Vacation Rentals by Owner

Cozy Garden Apartment

Guest: Lisa (Pennsylvania, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/28/12 Review Submitted: 05/12/12

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this apartment in Carmiano. The apartment itself is comfortable and had all the amenities we needed, and the garden outside was wonderful. We treated ourselves to fresh-squeezed orange juice from the trees outside nearly every morning, and made lemonade with the lemons. Many evenings we sat outside enjoying the quite surroundings and sweet little Fonzie the dog. When we arrived, we were delighted to find the kitchen stocked with fresh bread, prosciutto, cheese, grilled eggplant, milk, wine, coffee, and other necessities. Delicious and much appreciated! Our biggest problem was finding the apartment! Streets in Carmiano are poorly marked and we did not have a GPS, so we drove around for some time before asking a policeman for directions. There is not much to do in Carmiano, so a car is necessary to explore the many interesting villages and sites nearby. A parking spot is available but we parked on the street and had not problems. We also had a little trouble getting a decent signal on the wifi until we discovered the one spot in the apartment where it seemed to work (sitting on the sofa in the living room).

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A Perfect Gem in the Italian Countryside

Guest: Mary (Ashburn, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/09/11 Review Submitted: 10/31/11

My husband and I rented this delightful apartment for one month. It was absolutely perfect! We took the train to Lecce, where Ada picked us up. We were travelling with our bikes and that was no problem for her. When we arrived in Carmiano, a charmingly beautiful town in the Salento, our apartment was spotless! Even the sheets on the bed were ironed. Ada oriented us to the workings of the apartment, gave us a tour of the gorgeous garden, replete with plums, figs, lemons, limes and grapes, and told us to please help ourselves! Believe me, we did! We met Fonzie, their little dog, who was adorable! The owners live in the apartment next door, so they are always there to help (and bring you yummy Italian dishes, just out of the oven!) The kitchen is a typical small apartment kitchen, but it is fully loaded. Great gas stove and oven, fridge with a freezer that makes cubes in no time. Lots of hot water in the kitchen AND the bath. Plenty of cooking utensils. AND, Ada had stocked it up! Fresh bread, fruit, cheese, meat, wine, juice, crackers...I could go on. Perfect for the weary traveller who doesn't want to go shopping that night. There is a train station in Carmiano, but it is the FSE, not Trenitalia, so you have to check closely to see when trains come and go. But, just 7K away is the larger city of Lecce, that has excellent train service. Since we brought our bikes, we did not rent a car, but biked and trained all over the Salento as well as Basilicata. Carmiano is equidistant between the coasts, so a perfect location for day trips! We loved going the various little shops, the bakery, the fruit and veggie man, the meat man, the fish man...it was all SO fresh and delicious! The local folks were so kind and helpful to us, that we really felt like we were part of the town. You don't come here for the nightlife, so don't expect that, but if you want a TRUE Italian experience, this is the place for you! The weather was perfect (Sept/Oct), sunny and warm/cool. Only one day of rain. We have rented from VRBO many times and this was the best rental by far!

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relaxing in Salento

Guest: linda and Roy (Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 06/05/11

My husband and I stayed here for 4 weeks in March/April 2011 and we loved it. Carmiano is only a short drive to either the Adriatic or the Ionian sea. The town is small but fine for food shopping and the small stores that Ada recommends eg. bakery and greengrocer are excellent and very friendly. Actually, everyone we met in Carmiano would make suggestions of things we would enjoy. We used the bus and train but also rented a car for 7 days. There is less traffic in this part of Italy and Ada will help you out with directions to avoid confusion. There are a lot of beautiful places to visit at a relaxed pace. Car rental was made easy with the help of both Salvatore and Ada and there is an agency in Carmiano.We strongly recommend car rental for at least part of the time since Carmiano is a well located place for sightseeing the area but is not a destination place on it's own. We felt so at home in this apt. with all the little extra touches that they add. We had a glorious spring, watching their fruit trees come into blossom,enjoying their gorgeous garden, reading by the fountain in the sun and playing with their cute dog Fonzie.My lessons in artichoke preparation from Ada were so helpful, I was able to make them as an antipasto dish when I returned to Canada. They made us feel like family while totally respecting our privacy too. They are wonderful people and we miss them!

