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Customer Reviews

Overall:
Delightful. This accomodation is large, airy, well-kept and beautiful. It exceeded our expectations. All apsects of the facilites were up to date.
Enjoyed Most:
The size and privacy were exceptional. Being on the ground floor meant that the temperatures were always moderate, despite the heat outside. The surroundings (other buildings, and the lake in the background) were wonderful.
Enjoyed Least:
The approach by auto or foot was precarious, through a narrow lane flanked by a stone wall. It took some getting used to. But in providing privacy from traffic, you would also have to count it as a plus.
Surrounding Area:
The Lake Como area is stunningly beautiful and Bellagio has to be one of its most scenic places. It is centrally located and easy to reach by the most desireable means: boat. The public transportation is incredbily convenient. Not a driver's paradise to be sure, but a good place to motorcycle. The area is a strange and fascinating mix of olive groves, flower farms, grazing sheep and cattle and resort homes. Classic, ancient, resort area.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Bellagio was not really within walking distance, not because of the distance, but because of the roads, which were narrow and not conducive to strolling (too many autos). No sidewalks in most places. But the very short drive was interesintg and we never failed to find convenient parking, even on the weekends.
Tips or Restaurants:
Francesca's book (a copy is in the apartment) is very insightful and accurate. Chevrio is not to be missed, and without her direction we would have missed it.
Directions:
We drove west from Venice and reserved ample time to find the apartment. Directions were spot on once we got oriented, but that took some time. GPS was not availble to us as it turned out and would have been useful.
Check In Out:
Keys were in the locks. Francesca stopped by while we were getting in and situated. Very informal. Very relaxed.

Eric , June, 2012

Enjoyed Most:
Location in the outskirts of Bellagio is excellent if you're looking to explore the Lake Como area. Frequent ferries departing from Bellagio can take you and your car to Menaggio on the west coast and Varenna on the east coast. Construction is relatively new (10 years) with all modern amenities.
Enjoyed Least:
The property is a bit far from Bellagio--and perhaps a bit dangerous considering the stretches along main road--for those interested in walking.
Surrounding Area:
Setting is most beautiful and quiet. Bellagio has all required services (groceries, shops, restaurants, banks, etc.) There is a lot to do in the area during a 7-day period. Besides, Switzerland (Lugano, St. Moritz) are close.
Nearby Events or Locales:
House is located in San Giovanni, a village adjacent to Bellagio, which is about 2 km away.
Tips or Restaurants:
Your car must be regular size. Any oversized car will get stuck in the first 50 meters of Via Al Crotto.
Directions:
A Garmin GPS worked fine. Written directions are fine. I'd recommend driving to Cadenabbia (west shore) or Varenna (east shore) and taking the ferry to Bellagio. The road from Como to Bellagio is too narrow and slow.

Roberto, June, 2012

Overall:
We were very pleased with the overall experience.
Enjoyed Most:
Riccardo was very helpful.
Enjoyed Least:
Perhaps the walking route to Bellagio. Although it is a short distance there is no direct route to town and we had to walk on the narrow road. Not recommended at night. That being said, the drive in to Bellagio was not a significant inconvenience.
Surrounding Area:
The location was very picturesque and the gardens were lovely.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Giovanni
Tips or Restaurants:
The apartment was adequately equipped for our needs.
Directions:
The GPS was essenetial.
Check In Out:
We arrived early and were welcomed by the cleaning lady who contacted Riccardo. He did not have a problem with our early arrival. He arrived and gave us essential information. He did not require us to give him a security deposit.

Dan , May, 2012

Overall:
A great place to stay with a group and kids. Lots of space and a great outdoor area. Within walking distance to a little cafe and the waterfront.
Enjoyed Most:
The large living room and kitchen made it easy to share with 6 people. Lots of patio doors to get the wonderful fresh air. A very nice reference book was provided with information on the area in regards to getting around, eating, and sightseeing.
Enjoyed Least:
It was a little difficult to find and we had the wrong contact number for the key holder on arrival. A neighbor was kind and very helpful to get us in touch with the right person. Editor's Note: The key holder's telephone number has been updated.
Surrounding Area:
Picturesque, and a great cafe/bar nearby for early morning and evening food and drink.
Nearby Events or Locales:
A taxi was required to go into Bellagio for our group.

