Where to start???? Let’s see, we’ve stayed in at least a dozen VRBO’s over the years with almost all good experiences. This place had such “good bones” that all it needed was some care and it would have been just fine. Unfortunately, the care wasn’t there and it put a damper on our stay…..
So, to the specifics. Varenna is built into a hillside, steps are everywhere. We’re in our 70’s and, while traveling light, we were spending just under a month in Europe, so our bags weren’t all that light. We liked this place because it had an elevator, but when we got there, we learned it was out of order and no one made a move to fix it the entire time we were there. Schlepping our bags up 40+ stairs (and the last series without a handrail) was a real pain, to say the least. When we got inside, we found a sign saying that children under 10 years old were “expressly forbidden” (their words) from going up and down those interior stairs without a parent – we guess because it didn’t have a handrail …geeeez – really? Oh, it’s two story, so we had to manage those stairs all the time.
To give it its due, the place was clean, but barren – just not inviting. Nothing welcoming, in fact nothing at all - like a bottle of water, sale and pepper, spices, paper towels, napkins, coffee (but a real nice empty Nespresso pod holder), etc. etc. etc.
The hinges on both toilet seats were broken, which we found incredibly annoying, to add to the annoyance, the toilet paper holders were also broken. The sink faucet is coming loose – who knows when it will fall off. There was a nice tool kit, but it lacked a screwdriver which I needed to fix the handle on the French Press coffee maker (yes, we found a market the next day to get coffee).
The foldout couch has seen better centuries and the dirty cushions don’t stay on. BTW - a throw blanket or some such might have been nice. The living space is plenty big, but to use the dishwasher or oven requires you to move the dining table – come on.
That’s our story and we’re sticking too it. Oh, did we say that it was quite expensive and is managed by a rental agent, so you’d thnk that someone should have known better.