Recommended for:Age 55+

Ideally situated for visiting Southern Italy

Guest: Toothache (Surrey, England)
Date of Stay: 11/06/10 Review Submitted: 12/03/10

The hospitality of Salvatore and his mother was fantastic. As stated in other reviews the fridge and larder are well stocked on arrival with home made sauces, pasta and local wine. The apartment was spotlessly clean with a very comfortable bed. The kitchen was rather tiny but we managed. There is off street parking and a large garden to enjoy. We were also encouraged to pick fresh lemons from the tree and the most wonderful tangerines. Carmiano is a typical Southern Italy town and is ideally situated for driving to both coasts. We had a dental emergency whilst staying here and Salvatore and his mother could not have been more helpful, they really were wonderful. Thank you. We would really recommend this apartment for visiting the "heel" of Italy.

Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing.

Carmiano

Guest: John and Ethel (Edmonton Alberta Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 04/06/11

All the other reviews basically say it all--friendly, helpful hosts, clean, well-equippped apartment, lots of delicious food provided, pick-up and drop-off at the train station in Lecce as well. A car would make visiting other places easier, but we managed with buses and trains.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Perfect Vacation

Guest: Fred and Janet Borch (Virginia, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

My husband and I stayed in this wonderful apartment for 7 nights. Our experience was perfect from day one. The apartment is spotlessly clean and has all of the essentials for a very relaxing long term stay to include free internet connection. The bed is king-sized and very comfortable and the bedroom opens out onto a lovely fenced in patio that looks onto a garden of fruit trees. We rented a car and Ada let us park our car in the garage behind the locked gate. Before our arrival, Ada had the refrigerator well-stocked with fruit, cheese, juice, eggs, etc. along with wine, cookies, fresh bread,and homemade pasta sauces. We were able to see many sights in the Puglia region because of a car but there is sufficient public transportation to see many places without a car. We especially enjoyed swimming in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, visiting wonderful towns such as Lecce, Gallipoli, Alberobello, Otranto and Oria and eating the very delicious specialties of this region. We hope to return to both the region and the apartment someday soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Go relax in beautiful Puglia !

Guest: Andi (Carmarthen, Wales)
Date of Stay: 08/08/10 Review Submitted: 08/16/10

My wife and I recently visited Puglia for the first time and were not disappointed. The location of Salvatore's apartment is most convenient for the beautiful city of Lecce, the Ionian and Adriatic coasts, 'Trulli' jaunts and many other wonderful aspects of life in Puglia. The apartment is super - quite simply, it's spotless, well presented and generously stocked with Puglian treats both on arrival and throughout your stay. Salvatore and his mother are readily available to assist but sensitively and without being obtrusive. All household appliances and conveniences are available including a most relaxing garden area. My wife and I enjoyed the city of Lecce greatly. An evening in Lecce will remain with you forever. We would rate it quite comfortably alongside Aix-en-Provence, Florence and Sienna. We are most grateful to Salvatore for ensuring our Puglian experience was a truly happy and memorable one .... diolch / thank you ... grazie !

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful Apartment

Guest: Robert and Barbara (Seattle, WA, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/09/10 Review Submitted: 05/21/10

This is a lovely apartment with wonderful hosts. We recommend it highly. It is bright, very clean, comfortable and strategically located in a small town just outside of Lecce. It’s small kitchen is full equipped, and the lovely patio and garden are a quiet retreat. It is convenient to many of the most interesting and important sights in Puglia and tom the ocean. Salvatore and his mother and grandmother (who live in the same building) are caring, gracious hosts. We arrived on a Sunday when stores were closed, and they had provided more than enough for us to make dinner and breakfast the next morning. During our one week stay they brought us special regional treats from the bakery, and invited us to pick oranges and lemons from their garden. We couldn’t ask for anything more. We’d return in a heartbeat.

