We spent the last week of the summer holidays staying in a luxury family villa in Lake Maggiore, Italy. We had an incredible week exploring the region and enjoying quality family time in our temporary home. Our only regret is that the week in the Italian Lakes flew by far too quickly!
Our stay at Villa Sereni took place August 2017. Article updated May 2018 after a second visit to Lake Maggiore, Italy.
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Luxury villa Lake Maggiore, Italy: Video tour
This is a video I took as we first arrived at Villa Sereni (and before my boys had chance to make themselves at home!) As you will see the villa has three bedrooms set over three floors and is fully equipped with absolutely EVERYTHING a family could possibly need for a relaxing family holiday.
Luxury Italian Lakes holidays family villa review: What we loved about Villa Sereni
As you can see from the video, Villa Sereni is really spacious. It truly was a lovely place to call home for a week and a great base for exploring Lake Maggiore and the surrounding region.
Richard and I stayed in the master suite on the top floor with its own en suite bathroom and private balcony overlooking the mountains and lake…
Our boys happily made themselves at home in the twin bedroom which was fully kitted out with toys and books.
We spent a lot of time on the main terrace area eating around the dining table and chilling out on the sun loungers. We enjoyed breakfast outside every day discussing where to go for the day, usually packed a picnic for lunch and quite often dined back at the villa at night just as the sun was setting.
The main terrace was such a lovely spot to chill out as a family, fire up a BBQ and just enjoy each others company. We also made full use of the DVD’s, Xbox console and board games for relaxing evenings in the comfortable living and dining area.
Luxury Italian Lakes family villa review: Villa Sereni location
There is so much to do in this region of Italy. For Italian Lakes holidays ideas check out our destination guide – 15 things to do in Lake Maggiore with kids. 
It was our first time to the Italian Lakes but it certainly will not be our last. The region is absolutely stunning and very easy to explore. (Even if you don’t speak Italian which Richard and I regrettably don’t). We were taken by surprise on our first day blindly following SatNav on our way to check into our villa. One minute we were admiring the lake views, next minute the SatNav was telling us to hop on a car ferry to travel across to the other side of the lake!
After a couple of days we were pro’s at hopping on and off ferries, sometimes with our car other times as foot passengers. We felt like real adventurers, sometimes stumbling across little hidden gems and other times seeking out the many family friendly places that had been recommended to us in this Italian Lakes holiday guide.
One of the things we really loved about the villa was the choice of balconies to enjoy the lake view. There was one for both the master suite and guest room as well as one facing the back of the property, accessed from the master suite bathroom.
We used them all during our time there to play cards in the evenings and I quite often hid on one of the balconies from my boys to sneak in a quiet hour with a good book and cup of tea!
Driving in Italy
A little word of warning regarding driving in Italy. We found the local drivers to be rather reckless, often coming around corners whilst taking over most of the road. The only downside to the stunning mountain and lake views from Villa Sereni is that it is located quite high up a hillside and probably not the best choice of villa for timid drivers. To reach the villa you have to follow a steep twisty road for about five minutes and then take a sharp turn onto a steep driveway. When parking our car we wedged rocks underneath the tyres to prevent it from rolling. To be honest, I was very grateful that my husband was the nominated driver with our rental company, it was the perfect excuse not to have to take a turn behind the wheel! Don’t fret though, if from reading this review you fancy a holiday in Lake Maggiore there are many villas located lake side on the Bookings For You website to avoid this steep twisty drive.
Luxury Italian Lakes family villa review: Lasting Impressions – Villa Sereni
Normally our lasting impressions of a holiday are just the destination itself. We usually return home raving about the places we have been and the things we have seen. Returning from our week in Lake Maggiore we raved first and foremost about our home for the week, Villa Sereni, followed by gushy descriptions of the absolutely stunning places we visited! It was truly a treat to stay somewhere so luxurious, spacious and relaxing and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this villa to other families.
**Click here to enter our exclusive villa holiday giveaway with Bookings For You**
Disclosure – We were kindly invited as guests of Bookings For You to stay at Villa Sereni for the purpose of this honest review. All views and words are, as always, my own. All images copyright Travel Loving Family.
What a wonderful opportunity this looks fabulous! I’d love to treat my family !
never been to Italy, my family and i deserve a lovely holiday please.
Wow such a beautiful place. I’d love this break with my family. Good Luck everyone.
It would be amazing to have a break here so fingers crossed again
Looks absolutely wonderful. So peaceful too.
Excellent competition prize and website
Wow!! This looks fabulous! I’ve never been to Portugal but have been “meaning” to go for years!! Would be over the moon to win this prize for me, hubby & our 9 year old twins.
Haha!! Italy even!! Never been there either!! 😂😂😂
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Hilarious!! Thanks for entering Corinna and best of luck to you!
Pass the suntan lotion!
Great prize.
