1. Italy
  2. Amalfi Coast
  3. Praiano
  4. Villa Sara
  5. Reviews

Reviews of Villa Sara

Self catering accommodation in Praiano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Bill C.

Kersey, CO

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2015 - We loved out time there. The view is spectacular and the accommodations are excellent. Both the owners and the Summer in Italy folks were great to work with.

We did not have a car, so used local transportation to avoid the insanity of the Amalfi Coast roads. That worked well and we were able to take day trips beyone Naples without difficulty.

There is a little market just down the steps, which was very helpful.

We will highly recommend this place to people and wouldn't hesitate to return.

You guys were incredible. I'm the person who had his crown fall off and you (in conjunction with the owner) got me into a dentist within a day. I was deeply appreciative. In all respects, working with you was terrific. Thanks for everything.

Travel tips

  • If you don't have a car, spend time early to learn the bus system. It is very efficient, but a little confusing.
  • The lady in the Tourist Office by the main bus stop is very helpful, in many respects.
  • Make sure you have your arrival well organized. We arrived by bus from Rome, a little too early and it caused some consternation.
  • Be prepared to walk up and down steps, especially if you want to enjoy the town.

Kathryn T.

Kirkcaldy

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2012 - Enjoyed the villa and the holiday very much. Initial access with heavy luggage was difficult, especially with elderly parents, but this was not a problem later without bags and cases.

I felt the service offered by Summer In Italy was very good. All expenses were explained upfront and there was clear and detailed information given. I had a number of queries before we booked and I found your staff to be prompt, helpful and extremely polite. You also pointed us towards a great taxi firm (run by Claudio Lucibello) whose service I would recommend highly.

Travel tips

  • There is a lovely, friendly mini market right at the foot of the steps leading to the property where we stocked up on essentials.
  • The restaurant at Hotel Margherita is a must.
  • There is a bus stop for the local bus to town and Positano close to the market and this is useful for cutting out the steep hill leading to the main bus stop for buses to Amalfi and Sorrento.
  • I would not recommend the property to anyone with a disability or mobility problems. This is purely due to the geography of the Amalfi coast.

Juan José M.

Boadilla del Monte

Spain

VERIFIED

Very good

August 2012 - We really enjoy the location of Villa Sara, very quiet and nice landscape.

The apartment is spacious and comfortable, the only objection are the 160 steps.

Cheryl H.

Burlington

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2011 - I liked Villa Sara. The view from the balcony was beautiful. Nice location.

Our driver called Summer In Italy and I was pleased that you were readily available to take his call. Thank you for being there.

Travel tips

  • Priano is a great town to explore. Nice beach, good restaurants. Location seemed central for the visiting nearby towns, Amalfi, Positano, Capri. Be sure to walk down to the lighthouse and beach.

Daniele R.

Montreal

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

Travel tips

  • Be ready to walk up and down and use the many footstreets (Via) around the Villa, with and without steps, and it is a lot a fun to go along these, and the views are wonderful.
  • There is a very good "supermarket" called Tutto per Tutti, located 350 steps down from the Villa (you can go by car - and park in front). There is a fish market (AM only) and a butcher shop on the main street, where the restaurants, post, internet café and tourist office are. To get on the main street it is mostly walking down for 20 min, and back up (30+ min). Note that some shops have "siesta time" from 1 to 4 PM.
  • The best beach is Marina di Praia, it is small but lovely, probably 500 steps and walkways (40 min) down from the villa (you can go by car but the parking is almost always full). It is not worth going to Gavitella beach, unless you want to take a boat to Capri.
  • The path that leads to the Path of Gods is very close - get info from the tourist office. It takes 1h30 up to get join the Path on foot, or you can take a car to Agerola (45 min) or Nocelle (45 min) at be at the same level as the Path.
  • We did try 2 local restaurants in Praiano that the owner recommended. They are both excellent, Restaurant La Strada for pizza, and Hosteria Il Pino for fresh fish...
  • We drove the coastal road, it is narrow, but we did enjoy it. See Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Maiori (beach)... we enjoyed day trips to Herculaneum and Vesuvius, Paestum and the sandy beach south of Salerno, Benevento (wine region).

Carole V.

Mount Royal

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2011 - We really enjoyed our stay at Villa Sara. The terrace is where we stayed the most - it was absolutely fantastic.

Travel tips

  • You definitely have to be in shape with all the stairs.

Kerre S.