Kathryn, August, 2011

Overall:
Our holiday at Bellagio Lea was truly wonderful. Lake Como is awesome and the little town of San Giovanni where our villa was more restful than the hustle and bustle of Bellagio.
Enjoyed Most:
The property was very large and spacious - more than enough for our 5 person family. It was nicely furnished and well maintained. We loved having the little bar-restaurant around the corner for a fantastic morning cappuccino with a view!
Enjoyed Least:
The local church rang its bells at 7:30am every morning.
Surrounding Area:
Bellagio is a lovely town and has a variety of great restaurants and shops to peruse. Lake Como was beautiful, our local pebble beach included an accommodating pontoon for the kids to swim from and many of the lakes most beautiful attractions were easy to access by land or water.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Giovanni was only a few hundred metres away and had a very small essentials-only grocery store and a great little fish restaurant that served lovely meals and great morning cappuccinos!
Tips or Restaurants:
It is essential that you hire a small car as the road to the villa has two large stone walls on either side of it. We even had to flip the side mirrors in on our Lancia to get through safely. Flip flops or crops for walking into the water or on the pebble beach would also be useful.
Directions:
Our GPS took us right to the door of the property.

Samantha, August, 2010

Overall:
This is perhaps the best experience we have had in our six trips to Italy. The pictures on the website don't do justice to this place, especially the garden, which is spectacular. The apartment is MUCH larger than it appears in the photos, and immaculately clean. The kitchen is well equipped, and contains two unusual appliances for an Italian kitchen -- a dishwasher and a microwave. The bathrooms are large, with double sinks. There are lots of doors letting in light and air, and offering access to the garden, where we sat in the evening, sipping wine and breathing in the scent of honeysuckle.
Enjoyed Most:
Everything.
Enjoyed Least:
Nothing to dislike. It is incredible.
Surrounding Area:
The garden was a riot of colorful flowers -- roses, honeysuckle, greenery, dominated by a great olive tree. We could easily walk to the cafe and little store and the ferry stop.
Nearby Events or Locales:
We were IN a small town!
Tips or Restaurants:
We had many wonderful meals during our stay, but by far the best was at Paolo's in the Piazza in Menaggio. The risotto was so good it could make you weep! Dining lakeside at the Metropole in Belggio is a delightful experience, and it is worth a trip to Cernobbio to eat in Harry's Bar.
Directions:
We took a car service from Malpensa. Our driver, Davide, was great. Once we got to the Lake, he took us on a car ferry en route to the property so that's how we got our first glimpse of the area and initial experience of a ferry ride. Driving in this area can be pretty tricky, with lots of winding roads and hairpin turns so unless you are experienced with this kind of driving, we recommend the car service from the airport and public transportation while there.
Check In Out:
Francesca could not have been nicer, kinder, or more helpful.

Mary Lou, June, 2010

Overall:
Excellent! Fantastic! Overwhelmingly Beautiful Area of World!
Enjoyed Most:
Tremendous ambiance...Welcomed you in like a wonderful hug of beauty and relaxation and peacefulness..Everyone in our group - 4 of us ,loved the property.
Enjoyed Least:
There was nothing we disliked.
Surrounding Area:
The fact that these villages and villas have been around for so long and remain basically as they were so one gets a great sense of the past..and can see that the future will hold the same respect for the land and the views for future generations...
Nearby Events or Locales:
Well you could walk to the the Restaurant Melas and to the the water where the ferry comes in by the beautiful old church. But to town of Bellagio... no way would I walk with the narrowness of the roads and the zipping little cars. Driving was OK to town..
Tips or Restaurants:
Truly follow what folks say about their customs - nothing open on Sunday - and grocery and gas and other stores do close for afternoon rest, so if you are going to have lunch get there by 1:30 at latest or they will not even serve a pizza!! It was fun figuring out that type of stuff...

Vergene, September, 2009

Overall:
Our trip was fantastic!!! Wonderful!!! Beautiful!!! i just can't say enough good things!!! Magnificent!!!!. We do not have a single complaint regarding the villas. i would recommend your agency any time!
Enjoyed Most:
Very comfortable and cozy in all aspects, sleeping, relaxing, cooking, bathrooms, scenery, it was all perfect, even the weather was perfect!!

