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Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 19 Jan 2011)
We spent 7 nights at Casa Rustika. It was a great stay that proved to be a great location from which to bus to Valletta and all parts of Malta and enjoy the waterside restaurants of Marsaxlokk Would recommend this location if you want a relaxed & calm haven, the house is clean & spacious and ideal for families of up to 7 persons. The owner , Reno provides an excellent service and we shall definetely book Casa Rustika next time we come to Malta.
Review submitted by Kevin from Stoneyford (Submitted: 30 Mar 2010)
Met and taken to property and shown around which was excellent. Property was excellent everything was available there. Area very good.
The only unfortunate thing was the early morning starts by the local builders Mon to Saturday the builders were on site by 6 am in very close proximity to the house and they were quite noisy.
Fortunately if you could put up with the early call once you had left the house and returned in the evening the builders had gone home.
I can thoroughly recommend the house and area and the country is just fabulous
Owner reply:
Dear Kevin Jean and Jacqueline,
Thanks for your e-mail.
I am sorry to hear that your holiday was marred by the external conditions outside the house over which we had no control. This is unfortunately the situation in Malta i.e. one day someone decides to erect a building site next to your home and the piece and quiet in the neighbourhood is distorted.
In fact, following your comments, I made a formal complaint with the building authorising body in Malta and they are seeing into the noise pollution issue with this particular builder as the situation is not acceptable. The good news is that the builder has accepted the situation and confirmed that he will abide by the local noise pollution laws or risk a restriction order. Thanks to your comments, future guests at Casa Rustika should not experience the same inconvenience which you had.
Should you decide to come back to Malta, Ill be glad to offer you a special rate for any of our houses to partly compensate for the inconvenience.
Regards
Reno
Review submitted by Patricia from Glasgow (Submitted: 26 Feb 2010)
Reno
Back home safe to the cold Scottish weather and wishing we were still in Malta ! Really enjoyed our stay at Casa Rustika and will get in touch to check availability for our next trip and recommend to any friends travelling to Malta.
Best wishes
Trish and Laurence
Review submitted by Margaret from Devon (Submitted: 29 Nov 2009)
Hi Reno Thanks for email. Yes we did have a good trip home and all is well. We had a lovely time in Malta, and were very lucky with the weather. The house was great we all loved it, and hopefully in the future we would love to spend time there again. Casa Rustika was everything wed hoped it would be. Great location too, we are really glad that we didnt choose to stay near Sliema where we lived for 3 years in the 70s.
We had a wonderful time visiting as many places as possible. Thanks Reno for helping to make our holiday so enjoyable.Hope to see you again one day.All the best
Review submitted by Duncan from Vienna (Submitted: 12 Oct 2009)
Our stay in Casa Rustika was relaxing. The villa has been renovated nicely, but the quality is rustic! It was clean, private and relatively quiet (for Malta) with plenty of space. The owner was kind enough to get in a few supplies as we arrived late on a Saturday night....however a bottle of wine and/or some fresh fruit would have been a nice touch! Having stayed in very similar properties previously and paid similar rates we were disappointed by the lack of a few items that would have made the stay more memorable and comfortable - a dishwasher/microwave is always good for holiday properties. Lacking was paper towel, serviettes, aluminium foil/cling film, kitchen & bathroom soap, mosquito coils, sufficient toilet paper and more than 1 garbage bin liner.....having only a short break its seems a waste to go out and buy these trivial items. I understand the concept of self-catering which is what we wanted but not for everything - there was not even salt & pepper.
The other feature not enjoyed was the bathrooms and showers - no space to put toilet bags, or to hang toiletries in the shower and there was not a double towel rail or door hooks in the bathroom. For tall people the shower is probably okay, for short people the water hits the shower screen above your head - which then leaks out onto the bathroom floor. Shower head cannot be adjusted. New coat hangers in the wardrobe and fresher tea towels would make a big difference - these are tax deductions to the owner. Some night-lights are suggested...there are several odd steps to navigate upstairs. Another suggestion is more comprehensive tourist information...nothing that a quick trip to the tourist bureau by the owner would not resolve.
The location of the villa in Malta is good and is off the tourist trail - for us it did not matter so much as family lived close by. Parking is sufficient and the bus stop is just around the corner. At present there is stagnant water in the vacant block next door which has a rather unpleasant odour - depends on wind direction, but we understand that this has nothing to do with the owner of the property!
A party of 6 people with all the space would have an enjoyable stay in this villa.
Owner reply:
Hi Duncan,
Thanks for your review and for your constructive pointers how we can better our service. Unless guests point these things to us, well never know of these little inconveniences to them.
I assure you that well take all in consideration and implement where possible.
Stagnant water from next door vacant block has been removed completely by the competent authorities.
Once again thanks for your review.
Reno
Review submitted by Keith from Raleigh NC USA (Submitted: 29 Sep 2009)
We did not have great expectations, and we were not disappointed since :) We lost power several times, and only once due to local issues.
