Hotel l'Approdo

The dinner restaurant is the highlight for me. So far, it's been the best food I've had in Salento, and the menu photos give you an idea. The hotel is good, the staff are really friendly, breakfast is generous, and the terrace is a comfortable place to sit. Carlo, the owner, is a kind, family-minded person who understands what guests need. Running a place in this town isn't easy, since its infrastructure and services aren't like those in more developed holiday destinations, so I appreciate the work he's doing at L’Approdo even more. This is my second visit in a row, and I'll definitely come back. Carlo and his family have done a great job, and every member of staff is so welcoming. Anyone looking for a place to stay should know about it.

The pool is spotless, and the day beds are so comfortable for a slow afternoon. After spending a month here, we're going to be sorry when it's time to set sail. The peaceful hill setting, with birdsong all around, made the hotel feel like a quiet break, while the water and marina views were lovely to wake up to each morning. Breakfast on the patio was a great start to the day. We stayed at a few places around Leuca during our months-long visit, and Hotel L'Approdo was easily our favorite. There's plenty of parking, which is unusual around here. The reservation and housekeeping teams were attentive and professional, and made us feel at home. The building has a fun mix of local art and handmade things for sale. Our room was bright, modern, and very clean, with spacious bedrooms and bathrooms and reliable hot water. Dinner was excellent too, served at romantic, softly lit tables on the terrace. One small thing we really appreciated was the elevator, especially after traveling with heavy luggage. I can't recommend Hotel L'Approdo enough. The people and the place are both wonderful, and I'll definitely return.

The room was a real letdown. The floor was so dirty we wiped our feet before getting into bed. The balcony door was hard to open, the old shutter stuck, and the shower was so cramped that turning around meant accidentally hitting the tap and getting cold water. The air conditioning only made the room a little cool and spat water. The decor in reception was lovely, as were the restaurant and pool areas, but the room needed a lot of repairs. We'd been excited to arrive for our honeymoon because the online photos looked amazing. We'd emailed several times beforehand about parking, but were told on arrival there was no space and to park on the street, which was impossible on such narrow roads. We eventually found a spot on site about 20 minutes later. The man who greeted me just said, “Passports?!” and handed over a room key. He didn't explain where dinner, breakfast, or the amenities were. I had to go back and ask. Other reviews had mentioned rude arrivals, and they were completely right. The dogs were another problem. I love dogs, but two guests had one each on a lead, barking at each other while people tried to eat. Then a dog defecated in the dining room, and the smell made me leave halfway through my meal. Guests shouldn't have to bring dogs into the food area. Barking through the night and early morning woke us repeatedly. The service staff were okay, though none seemed happy to be there. This hotel was a huge disappointment, and I wouldn't recommend it.

Each evening we chose something from the daily menu, and the food was top class. Everything tasted fresh and was cooked just right. The accommodation was lovely too, with a warm welcome and friendly service. I'd highly recommend it.