My wife and I have been renting villas in Italy and Greece for well over a decade, once or twice a year. Villa Hermosa is a jewel - rarely have we been so satisfied or felt that the description is so correct and honest. We both just started laughing when we arrived: the villa is so beautiful, tranquil, and wonderfully situated.
The interior of the villa is rustic, very tasteful and practical. Although the kitchen and bathrooms are not hyper-modern, they function excellently and are clean and inviting. Showers (also a handy outdoor shower) all work much better than average (thinking of 12-13 years of rentals). This is a villa with soul, Sardinian culture, and tastefully minimalistic in decor. For anybody who wants simply to relax with a book or whatever, the two terraces overlooking the sea are perfect. Eating on the lower, covered, terrace was always a pleasure; very few bugs to disturb while eating and admiring the views. When we were there, the only sound was that of the waves just below.
A wealth of flowers and small gardens surround the house. The villa is very private; no neighbors watching your every move. No cars driving by as the villa is at the end of a dirt road. If you want a wild nightlife in your neighborhood, this is not the place for you.
Depending upon the direction and intensity of the wind, it is always possible to drive a short distance to find a tranquil beach, if the local beach that is within a few minutes walk is too rough. When on two days we had strong onshore winds, we found azure beaches within 20 minutes that had not more than a ripple of waves. On other days the situation was reversed. One of the local food shops has high-quality products, including delicatessen with fresh pasta and other prepared dishes that can be expected as many well-to-do Italians have villas in Torre delle Stelle. The villa is easy to reach from the airport. The villa is not far from good mountain hiking and all the tourist attractions around Villasimius. As with much of Sardinia, driving along the coast requires some patience as the roads must wind their way up and down steep hills (that do offer magnificent vistas). I can only imagine that in high-season there is a bit of traffic, but normally there is no pressing need to leave Torre delle Stelle.
Elena, the owner, is extremely helpful and a delight to communicate with. The local contact, Angela, is also first-rate.
We are already talking about finding dates for return in 2014 and recommending Villa Hermosa to friends. The villa is perfect for two or three couples, with or without children.
As with all villas, read and re-read the advert for this and all rentals: know what you want and know what is being offered. Yes, there are surprises, good and bad. Be willing to ask. It is worth understanding what the rental rates are in different areas in terms of what you can expect of quality. Yes, it is possible to pay twice as much to achieve luxury, if desired. But for the price range and the location and facilities, I doubt one can do much better than Villa Hermosa. We found the owner to be honest, generous, and helpful; if you are uncertain, ask.