When it rained we were inundated with water through the ceiling, with my parents room soaked. It was 4.00 AM and we were mopping up the water. The house needs major roof repairs. The owner showed no empathy or any signs of reimbursement for the inconvenience, as would be expected in the USA.
I would not recommend as the appliance were not sufficient. Needs a microwave and better television channels for those who cannot travel everyday on tourist visits - such as elderly people.
I knew Zejtun very well and we have local friends and so a car is a must. But no parking is available.
Too much noise from local building.
thanks
keith r holdaway.
Owner reply:
We are sorry and surprised to receive a negative review from our client. I believe that our comments below should be taken into consideration:
1. Lost power several times and leaking roof: It is important to note that on the particular night mentioned by our client, a freak storm hit Malta to the extent that civil protection personnel were called in several localities to rescue people from their homes and there were power cuts across the island. Although a leaking roof is always a leaking roof, it is still a minor issue compared to what the rest of Malta went through on that night.
2. The owner showed no empathy: our client failed to mention that when he called us at 09.00am regarding the leaking roof, we were on site at 10.00am and fixed the problem immediately. In fact, it rained again the following night and no further leaks were reported to us by client. I believe that this is proof enough that we showed empathy. Future guests can judge for themselves from all previous reviews about our good track record on service.
3. Needs a microwave and better television channels: We have satellite TV installed at Casa Rustika with around 900 possible channels. However sometimes certain channels are blocked from the satellite system, a situation we cannot have control on. Also there is a DVD player should guest decide to bring/hire their favourite DVD’s
4. No parking is available: there is ample free parking space about 20 meters away from the house. In fact many other reviews mention that there is parking space close to the house.
5. Too much noise from local building: there is a building site about 50 meters away from the house. If you are outside the house you can hear the construction however once inside the house, the noise is completely absorbed.
A point which guest conveniently forgot to mention:
Our normal check out time is 10.00 am. We told guest that since they had a late flight, they could stay till 14.00hrs at no extra charge. Unfortunately we could not allow guest to stay later as we had new clients arriving at the house at 18.00 hrs and we needed to clean the house in the meantime. We always implement this policy so as to make guests’ stay as convenient as possible.
Overall, we always try to do our best even with the most demanding guests. Unfortunately, with this particular guest, our best was not good enough. However, as all our other reviews show, with no exception, our best was always appreciated.
Review submitted by Beat from Zug (Submitted: 17 Jun 2009)
We booked the Casa Rustika at very short notice, and received a very warm welcome by Reno, the owner. He came pick us up at the airport (very much appreciated) and took us to the house. He also arranged for some food for the next day, and we felt at home immediately.
The house was spotlessly clean, spacious, and has a nice, cool patio to relax with a BBQ after a day out in the sun.
After our return, we received an e-mail from Reno asking whether all was fine. Small details that make a big difference!
All in all, it was a very nice experience, which we can recommend to anybody.
Thank you Reno, nice job, keep it up.
Review submitted by Terry from Hemel Hempstead (Submitted: 23 Jun 2008)
Property of chatacter. Nicely situated.Spotlessly clean. Recommended
Review submitted by Malcolm from Jersey (Submitted: 4 May 2008)
Situated in a quiet corner of this Maltese vilage, this house has been renovated to a high standard. The owner met us at the airport and showed us around the house. We were also given a telephone number to call in the event of any problems, plus a basket of basic groceries to see us through the first night.
The village may ot appeal to those who like an evening walk to a local restaurant; we didn't find one. However, local shops cater for basic needs and a bus terminal is very close buy.
For those who want to use a car, parking near the house is not a problem.
I would definitely recommend this house to others.
Review submitted by John from 30 Drumreagh Crescent (Submitted: 22 Apr 2008)
The owner/operator Reno was extremely accomodating and really went out of his way to ensure our stay was an extremely comfortable and memorable one.
The accomodation was absoloutely amazing, truly spectacular. The fasacde of the property is deceptively modest but as you enter you will be blown away by its spacious and beautifully decorated interior.
Thank you for a brilliant stay in Malta.
Review submitted by Stefan from Ulm (Submitted: 7 Feb 2008)
Five members of our family returned today from a 5day stay at Casa Rustika. Definitely a house with a character, spaceous, comfortable, every positive description and review is correct. (Except for the time needed to walk to the local bus stop. It is 5 minutes at most and therefore much better than the 10-15 minutes stated in the descriptions). Nevertheless, we used a car as recommended and therefore were able to visit the most exciting places conveniently in the short time. Marsaxlokk is really close by, so we usually drove there for dinner, eating the fresh "catch of the day". The town of Zejtun itself has a lot of very small shops, where you can get everything you need for your in-house meals - reminding you of the times in central Europe before wholesale became an industry with big unpersonal supermarkets everywhere. Nevertheless after a 10 minutes drive at Santa Lucia you can also find a supermarket.
For those, who cannot live without email and internet access: the malta vodafone UMTS network can be reached from Casa Rustika's second floor upwards.
