Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
Read our review policy
Italian Riviera B&B, independent reviews
 Reviewed 30 Jul 2008 by Carolina Arguedas-Villa |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The atmosphere of the place: everything seems to be made with a lot of detail and lovely intention, you find details everywhere: in the room, during the breakfast, in the parking place (and everywhere as well have such a wonderful view, it was amazing!) and that for me is the best, that you feel very comfortable, relax in this place. You enjoy every single minute of your stay and Pier is one of the most important parts of this experience, his charm, charisma and love for what he does influences truly the atmosphere and your mood there.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Trust in the reviews!!! They help a lot to take a decision.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, because what Pier cooks is organic and/or local and even the places he recommends for dinner are in the line of agrotourism and special local food.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Perfect!!!
| Reviewed 31 Jul 2006 by Emma Cullen | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Pier! He owned the B&B and was very helpful. He cooked wonderful breakfasts each morning that allowed us to sample a range of Italian food. He recommended places to go in the day e.g. the Hanbury Gardens and places to eat in the evening.
As part of the honeymoon package we ate in a restaurant overlooking Montecarlo. It was amazing! We swam in the sea, and in the Alpine springs. We saw lots of inland villages and seaside areas in Italy and France. There was so much to do!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You need a car that can cope with steep hills. The road to the B&B is very steep with few places to pass a car. This also applies to some of the roads in the mountains of course.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. There were few tourists so we helped the local people by eating out every night including a wonderful family run restaurant on top of a mountain! Pier also used organic, fresh food for his breakfasts, some of which comes from local farmers.
4. Any other comments?
***** Excellent!
| Reviewed 20 Aug 2009 by Steph Chu | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We went to this accommodation as a slightly alternative honeymoon and had a lovely week. Pier was a great host and made our stay very enjoyable. The rooms were beautifully and uniquely decorated and very clean. The continental breakfasts were amazing with fresh passionfruit from the trees. One of the highlights was being able to pick figs, peaches, tomatoes and basil with the organic farmer nearby and eat it all as a picnic with a good bottle of wine overlooking the sea... fab!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We didn't hire a car but were quite happy staying in the very local vicinity (beaches/town centre) - it would have been worth hiring a car to explore the mountain villages and go further afield but we only had a short stay (1 week) and really didn't want to rush around. Without a car be prepared to walk up steep steep hills in the blazing sun!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Great. A very quiet, relaxing week with great food and it was all extremely affordable.
| Reviewed 25 Oct 2008 by Claude Rothstein | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The slow pace of life, the gastronomic delights, care and attention given to our stay, very very relaxing!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Definitely hire a car to explore the region.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A very pleasurable relaxing holiday with a wonderful host. Pier was charming and had fabulous English and extensive local knowledge - a joy to share conversation with.
| Reviewed 22 Aug 2008 by Ian Napier | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The glorious view of the sea and the bay from Pier's breakfast balcony at the accommodation lifted the spirit each morning. Our host, Pier, was kindness and generosity itself and his breakfasts - melon and delicious ham, artichoke tart, fried courgette flowers and a freshly baked cake each day, among many other gargantuan meals - were always delicious. The area itself is a fascinating mixture of rural Italy, with mountainous roads leading to medieval villages and yet France and the glamorous Cote d'Azur only 15minutes away.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The accommodation is more suited to a relaxed type of traveller, with time to chat over the breakfast table in Pier's house, full of his belongings, than to those seeking the sterile luxury of modern hotel rooms. The drive up to the house is steep because it is an ancient building set on the side of a hill and the surroundings are rural because his neighbours are farmers. This is not a run-of-the-mill B&B for tourists, but it is a charming place with stupendous views and well-worth mastering the steep road up for. By the way, if you are hiring a car to visit this area, don't let them upgrade you to a big one - a small, nippy car is much better for exploring the medieval mountain villages nearby.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, Pier sources all his food locally with a strong emphasis on organic produce and - being a B&B - we tried different restaurants every evening.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a wonderful time.
