Grande Albergo Internazionale

The views are great and the location is very nice, but that's not enough to make up for the state of the hotel. It's old and needs serious renovation. The furniture in the room and the bathroom were both in poor condition. In a place without tourists, you couldn't charge 50% of this price. We had to pay 140€ in advance before check-in, which isn't something I see often in hotels across Europe.

The location is great, but the hotel looks as if it hasn't been renovated in a century. We weren't told about the power outage until check-in, too late for us to make other arrangements, and the hotel made no effort to compensate us. We asked for a late checkout and were refused even though the hotel was clearly empty. Breakfast was included but inedible, just a bunch of frozen food that had probably been left out overnight to “warm up”.

The rooms are fine, breakfast is an impressive spread, and the staff give superb service. I was sorry to find that the cocktail lounge is just a sitting room. Windsurf restaurant just outside is a strong recommendation. Brindisi's star hotel, though it seems a little past its prime.

For a day or two in Brindisi, this historic hotel is ideally placed. It's a relatively small, historic town, about a ten minute taxi ride from the busy airport, and the main sights, shopping area and harbor are all within walking distance. The street out front is car-free, though taxis can pass. Large yachts sometimes stay overnight at the pier, making for good people watching, and restaurants and bars are just steps away. The ferry across the harbor is close too. Service is friendly and breakfast is okay, if a bit basic, well, that's Italy. The rooms have classic furniture and feel a little dated, but they're clean and everything works, including the air con. Try for a harbor view room.