La Locanda del Carrubo

The view may be the hotel's one good feature. Everything else falls well short of the five-star standard you'd expect.

The best time to come is Monday through Friday, when the whole property is available to the few guests and the full team is there to look after them. On weekends, the place mainly hosts high-end events, especially weddings, so about two thirds of it are in use for that, while guests have the remaining section with the pool, SPA and very good kitchen. They even have their own pastry chef. This isn't a standard luxury retreat. It feels like being away from home but looked after by people who care about you. The location is secluded but still accessible, nature is all around and breathtaking, and the team is fantastic, attentive without being intrusive. If you want a simple, natural, carefree break to recharge and let someone else take care of things, it's very close to paradise. For a swim in the Adriatic, the team can take you to the “La Casa e il Mare” beach, the sister hotel on the water, in about five minutes by car. There's also a complimentary boat service to nearby secluded beaches. The food is hard to resist. Fresh ingredients arrive daily from the surrounding farms and sea, and the kitchen turns them into dishes that look and smell as good as they taste. You'll have to be willing to put on a few pounds. Locanda del Carrubo is certainly one of the best addresses on the Gargano. If you want simplicity, privacy, peace and the kind of unassuming care you'd get from a loving Pugliese grandmother, this is the place. Always a pleasure to return. Thank you, Team of Locanda del Carrubo, for an unforgettable stay!

The sea view is lovely, but the low level of service doesn't justify the price.

A lovely place with good food and a superb view of the sea.