2/10 Terrible
Kiu Yu
18 Nov 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
AVOID THIS COMPANY — Zero Accountability and Completely Unprofessional
I booked 2 nights at “Varenna Balcony” in Lake Como, Italy and had one of the most stressful check-in experiences ever.
Check-in was stated as from 3:00pm, yet despite multiple attempts to contact the host for the access code, they did not provide it until 4:23pm. I was left waiting outside with two large suitcases, anxious, tired, and unable to start my plans for the afternoon. This delay completely ruined the mood for my holiday.
Even worse, when I explained the situation to them, they offered no apology, no acknowledgment of the delay, and insisted they “had sent the code” — despite the clear timestamp showing otherwise.
I contacted Expedia (the platform I booked through) seeking some form of compensation for the inconvenience. They redirected me to the host, who never responded. No resolution. No accountability. Nothing.
As for the accommodation itself:
Location: Excellent and central.
Space: Good size for a solo traveller.
Cleanliness: Terrible smell in the living room and kitchen — an unpleasant, stale urine-like odour that made it uncomfortable to even step inside those areas. I had to hold my breath every time I walked through.
Overall, the lack of professionalism, the check-in delay, and the refusal to take responsibility make this a place I cannot recommend under any circumstances.
Kiu Yu
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025