Villa Torre delle Stelle

The staff were super polite and proactive, and I'd definitely stay at Torre Delle Stelle again. The hotel is old, which gives it extra charm, and we had a breathtaking view from our room. We stayed three nights. It's at the top of a mountain, so I recommend having a car. There are lots of beaches and restaurants nearby, but I'd book restaurants ahead since they're always crowded. The bed was super comfortable, the air conditioning worked well, and the bathroom was simple but functional. On the first day, water from the air conditioning flooded part of the balcony. We put its hose in a bucket, and that makeshift fix worked for the rest of our stay.

The view was nice, but I expect a clean, healthy room. The reception smelled like six ashtrays, and the receptionist wasn't very friendly. In the room, the windows were dirty, there was mould on the walls, and the pillows under the covers were yellow with orange. Kitchen wires were loose, a hole in the bathroom had been covered with paper and tape, and cooking fat from the previous guests was still on the kitchen tiles. There was a sheet on the living room bed or sofa, but it was too dirty even to put luggage on. We didn't want to stay and booked somewhere else. The receptionist offered us a different room, but we turned it down. Seeing the mould and pillows, that room shouldn't be offered to guests, and I didn't even check the mattress. It was just disgusting.

The views are amazing, but the place feels neglected and decades out of date. A lot is damaged or barely usable, with rust, mold and dirt throughout. The kids' pool shown in the photos has been filled with dirt, and the main pool is locked except during set hours, which is rough if you're here with young children. Our apartment wasn't clean when we arrived, and there was no cleaning during the stay. Mold covered the shower seals. The kitchen was so poorly equipped, with broken, crooked, rusty or scratched items, that cooking wasn't really an option. And the soundproofing is awful. We could hear everything the people next door said and did.

The view is gorgeous, and the service was great. Victoria was really helpful and ready whenever we needed something. You'll need a car or a bike to get around. The bathrooms are a little old, but they work, and the TV, room and kitchen were all in good shape.