Aparthotel Palazzo Pantaleo

This was one of the worst service experiences I’ve had. We booked, but never actually stayed, so this review is only about what happened with the booking. We booked through an international platform and chose to pay by credit card. Right after, they emailed asking for a bank transfer, which sounded like a scam, so we said we preferred the card. They had the booking platform call us to confirm that was okay. With that confirmation in writing, we sent the money. Then they asked us to email proof of the transfer, as if they couldn’t manage their online banking and needed customers to do their accounting. I sent the receipt, wondering if they were unwilling or unable to handle it. Next they said they couldn’t open attachments from the email address they’d given me and asked me to send everything through messenger. So they couldn’t use a credit card, online banking, or email, and left all that work to the customers. I travel often and have never seen this level of incompetence. My girlfriend got sick, and we had to cancel at short notice. We’d booked a non-refundable option, so I wasn’t expecting a refund. I still asked whether they might be open to an amicable solution, but that message was ignored. They had been quick to tell me how to do their booking, payment, and accounting work, but couldn’t send even a friendly reply when we cancelled. I’d recommend going somewhere customers get a minimum level of respect and the staff show at least a little competence.

Lovely place, and good value.

The location is excellent for exploring Gallipoli and the surrounding area, especially if it’s your first time. We stayed in a small apartment for three people in the heart of the historic “islet” during the last week of August. The public beach of Purita' is at most a five-minute walk away. Gianni is a real Gallipoli local and a true hospitality professional, always ready with useful advice. His daughters were just as warm and helpful. Palazzo Pantaleo has a family feeling you don’t always find when traveling. It was clean and functional, with some unexpected extras, like being able to take one of their umbrellas if needed. I was surprised by some of the negative reviews. I think they’d have been different with a bit of common sense and respect for other people’s work. In short, recommended.

After a long trip with a small child, we couldn’t check into the room because we had to pay first. My partner went to get our bags, and the apartment wasn’t the one we’d booked on Booking.com. It cost €200 a night, and I’d even called ahead to make sure it was the Booking.com apartment. I told the owner this wasn’t fair. He replied, “Shut up, you’re in my house.” He was extremely rude. I packed our things, got my money back, and left.