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Review submitted by Dave from Woking (Submitted: 27 Aug 2012)
An excellent property on an estate full of local Italians many of whom are retirees. As a result it is quiet and there are clear rules on the use of the pool and noise etc which need to be respected. That was perfect for us as we like a but of peace and quiet. A 10 minute walk from the town centre and waterfront in the lovely town of Salo. We had a great time there and woul recommend it to anyone who wants a true Italian holiday
Review submitted by Linda from Leamington Spa (Submitted: 26 Aug 2012)
A very spacious, elegant and comfortable apartment with balconies at back and front allowing for a through breeze in the hot weather, quiet and equipped with everything one could possibly need. The pool was fabulous: the children loved it & improved their swimming a lot. The lunchtime restrictions are no longer 12-4 but 1-3, and werent that rigorous (though we stuck to them!). It might be worth changing the identification of the sun lounger parasol to green & white striped rather than green, as we got it wrong first time. We enjoyed delicious fresh breads & cheeses every day from the supermarked a few minutes away. We were glad we took a taxi to & from the airport as the drive would have been tiring & complicated with finding the key its much cheaper than hiring a car, & there are buses as well as boats for local travel. Mary-lyn was very friendly & helpful with getting extra keys to us. We recommend the nearby Sicilian restaurant, along the road to the left of the supermarket, then turn right at the sign.
Review submitted by Julia from Guildford (Submitted: 26 Apr 2012)
The apartment was very clean and well equipt. The supermarket near by was excellent and so was the market on Saturday . very close to the Lake and the town.
Review submitted by Sue from Arnside (Submitted: 2 Nov 2011)
We enjoyed our 5-night stay at Il Brolo the accommodation worked well for us - parents plus 18, 16 and 12 year old sons and a friend of our 18 year old so the 3 bathrooms were well used! Great to be so close to the supermarket and lake - loved the long stretch of promenade! The apartment was spotlessly clean. We stayed in late October and the first night was very cold - we put the extra bedding on our bed but it slipped off in the night and we were very cold - the next night we tucked the bedding in better and I wore socks in bed! Very minor things - some more tea towels would have been useful (just found the one) and some more loo rolls (perhaps loo rolls arent normally provided in s/c accommodation? cant remember...) Also perhaps a note could be added to the information on Salo bit of the website to let people know that the ferries to/ from Salo stop running for the season at the end of September. We had a good time and it would be nice to think well be back one day!
Review submitted by Ruth from Perth, Australia (Submitted: 21 Jun 2011)
We really enjoyed staying at the property. The location was good and it was easy access to family friendly amenities like a supermarket and playground! The lakes foreshore was an easy walking distance for the whole family. The apartment itself was exactly as described on the website and was very comfortable. The view from the balcony was great. The cost was a bit high but was in line with accommodation in the area. Overall a great property and we would definitely stay there again.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 23 May 2011)
This is the 3rd visit and have to say we love this place the location is perfect ,ideal , and the view breathtaking , the villa is immaculate , great size, and very well equipt , have to say a bit disappointed in some of the reviews regarding sunbeds , you cant have more than 2 sunbeds per home , otherwise it would look like butlins holiday camp , and its not really that kind of place , if your main concern is the amount of sunbeds in such a luxury place as this then you need to book a beach holiday !!! and you can have as many beds as you want ! thank you so much for making our holiday yet again ! perfect
Review submitted by TERESA from BELFAST (Submitted: 30 Aug 2010)
The property was spacious, clean and comfortable but as a pool was one of my main criteria when searching I would have liked to have known before payment that there were restrictions on use of the communal pool. I was disappointed that the pool was "generally" not to be used between 12.00 and 4.00. Also the description should highlight that although the apartment was suitable for the needs of 6 adults there were only 2 loungers at pool with no provision for using the surrounding grounds for sunbathing. Also detail that "this is not a holiday complex" should be included in the property description and not just in the list of rules at the accommodation.
Owner reply:
Dear Teresa, thank you so much for your comments. I just wanted to point out that restrictions on communal pools are established by law on all residential and holiday complexes in Italy. Siesta time is sacred in Italy and this is reflected in the regulations Im afraid! So you would have come across the same restrictions no matter where you were. Also, the description very clearly states (and always has done) that the complex is not a commercial holiday complex: it says "This apartment is NOT your average self-catering accommodation: it is a stylish luxury property in a complex consisting entirely of Italian families, most of which live there year round, and has been styled in the manner of a main residence by the British owners. Consequently, we kindly ask guests to remember that this is not a holiday camp atmosphere, but is a refined, elegant home in which to enjoy a genuine slice of the Italian good life."
