Futura Club Baia degli Dei

We loved our stay. It was exactly the relaxing, fun family break we needed, with good food and lovely people. We came in early July, when occupancy was around 25%, so we often had the pool to ourselves. The hotel was full of Italians, which we enjoyed. Big thanks to Giovanni and Fabio at the main bar for being attentive, friendly with the kids, and so helpful. There was great Italian coffee everywhere, at any time. Le Castella, with its shops and restaurants, is a five-minute walk away. The 2400y old castle by the beach makes for a breathtaking view. The villas are two stories, with individual apartments set among well-kept gardens and palm trees. Our room was large, with a TV, its own air conditioning, and a fridge. Everything was good. We had all inclusive, including free alcoholic drinks from noon. Breakfast was the one weaker point: it was tasty, especially the four kinds of freshly baked croissants, but the same every day for the whole week. Lunch and dinner changed and were mostly delicious Italian food, with a wide choice of starters and salads, three kinds of pasta cooked perfectly al dente, meat, fish, or seafood. We even had a nice rare tuna steak once. Ice cream came at lunch, and different local desserts at dinner. Mille-feuilles was the best. I think we tried most Italian dishes. There are two big pools, one up to 2,6m deep, plus a jacuzzi and a pool for little kids. Everything was very clean and had lifeguards. The sandy beach is right in front of the hotel. Free chairs start from the 6th row. The beach and water were clean, and the sea entry is gradual, great for kids. The animation crew was large, about 17 people, and friendly, helpful, and full of energy. There were lots of activities for children, plus games for adults, evening singing and dance shows, and a guitarist playing live after lunch and by the main bar in the evening. It was all in Italian, but easy to follow and fun. They even have a big stage/amphitheater with professional sound and lighting for the evening shows. Since the hotel is clearly aimed at Italians, not many people speak English, which didn't bother us. Still, an English guide to the activities, trips, what the hotel offers, and especially the fact that one pool is only for relaxing would have helped. We worked it out ourselves, but it would've been nice to know in advance, like the Italians who got the information show on their first night. I'd also add more help at the coffee corner during breakfast.

I enjoyed this hotel, though there were a few drawbacks. Staff were friendly, but very few spoke English, even at reception. The beach was crowded, although the water stayed very clear despite the sandy bottom. The restaurant was quite good. They assign you a table at the start and you can't switch during your stay. That has its advantages and disadvantages, but at times it made me feel a bit like I was in jail.

We had a great vacation here. The Italian food was great, and they serve fresh coffee. The beach was clean and it was easy to find sunbeds.

We were bored and angry about constantly paying for drinks. This was sold as all inclusive, but drinks at the bar cost extra. Four stars? No way, maybe three. I saw mostly older people and families with kids. Everything, the songs, music, hotel parties, and activities, seemed made for children. It was loud even at lunchtime, and the animators played with kids everywhere. Maybe it's good for families, but not for people without children. There were dogs too, and they were loud. The hotel is actually beautiful, but the organisation was bad. Nobody spoke English or German. They looked at us as if we were aliens. I saw maybe two German guests, and they had communication problems too. Even when I said I could understand them, they kept speaking Italian and looked at me as if I were stupid. It was very uncomfortable. The food wasn't good and was the same every day. Where was the famous Italian cuisine? Not here. The Wi-Fi didn't work, and neither did the air conditioning. It felt like being in a kindergarten with a sea view. Such a shame, because this could be a very good and beautiful hotel.