Eugene, Oregon

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2011 - We enjoyed it very much, it was exactly as described and pictured. However, kitchen could use a few more utensils. And there was a serious ant problem outside of kitchen on terrace and inside around kitchen terrace doors.

Loved your website, responsive to emails, always had my questions answered!

Travel tips

  • When they say "steps" they mean steps! There is a lot of step climbing. The closest and pretty much only store is about 200 - 250 steps down. So when you return with your groceries, it is 200-250 steps UP! A car was handy in that we could park it 150 steps up but then use to go to grocery store and only have to carry bags down.
  • Hotel Margherita had great food and view and was within walking distance. Italian walking distance!

Ferenc H.

Budapest

Hungary

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2010 - Yes, it was great... it is beautiful.

Travel tips

  • Come with a small sized car! :)

Susan H.

Ennis

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2010 - We were 2 young couples staying there and enjoyed it a lot! Very spacious apartment with stunning view for sun-downers.

Travel tips

  • The TV only has Italian TV stations.
  • You can walk to the beach (20 min) but it's not so nice coming back with all the stairs!
  • The little lemon-stands are horribly overpriced!

Debra G.

Duncan, South Carolina

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2010 - We absolutely loved Villa Sara! It was exactly as pictured.

The terrace is very large and we enjoyed opening up both glass doors and feeling like we could experience the beauty of the Med from inside as well as outside. We will always cherish the memories of our breakfasts and moonlit dinners on the patio with one the world's most beautiful backdrops.

We had surprisingly good water pressure and plenty of hot water in the baths. While the kitchen was limited in supplies, we managed fine with what was provided.

The neighbors are friendly and helpful and we were so glad to be in the midst of an authentic Italian community rather than a tourist trap.

We highly recommend Villa Sara.

Summer In Italy were perfect! Thank you.

Travel tips

  • Do call ahead of time with your arrival time. We entered a 2 hour range on the website, but should've called (as instructed). Call at least one hour ahead of time.
  • Pack light!! We brought only towable backpacks and were soooo glad.
  • Go right away to the Tourist office and obtain a street map of Praiano and a full and clear explanation of how the bus system works. It is very important to understand when to take the SITA bus and when to take the Orange (Internal) bus. They are different prices, schedules and pick-up locations. The bus drivers are extremely skilled and our fear very quickly turned to admiration. We totally trusted them to deliver us safely no matter how narrow the street, tight the corner or crazy the other drivers were.
  • The street map of Praiano will help you discover the many pedestrian pathways and shortest routes by foot. Be ready for lots of stairs! They are everywhere and unavoidable. It really is not the place for those who are not relatively fit or those who do not lots of walking.
  • There are several markets in Praiano and the proprietors are very helpful and friendly. We found everything we needed at great prices. There is a small market just down the road from the San Luca Square bus stop, a few small ones on Amalfi drive in Praiano, and a larger one (Tutto per Tutti) that can be reached from the Villa by going left from the gate down the road, take left down Via Lama, then left onto Via Duomo, then left once you reach the road. Be sure to check out the lower level of the market and the wine cellar! Our best meals were those we made at Villa Sara with fresh ingredients from the market.
  • Do not miss stepping into the Churches of San Luca and San Gennaro. They are so worth it!
  • You must check out Marina di Praia. The internal (orange) bus takes you there. We enjoyed Restaurant Il Pirata and Restaurant Alfonso Bar Mare at the marina.
  • One of our favorite days was when we rented a boat from La Sibilla (departed at the marina) for the day and explored the coastline, beaches, coves and grottoes. Make sure you get a set price ahead of time (we recommend some friendly low-key negotiation).
  • It is very easy to explore the Amalfi Coast from Praiano. Just plan the night before so that you can coordinate the bus schedule and avoid waiting at the stops.
  • We really enjoyed dinner at Restaurant Chez Black in Positano (down at the beach/marina). The gnocchi was amazing!
  • Villa Sara became home for us for the week we there and we were always so glad to come back there after a long day of exploring and touring. It is so very quiet and peaceful. We know you will enjoy your stay as much as we did!

Georgina V.

Vancouver

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2009 - We enjoyed our stay at Villa Sara.

It was well located although getting our luggage down all those stairs was quite a marathon. There is a path with few stairs whose access is further along from the street parking but much easier to manage with our wheeled luggage. We used this path at the end of our stay. Would have been easier to move the car afterward.