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 3 Jul 2010)
fantastic . fab , wonderful ,, this apartment is perfect , you could not get a better location , the place is so spacious and clean , the view is spectacular , you cant really fault the place , i think some of the reviews for the place are too fussy , sunbeds ? you never get more than 2 sunbeds per apartment on self catering , can you imagine how silly and busy the place would look if every apartment had 4 sunbeds each , i never once heard traffic when i was there road is not that busy !! it,s a perfect location , my husband and i plan to go back there soon we hope
Review submitted by Jackie from Swanland Yorkshire England (Submitted: 1 Jul 2010)
We had a lovely holiday and fell in love with Salo. The apt was very good and spacious, though I would not go back simply because of lack of sunbeds. Only having two sunbeds with a party of five was totally unacceptable!
Review submitted by KELLY from CARDIFF (Submitted: 24 May 2010)
Great apartment and great location. We had a lovely week in May and would highly recommend it.
Review submitted by Nathan from London (Submitted: 12 Oct 2009)
The property and area were everything we hoped for and more. We travelled with a 2 month old child and 2 older adults, one of whom had walking difficulties. There were no problems for either. The property was very well situated in relation to the restaurants and lake. The complex was very well maintained and the apartment very well furnished. I will be going back again!!
Review submitted by SUSAN from SWINDON (Submitted: 1 Sep 2009)
Property was very clean,modern and comfortableexcellent distant to local town for ample shops and restaurants. The only thing we struggled with was the amount of sun loungers you can use(2 is a bit of a struggle)
Review submitted by anthony from SHIFNAL (Submitted: 5 Aug 2009)
A beautiful apartment well appointed with excellent facilities Situated in a delightful setting in we felt a most charming town My only small criticsm would be that a 2nd set of keys would be advantagious The owners are to be commended on a wonderful apartment
Review submitted by Graham from Sutton Coldfield (Submitted: 16 Jun 2009)
Nice apartment, good location. Minor downside, plastic chair on balcony collapsed first time anyone sat in it. Luckily no injuries. Sheet on one of the single beds was torn. Major downside as mentioned by other renters, one set of keys for six people is quite restrictive.
Review submitted by Maurice from Belfast (Submitted: 12 May 2009)
We were in Salo for a wedding in May. Out of season, so generally quiet. Apartment well located and central. Beautifully maintained inside and outside. The pool is large and clean (but slightly cold in May - unheated). Big plus is that no other apartments are let out i.e. only Italians around. So imagine, it would be very pleasant and quiet even in high season. The other apartment owners are quite rightly fussy about use of only your own sun loungers and there was no noise around the pool. All this is well explained in a folder in the apartment. A little tricky to collect and deposit the apartment keys from an estate agent a few miles away. Good directions and manageable with satnav but somewhat time-consuming and annoying if arriving late or leaving early. Owners kindly allowed an extended check-out time of 11am. Overall, highly recommended.
Villarenters reply:
Review submitted by Hilary from Dublin (Submitted: 24 Mar 2009)
In general, property met with our requirements. It was well equipped and within reasonable distance of the centre of Salo. The only small gripe is that the towels provided and paid for were of very poor quality but everything else was fine.
Review submitted by Kath from Singapore (Submitted: 5 Nov 2008)
Il Brolo was a great place to stay. The apartment is spacious and well appointed. It had everything for a young family!
Review submitted by Eleanore from Reading (Submitted: 12 Aug 2008)
Apartment is in a good position about 10 minutes walk from centre of town.
It was lovely being in a spacious, well equipped apartment which is not part of a holiday complex. The local residents of Il Brolo are very friendly.
We felt that the air-conditioning until was not very effective at all (maybe it needs servicing?) and that we got most benefit from the numerous fans.
More towels need to be available for a family of 4 as the towels are smallish and well worn (alternatively supply bath sized towels). We couldnt find any tea towels which would have been handy.
Plenty of useful DVDs and videos for younger children.
Review submitted by Rob from West Bromwich (Submitted: 3 Jun 2008)
Excellent Location and very enjoyable holiday. The property was spacious with good facilities within a short walking distance of the lakeside and town. Only real criticism was having just the one set of keys to cater for 6 people and the need to collect and return the keys to a seperate location.
Review submitted by Stu from Harrogate, UK (Submitted: 15 May 2008)
Wasn't sure what to expect before we arrived, but we were not only surprised but also overwhelmed. The property is better than the photos - in fact I don't think the photos do the place justice.
Il Brolo is located 5-10 mins walk from the centre of the town, which is itself beautiful. The apartment was well set out and certainly well 'kitted out', as well as being generally very comfortable.
We wouldn't hesitate to recommend the apartment onward and would love to go back at some time.