| Reviewed 6 Jun 2007 by Lydia Jones | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Fantastic mountain views, incuding goats. The happiness on my daughters face as she learnt to surf. The wonderful breakfasts prepared by Pier.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Explore the mountains and enjoy the Italian fresh produce. Careful in the public toilets of the local sewer rats.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The breakfasts were all pepared with the local produce of small farners and tasted fantastic. Piers local knowledge was a great help with getting around.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic enjoyed by all
| Reviewed 2 Jan 2007 by Clara Morri | |
We enjoyed our holiday very much and cannot fault the accommodation; it was clean, warm and well appointed. Pier was very kind, if a little disorganised, but I felt that it was part of the charm of being there. His instructions and pre arrival information is good, just don't leave it the car in England like I did! A word of warning, and this may have been because we were on a discounted rate and ate breakfast late, but the Continental breakfast varies in quantity and quality. So if you like breakfast, either ask for the Full Breakfast, or go out and get something from the many bakeries or supermarket in the town.
The region feels completely different - very low key compared to the French Riviera - which I really liked. We hired a car from Nice; the journey only took about an hour. A car is a necessity if you want to explore the region; however, the traffic in Ventimiglia is bad, especially on Fridays when there is a big market.
In terms of going out, Pier is helpful, there is a good Enoteca (wine bar) with a lively crowd in Ventimiglia - but it shuts early, as we discovered. We also found eating out somewhat disappointing, especially after wandering around the market in Ventimiglia and seeing fantastic fresh pasta, gnocchi, fruit and vegetables.
All in all, it was very good value for money, it was nice to stay with and hopefully help out local tourism/economy - recommended it you're looking for a complete break. Hope that this is of some help.
The region feels completely different - very low key compared to the French Riviera - which I really liked. We hired a car from Nice; the journey only took about an hour. A car is a necessity if you want to explore the region; however, the traffic in Ventimiglia is bad, especially on Fridays when there is a big market.
In terms of going out, Pier is helpful, there is a good Enoteca (wine bar) with a lively crowd in Ventimiglia - but it shuts early, as we discovered. We also found eating out somewhat disappointing, especially after wandering around the market in Ventimiglia and seeing fantastic fresh pasta, gnocchi, fruit and vegetables.
All in all, it was very good value for money, it was nice to stay with and hopefully help out local tourism/economy - recommended it you're looking for a complete break. Hope that this is of some help.
| Reviewed 5 Sep 2006 by Peter Zerp | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The relaxed atmosphere our host created, the chance to taste the local specialities cooked by himself from natural products from the local farmers, really relaxing in a very nice and warm environment near the sea and gorgeous villages and historical places.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Best way to get there is flying in at Nice airport, with a car it's 45 minutes from the airport. You can access the area with public transport. You have to get out at Menton and arrange the owner of the bed and breakfast to pick you up. Prepare yourself with a good travel guide, there is so much to see and enjoy, you would not want to miss out on anything! Contact with Pier, the owner is very easy. He is a really sweet and helpful guy. He can give you lots of tips to get around. And he is a really good cook!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The house and area around the bed and breakfast is really good preserved. It is surrounded with farmers who grow their fruits and vegetables biological, so no chemicals, it's all natural. Lots of the food used for the breakfast comes from these farmers. Sometimes just picked that morning. Also the fact that this region is not spoiled by real estate development like lots of places in nearby France makes this a special place, it's a quiet and historical place, a good way to get out of every day busy life in the city like we have.
4. Any other comments?
We had a fantastic time in Ventimiglia. Our overall rating is **** surely something I would recommend and we will surely come back here again.
| Reviewed 27 Jun 2006 by Jorn Peters | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The breakfast was a unique experience. The very friendly and helpful host, Pier, freshly prepared all sorts of different local specialities every morning. Highlights included fresh figs with Parma ham, oven-warm courgette pie, home-made focaccia with rosemary and sea salt and oven-warm pear chocolate cake.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Ideal for travellers who love small individual B&Bs and eating delicious local food.
