Relais Montepepe Winery & Spa

The hotel sits on a very busy road, with cars constantly speeding past, and our room looked out over a gas station. Calling it a “sea view” is a stretch, since the sea was only faintly visible way off in the distance. The online photos gave a misleading impression, and the place felt almost abandoned, with hardly any other guests. We got no warm welcome when we arrived, no explanation of the facilities, room, or surroundings, and nobody even asked whether we’d had a pleasant journey. The rooms were uncomfortable and laid out in a really illogical way. We bumped into things several times. The shower is in a sloping bathtub that felt dangerous and slippery, and figuring out the water temperature was a mystery. There’s no restaurant or bar, not even an honesty bar for drinks. The only way to get a glass of wine is to ask the staff. Access to the spa costs €50 per person, for a spa and gym that are very outdated. There’s a wine estate, but we didn’t get to experience it. Tastings are only offered on Wednesdays or Fridays, and nobody shared any more information. There wasn’t a welcome bottle of wine in the room either. It’s not that we expected anything free, it’s the overall experience that was disappointing. The breakfast staff were friendly and tried their best, but the quality fell short. The orange juice came from a carton, while fresh juice costs €5, something only mentioned in small print on the back of the menu. At checkout, nobody asked if we’d enjoyed our stay or wished us a good onward journey. Think twice before staying here. Nothing was as it seemed.