Masseria Tenuta Specolizzi

The biggest issue for us was how many restrictions came with the stay. We had to keep the kids in our room until 4 pm because the pool was closed from 1 to 4, and reception shut at the same time. The pool also required caps, and sunscreen was only allowed after swimming, which made it hard to swim more than once. On a windy day Mario closed the umbrella for safety and told us to use a shaded spot without sun beds. He didn't offer to move the chairs or get help. It felt oddly patronizing, especially at this price. We chose the hotel for convenience instead of a villa, and because it looked more upscale than other places nearby. We're a family of four who come to Salento every year, and we wanted a pool the kids could use during nap time. At €343 a night for two weeks, we expected a high level of service. Having an EV charger was another draw. The welcome was cold. Nobody asked how our drive had been, and when I wanted ten minutes to unload by our room, I was sent to the parking lot. With the gravel, rolling our suitcases was impossible. Breakfast was included, but when I asked for eggs, I was told they cost extra. The fruit was very good, and the homemade cakes were a nice point. There was confusion about the kitchen, too. We booked the room because it had one, but on the first or second day the cleaning lady asked whether we were allowed to use it and said it was extra. My wife explained why we had chosen the room, and then she said it was fine. The EV charging cost wasn't explained in advance. Mario once saw me charging and asked my wife to tell him the day before each time. I thought that was to reserve a slot, and when I checked, he just said, “Yes yes, no problem.” At checkout he asked how many charges we'd had and requested €40 for four. The amount seemed fair, but the lack of notice felt misleading. Smiling, he said, “It’s not free,” in a mocking way, so I reminded him he'd never told us there was a charge. Our AC was out for four days. I always pay what's due and didn't ask for a discount, but at this rate I expected some small gesture of goodwill. None came. Mario and Silvana are kind people, and the hotel itself is nice and calm, aside from some crazy drivers on the road next to it. They came over to chat at breakfast, which we appreciated. Still, the focus felt more on what guests couldn't do than on making us comfortable. Two days before arrival we got an email with a list of rules. We assumed it was generic and didn't read it closely, but by then it was too late to cancel or find another hotel. Sadly, we won't be back next year.