Residence L' Antico Frantoio

The place itself is beautiful and clearly has potential, but it needs more attention. I’ve stayed in comfortable accommodation from these owners before, so this visit was disappointing. I booked close to the weekend and wasn’t expecting the usual beachfront cottage, just somewhere decent. The view is lovely and the pool is nice, though it closes to guests after 7 PM. The mattress was very uncomfortable, and two pillows in the closet had no pillowcases. Water leaked from the side of the shower. There were no curtains, and the windows had single-pane external shutters, so privacy meant keeping them shut. The WiFi was awful, and the TV only had RAI 1 and RAI 2. I didn’t use the kitchen or inspect the dishes, only two knives, which had clearly been washed and put away. I’ll leave the rest unsaid.

The terrace had a fantastic view, and we could invite friends over as long as we gave notice first. It’s a relaxed, pleasant place, set in an old olive grove above the village. Our room was spotless and cared for, with excellent air conditioning, much appreciated in August. The beach is about 300m away, but getting back up is a steep climb. There was no Wi-Fi, the pool wasn’t well maintained, and the children’s climbing frame was in terrible shape. The whole property could use more upkeep. This was in August 2024. Even so, we had an enjoyable family stay.

We especially appreciated the peaceful, almost heavenly views from the apartments and the calm of the place. Lido Verde, around 2 km away on Mattinata beach, is a great offer, with a good restaurant and excellent staff. The residence is tucked among old olive trees, the sea, and the Gargano hills, and it’s well cared for and professionally run. The atmosphere feels friendly and suited to families. Its location also makes it easy to get to everyday holiday needs and the area’s main attractions within minutes. Everything was just right.

The pool was so dirty and full of dead insects that we never used it. The house was dirty too, and the cookware was dusty. We had the same sheets and towels for all five days; by day three they smelled bad and couldn’t be used. We had to beg for toilet paper. The house itself is very bare, without many small things that make a stay comfortable: the gas cylinder had no lighter, there was no internet or potholders, the beds and pillows were extremely uncomfortable, and the bidet leaked underneath. The promised beach service for six people was also explained vaguely. Nobody said it covered just one umbrella, so after we found out, we’d have had to pay for the other two ourselves. They should have been clearer. For all these reasons, I wouldn’t come back.