Hotel Riposo

I was unsure what to expect when I saw the hotel nestled between two much bigger places, but it turned out well. It’s tucked away from the road, so it’s peaceful, and the beach is nearby. The staff were very kind, and the rooms stayed clean. The waitresses didn’t speak much Italian, but they really tried to look after us. Food was good and the servings were generous. I’d recommend it.

The sea-facing location was lovely, and breakfast just about passed, with plenty of sweet choices and not much savory. The rest of the stay was deeply disappointing. The room needed repainting, drawers in the wardrobe were broken, the bathroom outlet was damaged, and the beds and pillows were very uncomfortable. With two children, we needed somewhere to hang wet clothes, but there was nowhere practical. The booking mentioned a side sea view and courtyard view. Instead, the window looked toward the restaurant room of the hotel opposite, and we kept the shutters closed. There was another window over the camp bed, facing a balcony with a drying rack. Trying to hang clothes there would have been awkward, and if a peg fell, retrieving it seemed likely to break something. I had to ask for a broom to get a swimsuit back. The restaurant was embarrassing. We were half board, and for once I didn’t gain any weight on holiday because the food was so poor. The menu was badly planned, and some evenings felt like hospital meals. My daughters eat everything, but they spent the week on plain pasta. The musical dinner was miserable too. We wanted to talk as a family, but the music was too loud from the appetizer onward, and the singer was overbearing. Several times, at 8:45 in the morning, the cleaners opened our door while I was changing. The website photos don’t match what’s there. The managers were cold, as if we were a bother. I hardly know where to start, but I’d avoid this place.

Hotel Riposo is right by the sea, which made the week easy with my little Jago. The food was varied, plentiful, and made with simple, genuine ingredients, and we always felt well looked after. The staff were friendly and welcoming, from the careful cleaners to the helpful waitresses. The owners’ little daughter was sweet and kind, too. I was comfortable here in a way I rarely am at hotels. It felt warm and uncomplicated, with real attention to guests. For a three-star place, it was better kept and run than we expected. I’ve read some negative reviews and honestly don’t know what they mean. We’d gladly return for another peaceful family holiday.

The staff were friendly and professional, and everything was clean. Its closeness to the beach and the elevator make it convenient for disabled guests. There’s direct access to the promenade and beach, though the included beach spot is in the back rows. Parking costs €5 a day. Breakfast was a good buffet, mostly sweets, including homemade items, with little savory food. Croissants had plenty of choice, and the coffee was bar quality. Juice came in a jug and seemed diluted, based on the sparkling kind I had one morning. The lunch and dinner starters repeated, mostly vegetables like corn, beans, zucchini, and eggplant, so it could suit vegans, but there wasn’t any cheese. Most first courses were bland apart from the spaghetti with clams. The octopus and potatoes had hardly any octopus, and some dishes felt overworked. My room was modest, with old furniture, air conditioning, and an awkward little shower. The sea view costs extra. The lobby, bar, and lounge are pretty kitsch, and the dining room is large, though I found the tables too close together. I wouldn’t recommend the affiliated Bar 23: two coffee creams cost €10, which is sky-high.