Laqua by the Sea

We stayed three nights and chose half board, eating at the restaurant every evening. It was a great decision: the restaurant was beautiful, the sea and castle views were lovely, and the food was sublime. The hotel pool was great too, and we had it to ourselves for a while. We also liked the private beach and thermal spa, though half the spa was closed for work. The hotel is at the bottom of a steep hill, but the very cheap taxi boat can take you anywhere, so that wasn’t a problem for us. Our room had an excellent bathroom, and we loved the jetted bath. The staff were great and made a real effort despite some language difficulties.

We had an awful stay. The beach was being built and completely unusable. The place felt isolated, and getting around by water taxi was difficult. Walking on your own wasn’t possible, so we felt trapped. We’d paid a lot for several nights, but after arriving we realized it wasn’t right for us and left after the first night. We had a wonderful time on the other side of the island instead. It’s a shame, but I’d strongly suggest not staying here.

We booked room only for a week. The room was fairly basic, but comfortable and clean. We chose the hotel for its setting, though getting there is really only practical by water taxi, which costs three euros per adult. The beach is right in front, with free loungers and parasols for guests. The beach bar will bring food and drinks at very reasonable prices. We enjoyed the hotel restaurant when we ate there. It focuses mostly on seafood. The staff were all friendly and helpful. One thing to keep in mind: the route to the hotel is a very steep, uneven path, so it may not suit anyone with mobility problems.

We chose this place for its cleanliness and sea views, and both lived up to expectations. Our room was spacious, with plenty of storage, a safe, desk, fridge, air conditioning and a lovely sea-facing balcony. It was very clean and had all the essentials. Breakfast came with a wide choice, including homemade cakes, fruit, cheese and cold cuts, and the coffee was just right. The roomy dining area gets natural light. The hotel sits on a private cove with a pleasant beach, loungers, umbrellas and towels available. Da Maria serves casual lunches on the beach, and hotel guests get 10% off their meals. We also had dinner there one evening, with excellent food and a beautiful sunset view. The pool area was nice too, and the views around the hotel are lovely. We stayed three nights. Enzo, Gianni and Alessandra were warm, knowledgeable hosts and helped with everything we needed.