Dear Voleja,
We were with two different groups. The first week was all mature travelers. My cousin had helped me choose the villa, and we both agreed that it was better than we had expected, and our expectations were high! We loved the outdoor space, used the kitchen extensively, used the outdoor kitchen as well. It was lovely that all the basic supplies that were there could be used, coffee, olive oil, salt, pepper, all the things one doesn't use up in a week, but still needs. The second week was us with our three twenty-something children and their partners. We cooked breakfasts, but never dinners, and the young people used the living room for tv watching, linking through their laptops for shows. They used the pool more, and the kitchen less, but they were just as impressed.
I would warn people to bring ear plugs, or to have the villa provide them. It is nothing they can do anything about, but they are close to a stop light which has a beeping sound when it is safe for pedestrians to cross. This sound does not stop at night! Perhaps in the summer when the AC is going and the window closed it is not so noticeable. We always have earplugs with us, so it didn't bother us, but it did some of our guests. A few suggestions: American washing machines are very different, and none of my children could work out how to use the two that were available. A plastified card giving translations of the Croatian program language would have been helpful. Also, the first week was not very warm, and our laundry took more than 2 days to dry. For us, one washer and one dryer would have been preferable over two washers and no dryer!
These are very small quibbles indeed, because if there was a Villa Bruna in every place we want to go for a family vacation, we would stay there over and over again. Rafaela was super responsive, she arranged for a photographer to come to the house who was great. She even helped us find a doctor for a home visit when my son was ill, and was always available. Marko Matei came and met us 2 days before the dinner. He inspected the kitchen, took an inventory so he knew what he needed to bring. We adjusted the menu one more time. He had great suggestions, but also listened well to our wishes. He showed up on time, and, although we couldn't be in the kitchen while he was making preparations, he made us coffee and tea etc, so we were not deprived. The dinner was absolutely fabulous, and we even had leftovers. We would hire him again in a flash!
Thanks to you too, Voleja, for all your help. We had such a lovely vacation!
Erna
