us wine and educated us about olive oil and even gave us fresh bottle of his own olive oil. Of course, it wasn't cheap, but by American standards it was at only 35 dollars per person.
Tips or Restaurants:
It's a dangerous drive in there!!

Lawrence, April, 2001

Overall:
The house is very attractive and has a beautiful ocean view (although marred by a power line in one direction). There is a beautiful terrace and very small, but still nicely landscaped, yard. It is nicely situated --private but still within walking distance to the Termini shops.
Enjoyed Most:
The setting.
Unpleasant Surprises:
It is a VERY long drive from other attractions. We were there during a very cold week, and the heat was inadequate for our tastes.
Surrounding Area:
Scenery, restaurants were nice. We also like the village of Termini, it was pleasant and relatively untouristed. The next village has world-class restaurant; worth visiting as a treat.
Nearby Events or Locales:
There are lots of nice walks but weather precluded our enjoying them.

Marsha, March, 2001

Enjoyed Most:
The village where it was located, as well as the numerous trails throughout the peninsula.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The closeness of the neighbors to the front, young child screamed quite a lot.
Surrounding Area:
Excellent restaurants, not many other tourists around. Wonderful!!
Nearby Events or Locales:
Alisandras bar in Termini.Excellent!!!!
Tips or Restaurants:
Quattro Passe Restaurant (Nerano)(Amazing) Don Alfonso (St.Agata)(3 star Michelin) Marina del Cantone (Lots of places right on the beach)

Jeff, November, 2000

Overall:
Kitchen: It was small but functional, and the appliances were new. Garden: The yard was not very big, but it was well kept, and had a beautiful lime tree full of fruit. Bedroom: The beds were comfortable and not too small.
Enjoyed Most:
The ocean view was wonderful! Also, the villa was filled with charm-lots of little details in the architecture made it interesting.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The only problem we had was that the hose to the shower head in the main bath kept breaking. The owner was very helpful in trying to fix it, however, it never did work properly. To make up for our inconvienence, he gave us two bottles of his "own" homebrewed wine. That was very nice. the owner's lived next door (quite close) and had a small child that was frequently heard. The furniture wasn't real comfortable, and the cushions needed to be deep cleaned.
Surrounding Area:
The views and the beautiful flowers. The people were also very friendly and helpful
Tips or Restaurants:
We had a wonderful dinner at the Salvatore Restaurant. The food was excellent.

Rhonda, October, 2000

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