Hotel Residence Portoselvaggio

We spent two weeks in June at this hotel with 35 young people from Poland. Since the kids took part in various activities, we got to know almost all the staff. There were 11 rooms in our group, and the rooms were the weakest part of the stay. From past trips, we asked everyone to note any damage or problems. The list was long: fridges that didn't work, air conditioning that heated instead of cooled, broken balcony doors, leaking showers, and, in my case, a toilet that exploded and flooded the shower with sewage. Reception fixed most of the issues once we reported them, but this isn't what we expected from a four-star hotel. I'd rate the rooms below expectations. The four-person apartments were better equipped, with a built-in kitchen, more closet space, and plates, cups, and pots. The upper-floor ones also had exceptionally beautiful views of the sea and pool. The grounds, on the other hand, were lovely at any time of day. The complex has a pool, a big parking area, reception, and a dining hall, all surrounded by well-kept greenery. Plants decorate the stairs, the lawn is nice for a walk, and there's even an ancient theater on the grounds. With the sea so close, I'd recommend catching the sunrise and sunset at least once. We ate All-Inclusive, and the meals deserve a mention of their own. I've never had such a good chance to explore local Italian food traditions. For two weeks we had pasta at least twice a day, in every kind of variation, with sauces, meat, fish, and seafood. One day we had shrimp that we had to peel ourselves. The standout dishes were octopus pieces and swordfish. Desserts were cake, the best I've ever eaten, or fruit. Choosing was tough. Melons, watermelons, and local grapes showed me how poor the ones we buy in Poland are by comparison. I'm very grateful to the chefs and waiters, and I'll miss the food for a long time. I wish I spoke Italian, since I could only communicate with most people through gestures. It's a common difficulty in many places in Italy, where people don't know English. Still, it didn't stop us from greeting each other with smiles each day, singing "Happy Birthday" together, having a great time by the pool, and exchanging gifts at the end. I hope we weren't any trouble and left a good impression. For their personalities and the atmosphere they created, the staff get 6/5 from me. The hotel is a good place to relax and sunbathe. Beyond that, our students described the surroundings as "western." There is literally just one grocery store within a few kilometers, and little else. Renting a car is a good idea for exploring the towns in Apulia. Olive trees by the millions, medieval churches, white fortresses, stunning beaches, and a rich regional history are all within a 1-2 hour drive. My final rating is 5/5. Despite the early room problems, I came away with positive impressions. I can't judge the experience on practical matters alone. I believe every hotel employee did their best to make us feel comfortable. I'll never forget arriving four hours late for dinner and finding that the owners had waited for us in person, with a warm meal at 10:30 PM. I hope we get to work together again someday. ❤️