This will all be repetitious, as there isn’t anything new I can add to the rave reviews below. I think it’s worth writing anyway. My wife and I spent a week in the villa in May of this year with our 5 year old daughter and 10 month old son.
Villa
The villa is fantastic, even better than it looks in the pictures. Modern and clean in every way. Simply decorated and uncluttered. The backyard is perfect for enjoying the views and playing with the kids. And the views….no better to be found. One night we had a storm come through and even that was fantastic to watch as the scale of things is so huge you could actually see the storm coming in, sun in one direction, rain in the other. You’ll never tire of it.
The grass is like a golf course. The landscaping on the property in general is much like the house – simple, understated, but very effective. Luca’s parents live in the other half and were very nice. We didn’t have a car but a covered parking spot was available if we had. Incredible.
As mentioned in other reviews, it was stocked with a generous portion of everyday food items. This was a really nice touch and we took advantage of it. The daily cleaning is essentially limited to the bathrooms (new towels!) and a little straightening out around the rest of the house. Not quite a hotel, but more than I would have ever expected in a private rental visit. A great touch.
There is also a washer and dryer in the basement. Nobody wants to do laundry on vacation, but we were here for a week and elsewhere in Italy for a few nights and the laundry was incredibly convenient (especially with the kids.)
For a family or a small group of friends the house is perfect.
Location
We didn’t want a car on this vacation, as we spend plenty of time in one in our daily lives. The house is in a wonderful location just up the road from the waterfront in the tiny hamlet of Pescallo (prettier waterfront than the Bellagio waterfront, btw) and a 10-15 minute walk from the town of Bellagio itself. Far enough away to feel “local” but not so far that you dreaded the walk.
The shorter route is fairly flat and 10-12 minutes depending on how fast you walk. This route is along one of the two main roads into town, but you have to put that in perspective. It isn’t really that busy, one lane in either direction. Some houses, a hotel, and shops along the way. Where I live this would be a pretty quiet road, but to each his own. There are people walking up and down that road all day.
The longer route follows the road behind the villa down to the Pescallo waterfront and then back up to the main road into Bellagio (the same as the one above, but all the way near town). Since you go down and then back up there is some climbing, that’s true. But the walk is much prettier, through a quaint little part of the peninsula, along a dedicated pathway. Beautiful houses, olive groves, and spectacular views great you every step. There is shade in spots if it is hot, and I recall a bench or two perhaps. We went this way almost all the time, unless we opted to bring the stroller as much of the pathway was cobbled. It takes about 15 minutes.
There is a market only a 10 minute walk away that has everything you could possible need in a vacation house.
A few people have commented on the road behind the house. It is the road into and out of Pescallo. It is a minor road but does get used. One of the days we were there was an Italian National holiday and there were a lot of people in town. That day the road got a little distracting at times with people walking up and down and scooters buzzing by. Other than that, however, it was no problem. Scale of 1 to 10 I’d say it was a 1. My wife might have given it a 3. Not a big deal.
Neither was the nursery behind the house. Total non-event.
Hosts
Luca and Mary were fantastic, from the time we first made contact with them and the whole time we were there. The villa, and the comfort of their guests, is clearly very important to them. They were always reachable and were loaded with recommendations. They were also very accommodating for our son, leaving a crib for him, high chair, changing pad, toys, etc.
Summary
If you are going to Bellagio and have the opportunity to stay here it would be a mistake not to. You could get a room in one of the big hotels in town for the same price. Instead you have a very-well sized house, way more space, privacy, MUCH nicer accommodations, and the sense of “living like a local.” No brainer.
Luca, questa vacanza è stato uno dei migliori che abbiamo mai avuto, e la vostra villa ha svolto un ruolo importante in questo. Spero di tornare un giorno.
Ciao,
Jim, Kathy, Ella and James.