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A Great Stay

Guest: Melissa and Bernie (Richmond B.C. Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/25/10 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

We concur with the other comments. The apartment is everything we could ask for and more. Comfortable, spotlessly clean, with a small but complete kitchen, a lovely patio and garden from where we plucked fresh lemons and oranges. Salvatore started us out with a fully stocked fridge and later brought us local treats and food made fresh from his mother and grandmother (which were fantastic!) and he was always available to answer questions and give advice We were also provided with wireless internet access and a selection of movies/dvds. Carmiano is a typical small southern Italian town, not at all touristy but friendly as can be. We shopped every day for local meat, fish, produce, pasta and pastry. The shop keepers spoke little English and we, limited Italian but it wasn't a problem. The drivers are in just as much of a hurry as in Rome but, out of their cars, everyone we met had time for us. We were glad to have car as there are countless sights to see within a hour or so's drive and in every direction.

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Guest: Pamela and Tilliski Ramey (Athens, Georgia USA)
Date of Stay: 02/07/10 Review Submitted: 02/06/10

Laziness and a full calendar of travel kept us from reponding earlier. My son and I had a chance to spend May 2009 in southern Italy and then on to other parts of Europe. It was his graduation from university gift. Salvatore's home in southern Italy was one of our stops. His mother, Ada and his grandmother, Raffaela are fabulous. Salvatore explains that his family treats their guests the way they'd like to be treated if they were the guests instead of the host. I loved that. Absolutely the best place to stay if you enjoy being pampered. Cupboards full of food, fridge too. Everything from appetizers to desserts and local wines right there in the kitchen. Tilliski loved access to the internet and the washing machine. Kids! Go figure. We both loved Carmiano, a memorable family pizza restaurant we stumbled across - and we both have the best stories to tell of Carmiano, Lecce, and Matera. We experienced utter friendliness from townsfolks and even during our many misadventures in a bakery and a meat market and even a fruit market (great stuff - funny too). We stayed about 8 glorious days with the Family Vadacca and had no car. Salvatore insisted on taking us where ever we needed to go until we caught on to the train and bus service which is convenient and a lot of fun too. Salvatore's beautiful home was the highlight of Italy for us. HELLO SALVATORE AND ADA!!! - SORRY SO LONG IN POSTING A FEW DETAILS OF OUR GREAT HOLIDAY WITH YOU LAST SPRING. Pamela Ramey(Athens, GA) Tilliski Ramey (Chicago, IL) USA

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/13/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

We recently spent 6 nights in this apartment and were very comfortable. We arrived late our first evening but were immediately made to feel welcome by Signora Ada who had prepared supper for us and stocked the fridge with enough to keep us going for several days. She continued to present us with local delicacies and to be most helpful - providing us with beach towels and a reclining chair when we expressed interest in going to the sea - and generally being most attentive to our needs. We would recommend this apartment without hesitation.

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Guest: Teri and Mel (Victoria, British Columbia)
Date of Stay: 09/26/09 Review Submitted: 09/26/09

We recently spent a week in Carmiano and were impressed from the first moment on. Salvatore picked us up at the train station and then he and his mother, Ada showed us around the spotless apartment.They had thoughttfully stocked the very functional kitchen with food and wine (and fresh flowers) for a day or two. We really enjoyed Ada's homemade bolognese sauce and the many treats they sent our way during the week. From their beatiful garden we enjoyed grapes, figs, lemons and almonds and loved spending time on the patio. We did not have a rental car and yet were able to see Lecce and Galipoli by train/bus. We enjoyed shopping in the local fish market, bakery and pasta shop. We loved the village of Carmiano and the warmth of Salvatore, his mother and grandmother. By the time we left we felt more like house guests rather than renters. We would highly recommend this apartment to anyone who is looking for a taste of southern Italy.

