Vacation Rentals by Owner

Un goût de paradis

Guest: Thouvenel e. (Paris)
Date of Stay: 04/29/12 Review Submitted: 05/06/12

Nous avions pourtant vu les photos du site...mais le choc a l arrivée était bien réel...une vue a couper le souffle, la mer incroyablement bleue, Cliff House baignée de soleil, dominant calmement ce paysage incomparable, un silence total. La magie du site a joue et nous avons passe un long moment, contemplatifs, émus par une telle beauté, une telle harmonie. Le site est remarquable, chaque vue est enchanteresse, la maison est belle, spacieuse, la piscine est divine, et la plage privée est vaste , entretenue et magnifique.très vite nous reviendrons voir les citrons pousser, surprendre les lézards verts, et nous émerveiller devant le soleil se couchant sur le stromboli.A ce moment la, même le vin Calabrais est bon.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Not just amazing sea views..

Guest: Petr N.
Date of Stay: 09/03/11 Review Submitted: 10/27/11

Finding the green front gate to the compound is a small adventure when coming in for the first time but this is the only complication. Passing down the little road to the house offers incredible views on both the sea and blooming flowers just everywhere. Once you arrive and step on the terrace for the first time, the sea view with the volcanoues is breathtaking. The main house offers enough space and is generally very comfortable. You have to remember this is not a design house so do not expect furniture and equipment to meet the latest design trends. It's actually more a rural house than a villa but that's part of the great atmosphere. What we would appreciate are bigger and more modern bathrooms. But the truth is we mostly took the shower under the open sky which is just such a great idea! Bedrooms are spacious and beds comfortable. What really surprised us was how the nights were dark. And quiet. Such a balsam on your nerves. The only thing disturbing the nights sometimes were the mosquitoes, beds having mosquito nets would really help. The pool is lovely and you can really swim in there! And again, the sea views are outstanding. If everything else went wrong, having dinners at the terrace at sunset will save it all. Last but not least, you feel like welcomed guest. Alessandra was very helpful and we really got the feeling she is there in case we need her. We will definitely recommend Eagles's nest to everybody searching for a peaceful place where you can leave all the stress from city life behind..

Owner response:The review is correct in that the house is not a decorator's house: it is simple, minimal, even spartan, perhaps. But I beg to differ about it not being a "designed" house. I am an architect, and took care of every single detail about the house: a discerning eye would be able to see that everything is custom made: the tables, the lighting fixtures, the bookcases, the mantlepiece, even the design of the kitchen backsplash, based on plans of Renaissance churches and hand painted on my design by an artist in Rome. The idea of the house has always been to allow for mental space, and for that it had to be uncluttered. The sea just outside the windows is the real protagonist of the space: nothing can compete with that. In my vision, an over-decorated ambiance would have trivialized the power of that infinite horizon. I agree that it would be nicer to have bigger bathrooms, but I had to work within a pre-existing footprint, and I gave priority to the fact that each bedroom should have its own bathroom. And as the reviewer says, in the end everybody wants to use the roofless bathroom. It's even wonderful to use it in the winter, and enjoy the hot water in contrast to the chilly air. About mosquitoes, I have a chapter in the instruction book devoted to that issue. Mosquitoes are a fact of life everywhere in Italy (in most of the world, actually), and in our case they are also the other side of the coin to having a very lush and green garden. The flowers that the reviewer enjoyed must be watered at least twice a day, for instance. However, if you take care to follow my instructions on how to neutralize them, in the end they become very manageable. This is from one who is a mosquito magnet: if I am at a dinner table, everybody else will have no mosquitoes at all, because they just feast on me. But using some repellent, as well as the appropriate incense will discourage them very effectively.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

More of the same please!

Guest: Orazio L. (Bedford, England)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 09/01/11

When we arrived the immediate reaction was “WOW”. It had been a long drive from Naples and we were all so excited to finally reach Capo Vaticano. As soon as we saw the view from the terrace, the drive was forgotten and the relaxing holiday started. Nino proceeded to show us around the fabulous property but gradually some people dropped off the “tour” and simply returned to the terrace to enjoy the enchanting view – it was after 5pm and Stromboli was coming into view! We cannot stress how great the view is – we have at least 100 photos between us of it, especially of the colourful sunsets that we experienced each evening. The house itself has everything you need – each bedroom having an ensuite is definitely a positive and the added benefit of the outdoor bathroom proved an innovative and fun shower experience as we took it in turns to shower whilst forming a waiting line by the pool. The location is wonderful – if you want to arrive, park your car and not move for a week you can do. If you wish to head out, either by foot to the facilities (slightly limited but a decent choice of restaurants at least) of Capo Vaticao, or further afield by car to Tropea you can do. The beach below the house was amazingly quiet for an Italian “public” beach in August – the 430+ steps down (and up) are definitely worth it, just try to time the descent or ascent at the right time of day. Before 9am or after 6pm it is highly likely that you have the beach to yourself – even in the height of the summer – at least this is what we experienced. Sunset drinks on an empty beach is a must for anyone that visits! We like to visit different places each year but if there was a place that we would return to – simply because of the privacy, the view and the beach below, this would be it.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Paradise in Calabria