Absolutely Amazing Giveaway!!! x x x
Looks great… I would be too fearful to drive, even though got my licence driving on the other side of the road in Finland. I haven’t driven in Europe for prob 15 yrs and am just too nervous, Italian drivers scare me! Good that you got hubby to drive – I would need to do that too.
Wow what an amazing prize
what a beautiful serene looking family destination.hope my luck is in.
yes please
This would be z dream come through. It looks just like a wonder.
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Best of luck to you Jacqui!
Such a gorgeous part of the world and one I haven’t visited – how amazing to have your own villa there.
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It’s going to be a pretty hard holiday to beat Cathy!
Such a fab giveaway – I just LOVE the views. I’d really like to visit the Italian lakes one day….
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Best of luck to you Sam!
Gosh this place looks INCREDIBLE. Those views are to die for! I haven’t been to Italy since I was 15 and I’ve never taken my kids there – it’s definitely somewhere we’d love to experience as a family. x
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You are definitely long overdue a visit to Italy Molly!
Aaah what an amazing opportunity!!!! I’ve never been to mainland Italy — I went to Sardinia last year and loved it, so would love to explore the mainland too. The lakes look incredible — just off to Google more about it! Thanks for sharing x
Aaah what an amazing opportunity!!!! I’ve never been to mainland Italy – I went to Sardinia last year and loved it, so would love to explore the mainland too. The lakes lo K incredible – just off to Google more about it! Thanks for sharing 💛
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You are very welcome Caro. Best of luck to you;)
The villa is just stunning, what a great place to explore home for a week. The destination is out of this world too
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It was the first time on holiday that we were just happy to relax and not leave our accommodation!
This is such a fabulous competition Lisa!!! We visited Lake Garda for our first holiday pre kids – such happy memories. This villa looks beautiful I can see myself there with my feet up (Ok ok I am forgetting I have three kiddies to run around after ! Ha )
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Ha ha yes how things change with kids eh Katy!
What an amazing place and the views are magnificent!
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Yes for once I was happy for my boys to wake up early so we could make the most of the morning views!
Wow what an incredible competition it looks just amazing and those views are incredible x
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Best of luck to you Sarah!
We have never stayed in a villa – it is on my bucket list! This looks fabulous. Kaz x
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Ooh you may never want to stay in a hotel room ever again Kaz!
We are huge Italiophiles (I’m writing this from Puglia, where we’ll be til the end of October), so am not surprised at how beautiful your photos are. Such a beautiful, beautiful country #MondayEscapes
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Hope you are having a wonderful time in Puglia Tania;)
What a fantastic prize. It must have been blissful, dropping off to sleep in a bedroom with a view as stunning as that! Great that the place came equipped with toys for the boys, too. That kind of thing always helps. #MondayEscapes
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It makes a huge difference doesn’t it Nell. Makes it easier to pack as well knowing that you are staying in a child friendly/well equipped place
Wow, looks like a stunning location and the villa looks amazing too, what a fab holiday! #mondayescapes
What a great post. Husband and I have just returned from Italy (Bologna) and loved every second. Next time, we will take more time. The lakes are so pretty!!
#MondayEscapes
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They really are! Glad you enjoyed your Italian adventure too;)
I do love all the balconies you have for admiring the amazing views at this villa, Lisa! It looks such a beautiful place and in such a wonderful setting too. Somewhere we’d love to visit. #MondayEscapes
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I was so happy sitting in peace on those balconies Clare! Several to chose from and hide from my kids;)
The villa looks perfect for a family get away. The views look beautiful.
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Best of luck to you Nicky
Balconies galore – how marvellous is that, you can just move with the sun…or the shade!
We’ve been to Lake Garda before but not Lake Maggiore – such a beautiful part of Italy.
#MondayEscapes
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I know! I’ve been truly spoilt Trish!
What a stunning STUNNING villa. We would love to the the boys back and show them where we used to live and this place seems perfect. And I COMPLETELY know what you mean by the drivers. I picked up some seriously bad driving habits living in Italy and needed to adjust again when we returned to the UK. #MondayEscapes
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Its funny actually Jenny because my hubby is normally a really clam and considerate driver but the locals rubbed off on him too. I think he felt like he had to defend his side of the road!
We are going to Italy next summer would love to stay here! Plus I’m not scared on driving!
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Best of luck to you! Fingers crossed;)
I loved seeing all of your pictures of this fabulous property – it honestly looks heavenly! We nearly always hire a holiday property rather than stay in hotels etc, and I always look for a place that has toys and books, like this one. As well as being great for the kids, it makes me feel much more relaxed as it confirms that it is family-friendly. I really do want to visit the Italian Lakes very soon.
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Villas are so much more family friendly than hotels! Kids just need space to play. I’m happy to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights but any longer and I find a villa much more accommodating for my boys
The villa looks perfect for a family get away. That view… I think I could sit and look at it all day! Just stunning!
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I wish my boys would let me Emma!
I would love to win this. Lake maggiorenis one of my favourites
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Finger crossed for you!