Review submitted by Sandra from West Wickham, Kent (Submitted: 31 Oct 2007)
Il Brolo is a well equipped, luxury apartment. in a perfect spot. As a suggestion, a microwave would be a useful addition, along with some dvds suitable for adults/older children.
The area is great for exploring the West and South sides of the lake. However, the town of Salo was a bit of a ghost town during late October, with few restaurants open. We were pleased to see that it did come to life at the weekend.
My only criticism is that the departure hour of 9am is far too early when arrival cannot be before 5pm.
Owner reply:
Hi, many thanks for your review. I'm confused by the suggestion for the microwave as there is one in the kitchen! Also, especially out of high season, we can accommodate different departure and arrival times...just ask in advance. Thanks again and do come back soon...
Review submitted by joseph from upper boddington (Submitted: 22 Oct 2007)
Well situated adjacent to the town.
Plenty of accomodation, for six adults.
Could probably do with 2 sets of keys as some days people want to go their seperate ways.
Overall a good experience.
Review submitted by Peter from leicester (Submitted: 12 Oct 2007)
A lovely apartment in a very pleasant setting.Only a few minutes stroll to the town and waterfront. Easy access and good security. Excellent!!
Review submitted by Paul from Harrow (Submitted: 29 Sep 2007)
A fantastic villa in a great location. It was only a short walk into Salo each day and it was a very quiet location. We were about the only people who used the pool during our stay, so it was a shame there were only 2 sunbeds for the property and we weren't allowed to use any of the others. Our electricity also tripped and the instructions weren't that clear - they should point out that the cupboards are in the far right corner of the car park as you face the locked gate.
Review submitted by Alice and John from Denton (Submitted: 18 Sep 2007)
We had a wonderful holiday at Ill Brolo. The location of the apatment gave easy access to the town and it was ideally situated for travelling round the area. The pool was excellent. The reason I have not given a higher rating is due to several factors. a) there is a lot of traffic and building noise on one side of the apartment. b) understandably there are many rules, agreed by residents, regarding conduct around the apartments, but it would have been helpful to have been aware of these before arrival. In particular, the pool cannot be used between the hours of 12 noon and 4 pm and inflatables are not allowed in the pool; also pool towels are not provided. c) the electricity supply fuses if more than two appliance are used but not having fully digested the rules on our first night we fused the lights and the instructions for finding the fuse box in the dark were difficult to follow.
Finally, only having one set of keys between two families made things very difficult at times.
Review submitted by Mark from Northampton (Submitted: 11 Sep 2007)
For a holiday that has peace and relaxation, in a beautiful part of Italy I would recommend this property. It is furnished with all things you would need and more. Spotless and well maintained with all things you would need within a short walking distance.
Minor points are electricity cuts out if you use the oven and a hair dryer at once - italian thing !! and the cleaners knocking on the door at 9:05am on the day of checking out is a bit harsh.
All in all a very good holiday spot for the family.
Review submitted by Linda from Glasgow (Submitted: 19 Jul 2007)
Il Brolo is a lovely three bed appartment, with plenty room for six adults to share comfortably.
We had a wonderful time in Salo (which is by far the most beautiful town on the lake) and also managed to get to Venice and Verona. Three points really.
1) One set of keys was problematic at times.
2) Our kids loved the pool, but it was a bit difficult to explain to them why they had to abide by the "pool rules" printed in the flat when other residents did not, as the rules within the flat did seem to be a bit different to the rules by the pool.
3) The weather was very hot whilst we were there and if air conditioning is important to you we would suggest that the plug in unit really does not compensate for built in air conditioning.
Owner reply:
Hi Linda,
The reason for the discrepancy with the rules was that the laws in Lombardy regarding communal pool usage by everyone changed earlier this year. In order to be covered legally, we were obliged to post the new laws in the apartment, whereas the ones posted by the pool were still being updated (although the residents are all aware of the new ones). I stress that these changes are from regional laws issued this year, and are not our own. These laws apply to all communal pool in Lombardy. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to having you here again.
Review submitted by Mrs from Co. Wicklow (Submitted: 8 Jul 2007)
A lovely bright, spacious apartment, furnished to a high standard. Lovely balconies and pool. Some minor negatives: third bedroom on road side tends to be noisy; main door should lock from inside without key; locating of key initially from travel agency and then having to find apartment was all rather exhausting (although instructions were very clear).
Overall a lovely property and we would recommend it.
Review submitted by David from Crossgar (Submitted: 17 Jun 2007)
Lovely apartment in a lovely setting; ideal for 6 adults.
