Pian delle More

We had the pleasure of staying in la Ginestre for 10 nights in August. Upon arrival we were greeted by one of Lucia's colleagues who showed us around the house and grounds. We were given a substantial file with all the local information in which included all of the local spas, markets, beaches and local wooden toy makers!! We traveled down with our 18 moth and 6 year old daughter and the house was perfect. With a garden to the front and rear meticulously maintained daily by the gardner and a child friendly pool that is also cleaned every morning, we couldn't have asked for more. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you will need to make the basics with a washing machine available in Lucia's office should you need to wash anything. The houses were spotless when we arrived and a lot of care and attention had been given to the decor. Beautiful pieces of furniture and art work adorn the rooms both upstairs and down. The beds are rather firm and can be made up into singles or put together prior to arrival. The pool is surrounded by a low fence meaning the children can play in the garden area to the front with out the worry of them wondering in to the pool area. The pool is also not heated. it can be chilly when you first get in but you soon acclimatise and it becomes a must after lying around in the sun. A must when you're here with children is a list to Stuarts toy work shop. He is a Scottish fellow and makes the most amazing wooden toys for children. His house is a short walk away and is very welcoming. The location of Pian delle More is somewhat remote in the country. You are however only a 5 minute drive from Sassetta. There you will find a bank with cash point, a pizza restaurant as well as more formal restaurants, a pharmacy and a small rural food shop selling the essentials (the quality is amazing though and selection better than any at home). Further afield back in Donoratico and adjacent to the SS1 motorway you will find a COOP supermarket and a Penny Market. The later being smaller but still with a great selection. If you are driving in by car from one of the local airports or on a road trip, we'd recommend stopping at one of these before you arrive. Hindsight is a wonderful thing when the shops are a 25 minute drive back down a winding road!! Being in the countryside also means you are susceptible to midges and mosquitos. They are around and they will bite if you aren't covered up in the evening or have repellent applied. Sadly I forgot one evening and was a Smorgasbord for them. The houses and flats all have mesh on the window so you can keep them wide open in the night and not worry about them coming in. You might have to do the usual evening hunt for any that slipped in but we were lucky there. All in all we had a wonderful time here. We would recommend this place to anyone.