Product reviews

Our family, with children aged 10 and 12, stayed at Villa San Raffaello for a week at the end of August and can only say that it was a really magical experience. The weather was hot but the pool is big and cool. The kids had great fun with the owners' children who were lovely and very hospitable.

The Villa, which is located in the Le Marche region of Italy, between the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic coastline, has been tastefully restored, combining old with all mod cons. It's within walking distance of the quaint hillside town of Sarnano. We enjoyed the dramatic views of the mountains and Sarnano town from the pool and from the apartment.

The Villa is located in the most sublime spot and great for walking or cycling if you're that way inclined. We enjoyed lots of daytrips to the nearby Lake Fiastra in the mountains, the coast and the Frassasi Caves, which we can highly recommend. There are too many stunning medieval towns, sports and cultural activities to fit into a week holiday. The local town of Sarnano had a different festa on every night and loads of great restaurants. We found Damien & Sharon extremely helpful with ideas of places to vist, how to get there and booking restaurants using their fluent Italian on our behalf - a great service.

If you're looking for a spectacular location, relaxation and fun I'd really recommend the Villa San Raffaello. This place is great for kids too as, on top of the pool, there's so many things to keep them entertained; Sky TV, DVDs, books and games fantastic local eats and drinks. Local food is easy for the kids and you can even pick free organic produce right from the owners garden. We felt as though we were staying with old friends with the owners easy personalities.

Top tips: If you are allowed time away from the family, make sure you try the local Terme (Spa) for a massage.

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