Charming Coastal Villa with Views Near the Cinque Terre

Overall:
My family's overall experience at Villa Ormeasco was absolutely fantastic making check out day a sad reality. Sarah, the owner, was wonderful, accessible and full of excellent suggestions (future renters take notes). The location worked very well for us since our travel plans included various towns in Liguria and Tuscany.
Enjoyed Most:
The location views from every room; comfort, peace and quiet; modern commodities in an old world atmosphere; and Sarah the owner.
Enjoyed Least:
We had the room with the bathroom that had a tub. Although the old fashioned tub looked nice, it was impractical to use. I have to be fair and admit that we are not tub people so we opted to use the shower in one of the other rooms. The showers in the other rooms were great.
Surrounding Area:
It was so peaceful and quiet. We also loved that we were up on a mountain with spectacular views of La Spezia, the Gulf of Poets, and other mountains. We liked that we were situated ideally for our day trips to the Liguria (e.g., Cinque Terre) and Tuscany regions.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The villa is not in a small town, but it is about 3 km from La Spezia and its restaurants, shops, train station and port where you can catch the ferry. We often drove into La Spezia and took advantage of its facilities.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring what you need to make your stay comfortable, but you are not too far from La Spezia where you can find any essentials. As for restaurants, Sarah has a handy list of very good ones, but I would like to add Vicolo Intherno and Bistrot Joe both in La Spezia.
Directions:
Sarah's directions are excellent and future renters should go by them instead of solely following the GPS. The villa is not the easiest to find and the GPS does not take you directly to the house.
Check In Out:
The check in check out process was very easy and painless.

Luisa, September

Overall:
From start to finish we had a wonderful experience! The property itself is so beautiful, clean, and welcoming inside and out. It is tastefully decorated and has so much charm and character. Sarah, the property owner, was so sweet and helpful. For us, as American English speakers, it was very welcoming to be greeted by an American English speaker. It just made communication easy and because Sarah was so friendly and welcoming from the start we felt comfortable and at home. The villa was equipped with everything we needed, including a fully stocked kitchen (meaning pots, pans, plates, utensils, coffee maker, microwave, wine bottle openers, etc. - not food), bath towels, bedding, hair dryers, and the Internet. It was lovely!
Enjoyed Most:
The way it was decorated, it's cleanliness, and how peaceful it was.
Surrounding Area:
I loved that we were not in a congested, touristy area. Being in a small town allowed us to relax more.
Nearby Events or Locales:
La Spezia was the nearest small town. It is walkable but the road is hilly and windy so it is better to go by cartaxibus.
Tips or Restaurants:
Definitely bring adapters for using your electronics. Bring shampoo and conditioner. Don't forget to bring a swimsuit! La Gira is a restaurant that Sarah told us about. It is a small neighborhood restaurant that is walking distance from the Villa (very convenient). The food is decent. The hours are hard to predict. In La Spezia we ate at a restaurant called Vicolo Intherno. It can be described as modern Italian. It was yummy!
Directions:
We used GPS to get from the Genova airport to the villa. We started using the written directions we were given as we got closer to the lla. Although the directions are very detailed, because the villa is tucked away and not visible from the street, we still managed to pass it.
Check In Out:
No additional comments. Check in and check out were straightforward and easy.

Sosena, May

Overall:
This villa was amazing and far exceeded my expectations. It was absolutely beautiful -everything from the plush landscape and stunning views, to the quaint furnishings. Everyday we woke up in awe that we had the opportunity to stay at such a lovely place it was like paradise. The bedrooms were all cozy and nicely decorated and offered views from every window. The bathrooms were clean and up-to-date. There were lots of comfy places to eat and lounge. The kitchen was also cute and well stocked-we used it every morning to cook breakfast and a few other meals. Sarah was absolutely amazing and extended herself in more than one way during our stay. She was very responsive if we had any questions or needed help beyond her call of duty. I really look forward to staying at one of her properties again and wish that she had them all around the world.
Enjoyed Most:
It is hard to say what I like most because I loved everything! If I had to choose, I would say the outdoor space. The covered patio area was the perfect place to sip my morning coffee while taking in the scenery. We also enjoyed a few meals outside and had several late nights by the fire pit. There were lots of candles to light and even a heat lamp for the cool evenings. The infinity pool was also perfect for those days of relaxation. There is nothing like being able to take a dip in a pool while simultaneously enjoying the view of La Spezia below.
Enjoyed Least:
I loved everything about the property itself. The only thing that was some what difficult was that everything surrounding it closed really early.
Surrounding Area:
I loved the views and charm of La Spezia. It was amazing to be able to take in the mountains and sea in the same view. It did not seem to be a real touristy area which is part of its charm -it made for more of a local experience which I appreciate when traveling to another country.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest town was La Spezia. It was probably a 2 mile walk from the villa. There were a couple of restaurants in walking distance that we frequented during our stay for cuisine authentic to the area.
Tips or Restaurants:
I would suggest renting a car. It is hard to get a taxi or catch a bus from the villa unless you have a way to call and request one. Also, don't forget to bring adapters for anything you will need to plug, i.e. laps, cell phones, etc. There was a great restaurant at the top of the steps on the property. We ate there almost every day. I would also recommend Vicolo Intherno which is in La Spezia. There was a grocery store called the Penny Mart I think. It was very close to the villa and a affordable place to stock up on food and wine.
Directions:
The directions to the property are great. If you put the information in the GPS the way the way you are instructed, and actually read the directions, you should be just fine.
Check In Out:
The check in and out process was fine. Sarah was absolutely lovely to work with. The airline lost our luggage so we arrived later than expected. We notified Sarah when we were going to be late and she was perfectly flexible and even notified the chef that we would be late so that we could have a little more time to settle in before they arrived.

Keilah, May