Great position, but with shortcomings
Submitted: June 14, 2011
Stayed: May 2011
First things first: We were unlucky. Two weeks in June and it rained for eleven of them, often very heavily, so we had a chance to spend some time in the property. The overhang on the balcony meant we could actually sit out when it was raining, which was good.
The welcome was warm if the weather wasn't and the property matched the pictures and description. Having the ability to park outside the property is a godsend, saving 10 Euros a day, even if you have to negotiate a steep path down and park in a field. It was clean and there were plenty of towles etc. A few disappointments. We experienced four powercuts while there; short but annoying. One of them blew a bulb in the living room. There were three remotes for the TV, video etc, but only one had batteries that worked. And there were ants. One morning we entered the kitchen and found hundreds of them on the work surface. Unsurprisingly, there was a can of ant-killer under the sink so a small massacre followed. Talking of the kitchen, it was the smallest I have ever encountered in a rental property. At its narrowest point it was only 14" (35cms) from the door frame to the cupboard handle opposite. I'm not a big person and found it a squeeze. Also, it's not mentioned, but the accommodation is above a boat-house, so when it's windy or raining you have the amplified noise of a boat repeatedly banging against the dock and the water slapping against the walls. Sleeping was difficult on the first few nights. However, when the weather is calm it's not a problem. We were surprised when the owner turned up, let himself and a friend in and took the boat fishing.The location is great and the walk around the lake to Orta San Gulio is pleasant. The path would never be allowed in the UK for Health & Safety reasons. It's stone, about three foot across and has no barrier between you and the lake. And it gets slippery when wet, believe me. The town itself is lovely and has some good bars and restaurants with friendly staff. We ate well wherever we went. Stresa on Lake Maggiore is a short distance away and is well worth a visit, as is Mottarone, the mountain from where you can see seven lakes spread around you. My wife would recommend La Darsena to her friends for a long weekend or week, but I would have my reservations despite the obvious charms of the lake and its surroundings.
Recommended for:
Sightseeing,
Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: I am sorry to read all this here in a review because I always ask to my guests if everything is ok and I always tell them to contact me anytime for any question or problem but you did not tell me any of this.
Yes, you were definitely very unlucky with the weather. This is just bad luck...noone can do anything about it but I am sorry because I understand this can be annoying.
Considering the bad weather, powercuts may happen. This happens to the entire village/villages but as you said they don't last too long because there are workers ready to fix the power city lines.
About the remotes...remember that we met by chance in Orta San Giulio and you asked me if I had batteries? Of course i didn't have any with me in that moment so i asked if you could buy them the first time you would have shopped and i would have refunded you their cost. You said it was OK...you should have told me it was not OK ad I would have bought and brought batteries to you.
About ants...La Darsena is in a green area near the centre of Orta san Giulio. This means the presence of little insects like ants (but also like lovely ducks, swans, etc). Ants appear in every house of this area when rainy days arrive. Ants are smart and they enter the houses to have a roof above. That is why we prefer to leave an ant-killer spray under the sink.
Kitchen is tiny and it is written in every description but I think nothing is missing to have the possibility to cook at home.
La darsena in Italian means boathouse...I really want to underline that the house is an independent one family house and NOONE will ever enter in the apartment (not the owner and me neither).
The bottom part of the house is a boathouse accessed from an outside door. Owner might come sometimes to check on its boat and he will enter from downstairs and he will not disturb anyone.
About the path you should discuss with the mayor... ;-) but this is the very first time I hear that Orta path is dangerous...there are joggers, moms with babies and strollers, old people, etc but I never heard of someone hurt or worried about this charming lake path..........
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