Mr Kuhn - aankomst: 6/7/2024
We stayed from July 6th to July 20th as a family with 2 children and a dog, in a chalet on the estate. Here is the review:
The Journey: When you're looking to disconnect and enjoy a pure nature vacation, this is the place to be. The estate is about a 30-minute drive from the city of Sestri Levante. From there, you first climb about 12 km on regular roads and then another 3 km on an adventurous path where, except for a few places, there's only room for one car. The path is not lit at night, so we made sure to always drive up with the last daylight. Be aware of protruding branches and thorn bushes, which can leave surface scratches. See video: https://www.facebook.com/129881890413638/videos/568028280390562/
The Stay: We stayed in a chalet 400 meters from the main house in the woods. There is a double bed, a bunk bed, a single bed, and a folding bed. With the four of us, we were at maximum capacity. Everything was available, and anything missing could be requested. A downside of the cottages is that there are only 2 gas burners, so cooking requires some adjustment. However, there is a BBQ area a bit lower (though it wasn't mowed), and you can use the large grill area at the main house. The chalets are quite basic, so don't expect luxury; the standard is similar to a caravan, with thin walls. Be prepared for nature, which means salamanders, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, spiders, sometimes scorpions, and yes, fireflies. Since there are no mosquito nets, it's a bit of a challenge to figure out how and when to open the windows, but we gave this as a tip. Our chalet needed some maintenance here and there, which we reported to the owner, but nothing excessive. The mentioned costs on the site are per person, so keep this in mind. Each person pays for the pool, WiFi, etc. Walter is someone who might offer a package price if you ask. On the estate, there is a zip line, swing, climbing frame, seesaw, and a pool filled with spring water that needs to be changed every 4 to 5 days (you can help with this). There is a sunbathing area, outdoor showers, and a kind of archery range. Unfortunately, the latter was not well-maintained; the rubber animals were overgrown and barely visible. We sat at the main house every evening, where you have a beautiful view over the valley, breathtaking. This was also the only place where we could connect via WiFi; there is no 5G or less, so apart from the WiFi, you are completely disconnected from the digital world.
The Nature: The location is in the middle of nature, which meant our dog could run free all the time, though we had to check daily for ticks and grass seeds. From your house, you can walk for hours, possibly days, through untouched nature where you encounter all kinds of plants, herbs, and animals, as well as waterfalls, falcons, eagles, and with a bit of luck, wild horses. It is an ideal place to leave everything behind and reconnect with nature. I must honestly say, for those who like to stroll through villages and want to combine a holiday with, for example, visiting villages in the morning or afternoon and enjoying nature in the morning or afternoon, keep in mind the location is less suitable for this. The dirt road, as Walter calls it, is challenging and not always safe, especially when driving it in the dark. Walter provides breakfast, lunch, and meals on request. We only had breakfast on the first day after arrival, which was certainly fine. Since we didn't eat with Walter, he went home during the week, and we had the estate to ourselves during the week. Nature lovers without the need for great luxury will find this place heaven.
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