The accommodation is on a hillside outside Ventimiglia (45 min. walk into town). Splendid views across the sea and the mountains from up there. A photo with views from one of the 3 guest rooms is attached. Ventimiglia itself is not a tourist hot-spot, therefore it is not overcrowded with other tourists.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - see above.
| Reviewed 18 Nov 2005 by Juliet Wilson | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We had a wonderfully relaxing time starting each day with long breakfasts served on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The breakfasts were made up of local dishes prepared by the proprietor, Pier, using local, organic ingredients wherever possible. Pier is a generous, helpful and interesting host! The rooms are beautifully decorated and have views over the Mediterranean. Italian Riviera B&B stands on a hillside that is covered in olive trees and Mediterranean shrubs. Even in November there is a wealth of butterflies flying around. We also saw a large praying mantis! We enjoyed wandering round Ventimiglia and had several nice trips to places of interest round about. It very nicely complemented our city break in Turin.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Given that the Italian Riviera B&B is perched on the side of a steep hill and is accessed by small winding steps leading from a very steep road, it is not suitable for people with mobility problems.
Pier speaks excellent English. However it is really useful to be able to speak some Italian to get round Ventimiglia (though expect people to helpfully reply in French as soon as they realise you're not Italian!).
The local bus services are adequate and Ventimiglia is accessible by foot (though the pavements are not good). However it may be advisable to hire a car, especially if you want to go further afield, or reach some of the more isolated villages nearby. However parking in Ventimiglia can apparently be a problem and some of the local roads are spectacularly steep.
Tips for sights to see: the medieval town of Dolceaqua; the Hanbury Botanic Gardens; Menton (in France). Ventimiglia itself is a lovely place. Please ignore those who say its barely worth a look! It has a lovely medieval area on a hill, all narrow winding streets and the newer part of town has many nice cafes, restaurants and shops as well as being pretty and pleasant to wander round. It has an international market every week, that is well worth visiting.
Expect warm weather (it got up to 25 degrees Centigrade this November!). However take a waterproof (we had 24 hours of constant rain in the midst of otherwise constant sunshine). Also in autumn it can get chilly in the evenings so take a jumper.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. The Italian Riviera B&B is housed in part of an old convent that has been beautifully restored. Breakfasts consist of dishes typical of the region, made using local organic ingredients where possible. Pier is very ready to talk about the local environment and community, so that you feel as though you are getting to know something about the area.
4. Any other comments?
4* Not that there are any grandchildren! I've already recommended it to several people.
| Reviewed 7 Nov 2005 by Gavin Rea | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Ventimiglia is an excellent base for touring both the Ligurian coast of Italy, but also the French Riviera. It seems to have its own micro-climate, so although we travelled in November it was still warm enough to sit on the outside terrace in our shirtsleeves to eat our breakfast and admire the beautiful views. Pier was a wonderful and thoughtful host and gave us loads of information about the best places to visit, and where to eat. His breakfasts were nothing short of sensational. All the food was freshly prepared using traditional recipes and local ingredients. It was not unusual to have 7-8 separate dishes (fresh fruit, flans, caprese, pastries, aubergines, artichokes, foccacia etc.) all tasting quite delicious. Breakfast could easily last 1.5 hours if you were not in a hurry, and you certainly didn't need lunch!
Highlight was a visit to the mediaeval village of Dolceacqua (about 5 miles away) with its castle and dark, mysterious alleyways running through the village. Ventimiglia has a huge Friday market with the emphasis on clothes and leather goods. Generally good quality with some big bargains. The old town is well worth exploring.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The accommodation is about 1.5 miles from Ventimiglia and at the top of quite a steep climb, so a car is recommended but not essential. Buses and trains were very cheap with a railway station close by.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Pier makes a point of buying local, organic produce (including from his neighbours) so that they benefit directly. This also saves so much wasteful packaging.
| Reviewed 5 Sep 2007 by William Amos | |
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do not expect wi-fi or flat screen TVs but do expect fantastic breakfasts.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Enjoyable.
Read the operator's response here:
We do have Wi-Fi, the concerned kind guest did not ask us the password| Reviewed 3 Nov 2008 by Dominic Wilkinson | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Beautiful views and sunset from the bedroom. We also enjoyed our brief chance to explore the old town of Ventimiglia - a place we probably would not otherwise have visited.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Not a good choice for small children, or people with heavy bags. There are a large number of stairs that are not terribly safe for children, and are hard work to carry bags up and down.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An interesting and unusual place to stay. The house was full of knick knacks and had a lot of personality. The host was friendly but somewhat eccentric. (We were chased away from our breakfast table after arriving too early, then berated for not eating enough!)