Hotel Diplomatic

Fine.

The setting is handy for the beach and shops, and our stay included an umbrella and two loungers. There's a pool with a whirlpool and a lifeguard, plus a night porter. I like watching the sunrise at the beach, so it was useful that the hotel stays open all night. I was there for three nights in the first week of September, two weeks before writing this. The welcome was great, and despite arriving a couple of hours early, my room was ready. It was spotless, which I always check when I arrive. The hotel has two parking options: a paid lot inside and another about 900 meters away. I chose the inside one and appreciated the complimentary parasol and parking disc. I booked half-board with dinner choice. The chef deserves praise, especially since the hotel seemed full. There are two buffet stations, and self-service machines for water, wine, and soft drinks. At the bar you can also fill your own bottle with water and drinks to take away. The staff were friendly, even near the end of the season. Breakfast was the weak point. It had sweet and savory options, but I expected more variety. There's a machine for hot and cold drinks, though the coffee was awful. I made do with coffee from the lobby bar, which was included in the open bar.

I've come back to this hotel for a relaxing week four years in a row. It's a three-star place, not a luxury hotel, but the all-inclusive arrangement is hard to find in Romagna. Along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it covers bar service at set times and a 24-hour self-service open bar with unlimited tap water. The food is the standout: the dishes change daily, are well cooked, and are served at the table. The dining room team is capable and attentive to guests' needs. Well done to Anna and Lello, and to the whole kitchen and dining room staff. Matteo, the night porter, and the management team are also kind and helpful. There's a small to medium-sized pool with a whirlpool for swimming and sunbathing. At scheduled times, the bar serves coffee and drinks, including non-alcoholic and lighter alcoholic options such as beer and cocktails, all included. Guests can enjoy them outside at the tables and lounge seating. The entertainers run games, evenings, and afternoons with aperitifs and desserts for both adults and children, at the hotel and on the beach, all free. Rooms and shared spaces are very clean, and the atmosphere is relaxed, a little elegant, and family-friendly. If you can, I'd choose a room with a balcony facing the sea, though the hotel is about 200 meters from the beach and the sea itself isn't visible. Thanks, Mr. Bianchi, and congratulations. Deonesto Bevilacqua (The Knight)

The location works well: Via Michelangelo goes straight to Viale Carducci, but the hotel is far enough away that concerts and stalls don't bring much noise. Food was varied, good quality, and excellent. The one-hour lunch and dinner slots felt really tight and could be longer. The rooms were large and comfortable, though they could have been cleaned better. The pool is nice but small, and it's always in the shade during opening hours. They might want to consider heating the water. The entertainment team puts in a lot of effort, but two girls aren't enough for two hours in the middle of August. Rainy days need other activities, especially to keep the children busy. The bartender kept insisting that we bring coffee cups to the counter, even when they weren't ours. Let's put that down to a rough week. Thanks to Marian for table service, and to the first waitress, whose name I can't remember, for being kind and patient. A good experience overall, and worth the price. We'll try another hotel in the chain next time.