BB Portorosso

There was blood, or something like it, on both mattresses, and the walls were all dirty. The shower smelled as if someone had thrown up in it. Calling this a B&B feels like Blood & Body fluids; budget hostel would be a better description. 0/10. We left the same day.

We expected much more for the last three nights of our honeymoon in Monopoli at B&B Portorosso. Rocco told us breakfast was Italian style, just a croissant and coffee. After staying in Alberobello and Polignano a mare, where breakfast was included, we expected something similar. Instead we got a bad coffee and a stale croissant, so in many countries this wouldn’t count as breakfast at all. The view was nice, though less spectacular than we’d expected and only good from one particular angle. The beach was very dirty, which isn’t the property’s fault, but it kept us from wanting to relax there after swimming. The balcony was bare and poorly furnished, with a table that really needs replacing. Since it faces the sun in the afternoon and evening, an umbrella would have helped. The room was very dated and tacky, though the decor wasn’t even the worst part. The bedding was poor quality and the mattress horribly uncomfortable. All the power, including the AC, shuts off when you take out the key card, so coming back late from dinner or dancing meant returning to a warm room. The AC was very outdated and hadn’t been changed in a decade, as shown in the picture. The bathroom wasn’t very clean either, and the walls were dirty. Showering there wasn’t pleasant. We were surprised by the great reviews and couldn’t understand the high ratings until we realized there are other rooms that are a lot nicer than ours. Those reviews must be from people staying in those rooms. We decided to spend only one night in Monopoli. Rocco was kind enough to reimburse us, which was a positive, but he wanted the Booking.com fee waived and to have us pay him directly for the night we stayed instead of paying through the site. Maybe that’s how they get such good reviews. You have all the information now. I suggest paying extra for that much nicer room with a glass, it looked far better. I wouldn’t pay more than 50€/night for the room we had.

There’s lots to see and do here, with restaurants, bars, shops, a Carrefour express, bakeries, and even a good barber nearby. Monopoli’s old town is a short walk away, and in 20 minutes on foot you can reach hidden sandy beaches and beautiful grottos. We always found a free parking spot on the nearby roads. The welcome was warm and friendly, communication was great and punctual throughout our 5 day stay. Our spacious room had plenty of storage, a fridge, and a fantastic balcony view of the old town and beach. The air conditioning worked well, though I heard dripping when it was off. Beach towels are available to hire and umbrellas to borrow for free. The sea was rough and there was lots of seaweed at the closest beach, but there are many others to choose from. Superb stay and great value for money!

The hostess was super nice, and the rooms were somewhat clean, though the pillows weren’t comfortable. There are two American style bars downstairs, so expect noise and lots of young people around the B&B. Breakfast is served at a nearby bar, one coffee and one croissant. The nearby beach is quite small and crowded.