3 small points:-
1. One set of keys between 6 aduts sharing proved a bit awkward at times.
2. A toaster would have been useful. and quicker/more convenient than using the grill.
3. The shutters were quite stiff; one always worried about causing damage when shutting them.
Review submitted by Sarah from North Wales (Submitted: 4 Oct 2006)
Good location,easy access to shops, resturants and supermarket.
Excellent pool facility
Review submitted by Ken from Il Brolo (Submitted: 5 Sep 2006)
It is a well appointed appartment in a central location and it is undisturbed by traffic and the teeming hordes of tourists. Parking is a bit of a problem as the car park is open to the public and is almost always full during the day. The website says there are two reserved bays but no information was available in the property.
The inventory includes most things in abundance but there is no TEAPOT nor any suitable receptacle in which to brew tea!! We don't all drink coffee you know!
Review submitted by Claire from Bedford (Submitted: 20 Jun 2006)
Spotlessly clean apartment with plenty of space and lots of things provided to entertain kids in case of rainy weather. Pool was great, but couldn't find the sunloungers! Lots in the area to see and do, Salo was lovely for a morning or evening stroll along the lakeside, and the market was fantastically large and varied! Restaurants were expensive on the whole, but the food was good. We tried CapriceUno (in pink, on the lakefront) - very good & had a highchair for the toddler, and Papillon at the other end of the town on the lakefront - ok.
Directions - these were a nightmare! We got lost for 2 hours in Brescia trying to find the right route out towards Lake Garda, then couldn't find the keys location, and had to ask a cafe owner for directions to the flat (why didn't you say it was opposite the big carpark?) Thank god for friendly Italiens - the cafe owner got his car out and we followed him to the right place !! Next time I'll buy a detailed map of Italy, and contact the tourist board and get them to send a street map of Salo! Still, it was worth it in the end!
Owner reply:
Hi Claire, I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. We have now greatly improved the directions with step by step instructions and the guests this week told us they didn't have any trouble. Not much help to you now, I know, so I apologize for that. Had you called us we would have talked you through it. We hope you come back to Lake Garda soon.
Sarah
Review submitted by jane from il brolo (Submitted: 6 Jun 2006)
we enjoyed the property, and it's location (a short walk into town).We did however feel that the directions for collection and return of the keys were exceedingly poor.In addition the only loungersie with the owners name on the back ,were in actual fact reclining chairs-sun beds would havebeen much better.Gripes apart we loved Salo and the property.
Owner reply:
Dear Jane, thanks for your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed the property. We are currently re-writing our directions and key collection instructions, so they will be easier to understand in future.
Review submitted by Eleanor from Scotland (Submitted: 30 May 2006)
First class and well equipped appartment with lovely/friendly neighbours. Richard was very helpful when we called him too. Great location. Visited other areas around the lake, Verona and Milan. Lovely part of the world to celebrate my 50th. Hope I don't have to wait till I'm 60 to return.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"What a beautiful flat! We were overjoyed by the beauty and the care taken to making this a wonderful villa. It never stopped raining but it didn't matter!! We left a few things for others to enjoy in the future. Many thanks!"
- Zurini family Conrad, Justine & Alessandra October 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"Had a great week staying at Il Brolo. Visited Verona, Venice and Milan and enjoyed the lake towns too. Thanks x"
- Trevor Sheila Jess Daisy Lawrence Mark Sherwood Richard Norton September 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"Beautiful accommodation! Visted Verona - wonderful place. Try "La Vela", a great restaurant overlooking the lake."
- Vince, Amanda, Hannah & Edward McNicholas July 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"Wonderful - the flat has everything anyone could need - even the singing kettle! Thanks."
- The Dicksons & The McConnells July 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"Brilliant! We all had a great holiday!"
- James, Julia, Harriet and Chloe June 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"We all enjoyed the trip very much, thanks! Bartons"
- The Bartons = Linda Peter Caroline June 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"Che magnifica vacanza! Just the very best. Location perfect, done lots of exploring, hope to be back soon. Thanks."
- Rosa and David xxx May 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"The flat more than lived up to our expectations. It was so clean, well-equipped and everything worked! We have had a sunny week, done a fair bit of exploring as well as some lazing around. Olivia has really enjoyed testing out the local parks, and thanks to some mutual babysitting, the adults have enjoyed some nights out in local restaurants. A first class holiday."
- Charlotte, John, Amelie (9 months) Claire, Mike & Olivia (2 years) May 14th - 21st 2005
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
"Perfect!! Wow. Thank you Thank you Thankyou xxxx"
- Suzanne & Stuart, September 2004
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Oct 2005)
Love it! We'll be back.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 8 Aug 2005)
The apartment was very luxurious and well-equipped