Guest: Jennifer S. (Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/13/11

Our family stayed at the "Eagle's Nest" for a week this past July. We had spent the previous 10 days touring Rome, Amalfi and Calabria and were ready to have a home base for a week to get a sense of life in Italy. What a spectacular location to do this! The villa is located in one of the most amazing locations just as the pictures show. The sun setting beside Stromboli every night is mesmerizing and the clear blue/green water takes your breath away each day. The villa is well appointed, maintained and has everything you will need to enjoy your week. The local market, butcher and fish market are all close by where you can get fresh produce and everything you need to enjoy lovely meals on the terrace each day. Anna helps keep the place clean and is lovely. The pool is beautiful and well maintained. The beach is fantastic and the 437 steps down to it provide your workout for the day! Alessandra is easily accessible by email before and during your stay and answers all your questions. High speed wireless internet kept the young people happy. The two outbuildings are newer and airconditioned, with excellent privacy for couples travelling together. The restaurants that are close by were a little disappointing, catering mostly to hotel guests on a meal plan, so we cooked most meals for ourselves enjoying the local produce and buffola mozzerella! . We especially enjoyed the outdoor grill! The roofless shower was a favorite. The weather was amazing! Overall a most memorable holiday. Thank you to Alessandra for sharing her piece of paradise!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Hidden gem

Guest: Ruth (New York City)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

We absolutely loved spending a week at the Cliff House. The view from the terrace is spectacular, and there is a beautiful semi-private beach down below with clean, clear water that's very nice for swimming. The house itself was spacious and comfortable. The main house has 2 bedrooms and then there are 2 guest houses each with a bedroom and a bathroom. Even though our friends had an 8-month old baby in the main house, my husband and I still had total quiet and privacy in one of the guest houses. We cooked on the built-in barbecue almost every day and there was plenty of firewood already cut and dried for us to use. The indoor kitchen was very comfortable to cook in as well. There is a large, beautiful private pool with a hammock and lounge chairs that are great for napping. And the view from the balcony of the house is truly amazing, with plenty of space for dining and lounging, and really great views of Stromboli. I would highly recommend this rental to anyone.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.

Privacy with beathtaking view and still close to everything

Guest: Whetstone (Stockholm)
Date of Stay: 06/17/11 Review Submitted: 07/07/11

A perfect house for two families with children who are old enough to walk the stairs down to the beautiful beach. The house includes all you need for confortable living. You can even stay updated with home (work ?) using the free internet if you need. Having the large pool and beach downstairs with crystal clear water, you only need to leave the house to supply food and drinks but there are good restaurants within walking distance. The service is excellent. Our dishwasher broke and it was fixed within a day. Definitely one of the best houses we rented since we started to spend our holiday in Italy 10 years ago.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Perfection!

Guest: Mr. Wolf (New York City)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

"Rarely does a rental exceed our greatest expectations but the Cliff House did just that. The location is its first but not its only supreb asset. My wife and I and our two friends spent hours looking out over our private sand beach, over the expanse of the Tyrhhean Sea, to the Stromboli volcano. Mesmerizing. The main house was roomy, well-equipped, and obviously lived-in by the pwners. The grounds are lush and elegant. May was a little cool to used the lovely swimming pool, but we did a bit as well as swimming off "our" beach. If you are looking for casinos and night life this is not the place for you. But if you crave natural beauty and elegance you cannot do better. The place comes with maid service included and someone is forever looking after the grounds and pool as well."

