Reviews of CHIAVE DI VOLTA Lovely Guesthouse with Terrace

Dear Jeff, I was truly surprised to hear that you left earlier than expected, especially as we didn’t receive any communication from you regarding your departure. I'm sorry to hear that the room did not meet your expectations. As shown in the photos, it features a small romantic balcony designed for enjoying quiet and cosy moments.

Dear Jeff, I was truly surprised to hear that you left earlier than expected, especially as we didn’t receive any communication from you regarding your departure. I'm sorry to hear that the room did not meet your expectations. As shown … Show more

Dear Karen, thank you for your message. I’ve reviewed our previous correspondence and did not find any request for an early check-in prior to the standard time of 4:00 PM. We set this check-in time to ensure that the apartment is properly cleaned and sanitized for each guest. That said, we’re always happy to accommodate earlier arrivals when possible, just let us know in advance. Regarding the tube, Chiave di Volta Guesthouse has three rooms: Airone, Germano, and Rondine. It seems that you may have read the description for the Rondine room, but you booked Airone. That’s why the tube wasn’t included in your room. We always recommend reading the room details carefully before booking, and of course, feel free to reach out to us with any questions, as we're here to help and clarify anything before your stay. That said, we do not accept misleading or incorrect comments made after the stay, as they can affect our reputation and do not reflect the reality of the guest experience. We always appreciate honest and constructive feedback, and we are committed to offering accurate information and quality service to all our guests.

Dear Karen, thank you for your message. I’ve reviewed our previous correspondence and did not find any request for an early check-in prior to the standard time of 4:00 PM. We set this check-in time to ensure that the apartment is properly c… Show more

Dear James, Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you had difficulties with the check-in process. For clarity, the registration only requires photos of the documents of one guest, not each person. The rental agreement can be signed using an integrated digital tool — there's no need to download or install any additional apps. In your case, I see from our conversation that you chose to download and sign the document manually, which understandably added extra steps and complexity. Regarding the room, it matches exactly what is shown in the listing photos. We take pride in preserving the antique dark-wood furniture, which we believe adds character and reflects the traditional charm of the house. That said, we’re sorry to hear that the atmosphere didn’t meet your expectations and will certainly look into the musty smell you mentioned. As for the terrace, while compact, it is exactly as shown in the pictures and offers a view over the rooftops and a glimpse of the lake — a typical feature of historic village homes in the center of Varenna. We appreciate your comments, as they help us identify areas to improve, and we hope the beauty of the location was still a highlight of your stay. Best regards, Maria

Dear James, Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you had difficulties with the check-in process. For clarity, the registration only requires photos of the documents of one guest, not each person. The rental agreement ca… Show more

Dear Cane, Thank you very much for your kind review! You’re absolutely right — the charming but narrow streets of Varenna can be a bit tricky to navigate at first. We’re really glad to hear that the guide we sent helped you find your way, and that you enjoyed the central location and our hospitality. We hope to welcome you again in the future! Best regards, Maria

Dear Cane, Thank you very much for your kind review! You’re absolutely right — the charming but narrow streets of Varenna can be a bit tricky to navigate at first. We’re really glad to hear that the guide we sent helped you find your way, a… Show more

Dear Elisabeth, Thank you very much for your review! As mentioned in the listing, we don’t serve breakfast as we don’t have the facilities or permissions to do so, but we’re happy to offer guests access to the shared kitchen, along with complimentary coffee and tea. As a small guesthouse without a physical reception, we unfortunately can’t always greet every guest in person — although we truly enjoy doing so when the opportunity allows. That said, we’re always available via phone or chat and would have been more than happy to provide tips or suggestions if contacted during your stay. We hope you still enjoyed your time in Varenna and the beautiful surroundings. Warm regards, Maria / Nativoo Team

Dear Elisabeth, Thank you very much for your review! As mentioned in the listing, we don’t serve breakfast as we don’t have the facilities or permissions to do so, but we’re happy to offer guests access to the shared kitchen, along with com… Show more

Dear Nanette, Thank you for your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear that you appreciated the kitchen, location, and value of the apartment – and that you enjoyed having breakfast at your own pace! We’re sorry, however, that certain aspects didn’t fully meet your expectations. Varenna’s historic center is beautiful but also quite tricky to navigate, with narrow alleys and poor GPS signal. That’s exactly why we try to send our detailed video directions as early as possible – we encourage guests to complete their registration in advance so we can share all check-in information promptly and avoid delays. We’re sorry this wasn’t the case for you and understand how frustrating it can be after a long travel day. We also wanted to clarify that this is a small guesthouse with only three rooms, so we do not have a traditional hotel-style reception, nor the space to accommodate staff on site full-time. However, we are always available remotely, and we’re happy to come in person when needed – we do our best to ensure each guest feels supported throughout their stay. We appreciate you pointing out the lighting and pillows – we'll double-check the lights in the bathroom and look into improving the bedding comfort. Thanks again for your comments – they help us make improvements. We hope the charm of Varenna and the convenience of the apartment made your stay special nonetheless! Warm regards, Maria (Nativoo)