Travel tips

  • Ask about the path to the Villa as opposed to the stairs if you have a fair amount of luggage.
  • Great location for being away from it all but not centrally located for getting to the grocery store or small main street. Everything is about a 20 min walk/stair hike. Driving is awkward on the narrow steep roads and no easy parking anywhere.
  • Buses to the neighbouring towns are fairly regular and are the best option. We enjoyed our visits to Ravello, Amalfi, Positano and Pompeii. You need to be in decent shape for all the stair climbing!!

Alex R.

Danbury, CT

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2009 - We enjoyed Villa Sara very much.

The stairs to get there were a challenge with our luggage but it was part of the whole experience.

It was peaceful and easy to just relax after a long day of touring.

Great customer service and quick email response. You answered all my questions. Great job!

Travel tips

  • Bring good walking shoes.
  • The bus system is great once you figure it out. We had a car and braved the coastal road almost every day.
  • Best restaurant in the area is Hosteria il Pino. Great food, service, and people. Memorable.

Lena E.

Uppsala

Sweden

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2009 - Everything was excellent! Thank you

JoAnn K.

Richmond, Virginia

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2008 - We enjoyed Villa Sara and the whole area very much.

The villa is beautifully situated and we enjoyed the beautiful surroundings.

Summer In Italy was wonderful to work with. We found you to be very responsive to our questions and you acted quickly when we reported a problem with the bathroom -- many thanks.

We would rent from you again! Thanks for helping make our holiday so delightful!

Paul C.

Amsterdam

Netherlands

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2008 - I thought it was a great place in a great location.

The views are breathtaking.

I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates the Amalfi Coast.

Keep up the good work. All worked well and efficiently.

Travel tips

  • Just enjoy it. But be prepared to go up and down a few steps though :-)

James D.

Fletcher, NC

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2008 - We loved the terrace and enjoyed the views tremendously.

Summer in Italy did a great job.

Thank you.

Travel tips

  • Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento were fantastic.
  • Capri is "Heaven on earth", what a beautiful place.

Pasi L.

Espoo

Finland

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2008 - There was lots of space for 4 people,and the terrace was wonderful with a beautiful view.

The television didn't work when we came. I informed Ms Lucia [the owner] but didn't get a new one during our week. Also the kitchenware was quite old and not too many items available.

Overall we enjoyed the privacy of villa Sara, and the view of course.

I found the web site by chance. I thought your pages were excellent and easy to read. Everything worked out fine. Thank you Luca for good customer service!

Travel tips

  • We would not have managed without a car, there were too many steps in that summer heat to manage from the village of Praiano to Villa Sara.
  • We liked Maiori beach the best, and visiting Positano, Amalfi and Pompeii was wonderful.
  • We also visited Capri but the view from Villa Sara was as good as that from Capri.

Jan H. M.

Oslo

Norway

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2008 - We truly loved our recent stay at Villa Sara, regretfully we had to return home after one week there.

Where this place shines, is in location. The view of the ocean really cannot be beat and we loved the HUGE terrace!

Travel tips

  • Not to miss: Marina di Praia, not too far away (but a good workout if you walk) with a really lovely beach and excellent restaurant.

Carina D.

Rotterdam

Netherlands

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2008 - We had the holiday of our lifetime.

Such a lovely village, Praiano! Went to San Genaro (pizzeria) every night.

Great food, great walk, great people. Looking over the sea from the terrace... wow.

Very nice people from Summer in Italy as well. You get what you expect: sounds simple but is special.

Travel tips

  • Do book! You won't regret it.

Verda M.

Vernon

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2007 - We loved Villa Sara. Our favorite location was the terrace. We would wake up and head straight to the terrace with it's incredible views to sit and enjoy our morning coffee. We would prepare meals in the kitchen with the patio doors open and then enjoy watching the full moon rise over the Mediterranean at night. It was truly magical.

The Villa was large with a very spacious main bathroom and bedroom and very roomy second bedroom and bathroom. The living and dining rooms were very large though we didn't spend any time indoors.

Villa Sara is in a very quiet area and is located perfectly to receive the morning sun with plenty of deck furniture to enjoy it.

The accommodation was very clean and the air conditioning was a much needed bonus during our stay.

We enjoyed our communication with Summer In Italy. Their website is very easy to negotiate and the booking process went very smoothly. We will definitely use your website again.

