La Solenzara hôtel

The pool is large and clean, with a fantastic sea view. The hotel itself is a cozy old-fashioned little place, surrounded by lovely flowers and palm trees, and it’s a good escape from the crowds. Our room was clean, fairly spacious for two, and cleaned every day. Breakfast costs extra, but the price was reasonable for what you got. Special thanks to the woman serving breakfast from 03.08 to 07.08. She was the only one serving guests and did an amazing job.

I’m now into my second week and really enjoying the stay, even though the first few days were frustrating. There was no WiFi in the apartments, so I had to cancel work appointments. A few details could use more attention, and the owner can be defensive, which I put down to being proud of her beautiful place. We have a lovely three-bedroom apartment with a great spot for eating outdoors, plus beautifully maintained gardens. The communal pool is gorgeous, with a view, though there are lots of steps between the apartment and hotel, so it’s not suitable for people with limited mobility. There’s a small town close by with shops and restaurants. Go into the mountains for good, cheaper food, or get pizza in town. We spent quite a bit on mediocre meals there, though maybe we were unlucky. With a car, this makes a perfect base for exploring. We’ve fallen in love with the local beach, which is uncrowded and has a lagoon for kids. Bring an umbrella, take a picnic, and enjoy the wild coastline. We’re cyclists and have ridden into the local mountains, which were stunning, and you can swim in the pools up there too.

From our top-floor room, we had views of the sea and beach in one direction and the mountains in another. The air conditioning is powerful, though it was quiet enough to leave the windows open all night. WiFi was good around the pool and public areas, but weak in our room. There’s secure, dedicated motorcycle parking, which was a real bonus. A private, lit path leads to the beach, a short walk away, and some nice restaurants by the harbour. I’m writing this beside the pool as a little rain falls, which certainly isn’t the hotel’s fault. Five stars are well deserved, and I wish I could give more.

The hotel looks nice, but there were lots of ants and other small bugs in our room. When we told the staff, they said it was normal. They reduced the room price by about 4 euros from 144 euros. I can’t recommend the hotel unless you’re okay with ants in your bed and clothes overnight.