Dear Nanette, Thank you for your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear that you appreciated the kitchen, location, and value of the apartment – and that you enjoyed having breakfast at your own pace! We’re sorry, however, that certain asp… Show more

Dear Zoie, Thank you for your review! We’re glad you loved the location. We’re truly sorry to hear that your rest was disturbed by noise from the shared kitchen. We ask all guests to be mindful of others, especially during evening hours, and we’re sorry that this wasn’t respected during your stay. We’ll add clearer signage in the common areas to remind everyone to keep noise to a minimum after 10 PM, so that all guests can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. Thank you for bringing this to our attention – your feedback helps us improve. Warm regards, Maria (Nativoo)

Dear Zoie, Thank you for your review! We’re glad you loved the location. We’re truly sorry to hear that your rest was disturbed by noise from the shared kitchen. We ask all guests to be mindful of others, especially during evening hours, … Show more

Dear Kerry, I’m truly sorry that your stay did not meet your expectations, but I would like to clarify a few important points. First, regarding communication: we only received one call from you — the one made after another guest gave you our number — and we answered and helped you immediately. There is only one official number listed in the booking communication and on our profile, and that is the number we monitor at all times. I do not know which number you were trying to reach before, but it was not ours. We also attempted to call the number you provided during your booking after receiving your message that you couldn't reach us, but received no answer. As for the check-in: your online form was submitted with incomplete information, and we only received it shortly before your estimated arrival time. Our team still tried to reach you, and the delay in accessing the apartment was not due to negligence on our part. Regarding the accommodation, I’m sorry to hear you were not satisfied. The apartment is regularly cleaned and aired out, and we will verify the issues you mentioned. However, we wish you had raised these concerns during your stay — we would have done our best to assist or intervene promptly. Lastly, about the balcony: your reservation was for a room without a private terrace. The listing makes this distinction clear — only one of the rooms includes private outdoor space, and this is specified in both the description and photo captions. I’m sorry if you misinterpreted the listing, but it was not misleading. We always strive to provide a smooth and transparent experience for our guests, and we regret that your expectations were not met. Best regards, Maria

Dear Kerry, I’m truly sorry that your stay did not meet your expectations, but I would like to clarify a few important points. First, regarding communication: we only received one call from you — the one made after another guest gave you … Show more

Dear Kathy, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not fully meet your expectations. However, I would like to clarify a few points. We responded to all your messages within a couple of hours, and none of them were urgent. We consider this a reasonable response time, especially in the absence of time-sensitive issues. Regarding the temperature in the room, the heating is fully autonomous and adjustable by guests. Had you let us know it felt cold, we would have immediately explained how to switch it on — it's a quick and easy process. As for the guesthouse itself, it is located in a historic building in the center of Varenna. While not modern in style, it is well-maintained and regularly cleaned. Many guests value its character and the privileged location in the heart of the old town. We appreciate your feedback and always strive to improve the experience for our guests. Best regards, Maria

Dear Kathy, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not fully meet your expectations. However, I would like to clarify a few points. We responded to all your messages within a couple of hours, and none of… Show more

Dear Carol, Thank you for your detailed feedback — and for your kind words about Varenna and the apartment overall. We're very glad to hear you enjoyed your stay and would consider returning. We’re truly sorry about the mix-up with the keys. It was the first time such an error occurred, and it took us some time to understand what had gone wrong. We appreciated your patience, and as you noted, we reimbursed you for the first night as a gesture of apology for the inconvenience. Thank you also for pointing out the issue with the spare pillows and wardrobe. We’ve informed our cleaning team to double-check that extra pillows always have cases and that wardrobes are properly aired and prepared for guests. We also inspected the door of the first bathroom — it does sometimes require a firmer pull to close properly, and we’re currently working on a fix. We will double-check the shower door and the toilet seat in the second room to ensure they are functioning as they should. Regarding early check-in, unfortunately during high season it’s often difficult to accommodate due to same-day turnovers. While we do our best to prepare rooms earlier on request, we cannot always confirm this in advance. I’m sorry if this caused inconvenience on your arrival day. We appreciate both your positive and constructive comments, as they help us continue improving. Warm regards, Maria

Dear Carol, Thank you for your detailed feedback — and for your kind words about Varenna and the apartment overall. We're very glad to hear you enjoyed your stay and would consider returning. We’re truly sorry about the mix-up with th… Show more

Dear Yesim, Thank you for your review and for highlighting our central location. I was surprised by your comment about the bathroom door, as the room does have one. It is a sliding door that, when open, is designed to blend into the wall for a seamless look. However, we appreciate your feedback and will add clearer indications to ensure future guests are aware of this feature. Regarding the directions, Varenna is indeed an ancient village with narrow, stepped streets, which can make navigation challenging. Since online maps often do not accurately recognize the smaller alleyways, we provide all our guests with detailed video instructions on how to reach the property from the main square, train station, and boat station. If you found the videos unclear, we truly appreciate your input and will review them to see how we can improve the guidance for future guests. Thank you again for your stay! Best regards, Nativoo Team

Dear Yesim, Thank you for your review and for highlighting our central location. I was surprised by your comment about the bathroom door, as the room does have one. It is a sliding door that, when open, is designed to blend into the wall … Show more