Travel tips

  • If driving to the Villa, follow the directions very carefully and accurately. We arrived rather late (around midnight) and had difficulty finding the Villa since we assumed that our 'taxi' driver would be able to find it. If you are arriving after dark, pack a flashlight in your carry on so you can safely navigate the many stairs down to the Villa.
  • There is a handy shopping area very near Villa Sara. It is situated behind the church that is visible from the terrace and you can reach it by walking left down a narrow walkway that is at the top of the stairs from the Villa. This is also the area where you can catch the bus or walk to Vettica Maggiore.
  • Praiano has a wonderful market located on the one way street on a corner near the ocean.
  • Head downstairs to discover a wine cellar.
  • La Praia Beach is very nice though you do lose the sun later in the afternoon. If you want all day sun, head to One Fire Beach but be prepared for stairs. It is worth the 300+ stair climb back up.
  • We rented scooters and loved driving around the Amalfi coast highway.
  • Ravello is well worth the visit and Minori had a great beach to spend the afternoon. Amalfi's market is wonderful to walk around.

Mary H.

East Aurora, NY

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2007 - My teenage daughter, my teenage niece and my sister-in-law stayed at the Villa Sara in July and it was wonderful!

We were greeted at the Villa by Lucia, she showed us around, the place was very clean, large and spacious, just as it looks and is described on the website. We really enjoyed the large terrace, it is huge! We often had our cafe in the morning on the terrace over looking the sea and we often would finish our day on the terrace as well with a glass of Italian wine in hand.

Although there are many steps to deal with, we all welcomed them. It kept us in shape and allowed us to eat what we wanted!

A grocery store with fresh produce, a small wine cellar and more is with a 5 minute walk. We enjoyed everything Praiano had to offer and it was very easy to take the different buses to the neighboring towns of Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, and Ravello. We even took the bus, then train to spend the day in Pompeii. The entire week offered picture perfect weather.

The town of Praiano is less busy than the neighboring towns and we liked that. We got on a first name basis with some of the folks in town at the market, restaurants and more, very lovely people. The beaches are different than what we are used to, the food on the coast was amazing. In Praiano do not miss the wine bar, ask Lucia, it was fairly new and no name out front.

We also had two great meals at Ristorante La Strada, sit on the balcony.

Take a boat ride to the Isle of Capri and spend the day there.

After spending just a week at Villa Sara we did not want to leave and I will be back, only next time for a longer visit. Stay at Villa Sara, you will love it!

Richard C.

Auckland

New Zealand

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2007 - We thought Villa Sara was great - perfect for a family of 4 with two young boys.

The stunning deck and views and large living spaces enabled us to relax and spread out after action packed days exploring the area. The vista from the deck was incredible.

The only real downside was the lack of a washing machine which meant we had to lug the washing down to the town and get stuck with 'tourist' prices.

Think Summer in Italy is a great site/service - would use again.

Travel tips

  • If you have re-schoolers who want to be carried uphills(!) it's important to keep abreast of the bus timetable that goes to and from St. Luca square.
  • We didn't hire a car and thought it was the best thing we could have done - the bus situation is really good - regular, on time, have two services ie. local service (Positano - Praiano) and Sita one that does the whole Amalfi Coast (from Salerno to Sorrento) - all we had to do was jump on and enjoy the madness and excitement around you.

Simon L.

Ashford

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2006 - Villa Sara is in a beautiful location and is very spacious with 2 bathrooms. The terrace is its best feature with a stunning view and sun all day. It is on the southern side of Praiano and looks over the bay of Salerno and not the perhaps prettier view of Positano.

We felt that furnishing of the villa was rather mean with barely enough cutlery and crockery for 4 people and not even some condiments or washing up liquid in the villa when we arrived.

The local shopkeepers are delightful and the buses to get to Positano and Sorrento are good value and quite an experience! There are lots of big steps to climb if you want to walk and burn off the pasta but we were glad not to have a car as parking looked like a nightmare.

Thoroughly recommended but hopefully the owners will spend a little money on the furnishings for the next season.

Your service was excellent we have no complaints and were very impressed.

Deborah S.

Coreley, Ludlow

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2006 - A very relaxing holiday. The villa was exactly as described.

Would highly recommend to anyone thinking of renting this villa.

Would definitely book with you again, in fact am in the process of planning next year and should be contacting you again in the near future.

Keri C.