Review submitted by Galea from Sabden Lancashire (Submitted: 24 Nov 2007)
My family and I stayed at Casa Rustika in August this year. We found this beautifully renovated property a delight to stay in. The facilities were excellent. We would not hesitate to recomend this property.
Thank you.
Review submitted by Jon from Newcastle Emlyn (Submitted: 4 Oct 2007)
A Fantastic place to stay !
Clean , comfortable and spacious with everything you can need for an enjoyable stay.
Zejtun is off the beaten track somewhat as far as tourism is concerned but all the attractions of the Island are within very easy reach
Valletta - 15 mins
Mdina - 20 mins etc etc.
I would recommend this accomadation to all.
Thanks Reno for letting us stay here , we will be back!
Jon and Jillian
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 11 Aug 2007)
We have stayed in many farmhouses/villas, in many different locations, and your house in Zejtun ranks amongst the very best.
The house was absolutely spotless and the rooms are really spacious. It is very much a home from home. If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful holiday then I would recommend this lovely house to anyone.
The cleanliness of Reno’s house and the attention to detail he has put into restoring this property are admirable.
Oh nearly forgot.... Reno, the owner, is always available for any form of help you may need. We lost our luggage on arrival and he chased around the airline and managed to get the luggage to us next morning. Now this is what I call going out of your way to help!
By the way it was a real help not having to get out of the house until our taxi was due. I know this can't always be done but please accept our thanks.
We had a wonderful holiday and thank you Reno for being a friend and not just a landlord. You will definitely see us again in 2008!
Many thanks
Adrew , Diane Leigh & kids from Bradford W Yorks
Review submitted by mark from Stony Stratford (Submitted: 31 Jul 2007)
This house is an absolute gem! From the outside it looks like a one up one down, however, step inside through the double doors into the impressively cool entrance hall and the house opens up like a tardis.The build is traditional Maltese limestone so the house has high ceilings and is, mercifully, cool. The bedrooms are large and comfortable, there are two en suites, a family bathroom with bath, and a downstairs cloakroom. The kitchen diner is more than adequate to cater for seven people. We hardly used the sitting room and cable tv as the internal courtyard was great to sit out in; and there are great balconies and terraces dotted about the building.
Zejtun is a proper Maltese town where the locals do open their shops at 7am, close at noon and open again at 5pm. The main bus stop is a five minute stroll away just off the main square, however, there is ample parking outside the house.
As for Reno, the owner, he is a true host and nothing is too much trouble. He met our party at the airport and guided us to the house, showed where the nearest supermarket was and made sure we were settled into the house and knew where the amenities were.
In short the house is delightful with everything you need supplied, Zejtun is friendly and Reno is a real pleasure. I cannot recommend this house highly enough.
Review submitted by Gill from Ashington (Submitted: 18 Jun 2007)
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Casa Rustika. If you want to avoid the crowded touristy side of Malta, then staying in Casa Rustika will right up your street. You get a real flavour of staying in the real Malta!
The house is gorgeous with plenty of space for 7 people - there were 5 of us so didn't use all the rooms and it would be ideal for 2 families as there are 2 ensuite bedrooms which 2 sets of parents would be definitely happy with.
The location is right in the centre of Zejtun and a couple of minutes walk to the bus stop to catch the bus to Valetta. If you like the beach, then Pretty Bay is a short drive away and it's ideally located for the Playmobil factory which is a good wet weather option as we found out!!!
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 20 Apr 2007)
This was our first stay in Malta & Gozo and we were extremely pleased with Casa Rustika.
The house was immaculate with tasteful conversion of the old character of the house which made it feel more like renting a friend's house rather than the usual spartan holiday apartments. Everything is brand new as this property has just been converted this year and we were among the first visitors. The kitchen was ideal for preparing anything from full meals to light snacks with a dining area either indoors or outdoors where there is the BBQ area. The owners have thought of every detail and I would recommend that (unlike us) you don't worry about bringing any of the following - iron or ironing board - extra towels (there are plenty) - crockery, cutlery or plates (there were plenty of matching clean sets there. There is also a satellite TV with hundreds of channels which was perfect for the odd night in. The neighbours next door were extremely helpful and friendly as was Reno the owner who went out of his to make us feel at home and had no problem finding anything we wanted. I would recommend that you do hire a car however as although it is possible to walk to the local bus terminus, which is 5 minutes away, it is much more comfortable jumping into your car and driving off. There is a private parking just outside the house too !! In addition there are so many other places you'll want to go that it's worth while. The area that the villa is in a very quiet area, so great for a relaxing holiday.
The second week of our holiday was spent in Gozo, at Ta’ Zaren Farmhouse which belongs to the same owner of Casa Rustika.
Location could not have been bettered. Parking was just outside the door. Fantastic valley view from the sun terrace. This made the stay all the more enjoyable. Large rooms and a bathroom with each bedroom! We made use of the pool each afternoon, including my 8 month old granddaughter. We used the BBQ twice. Every conceivable item needed in a kitchen was available.
Reno, the owner, was very helpful and a big thank you to him for really ensuring that we had the best holiday we have had for quite a long time.
ShirleyMattherson