BB Delle Murge

An experience that turned out to be almost funny by the end, but the stay was awful. The B&B is in an industrial area, with trucks passing right by the windows and loudspeakers from neighboring companies coordinating unloading day and night. The rooms were nice and reasonably clean, but the management was the worst I've encountered. At check-in, the owner was rude and threw our ID cards back at us. She scolded us after we said we'd pay by card, even though we ended up paying cash. Our booking was handled by a third party, so we didn't know the total. She gave us an amount at check-in, and we paid it promptly. Two days later, we heard through the third party that the price was higher and that we owed another room's cost. The owner was in the breakfast area and could have told us herself, but instead contacted the woman who booked for us. At checkout, her daughter told us what remained due. We paid calmly and asked for a receipt covering the full amount. She said she could only receipt the card payment, not the €160 we'd paid in cash two days earlier, because, as she put it, they don't issue receipts for cash. I said with a smile that I'd have called the Guardia di Finanza if I hadn't had a receipt. The poor girl burst into tears and called her father. He arrived shouting, "What the hell are you doing? You made the little girl cry." He then understood the situation and started yelling at his daughter that she wasn't supposed to be there, while she kept saying they don't issue cash receipts. He tried to explain that the receipts would come from their office in a few days, and that's what happened. An absurd, hilarious story to tell afterward.

ONLY IF THE GUEST ASKS... How cheap. We can't quite recommend this place, but we can't reject it outright either. A few small changes would make it perfect. Grazia is helpful and kind, but we suggest she talk to the owners about being less stingy. She seems to do everything and comes across like the owner herself, unless that impression comes from having her work through others. We stayed from August 12th to 17th, 2024, and something went wrong every day. After the first night, the breakfast room was still closed at 8:45, even though we'd agreed on that time. We called Grazia, who doesn't live there, and waited for her to arrive. She seemed to have things under control, but breakfast was only available if you asked, rather than being something guests could choose freely. When we got back from the beach at 4:00 PM, the room hadn't been made up. Grazia said they only clean if guests request it; otherwise, they clean, change towels, and refill the soap every three days. We've never encountered that, especially at a place calling itself a B&B. It should be called a guest house. We wanted to clean ourselves, but there were no supplies or bathroom detergent, which felt like an excuse to save on cleaning and soap. We told Grazia that the garden tables and chairs were very dirty and the ashtray hadn't been emptied in 10 days. Everything was clean the next morning. Should guests have to point that out? The second day, the towels hadn't been changed and the soap dispensers were empty. We raised it, and they were refilled the day after. Luckily we brought our own soap, or we couldn't have washed. On day three, we left two towels and a bidet towel on the floor. They took the clean face towel and left the dirty one, giving us only the two towels. Grazia brought a bidet towel and face towel after we told her. The next day we again asked for the empty soap dispensers to be refilled. On the fifth day, the shower hose broke beneath the shower head. These things happen, but Grazia was distraught, apparently because finding someone to replace it or sell one on August 16th would be difficult, or cost too much. A B&B should keep spare parts on site, even just one. I searched online for an open shop, stopped at a Chinese store on our way to Bari, bought a hose, and fitted it myself when we got back. It cost three euros, which I didn't ask to be repaid, though Grazia had verbally offered. On our sixth and last morning, she forgot to put our water in the fridge as she did every day, so she gave us one of her own that was cold. These repeated problems left us feeling that they skimp on cleaning, soap, and towels, which they try not to change. The room and bathroom were large, renovated, new, and satisfactory. But sound carried from the hall and other rooms, even though outside noise was blocked. The building was stiflingly hot, despite the air conditioning, which was never switched on. Breakfast was acceptable but had no savory options. Grazia said she would only buy savory food if a guest asked, another thing we hadn't encountered in five days, even though there were foreign guests who may not have known to ask. Four upstairs rooms had very steep, narrow stairs that were difficult with big suitcases. Room #22 was very large, with a TV, air conditioning, small windows with mosquito nets, Wi-Fi, and excellent free indoor parking.

A small oasis in Corato's industrial area, with recently renovated rooms that are excellent in every way. Each has a private bathroom, and everything was very clean and well cared for. The rooms also came with air conditioning and a minibar containing a few bottles of water. The internal parking was great too, with an electric gate and a remote control provided to us. Breakfast was a good Italian spread of croissants, juices, and different coffees. The only drawback was the industrial surroundings, which kept it from earning five stars. Still, it offered very good value for money.

The rooms were clean, well looked after, and nicely equipped, and the woman running the B&B was very kind and helpful. It's in a quiet area a few kilometers from the city center. We stayed over the June 2nd long weekend and would choose it again if we return to the area. Highly recommended!