The house, gardens and terrace are as gorgeous as the photo's suggest. The terrace is where we spent the most time, lazing in the shade. It’s a 3 bed property, but there are enough reception rooms that groups could comfortably stay together and enjoy their own space.
The swimming pool is the real cherry on the cake. Overlooking the spectacular lake with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains that just cannot be captured in photographs. The pool was a great temperature during our 9 day stay in the middle of June ’18 (we often find other unheated villa pools so cold, but this was perfect, perhaps as it’s not too deep). It’s deep enough to jump in and swim lengths ‘chest deep’ on my husband, but has the very reassuring safety features of a pool alarm and foot ledges running along the inside for less-able little swimmers.
A car is essential as it’s in a charming, rural spot. The setting is as private as it comes and incredibly peaceful. There is a road set back behind the property but it’s only used infrequently and goes unnoticed and the lake feels like it’s there just for you, with no one else around bar the horses in the distance gathered at the bank for a drink.
You’re a short drive from the supermarche, beaches, shops and restaurants of Aleria or you are well based to travel a little further and explore waterfalls or take boat trips etc.
The real treasures of this property are the owners. You entrust your precious annual holiday to strangers, hoping that they will take care of you - and these owners didn’t disappoint. Every communication was a genuine pleasure (of which there were many, as I’m a total chatterbox). They have the most beautifully sweet property (Air con would have been a bonus as us Brits aren’t acclimatised to warm weather, but the fans helped keep the night-time heat at bay). I’m incredibly grateful that my family got to experience it and hope to return.
We are a family of 3 who have very high expectations for our one precious holiday a year. My husband has a stressful career and I’m a 24/7 carer for our daughter with complex medical needs. Sometimes high-end villas feel too precious like you can’t touch anything, or other times like you’re staying in someone else’s home with all of their possessions. That is not the case here. We like a home from home feeling, peaceful surrounding, no neighbours, light, space and a good Wifi connection. The lakehouse met all of our requirements in spades!
The Millward family highly recommend.