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Capo Vaticano

Guest: charbert (Danville, PA. USA)
Date of Stay: 04/09/11 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

My family and I (there was 8 of us total) stayed at Capo Vaticano for 10 days in April 2011 and the trip and the villa exceeded all of our expectations. It was so beautiful and had so much charm and romance that I didn't want to leave. The views of the sea, the volcano and the sunsets were absolutely spectacular. There was so much to do that we couldn't get it all in in 10 days. Alessandra wa so helpful with all the information that she provided prior to our trip in addition to promptly answering my numerous emails. As for her staff, Anna and Nino, we sincerely fell in love with them and feel like they have become part of our family. They were so helpful in many, many ways and it would have never been the same without them. This was truly the trip of a lifetime and a dream come true. I hope and pray that we can go back someday to visit this beautiful villa and especially to see Anna and Nino again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Everything we had hoped for and then some...

Guest: Michelle H. (Philadelphia)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/30/10

We had the privilege to stay at this incredible villa during our visit to Italy. Alessandra is a wonderful hostess. She left no stone unturned when it came to setting the house up with all of the luxuries of home, plus some. From the moment we pulled up to the property, we were in awe. The grounds are very well maintained and the scenery beautiful. The house itself was amazing. The full size kitchen was equipped with everything a person could need. The adorable outdoor shower was, as Alessandra promised, one of our favorite features of the home. The best part though was the terrace -- the views of the sea with Mt. Stromboli looming can't be described. We felt bad that we did not spend more time exploring the area around Capo Vaticano but we just did not want to leave the property -- certainly there was nothing we could see that was more beautiful than the view from that terrace.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Sunshine and volcanoes

Guest: TDE (London UK)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

This house feels like it belongs to another age: hugging the lip of a cliff and set in a private floral demesne, it overlooks a clean, white sandy cove and aquamarine sea and, out on the horizon, not one but two active volcanoes, Stromboli amongst the Aeolian Islands - where the sun sinks - and Etna on Sicily. At night the lighthouse beam sweeps the sky and there are still fishermen’s lights dotting the sea. The house itself is designed for outdoor living: terraces in sun and shade with comfortable furniture and expansive wood tables for eating al fresco, secluded benches amongst scented pine trees and an elegant swimming pool. And the plein air shower is delightful. The beaches nearby offer all the traditional pleasures of an unpretentious seaside holiday. There are good family restaurants serving fish and seafood and hand-made pizza and local pasta (if you find it, try stroncatura). Not far off, the charming old towns of Tropea and Pizzo provide a sense of history and elegance as well as cafes, restaurants and gelateria. While the tourism never feels oppressive – even in August – there are empty winding drives and walks to enjoy amongst the wooded hills of the National Park. You’re just as likely to stay at home, mesmerised by the view.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Zen in Calabria

Guest: JB (Phoenix, AZ)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/21/10

Amazing views, comfortable space, easy quiet, and elegant simpliciy define this place. I spent a week there at the end of July with my girlfriend and we fully enjoyed the exceptional location of the villa, the lushness of the mature garden, the ideally located lap pool and the functional simplicity of the rather large house and annexes. There are spaces to enjoy for all time of day and night: early swim in the pool at dawn; sun bathing, reading and swimming at the small quasi-private beach at the bottom of the cliff; mid-afternoon nap on the hammoc; fast roundtrip over the 400 steps leading to the beach to stay in shape; delicious shower in the roofless bathroom in the middle of the house; a long drink at dusk on the vast terrasse watching the sun slowly fade near the mighty Stromboli; simple dinner of tomatoes, pasta, gorgonzola and Barolo on the outdoor rustic dining table; late night cap philosophically contemplating the starry skies in a reclining chair. We were there to enjoy a little break from hectic urban lives and we thought that the villa perfectly matched our expectations - after a week we felt rested and ready to embark into new adventures. On purpose, we did not get much out of the house (except to buy groceries in nearby shops) since we did not visit the countryside I cannot comment on local interests, except that the little we saw coming in and out was rather plain. The spectacular location of the villa, its natural charm and convenience, as well as its total privacy would be key factors for us to return. It this were to happen, we would this time use the opportunity to visit Sicily and its islands. On the practical side, the house can easily accomodate 8 to 10 people and it would be a wonderful place for a family (children would have to be monitored because of the cliff) or for a couple wanting to entertain friends. The maintenance is impeccable and the housekeeper and the maid are most helpful (in spite of not speaking English). Since there is no perfection in this world, the couple of things to keep in mind are (i) to be fully ready for battle with mosquitoes (the excellent basic instructions on the house booklet have to fbe ollowed to the letter), and (ii) to expect some breaks in internet connections most probably due to weaknesses in the local server. A final note: the owner very kindly managed to pilot us from New-York when we were slightly lost because of a late arrival - a most appreciated case of expert remote control..

