Garlenda holiday apartment: Garlenda

My husband and I stayed here for 6 nights from 21st Sept 2009

Our goal was to see Liguria from Cinque Terre right to the French border and to have a day trip to France / Monaco plus somewhere to relax inbetween our trips at our own pool or with a meal and drink in a typical Italian bistro within walking distance.

Villa Garlenda met all but the last of these - this was partly due to the time of year being off season but also because the property was slightly further from walkable facilities than expected.

We enjoyed fantastic weather and one major benefit of going in late September was that the roads were much quieter. However it also meant that away from coastal tourist areas - such as in Garlenda village - many facilities were either closed or so quiet that they lacked atmosphere. There were plenty of lovely, busy places to eat e.g Albenga or Alassio but after long drives all day we did not want to drive again at night on dark roads so cooked and ate in every night. Cooking facilities were excellent and it was very relaxing and peaceful eating out on the large terrace.

The property lies within the grounds of a golf complex. The golf course looked great and was well used during the day. The Club House was well appointed but on our one evening visit we were the only guests so after a drink in the bar we gave the highly recommended restaurant a miss.

The apartment is the self-contained lower level of a villa ( owners stay in upper level from time to time but were absent during our stay). We had exclusive use of their lovely sheltered swimming pool, jacuzzi and sun deck which is on the upper level. This arrangement was fine for us but might be a problem for families with small children who want to pop in and out of house to pool area and keep an eye on them.

The apartment is extremely spacious, well equipped and maintained, with plenty of towels and a good laundry room down in the basement / garage area. Parking is secure within an electric gated driveway - there is one other property within the grounds sharing this space.

Like other parts of Europe we have visited, there can be issues with power tripping out if there is equipment overload. This only happened once and owners were extremely helpful in helping us to sort it out by phone - although it was quite a challenge to fix in the dark!

We would definitely recommend this property for golf lovers, as a base for touring or just for a relaxing break in a beautiful part of Italy!

We stayed in August with 2 children. The property is very clean, tidy and well equipped. It was a great bonus having the swimming pool to ourselves, as this was used day and night!
The setting is private and secluded although not 'cut off' from getting about. A car is recommended to take advantage of the area and surrounding towns.
We had a lovely stay and would recommend to anyone, as we have many times already!

We stayed in Garlenda during the winter holidays and had a fantastic time. The weather was cool but sunny and the owners were great in accommodating our holiday schedule and any other requests. Even the heat had been turned on so the apartment was warm and comfortable on our arrival. The apartment is beautifully decorated, spacious, and very comfortable. The views are inspiring and it felt great to just stand on the patio and breathe in the fresh scented air. As I was travelling with the family it made sense to have some meals at-home and this was a snap in the well equipped kitchen. The bathrooms are beautifully finished in marble and slate and it was wonderful to luxuriate in the large bath after a round of golf. .

It was fun being in Garlenda in the off season. Golf was still good. The menus in the restaurants featured heavier winter foods and soups which were delicious and it was fun to stroll the narrow streets of Alassio looking for fashions and bargains. One treat we all enjoyed was the ultra thick and rich hot chocolate with whipped cream. There always seemed to be something enjoyable to do from walking the beach, climbing the hills to some ancient town, playing golf, or just relaxing and watching TV in the villa. It was definitely a good trip with first class accommodations and I heartily recommend it.