Istrian villa 2

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. The villa itself is very nice, comfortable, and close to the sea. We stayed for 9 nights and had a very good holiday. One pleasant surprise was the washing machine. It wasn't listed among the amenities and I couldn't see one in the photos, but it was very useful during a longer stay. It would definitely be worth adding it to the listing. The beach is very close to the villa. It is rocky, so water shoes are highly recommended, but the sea was great for swimming and snorkelling. I snorkelled regularly and didn't see a single sea urchin, and during our entire 9-day stay I saw only three jellyfish. Topless sunbathing is quite common on the beach, which may be useful for families to know in advance. Lovrečica itself is small and very quiet. There are a few cafés, a bakery and a pizzeria. The nearest small grocery shops are inside the nearby campsite, about a 15-minute walk from the villa. For larger grocery shopping, we drove to Umag, where there are large SPAR and Lidl supermarkets. Umag is also worth visiting in its own right, with a pleasant waterfront, plenty of souvenir shops, and more places to walk around and spend an evening. It is a good option if you occasionally want a bit more activity and choice than quiet Lovrečica can offer. Overall, the villa and the location made for a very pleasant and relaxing stay, and we would consider staying here again.

There were several things that could be improved or explained more clearly to guests before arrival. The keys have to be collected from a tourist agency about 20 minutes away by car. Fortunately, it was on our way to the villa, but otherwise this would have been quite inconvenient. The location shown for the villa is not quite accurate – the marked point is earlier along the road, and you need to continue driving further. I had already noticed this before our trip by checking Google Maps, so it wasn't a problem for us. The arrival instructions could also be clearer. The large gate is not locked and has to be moved manually. We didn't realise this at first and had to call for help. The pedestrian gate opens with a button located on the inside; the key does not open it. The filter coffee maker was badly clogged with limescale. Making the first two cups took almost an hour. I bought citric acid at Lidl and descaled it myself, after which it worked much better. The main issue for us was privacy. The courtyard is shared between 13S and 13T. During our first four days we were unlucky with the neighbouring guests: they played music in their car late at night, the woman regularly sunbathed topless in the shared area, and on one occasion the couple fell asleep completely naked outside after drinking. Obviously, the owners cannot control who rents the neighbouring property, but a privacy screen or wall between the two outdoor areas would make a big difference. There is also no proper divider on the balcony between 13A and 13S. It appears that there used to be roller blinds or screens there, but they have been broken for some time. The beach has many sharp rocks and stones. I cut myself quite badly a few times, so water shoes are really necessary. Finally, the basement level could use better ventilation, as the air tends to become quite stale.

Emplacement idéal, sur la mer, sans vis a vis. Avec parking privatif.

Quelques incompréhensions avec l'agence qui gère le logement, mais rien de très gênant.