WOW, what a start to the season. We’re having one of our busiest April and May ever. Four couples were potential purchasers and now, drum roll, we have a buyer for Casal dei Fichi.
It is early days, there are still many administrative hurdles to clear – well it is Italy, but we are very excited, slightly apprehensive, and a bit sad. But, if all goes well, this time next year Casal dei Fichi could be in the hands of a lovely couple from the Netherlands.
The sale will not complete until November, at the soonest so now we really are determined that 2025 will be our best year ever and we will enjoy every moment.
As is the trend in the holiday industry guests are now booking much later, often just days in advance, even the same day so we are not unduly concerned that, although several weeks are booked up already, we still have good availability throughout the season.
With new owners Le Marche will still be just as beautiful, they will make upgrades and modernisations. Casal dei Fichi may be better, but it will never be quite the same. Why not get in touch and book one last time with Jakes, Obi, Sofia – and Bob and Ian?
Our preparations started late this year, we spent many months in Manchester over the winter, planning our next chapter.
Following our return on 1 April we knew that we would have a challenging few weeks doing the maintenance that we would normally have done over the winter, preparing the gardens and pool and getting Casal dei Fichi beautiful for our last season of guests.
As an added incentive we had just over a week before the arrival of our first guests, prospective purchasers for our business. Seasoned helpers Troy and Harry arrived the day after us for their third working visit. The warm spring weather meant that the lads could concentrate on the gardens, become adept at pruning olive trees and developing an enviable sun tan. Casal dei Fichi was the first property that the viewers had seen and they hadn’t even decided on which country they wanted to settle in. So even if they weren’t ready to make a commitment, it wasn’t for the want of immaculately trimmed lavender beds.
When Rosario undertook our substantial building project over 20 years, his son Fabio was just a trainee. Now Fabio runs the business, though that owes more to the Italian tax regime than any desire on Rosario’s part to don slippers and do crossword puzzles. We are determined to keep maintaining the property as if we were going to be here another 20 years. First impressions mean a lot to guests and having substantially upgraded our road last spring, this year it was the turn of the steps leading down from the car park. After two decades of land settling, patching up the old ones was no longer an option.
True to his word, Fabio’s team turned up the first Saturday morning, made short shrift of demolishing the old steps and preparing the slopes. Now laid on a solid base that could underpin a small skyscraper, the steps will provide a solid welcome to Casal dei Fichi for the next owners’ grandchildren.
We are proud that we have remained friendly with Rosario, Fabio and their family. Not everyone can say that of their builder, it says much about how welcoming and hospitable the people of Le Marche have been to us. At the end of the season, when we finally leave, their warmth will be the thing that we miss the most, followed by tomatoes fresh from the vine and proper Italian coffee.
A quick update on travel options for our UK guests. Good news is Ryanair now operate from Stansted to Ancona 7 days a week, with flights at much more sociable times than in the past.
Sadly, Easyjet are not operating into Ancona this year but they are flying from Gatwick to Rimini, not so far from us. Also, BA has introduced a service to Rimini, as well as flying to Perugia.
An increasing number of people are reaching us by train which, if you have a little more time to enjoy it can be a very civilised way to journey. Check out www.seat61.com/ for inspiration.
And a reminder for EV drivers, we have on site chargers for all types of electric car, available at the cost price of electricity. And finally, the charging network in Italy actually extends to the highways!
Hope to see you soon.
CONTACT US FOR YOUR LAST TRIP TO CASAL DEI FICHI WITH
Bob and Ian
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