Claire, October, 2008

Overall:
Brilliant. This is a beautiful property in a beautiful location. It is not in Bellagio, but outside of town in San Giovanni. This is a quiet retreat for families and couples.
Enjoyed Most:
The property is the entire ground floor of the building. The best thing about it was the indoor-outdoor flow. You could leave the windows and doors open and greatly expand the living space from the inside to the outside.
Enjoyed Least:
The property is a short walk from Lake Como, and a short walk to Bellagio. There are no pedestrian walkways, so you have to either drive or walk on the road. If you walk on the road, you take your life into your hands. This is not really a fault of the property, but of the entire immediate area.
Surrounding Area:
I enjoyed walking to the ferry boat landing and taking the ferry boat into Bellagio. From there, you can take a ferry to all the immediate towns on the lake. I recommend visiting Varenna.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The villa was in San Giovanni, which is a suburb of Bellagio. You can walk to San Giovanni, but even then you have to share the road with the cars. You can walk to Bellagio, but it is dangerous to walk on the roadway.
Tips or Restaurants:
We enjoyed going kayaking on the lake and wake-boarding.
Directions:
Its hard to find the first time, but just follow the directions.

Donna, June, 2008

Overall:
This is a perfect spot to stay and get into Bellagio and the ferry boats. It is just a km away and there is a great parking lot at the entrance to Bellagio to leave the car. I would not walk to town, as the road is too narrow and dangerous.
Enjoyed Most:
The apartment appeared to be very new. It was on one floor and very spacious, especially for four people. It was clean and uncluttered.
Enjoyed Least:
The drive into the property is along a narrow, narrow road with a stone wall on each side. You must pull in your mirrors or they will disappear the first time! Also, be sure to honk your horn so that you will not meet another car coming and have to back out.
Surrounding Area:
The village of San Giovanni was so old and quaint. The villas were beautiful and it was less touristy than Bellagio.
Nearby Events or Locales:
None of the towns are within walking distance as it is a busy mountain road. But Bellagio is only one km away and the small town where we went grocery shopping is just up the hill from our villa. The owners provided us with a great book with all kinds of information about the area, including grocery and restaurant locations and history of the area along with ferry schedules. We traveled everywhere by ferry. Must easier and fun!
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring/buy coffee, paper towels, soap and washcloth if you want one. The small grocery store in San Giovanni is open on Sunday morning and has great sweets for breakfast. The only restaurant in the small village of Loppia next to San Giovanni, just a five-minute drive away, is outstanding! They have an outdoor garden on the water and a beautiful restaurant. It is unbelievable that such a wonderful restaurant could be in such a small village. It is a must visit! There is information about it in the house book. There is a restaurant within walking distance of the villa which was also good.
Directions:
Just be sure you do not have a large car because of the stone wall.

Kay, May, 2008

Overall:
A very nice experience.
Enjoyed Most:
It was very spacious and comfortable!
Enjoyed Least:
It was too far (and dangerous with the narrow roads and cars) to walk to Bellagio. Also, the coffeepot never worked. For the first two nights, the upstairs guests were rather noisy.
Surrounding Area:
The city and surrounding lake villages were very picturesque and easily accessed by boat.
Tips or Restaurants:
Yes, the best restaurant in the area was a very short walk from the villa and the owners were delightful - Ristorante Mella
Directions:
The drive from Como was difficult with very curvy roads.
Check In Out:
Francesca was wonderful and very attentive when we needed her assistance.

Barbara, May, 2008

Enjoyed Most:
Very spacious and well appointed.
Surrounding Area:
The town it is in is very nice for walking.
Directions:
Calling the owner and having them meet us at a local bar was the best way to get there.

Bruce, October, 2007

Enjoyed Most:
That we were so close to Bellagio and also to the little town next to us where there was a small store and an excellent restaurant. Well stocked kitchen with all the latest appliances.
Enjoyed Least:
No pool and further than we thought from Milan because of the roads.
Surrounding Area:
Very picturesque and lots of wonderful very unique shops.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Giovanni, and yes we were able to walk there.
Tips or Restaurants:
Great restaurant in San Giovanni right on the water where the ferry docks. Wonderful fresh caught fish. Mella is the name of the restaurant. Any phone calls that you make will be added on to your bill upon departure.
Directions:
On the road in to the property turn your side mirrors in because it is a very small passageway.