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Stunning southern italy escape

Guest: KDNA (seattle, WA USA)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10 Review Submitted: 09/30/10

Two families with two small children each shared this wonderful villa complex. The main house has two bedrooms, two baths and a large greatroom area. Two additional buildings have cozy sleeping quarters with baths. All three buildings are surrounded by beautiful gardens, an infinity pool and plenty of patio areas for everyone to play in or find their own privacy. The accomodations are homey and comfortable. The houses are well stocked. The house is conveniently located within walking distance to the important things of southern Italy: a fresh market, small restaurants, cappocino stand, and gellato shop.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Heavenly!!

Guest: Sabeeka (Germany)
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 06/28/10

We spent two weeks at the Cliff House and it was the most perfect holiday ! Fantastic location, wonderfully green surroundings, comfortable house, gorgeous pool, and of course Anna and Mr.Paganini who are just wonderful and a great help. We actually managed travelling by train all the way from Munich (a real adventure) which would have been impossible if we hadn´t had Alessandra and Mr.Paganini to help us–so it was possible to spend two wonderful weeks without a car- and we even got to Tropea! The beach is lovely and one can easily swim to the small coves to the right and left of it and then there´s the wonderful pool as well! Thanks to the very good internet connection and SAT TV it´s possible to be away from it all but still in contact with the the rest of the world.Thank you for everything Alessandra – I´m really looking forward to returning to the Cliff house SOON!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Robert Teitelbaum (Montreal ,Quebec,)
Date of Stay: 09/20/09 Review Submitted: 09/20/09

This was the most magnificant placed I have ever stayed in my 40 years of travelling.When you arrive and the electric gates open-you drive into a serene botanical sanctuary and the road leads you to a car port where you are parking your vehicle under grape vines.So before you set foot into Alessandras beautiful home-you know that you have 'Arrived'. I realized that this is one of the only times in my travelling life where the reality of the beauty of a place far exceeded any possible expectations.There is nothing missing here-nothing.To add to all of this is that Alessandra is not only gracious ,attentive and discrete but she has an eye for beauty and simplicity. I shall be returning-many more times.Thank you Alessandra.

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Guest: Lynn Davis (-)
Date of Stay: 07/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/12/09

We all thought your house was stupendous, with just the right balance between simplicity and charm. You have obviously worked hard to plan and design the house, the guest houses and the landscaping in such as way as to enhance the natural beauty of the site, to give privacy both inside and outside the gardens, and yet give a real design flair to the various parts including the naturalistic swimming pool. Ultimately, although luxurious in some sences, it was not in the least bit 'poncey', if you could forgive a very english expression.

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Guest: Linda M. (Essex UK)
Date of Stay: 04/23/09 Review Submitted: 04/23/09

6 of my family joined me for my 50th Birthday and I wanted to find somewhere special and none of us were disappointed. The setting is one of the most beautiful that you could imagine. The house itself was clean and fully equipped, my only criticism was that there was no visitors book to put all of my little tips in and to see where others had enjoyed - but if thats the only criticism then it speaks volumes!!!! Alessandra was just so helpful as we had a number of travel issues before we left. Nothing was too much trouble and we are all very grateful. We werent able to use the pool for our stay so that was unfortunate but the grounds and outside facilities equalled those internally. Going early season has its compensations as with the warm spring like days it was lovely to come back to a sunny but cool evening and when we had watched the sun come down and Stromboli disappear we were able to enjoy the open roaring fire (we didnt seem to have a problem with too much smoke as previuos review stated). The area is very unspoilt and has a feel of Italy. Locals despite speaking no English and we speaking no Italian, managed to converse and were very welcome wherever we went. Tropea, Pizzo, Scilla were particular favourites of ours as was the day trip to Stromboli and two other Islands. We all had a wonderful holiday and are grateful to Alessandra, Mr Paginin and Anna for helping us make it so. Thank you all! best Wishes Linda and family.

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Guest: Robert Lyle (London)
Date of Stay: 03/31/09 Review Submitted: 03/31/09

As a habitual repeater whose job is in the travel industry, I love the Cliff House for its beauty, peace and stunning views. The pool and gardens are beautiful and Anna, the housekeeper a delight.

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Guest: massimo macerollo (farmington, ct)
Date of Stay: 06/17/08 Review Submitted: 06/17/08

I am rather tardy but as they say better late than never. Wonderful place, beauriful views of Stromboli, GO, you will not regret it. Private beach 400 steps down massimo

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