Client Feedback

Panta Rei, Calabria

We must have had upwards of 15 holidays in Italy over the past ten years, Rome, Venice, Florence, Turin, Tuscany, Umbria, Puglia etc etc. and I think we both put Panta Rei at the top of our list. Great location, excellent staff, lovely room, food was superb too. Attention to detail was outstanding – for instance Vicki has a gluten allergy which she mentioned on the first morning at breakfast, they immediately went out and found gluten free bread and pasta. Thereafter, without prompting, bread appeared at every meal and she was advised which dishes on the menu had gluten in them!

Attentive but not intrusive. I heard the phrase used so many times but service at Panta Rei was exactly that. Thanks for revealing this gem to us.

Phil Harnett - 30th June 2008

Masseria Montelauro, Puglia

What can we say? Virtually impossible to describe - it has to be experienced! We had the most brilliant weekend, we really didn't want to come back. 3 nights wasn't nearly long enough! The Masseria was very elegant - really lovely tasteful decor and incredibly well kept. 
We had a superior room, which was fantastic with the vaulted ceilings - keeping the room cool despite the 30 deg baking hot sun. But the classic rooms were really nice as well - as they had a great view either onto the pool area or across country.

Eventually, there were 16 of us staying there and even though we arrived quite late, they were really accommodating, making us a cold plate and serving us wine till quite late! The service was impeccable - nothing was too much trouble for them, they would make you coffee and bring it to you by the pool, and on one occasion some of us missed breakfast, but they made us something anyway. We had lunch on one day - which was a feast of lasagne, various pies, stews and huge fresh melon for desert. On the last night we had dinner - also really nice - a mixture of lots of smallish courses. The pool was great - decent size with lots of sunbeds and deck chairs, but also dotted around were quite a lot of really comfy padded sofa-type things under cover of pergolas and bamboo awnings.

We have all said we would definitely go back. It is a real find and incredibly peaceful (except for the cicadas!). We loved it so much that we had to drag ourselves away to go our friends' party.

Anyway, enough of that, its making me feel sad that we're not there anymore.

Don't tell too many people ......

Cressida Sparrow - 10th July 2008

Hotel Micalo, Naples

The Micalo is a really stylish little Hotel. They have some interesting contemporary art on display and we found the staff really helpful even though we were only there for an overnight stay.  I liked that it was designed and built from locally sourced materials and how they promote local artists. In fact we want to go back to Naples when its cooler and have a better look around - its got a strong emerging contemporary art scene and of course there is the Museum now we've done Pompeii and Herculaneum! 

Theres a great little restaurant nearby the Micalo - called Doras - which they recommended to us which kicked the trip off perfectly - (complete with singing staff  - one of whom I assume must be Dora - not as twee as it sounds!)

Pauline Forrester - 30th June 2008

Sicily and islands honeymoon

Thank you so much for organising our trip to Sicily, we had a lovely time and came back to london and reality with a bump!

The Belevedere was as lovely as ever, the people who run the place are really friendly and made us feel really weclome. Although they had given us a room on the top floor we did change it for one on the ground floor because although the view is great from the top, the rooms did have much lower ceilings and were a little small. Room 28 where we ended up is fab though, high ceilings, a terrace and a view of the pool; and those lunches by the pool were marvellous.

The Meligunis was also lovely and they gave us a great room, one of the few with a view of the sea. The staff were great, if a little hard to find sometimes but we pretty much had the place to ourselves and Lipari was a lovely island.

The Signum was a delightful hotel, quiet and extremely well run. The food was a high standard and the wine list was rather large.  Fortunately the wine buyer/waiter/sommelier, called Vincenzo, was keen and very helpful. The rooms were lovely, some of which were located around the pool. We had a room away from the pool which we prefered as it was a little more secluded and had a beautiful view over the terrace (where we enjoyed a drink or 3 before dinner and sometimes after!!) and beyond to Panerea. Although there was not much to do, it suited us perfectly. We did get the bus to Pullara, the next bay along which was stunning and also walked down to the pebbly beach to swim in the sea with other, mainly Italian, holiday makers.

It was a lovely trip and the Signum was a great hotel, peaceful well run by very pleasant staff. I would go back again.

Guy Stevens - June 2008

La Conchiglia, Calabria

La Conchiglia was stunning and we had a really lovely time.  The apartment was clean and well kept with a sea view balcony (we were given the choice between an apartment or a villa upon arrival).  Everyone at the villas was very welcoming and couldn't do enough to help. 

The beach is less than 5 minutes walk and was never very busy at all.  There are lots of great restaurants to choose from that are all very close to the villas so we could eat out at a different place each night. The restuarant at the villas was equally good and very inexpensive. We thought the location was perfect too - close to both the airport and Sicily, which we visited mid-week. 

This is the 5th holiday I've been on in the last 6 months, and I can honestly say it was the most relaxing trip I've had so far.  The best thing was feeling like we saw the 'real' Italy and not bumping into another English person all week!

Liz Davenport - June 2008

La Locanda delle donne Monache

Just wanted to write to say a big thank you for our holiday in Maratea.. We had just the most magical time, the hotel was stunning and the area was so beautiful. What also made it so special was that it was all so easy, you guys did a great job in sorting everything out for us, so thank you to everyone who helped us out.

thank you for our best holiday ever!!

Louise and Dariush - August 2008