Chicago, IL

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2006 - The view is hard to beat and the house has plenty of space. Please note that a car is recommended. We missed that point and lost a few pounds over the course of the week walking up and down so much. We ended up figuring out their bus system which helped us out a lot. The orange buses run through the town of Praiano and onto Positano and back again. The blue SITA buses run from Sorrento to Amalfi and back. You buy the tickets for the orange bus ON the bus and you have to buy the tickets for the blue bus in the Tabacchi stores.

Please don't miss out on visiting Marina di Praia. It's a great place to swim and eat while enjoying the view. The restaurants over looking the water on your walk down to the beach all have great food.

Arild B.

Nesøya

Norway

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2006 - We enjoyed our stay very much, great view from the terrace and the location served as a good starting point for excursions in the vicinity.

We did not mind the steps from the street to the villa, but were happy that we brought bags and not suitcases.

Restaurants in Praiano were only a short and very pleasant walk away.

We found you on the internet by chance, and would highly recommend you to friends. Your service and the information we received were very helpful and we found your website to be one of the best!

Rosanne A.

Kill Devil Hills, NC

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2006 - We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Sara. Staying in Praiano rather than Positano or Amalfi allowed us to experience a quiet little coastal town and since it was extremely easy to reach the other towns by bus, we had the best of both worlds.

Villa Sara was located in upper Praiano with the most fantastic view. The terrace was one of the nicest that we had seen.

All necessary items for a comfortable stay were available at Villa Sara. I would recommend it to others.

Summer in Italy is an extremely efficient organization. It was very easy to choose and reserve a villa. Great website!!!

Alan C.

Glasgow

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2005 - Overall the four of us loved the Villa Sara.

One hated the stairs but the other 3 of us thought it added to the charm of the place.

Praiano amenities are basic but fine for our needs. We loved the lady in the local shop who was very helpful.

The locality was perfect and we all had a brilliant holiday.

Grazie Grazie Grazie.

Michael O.

Troy, Michigan

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2005 - We loved our visit to Italy, and the villa was excellent. It was large and charming and the view was breathtaking - the best terrace in the area.

The bedrooms are comfortable, and the kitchen is modern and well equipped.

We traveled with three small children and Villa Sara was perfect for them. The terrace is huge and is accessible only from the villa (no stairs) - so the children could play indoors and out with no worries.

The location is very peaceful and beautiful - a ten minute easy walk (very few stairs) from the Praiano/Positano bus stop and a well-stocked market. The bus ride to Positano is about 30 minutes. The walk from the parking space was long - with many steps - but nothing unusual for the Amalfi coast.

We would recommend the villa highly.

Outstanding service - you made the whole search and booking process very simple, and we would recommend your services to anyone.

Paul C.

Bath

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2005 - Although we enjoyed our stay we found the appartment very basic.

There were none of the Italian family touches and there was only just sufficient kitchen equipement for a family of four.

Samantha P.

Exmouth

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2005 - We all thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Sara.

The Villa was spotless and it had everything we needed. The view from the enormous outside veranda was absolutely stunning. The beds were comfortable. There was plenty of storage space for our clothes. It was great having 2 bathrooms.

The villa was very spacious, so plenty of room for four people and we had two small children too, with buggies, and there was still masses of room.

We would all thoroughly recommend anyone to stay there.

I have been most impressed with Summer In Italy. Your administration is prompt, informative, extremely polite and efficient. I would recommend anyone wanting to spend a holiday such as the one we have just done to use you. Thank you very much for making everything so easy and straightforward.

Sarah C.

Warwick

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2005 - The view was spectacular, well worth all the steps to the villa!

Villa Sara is spacious, well maintained and clean. An excellent base for sight-seeing the Amalfi coast.

Thank you for your superb assistance, information and friendliness. We will definitely use your services again and recommend you to our friends.

Ed C.

Phoenix, AZ

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

April 2005 - We enjoyed the villa very much and the only downside was the 179 steps to get up and down to our automobile.

Our stay in Praiano was one we will not soon forget and we look to come back again.

Your efforts were very professional and when we book again I would certainly use your service. I don't remember how I found you but it was certainly by a search on the internet. Thank you for your help.

Bart A.

Neerpelt

Belgium

VERIFIED

Excellent

April 2005 -

We would like to tell you that we have had a wonderfull stay at Villa Sara.

The house was great, the village was quiet, the nature was top and the weather was beautiful!

The service of "Summer in Italy" was excellent. We received an answer on every question.

So, we would like to thank you for everything.

Unfortunately, Villa Sara can not be booked at this time.

We would love to help you find a suitable alternative. Please be in touch for personal advice from our staff!