Hotel Santa Maria

The location is good, and housekeeping did a pretty decent job. The rooms were uncomfortable and damp, though, and the walkway around the pool is so narrow it’s hard to get through. Sunbeds and an umbrella cost 30 euros, while the public beach only has room for about 20 people, so it was swim and straight back to the hotel. Food was a big letdown: breakfast was the same thing again and again with crusty bread, and dinner was tasteless with small portions. Drinks at dinner cost extra. For that price, well, what can you expect.

I booked two rooms in the middle of the hottest part of summer, but only one had working air conditioning. The front desk wouldn’t move me, and the promised repair never happened. As the heat got worse, I had to choose between staying in a hot room or sleeping with the door open and bugs getting in. This wasn’t how I planned to spend my vacation. I’d suggest choosing another hotel.

We were there as a group with about ten rooms, and every one of us had some kind of accommodation problem. The public beach close by was the only good point for me. If you’re thinking of staying here, read the reviews on different sites, especially the hotel’s replies. They’ll give you an idea of who you’re dealing with.

It’s about a 20-minute walk to the centre of Forio, and the hotel is very close to the sea. Most of the beach has paid umbrellas and sunbeds, with only around 30 metres open to the public. The staff were friendly, and the rooms were simple, air-conditioned, and had balconies. With half board, we could choose each day whether to come for lunch or dinner, which was very flexible. A nice mid-range hotel.