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Guest: Yury (Moscow, Russia)
Date of Stay: 09/07/09 Review Submitted: 09/06/09

I had a rest in ?partments with the wife and the child of 12 years within 10 days since August, 16th, 2009. Apartments me have very much amazed in the best sense of this word. These magnificent, recently repaired apartments are completed completely. Specially to our arrival the refrigerator has been filled by products, and hospitable owners constantly supplied us with fresh fruit from a garden. In vicinities Carmiano beautiful places and beaches which I advise you are located many to visit. The car on which to the nearest beaches it is possible to reach for 15 minutes is for this purpose necessary. Thanks to owners for hospitality, goodwill and quiet rest. I recommend these apartments very much to all who it appreciates.

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Guest: John Thorp (Victoria BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 06/18/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/09

Diane and I stayed here for 6 nights in the middle of May (05/18 - 23)- we would have commented earlier but have only just got home. Our stay was wonderful - more like staying in Savatore's home than in an apartment. Food (and wine) - enough for our first dinner and breakfast - was waiting for us on arrival and more appeared during our stay. The apartment was very comfortable and we cannot say enough about the hospitality of Salvatore and his family. I agree with other comments that you do need a car (which you can park in the garage) and, Diane, who was the navigator would add, a GPS!

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Guest: Robert and Rozanne Pianta (Melbourne Australia)
Date of Stay: 06/18/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/09

This is indeed an outstanding appartment. We arrived by car having followed Salvatore's detailed instructions to find a spotlessly clean appartment with fresh flowers, a fully stocked fridge and a fruit bowl filled,including the sweetest home grown oranges ever eaten.Ada and Raffaela are absolute gems and their daily surprises of local goodies were typical of the 'extras' here. This is a most comfortable unit where every thing works, the garden is full of fruit trees and available. Carmiano is close to all places in southern Puglia but I believe a car helps here. I loved daily shopping in this friendly town. Salvatore is a true gentleman who assists willingly--he loaned us a laptop! I highly recommend this apartment in Puglia.

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Guest: Linda Owen (Sydney, N.S.W. Australia)
Date of Stay: 08/30/08 Review Submitted: 08/30/08

From the moment Salvatore Vadacca met me at the train station in Lecce I felt welcome. And when I left one month later I felt I was leaving as a friend, not as a client!! I cannot say enough about the Family Vadacca and about their comfortable and extremely well equiped apartment. From the soft, fluffy towels, the microwave, the washing machine, the spacious bed and the fridge and pantry with enough food to start me off in style. But above the comfort of the apartment I must speak about the kindness and generous natures of Signora Mele, Signora Vadacca and of course Salvatore Vadacca. Me being a student of Italian they were patient with me, spending time and even helping me with my homework. As well Salvatore, Signora Ada Vadacca invited me on outtings and excursions. In closing I can only say the very best about the apartment and the wonderful family Vadacca and would recommned anyone to staying with them. The one negative (for me) was that without a car, I found myself restricted in seeing a number of the wonderful sites in the area. Much of what I did see was thanks to Signora Ada and Salvatore Vadacca.

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Guest: Eileen Rossiter (Old St. Mellons, Cardiff, UK)
Date of Stay: 08/28/08 Review Submitted: 08/27/08

We chose to rent this lovely apartment because of the wonderful comments left on this site by previous guests. Indeed this place was a home away from home. Salvatore met us at the train station in Lecce with a warm welcome. On arrival at the apartment we were greeted warmly by Ada and Raffaela. The kitchen was equipped with everything from Teabags to cookies and generous supplies of ready ingredients to keep us well fed for the week. In short we were spoiled rotten! The fruit backet was replenished every couple of days with apricots, plums and grapes from the beautiful garden and it was just heaven to relax on the patio outside our bedroom. Our three hosts were helpful and kind and we would recommend to one and all not to miss the chance to experience their warm hospitality. We hope to return someday soon. Eileen Rossiter,

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Guest: Marvin H. Geller (Princeton NJ)
Date of Stay: 05/19/08 Review Submitted: 05/19/08

