Hotel Ristorante Cavaliere

Quiet and clean, and the people were kind.

We came hoping for a peaceful weekend by the pool, away from the heat and bustle, but the stay was a string of disappointments. Once we arrived, the whole building smelled strongly of fried food. The room looked much like the photos, but the terrace had a line of clotheslines where the pictured loungers should have been. The pool was one of our main reasons for booking, yet the water was dirty and its cleaning robot sat switched off in plain sight. Nobody was there to greet us or help, so we had to find loungers ourselves. Then staff began setting up a garden event, with dishes clattering, voices, and people constantly coming and going. The quiet break we wanted quickly became noisy and chaotic, more like a catering venue than a hotel. We raised the problem and received a discount. That was appreciated, but it couldn't make up for the stay. Breakfast the following morning was poor too: we were seated at a table that was clearly already being used by other guests, and there was barely any food to choose from. The price was far out of line with the experience, which left us with a run of hassles instead of a restorative weekend. We won't return.

For the price, the property is in very shabby shape and really needs updating. The pool was filthy, its old wooden deck was in poor condition, the loungers sat on neglected grass, and the shower by the pool didn't work. There was rust and wear all around. Breakfast was low quality, with only a few dry biscuits for my son, who has celiac disease. The room itself was clean and spacious, though the furnishings and materials were very dated. Outside the window was a worn wooden terrace with no view. The card terminal wasn't working. The gentleman who welcomed us was very kind, but the high price is hard to justify.

The double room was lovely, almost a little apartment, with majolica tiles and a four-poster bed. The hotel and restaurant are right in the town center, and it's known for its large party room. They were setting up for an 18th birthday when we arrived, so we couldn't have dinner there. There's no elevator or concierge, but the owner was very kind and helpful.