Residence La Ferriera

Avoid at all costs

[The manager responded to a Trip Advisor review of 2 years ago and accused the reviewer of being economical with the truth ... but we experienced exactly the same problems in our stay recently ... so nothing has changed in 2 years and ***the manager was the one being economical with the truth***]

The catalogue of imperfections is huge (I will not even try to prioritise):
x) the food is truly poor and, at best, pretentious - frequently inedible
x) the food is seriously over priced (especially if staying through RCI)
x) *everything* (except, perhaps, breathing) costs extra (WiFi connectivity is ludicrously priced, swimming towels are only an option if you purchase from new (also at a ludicrous price))
x) the loo roll is rationed (!)
x) breakfast supposedly served until 10 am but was packed away *every* day by 09h20
x) the staff are downright rude if you arrive at breakfast after 09h30
x) the bathroom walls are covered in mould in the shower and were very mouldy behind the towel hooks
x) the furniture is sparse to the point of being ridiculous (one couch for accommodation for 4 people is the *least* of the complaints)
x) payment for half board was *required* on arrival (at 54 Euros per person per night!) when staying through RCI
x) zero (!!!) flexibility on what nights you wanted food and when you didn't
x) half board does not include *any* drinks at dinner (not even water on the table!)
x) the wine was woefully overpriced (and only 1 option per night!)
x) one night was a meal of fish-only courses (0 other options and the 'soup' at the start of the meal was disgusting)
x) one of the evening meals made 3 out of 4 members of our party ill (and that wasn't even the fish-only one)
x) sheets and towels are only changed once in a 1 week stay
x) the food was *never* hot (not once in a week!)
x) the restaurant is made up of plastic tables and chairs
x) the tables in the restaurant are covered in paper table cloths

Some stuff that seriously needs updating:
i) the 'safe' in the room was key-based ... so who knows who else has keys to the 'safe' (coded safes are available on the open market) ... and it was incredibly small
ii) the washing up facilities did not include any washing up liquid
iii) the TV was the size of a postage stamp
iv) the one sofa-bed in the room was truly uncomfortable as a seat ... woe-betide anyone trying to use it as a bed
v) the breakfast was alright, but is continental breakfast only (boiled eggs an added extra) ... as an Italian breakfast it is fine ... but nothing what you might expect of a 4-star place.

One of the staff members was as helpful as she could be (much to her credit) but in the terrible situation she was constantly put in she did an admirable job (including some hints as to local events and places to see, maps and details) ... but that all pales into utter insignificance in the light of the general mess that this place is.

Basically: coming back to our accommodation each night was a particular low-light of the week in Italy.

Unique Quality: The village itself is, indeed, nice.