Do It Yourself

Carrying the luggage to the apartment

Usually, our guests come to Pila on foot. For information on how to get here go to Contact us/How to get here. From Pila it takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes on foot to get to the reception. Follow the sign with the Al Forno-Vacanze logo. A backpack is ideal. Wheeled suitcases are inadequate due to the rocky trails and stairs! 

Picking up the keys and the bed sheets at the reception

Guests may usually move into their holiday home by 3pm. Alternatives are possible upon consultation with us. Arrivals after 6pm are to be notified to us in advance. Please check in at the reception before going to your accommodation. Here you will get your keys and clean bed sheets.

Shopping local

In Intragna, there is the village shop "avanti-avanti", the "Centvai" bakery and the butcher Freddi. And in the neighboring village of Cavigliano, only five minutes by train from Intragna, the little village shop “Crai” provides everything you need for the day. In these three family-run businesses people are very friendly and helpful. If you are a group and you need large quantities of groceries it is recommended to order them in advance from “Crai” (the personnel speaks Italian and German). Upon consultation, “Crai” delivers your groceries directly to the cable car station in Intragna. You will find other shops in Verscio, which is two train stops from Intrgna, or in other villages on the way to Locarno and Ascona. More details and information about other services will be available after the booking confirmation.

Cooking

In our simple and practical kitchen (without dishwashers!) you will soon feel at home. The cooking utensils are simple and of good quality. There are plenty of dishes, sorted out with care by Ursula. There is an Italian espresso percolator, as well as everything you need to make filtered coffee. Some spices, vinegar and oil are always available. Ideally, guests are expected to leave something to the next guests. It is management’s responsibility to ensure that the goods are in a good condition. Cleanliness is a must. In the communal kitchen of Casa al Forno it is important to be respectful and considerate of others. If necessary, guests may agree on a kitchen schedule, and of course, clean up and put everything back in its place after cooking.

Heating with wood

During winter months our guests have free access to firewood. We do the logging ourselves in our woods. We chop and stack the wood close to the houses. It is important to us that guests use the wood responsibly. Upon arrival guests will find a stack of wood close to their accommodation. Depending on the type of oven, guests need to split the wood in smaller pieces (a handsaw and axe are available). Prior to departure please make sure to restock the wood supply by the oven for the next guests. Please let us know in your booking if you have any health-related problems preventing you form sawing and chopping wood, and we will do our best to find a solution.

The final cleaning

Guests should check out of their clean holiday apartment by 11 am. Prior to that, our guests are asked to return their bed sheets to the reception and we can agree on a time to check out of the apartment. Our guests usually do the final cleaning themselves, therefore we do not charge any extra fee for that. Vacuum cleaner etc. is available. Guests are expected to dispose of their waste themselves in Intragna. See General Terms and Conditions