Salapia Salis Resort

This was the worst hospitality experience we’ve ever had, despite having travelled widely. We booked 12 days at this resort and paid the full amount in advance. Getting to the car park was a daily hassle. It was a long, confusing drive from the front entrance, past a large, poorly lit derelict area on a rough road, to the rear entrance. There were no signs to guide us, and it was especially difficult in the dark with a young child. The gate at the back wasn’t automatic, so the owner expected us to call his mobile whenever we needed access. He seemed visibly annoyed each time. Once, when we called on WhatsApp, he got really angry and said, “NEVER WHATSAPP CALL ME.” The housekeeping staff were friendly, and breakfast was average. Our room had no basic drinking cups, the air conditioning was hard to operate and we needed help with it, and there was no iron, which seemed unusual for a hotel. We had to borrow one from a friend. The pool had no shallow end, making it dangerous for children, and the water was freezing. I tried it once while holding my two-year-old daughter, then we decided not to use it again. It was a real shame because the pool was promoted as a key feature and our daughter had been looking forward to it. We had a family emergency and had to leave a week early. By then the stay hadn’t been enjoyable, and we were glad to go. At checkout we were charged for a coffee we hadn’t signed for. We realized it was from our arrival, when we had only asked for an empty cup. They didn’t show us an itemized bill and charged an arbitrary amount. We were rushing to the airport and didn’t argue. That’s not what I expect from a self-described four-star resort. We had heavy suitcases and a child stroller, but the owner watched from the car park as we loaded the car and never offered to help. He seemed more interested in chatting with our toddler, and the way he did so felt a little creepy. We booked through booking.com and asked them about a partial refund because we’d paid for 12 days but left a week early. The booking.com team tried for weeks to reach the owner. When he finally replied, he categorically refused. We weren’t enjoying the resort and were relieved to leave, though it was a huge disappointment in a part of Italy we love and have visited often for nearly a decade. The owner struck us as menacing and unpleasant, and the resort had countless inconveniences. The short stay was far from relaxing. I wouldn’t stay there again even if it were free. In response to the owner’s reply: we didn’t stage an early departure. There was an emergency back home and we needed an earlier flight. We took BA2607 from Bari at 18:20 on 14th September 2024. You’re welcome to check with us, or with every hotel in the area or elsewhere in Italy, that we didn’t leave the resort for another one. The saddest part is that, despite the emergency and cutting our holiday short, we were somewhat relieved to leave. We asked only for a partial refund for the days we wouldn’t be there after leaving early, which I don’t think is unreasonable. The truth hurts. Time for some hard reflection.

We loved our stay. The hotel was very well kept, the rooms were spacious and comfortable, and the manager and staff were super friendly. The sea is only a five-minute walk away.

It felt like home. Thanks to the owner and to Mr.Nicola for the warm welcome and good service.

A beautiful place with a perfect host. Highly recommended.