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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Any one been to Villa Pia?

36 replies

SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 10:44

Or going next summer?
We've just booked after initially seeing the review on MN's.
Any one got more personal info/experience?

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Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 12:27

bump

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Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 17:58

Bumpity bump. Any-one?

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LIZS · 08/12/2006 18:00

A friend did a year or two back and found an eclectic mix of fellow guests !

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 21:37

Hmm ecletic sounds like code for something else?

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newgirl · 08/12/2006 22:19

my mate has been twice and LOVES it - she has booked again for this year and she/her dp/two girls are lovely - I am sure you will have a fab time - the food is good, kids play together and ita lots of adult conversation in the pm

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 22:23

That's what we're hoping for, a good compromise with kid friendly environment, but ambience for adults too.
Only thing that slighty worried us was the communal eating, but we thought we'd give it a go for a week. Now feeling more positive and eclectic sounds GOOD.

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controlfreakyturkeyandstuffing · 08/12/2006 22:27

we went twice when dc's were younger. it was really good with young children and the owners are lovely people. was a good cross between renting villa and "proper" hotel.... no cleaning / shopping / cooking etc, great food and you can hang out happily in child friendly communal areas as you please... so not like being in your room in hotel or "out" all the time. enjoy! if i can answer more ?'s just ask.

controlfreakyturkeyandstuffing · 08/12/2006 22:28

forgot to say some of the other adults were complete arses..... but enough were very nice to make it fun.

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 22:38

We're not usually the social types on holiday. Socialising can sometimes feel too much like hard work, so we're experiementing a bit and forcing ourselves.
Can imagine they'll be some arses. I'd imagine a few boorish public school types, dominating conversations and experts on everything?
Would I be right? but a few prats can be quite bonding for everyone else sometimes?

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DingDongDraculaOnHigh · 08/12/2006 22:39

"I'd imagine a few boorish public school types"

hmm

chip chop???

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 22:42

chip chop?? what's that mean?
Are you a boorish public school type taking offence?
I'm a non boorish public school type but recognise the former where I see it.
I deal in stereotypes for convenience,and occasionally it's true.

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DingDongDraculaOnHigh · 08/12/2006 22:46

no not at all

I just think it's a bit of a weird thing to say! Imagine how many people you could offend. It would be like saying OH i bet it will be full of chavs in burberry or something. Not very nice.

(fwiw I would think it would be FULL of just the sort of people you describe )

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 22:50

But you wouldn't dare say it? Is that worse or better?

Anyhow I'm sure there will be a few of 'those sort of people'but I fel equiped to deal with them. I've dealt with enough so far in my life.

By dealt with I mean tolerate, not beat up

Do you think Xenia will be thereagain

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controlfreakyturkeyandstuffing · 08/12/2006 22:57

yup smiley those are the sort i had in mind..... we had fun refusing to give them the info they were keen to extract from us in desperate bid to place everyone in hierachy of class / career / income etc....
first night was a bit like being fresher at uni.... instead of "what grades did you get" it was all "what do you doooo?" and "where do you live?" really meaning how much do you earn and do you live in posh area / in large house... lol

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 23:03

As we are forwarned of this, might be fun to construct fake lives for ouselves and see if DH can keep the charade up all week.

What would we be, neurosurgeons, bigwig in Oxfam?

where would we live? Cheshire, Shropshire or would it HAVE to London. Obviously anywhere except Birmingahm where we really live

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controlfreakyturkeyandstuffing · 08/12/2006 23:04

lol smiley. was v tempted to do same but in postnatal hormonal sleep deprived state wasnt really capable....
just dont be anything in banking or you'll be sussed in 30 seconds!

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 23:12

Oh no wouldn't attempt to pull banking off (that sounds rude). Would have to be something more arty airy fairy and obviously would need a bit of research before hand.

Already sounding like too much work. They'll have accept us Brummie's, one of whom works in the public sector (whisper it).

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controlfreakyturkeyandstuffing · 08/12/2006 23:48

hope you have lovely time. there are lots of nice outings to nearby towns etc and lots of pottering around to do.... we had a good time.

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 08/12/2006 23:50

Thanks Controlfreaky, we intend to make the most of it. Just there for 1 week though so will probably chill around the pool alot, chatting to all the Ruperts.

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LIZS · 09/12/2006 10:42

lol my friend is from the US and she got the impression that one couple were well known, perhaps "celebs", in the UK but it had all gone completely over her head ! There was also a childless couple staying there which she found a bit odd for somewhere so family orientated.

DingDongDraculaOnHigh · 09/12/2006 10:52

maybe you should go to Butlins then you can lord it over everyone else instead

It does look nice I must say

dh vetoed it though as he said he didn't want to spend his holiday being nice to people he might not like

Heathcliffscathy · 09/12/2006 10:55

ahhhhh.

this reminds me of our first interaction ever on MN CD. I seem to remember you getting hoity with me about my sweeping public school generalisations then....

those were the days eh?

Issymum · 09/12/2006 10:58

A colleague of mine went last year. They really enjoyed it, particularly as he and his wife have one child (5ish), so there were lots of mates for her to play with. He's a partner in a largish law firm (very much the 'Villa Pia type' I suspect) but also jolly, self-deprecating and generally the kind of person you'd be happy to share several bottles of wine with. Oh and he lives in Sheffield, but that doesn't quite count as he's a London emigre.

We've thought about booking there as they have wheelchair accessible accommodation, the whole place is generally accessible and I think the DDs (4 and 5) would really enjoy it. I just have some reservations about the week long dinner party thing.

DingDongDraculaOnHigh · 09/12/2006 11:01

really sophable??

I am as you know anti sweeping generalisations of any sort (unless they concern people who drive 4x4s in london of course )

Original poster
SmileysPeople · 09/12/2006 16:23

We did deliberate over the whole communal eating and forced sociability thing, as that is not usually us, but we'd thought we'd give it a go.
We may surprise ourselves or rue the day.....hence one week only.
CD how do you get through life without sweepimg generalisations? Sounds very time consuming.
Oh that's right you don't.

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