We have rented numerous apartments and houses in varying parts of Italy. None have equaled the experience provided by the Vadacca family and their lovely, exceptionally comfortable, well- supplied apartment. They are the most warm and genereous of hosts who enjoy providing their guests with an unforgettable experience. Each morning they would bring some special home- made goody or some delicious tid-bit typical of Pulgia. We have no reservation whatsoever recommending their apartment to anyone wanting to visit Puglia. As we moved on to another part of Italy and another apartment we kept wishing were were back with the Vadacca's. Marvin and Carolyn Geller Princeton NJ USA

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Guest: Lawrence and Mariela (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Date of Stay: 11/21/07 Review Submitted: 11/21/07

This rental was by far one of the best accommodations my wife and I have EVER rented. The apartment was well proportioned, beautifully decorated and furnished, exceptionally clean and well maintained, and included all of the amenities you could ever want, including generous fine linens, cooking utensils, and EVEN fresh flowers, and specialty items awaiting us in the kitchen. The apartment is about a 10 minute walk from the train/bus station from where we easily made excursions to Lecce (10 minutes away), Otranto, Gallipolli, and Galatone. The best part of our stay was getting to know Salvatore (who also speaks English), and his lovely family (mother-Ada, and grandmother-Raffaela) who were the friendliest, most generous, kindest, and helpful hosts we've ever met. We were especially lucky to spend a most memorable day with Ada and Raffaela. We would recommend these accommodations in a heart beat, and can not wait to go back to stay here and use it as a base for exploring more of beautiful Apulia!

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Guest: Maria, Hayden and Gilman Miller (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/10/07 Review Submitted: 06/10/07

We highly recommend this lovely apartment, which is very convenient to Lecce. We stayed for 6 nights without a car and were able to get around on foot and by bus and train. The fully-stocked kitchen and spacious garden made our stay very comfortable, especially since we were traveling our 2-year-old son. Above all, our hosts Salvatore, Ada and Rafaella treated us like family -- frequently going out of their way to ensure we fully enjoyed ourselves.

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Guest: Mary and Bruce Manhire (Metamora, Michigan USA)
Date of Stay: 06/02/07 Review Submitted: 06/02/07

We spent over a week at this charming home with people who have become friends. The apartment was lovely, the gardens beautiful, the oranges and lemons delicious and most of all, the homeowners kind, friendly, and helpful. We spent eight weeks in Italy, and this wonderful place was our favorite. We didn't want to leave. That area of Italy is especially rich in history and interesting to explore. We also found that the residents of Carmiano were friendly and helpful as well. What a perfect, comfortable, and welcoming place to be!

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Guest: Bob & Nancy Breslin (Trinidad, California)
Date of Stay: 05/05/07 Review Submitted: 05/05/07

We found this apartment comfortably furnished, fully equipped (including a washing machine) and stocked with food and supplies for our arrival. This was surpassed only by the gracious hospitality of our hosts, Ada, Salvatore, and Rafaella who are also great sources of information on Puglia’s history, attractions, food, and wine. We arrived as tourists but left with a feeling of new-found friends. We wholeheartedly recommend a stay here.

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Guest: Francois & Iryna (Ottawa - Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/29/06 Review Submitted: 10/29/06

Very clean comfortable apartment ideally located between the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea. This location is perfect for day trips to Lecce, Gallipoli, Porto Caesarea and many other attractions located around this area and within a day’s reach. On arrival, we found our kitchen stocked with the basic requirements to get us going for the first few days, right down to fruits, coffee, tea, and sugar for our first breakfast. This holiday was so much more than we anticipated, and we would definitely recommend staying in this house to anyone who would like to experience a relaxing, friendly and totally unique travel experience. Thanks again for your hospitality and the warm, family welcome!!

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Guest: Domenico and Renate Costantini
Date of Stay: 06/02/06 Review Submitted: 06/01/06

This is our 3rd holiday spent in "villa Raffaela". We are very pleased with our stay. Carmiano is a well-situated town. You can reach the wonderful city of Lecce in less than 15 minutes. In a short time you can also get to the amazing seaside resort of Porto Cesareo, with its pure shores and crystal clear waters. The apartment is comfortable and the garden is relaxing. Thank you Ada for your kindness and your suggestions on the places to visit.

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