Hotel Albatros

The staff are attentive and polite, and they take cleanliness seriously. It’s an excellent hotel with a beautiful view. There’s a free shuttle to the beach and city center.

I checked out and went to Hotel Mare Blu instead, where the staff were incredibly welcoming. The earlier negative reviews turned out to be right, and I learned that the hard way. Without a vehicle, the location is impossible. The shuttle was completely unreliable, taking long 2-3 hour breaks in the middle of the day. There’s also a strict swim cap rule, and even my literal 11 month old had to wear one, which we had to buy. Staff gave us a cold welcome, and unreasonable rules overshadowed the stay. It didn’t feel like a vacation, more like they were doing us a favor. If you want to unwind, this isn’t the place.

The air conditioning in our room leaked all over the floor, which made the stay uncomfortable. On top of that, the hotel’s unreliable service and odd rules made the trip more stressful than it needed to be. Although Hotel Albatros is clean and nicely located, I wouldn’t stay again. At check-in, the front desk suggested we visit a local vineyard while waiting for our room. We paid 40 euros for a round-trip taxi, only to arrive and discover it was closed. Guests shouldn’t be sent on a paid outing without anyone checking that it’s open. The pool has a swimming cap rule, something I’ve never run into in hotels around the world, and it took away from enjoying the pool. The hotel advertises a free shuttle to and from the ferry port. We requested it the night before departure and were told they were “full,” leaving us scrambling to pay for other transport.

I travel pretty often, and this was the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in. Donatella at reception was especially rude, insulting me and my party. She repeatedly refused to listen to our concerns or pass them on, and wouldn’t let us talk to a supervisor or manager. She had no problem giving attitude and rolling her eyes. She shouldn’t be in a job that involves dealing with people. The hotel also charged my card for 4 people even though our party was only three. Before booking, I called to ask if it was close to the beach because my grandmother couldn’t walk far. I was told it was very close and walkable, but it’s a 15-20 minute uphill walk. The hotel shuttle was meant to pick us up when we arrived off the ferry, but never showed, so I had to pay $50 for a taxi. They were supposed to arrange an accessible room for my grandmother, yet put us on the third floor with no elevator. I also got food poisoning from their included dinner, so be careful what you eat. I’d never stay again or recommend the place unless you want a trip full of bad experiences. The hotel should be embarrassed by how it treated us and how easily it lied to get us to book. My whole experience was disgusting. Take your money elsewhere, since a cheaper hotel on the island can end up costing more once you’ve paid for transport to get anywhere.