Dune Hotel & RTA Boschetto Holiday

We only spent one night here, but it was a really nice stay. The room was spotless and smelled lovely. It also had a balcony, where we watched a beautiful sunrise this morning. Thanks so much, we’ll be back.

I was relieved I hadn’t ended up staying here after the way the staff spoke to me. I’d booked through Booking.com, where I had time to cancel, and I cancelled early because of a family matter. I apologized and said I’d keep their number for a future booking. They contacted me on WhatsApp to say that wasn’t how things were done, then rudely told me to delete the number because they weren’t interested. I was shocked by their attitude.

The place felt like a mix of a summer camp and a 1990s campsite, from the odd decor and furnishings to the linens and mattress. The kitchen was dirty and caked with grime, the curtain was torn, and some lights didn’t work. There was trash along the walkway to the entrance, which also raised safety concerns. Although the rooms are described as having a sea view, you can’t actually see the sea. The bathroom made noise, the toilet dripped, and the water heater whistled. Cleanliness was poor, and the staff and reception were absent and unpresentable, nowhere near what I’d expect from a 4-star hotel. A failure.

We booked after our previous stay in Lido di Camaiore in December 2024, and had no way of knowing what was coming. We usually book early for better prices and more availability. I was six months pregnant when I had a late miscarriage due to serious physical complications and was hospitalized for treatment. We also have three dogs, including a 12-year-old with heart disease who takes three heart pills a day. That’s why we chose Booking.com’s pay-at-the-property option with free cancellation up to three days ahead, even though paying in advance could have saved us money. We cancelled the reservation and, although Booking.com’s policy didn’t require us to explain why, contacted the property directly to explain and ask about rebooking for another time while we waited for the doctors’ approval. The reply was initially, “Thank you, have a good day.” A few hours later they wrote, “You don’t keep an apartment closed for two weeks during the summer and then cancel five days in advance. You can delete the number for any other reservations.” In my opinion, that was insulting and showed no empathy for what our family was going through. They may also have blocked my husband on WhatsApp, since our reply later showed one gray check instead of the two blue checks on earlier messages. We cancelled within the guarantee period offered by Booking.com. Even if we had cancelled within those dates, we would have been charged the full amount under the applicable terms and conditions. The property is on Booking.com and knows its rules for registered customers, so I find that judgment absurd and unprofessional. As far as I know, €2,000 or more matters to anyone’s pocket. If you disagree with the site’s legal terms, I suggest removing your property from Booking.com. This review is our chance to vent, just as they did to us on WhatsApp.