“Very nice stay”

We spent 5 nights at this hotel and we really enjoyed our stay. The room we booked was the superior one and we were given a very nice room on the 3rd floor with a huge terrace and an amazing sea view. The room size was quite good and the bathroom was very big. Everything was clean and in great con… more

We spent 5 nights at this hotel and we really enjoyed our stay. The room we booked was the superior one and we were given a very nice room on the 3rd floor with a huge terrace and an amazing sea view. The room size was quite good and the bathroom was very big. Everything was clean and in great condition. We booked half board and we regret that we only had dinner at the hotel once. There was a very small difference between breakfast only and half board (at least through booking.com ) and I would highly recommend half board. Both breakfast and dinner were delicious. We have never seen so much choice of items at any other place we stayed during our trip in Italy. Everything was fresh and tasty. I love seafood and there were many different types of fish and seafood served. There are also meat and plenty of vegetarian options. Salads were delicious. Staff was very friendly and polite. The pool is not small at all as some guests noted and it is clean and usually not busy at all – why would anyone used the pool with such wonderful beaches around. We were also given a free walking tour of Otranto, which we really enjoyed (it is in Italian only). There is plenty of free parking on the street at the side of the hotel (if you park on the other side if the street you have to pay) and they also have an underground garage free of charge for hotel guests. The whole area is very safe and quiet. We kept our car parked on the street as we would go to different beaches during the day. The hotel is an easy 15-20 minute walk to the old town, so there is no need to drive as it can be hard to find parking in that area. The hotel has an agreement with a beach nearby (Lido Atlantis) where you can rent sun beds and umbrellas for 16 Euros. However, we found the main beach in Otranto to be much nicer and less crowded. We bought an umbrella at a supermarket nearby for 12 Euros and we would hop from one beach to another (there are plenty of free beaches in the area). Even though we stayed during the first week of September, Otranto was still busy. There were many tourists and it was always necessary to reserve a table in advance at local restaurants. Many restaurants serve only fish and seafood with limited vegetarian options and no meat at all. I did not mind this type of menu, but some people in our group that do not eat fish/seafood, found it a bit challenging. It is always better to check the menu first before making the reservation so that you know what to expect. Overall we had a great stay and we would definitely stay at this hotel again.

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“Relaxing stay in Italy”

We both wanted a holiday in Italy and decided Otranto ticked our requirements. We were a little worried with some of the reviews but our experience was in the main good. We had a deluxe room on third floor, good bed, tv, wifi and working fridge together with well equipped large balcony. The bathroo… more

We both wanted a holiday in Italy and decided Otranto ticked our requirements. We were a little worried with some of the reviews but our experience was in the main good. We had a deluxe room on third floor, good bed, tv, wifi and working fridge together with well equipped large balcony. The bathroom was well equipped and the towels were of good quality, maid service excellent. Only draw back there were no facilities to make a coffee. We went bed and breakfast, which wasn't in the basement and there always a large selection available of continental breakfast, fruit, bread, cake, cheese, cereal etc. No issues with where to sit, only down side was that the fruit juices were the powder variety rather than fresh. All the staff we met could not have been nicer, or more helpful. The hotel is 4 minutes from the beach and a pleasant 15 minute walk into the town. Plenty of choice for bars and restaurants and we had no bad experiences, twice we got food we did not like, this was down to taste not quality. Drinks were available in the hotel, but I think they miss the boat in not running a bar per se, we would have used it. Hotel provided meals in the evening but we always went out. Pool is small but serviceable, towels provided. As are beach towels at a charge, but you can keep them for the stay for the fee, 2 euro if memory serves. Would have given a 5 other than the few negatives, had a great time and would go back again.

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“Not 4 Star Quality”

We booked a deluxe double room - the bed was king sized and very comfortable with a large balcony with tables, chairs and one sunlounger. The bathroom was a good size with a shower that on the face of it had multi function jets and sprays (not many of these worked and those that it did had very poo… more

We booked a deluxe double room - the bed was king sized and very comfortable with a large balcony with tables, chairs and one sunlounger. The bathroom was a good size with a shower that on the face of it had multi function jets and sprays (not many of these worked and those that it did had very poor pressure). There was an empty enclosure on the wall where a TV had once lived, but with wires and bracket still attached - not very aesthetic! Free WiFi throughout the hotel. We arrived at about 4pm and were in need of refreshments - this 4 star hotel didn't have the facility to provide food out of kitchen hours; but our host, Anne, made us a toasted sandwich (of dubious quality) but at least is was sustenance (of sorts). Breakfast proved to be a long standing joke - the restaurant is in the basement and had the ambiance of a staff canteen. We stayed at the hotel for 7 nights and each morning, on giving our room number to the waiter, no table had been allocated. This was most amusing as the restaurant was virtually empty and proved great consterntation to the staff as to where they should seat us!! Breakfast was a continental buffet, with cooked breakfast to order. My husband ordered cooked breakfast each morning and we only wish we had taken a camera to photograph the presentation - one morning the bacon was so burnt that it could only be crumbled and the fried eggs were broken. Most mornings mushrooms were not available. The whole breakfast set-up was on the whole "shoddy with a smile"! The pool area was very tired and showed the outside of the hotel to be in need of some love, attention and a lick of paint. The pool area is quite small with only about 8 sun-loungers and 4 parasols. One morning we decided to brave the heat and relax by the pool in the shade of a parasol, but we were unable to put the parasol up. We asked at reception and after some time a maintenance man came down to set them up. Again, not 4 star standards. The saving grace to the hotel is the wonderful Norweigan hostess, who is multi-lingual and most welcoming, knowlegable and keen to help.

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