Paul, June, 2007

Overall:
I suppose the best endorsement of a rental property is whether or not you would return. In a heartbeat I would.
Enjoyed Most:
Roominess for 6 people; up to date and modern appliances, although the clothes dryer did not work, but you really did not need it. It was also extremely convenient being 1.2 km from Bellagio, but a portion of the walk is along a busy and narrow road that can strike fear into most - so take the car.
Enjoyed Least:
The property was ideal. I suppose I would have liked hand maidens, grapes and copious amount of wine, but my wife would have frowned on those excesses. I truly cannot think of a thing that was bad. Oh, I forgot, the toaster is a learning experience; it is incredibly simple to use. The toast doesn't pop up, but you have to lift it out using the racks with the handles. If that is my only complaint and it is not, then this is the place for you.
Surrounding Area:
San Giovanni is a wonderful small town in which to stay. It is extraordinarily quiet, but if you like to try fish from Lake Como, then the Restaurante Mella is the place to go. It has about 50 seats, but we noticed that people were coming from outside San Giovanni. The surrounding area is Bellagio which is a tourist attraction even for Italians, but it is not touristy in ambiance. There is the expensive shop or two, but there are better deals up the hill from the main street along the water. You cannot beat the ferry service; they run often and are not expensive.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest town is Bellagio. It is within walking distance 1.2 km, but the walk is not for the faint hearted. Italian drivers seem to have a penchant for pushing small cars beyond the sound barrier and on the short portion of the road you have to walk on into Bellagio is no exception. You should not walk it at night unless you are lit up like the Vatican.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bellagio is loaded with good, if not great restaurants. The menus are all posted so shop around. Some of the better ones are up the alleys. In San Giovanni the Restaurante Mella is a great find. If you love fish, you will not want to leave this establishment. If not for my bank I would still be there. Parking in the garage is available, but you really don't need it. The access road, Via Al Crotto, is very narrow. Our Fiat Chroma navigated it without having to bring in the mirrors, but our friends in their Range Rover had to bring in the mirrors. I would have liked a wi-fi access point, but then, that is me; not everyone would want it. There is a great Internet access cafe in Bellagio where free tapas are served with your paid access to the Internet. The wine is also terrific.
Check In Out:
Francesca was attentive and explained everything.

Thomas, April, 2007

Overall:
It was everything we expected. We were pleased.
Enjoyed Most:
Spacious rooms, many windows, and walk-out access to garden.
Enjoyed Least:
The garden is lovely but the garden furnishings are basic plastic.
Surrounding Area:
Lake Como is beautiful, surrounded by picturesque mountains, and Bellagio is within 1 to 1.5 hours from Lugano, Bergamo and Milan. Como is about 0.5 hours away. Many small villages around the Lake, some reachable by frequent ferrys from Bellagio. Best attractions were Villa Carlotta Tremezzo and Villa Melzi Bellagio, both with wonderful botanic gardens.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Good proximity to Bellagio approximately, 1 mile away. While it is walkable, you must walk on a narrow road to reach Bellagio. Bellagio is a lovely resort with shops, restaurants and cafes.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bellagio restaurant, Far Out, was very nice.
Directions:
The road from Como to Bellagio is narrow, and the small lane into the villa is quite narrow. Rent a small car.
Check In Out:
Francesca was very accommodating.

Eugene, October, 2006

Enjoyed Most:
The space, the overall feel, it really felt as though we were in our own home. We loved it. There was a high chair for the baby and I think a cot, but my daughter had her own traveling cot. I loved listening to the church bells ring the half hours from 7 AM to 10 PM. At certain times they play a hymn tune which is famous in the district. They are not right next door so you are not awakened by them.. There were no insects of any kind except for one house fly. Absolutely NO biting ones.
Enjoyed Least:
Nothing
Surrounding Area:
Lake Como is just about the most beautiful place I have ever seen, and I travel a lot. We had a car so we could go on the car ferry and then drive around, but a car is not an essential. The town of Bellagio and the other lakeside towns are delightful, with great shopping and little restaurants for lunch which are not at all expensive.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Giovanni is a suburb of Bellagio and about 2 minutes walk from the apartment. We went there to buy stuff for breakfast each morning, and then to admire the lake in the early morning light. Bellagio is further along a narrow road with mostly no footpath. There are buses but I don't know how often they run. I did not walk there but I would guess it would take about 20 - 30 minutes.
Tips or Restaurants:
The apartment was very well equipped. Lots of towels and toilet paper. No tea towels but there is a dishwasher. There is also no microwave - apparently the Italians do not use them. We only ate out at lunch time as we always cooked in the evening - and ate al fresco in the garden. We found that the eating places were not too crowded even though it was the height of summer and we had no bad experiences.
Directions:
The lane into the street where of the apartment is very narrow between stone walls. Caution was needed in the Renault car we were using. A large 4 wheel drive might have trouble

Rosslyn, August, 2005