Apollo Suites

Lecce itself was a lovely, charming surprise on our road trip through southeast Italy, and we could walk to everything. But the issues we ran into seem to be known to the landlord from other reviews, and they still haven’t been sorted out. We asked for partial compensation after a terrible stay and have had no response or action. We had a mezzanine room, and the air conditioning upstairs didn’t cool at all. After four hours it was still 26°C, and the room has no windows, so sleeping and breathing comfortably was a problem. The kitchen unit was faulty too, putting out so much moisture that we couldn’t stay in there. The air conditioning never worked properly during our visit, with 40°C outside. Even after five hours, the temperature hadn’t budged. The landlord sent people to look at it on day one, but their work made no difference. It felt like a show. The WiFi lagged badly, so we couldn’t work remotely. We didn’t have Italian SIM cards, and using roaming data added unexpected costs. The loose, rubbery plastic balustrade to the upper floor also felt unsafe. Carrying a 25 kg suitcase in one hand, I struggled on the stairs despite being a former athlete. A property-wide alarm woke and frightened us at 3 a.m. on the first night and kept going for 20 minutes. I understand that may have been a one-off outside the landlord’s control, but we got no sleep that night. Getting there was a hassle too: three pages of WhatsApp directions plus voice messages, and the address from Booking.com doesn’t take you to the door. After driving all day in the heat, that was frustrating. Searching for 'Apollo Suites Lecce' may help you find it, and a parking garage, though you can also park outside the city centre. Driving in Lecce is a nightmare.

The staff were pleasant and tried their best, but the owner’s lack of communication let the stay down. The air conditioning wasn’t working from check-in, and with days around 30°C the apartment was far too hot and uncomfortable. There’s only one window in the whole downstairs apartment. The upstairs mezzanine bedroom has a very low ceiling, and the railing leading up to it is loose and unsafe. They couldn’t get anyone to repair the air conditioning. They brought pedestal fans, but daytime heat was still unbearable. We shortened our six-day trip to two nights and asked for a refund for the nights we wouldn’t use. I’m not optimistic about getting it. I can’t recommend this property.

Right in the centre of Lecce, this is a gorgeous building and a very easy place to stay. The room had an incredible original Art Deco frieze, and the finish was immaculate, even though the place felt more like a B&B. Snacks and drinks were a thoughtful touch, parking was easy to find, and I liked the lively neighborhood at night.

The room was quite spacious, and breakfast was good. The location is definitely the biggest advantage. I’d suggest the host pay closer attention to little things, like cleaning the bathroom and making sure the bed isn’t broken.