Bluotranto

BluOtranto felt warm and family run, and everyone was friendly and accommodating. The rooms were spacious and clean, the pool lovely, and breakfast had lots of fresh options. The location is excellent, and we'd recommend staying here.

Out of the four hotels we stayed at during our trip around Italy, BluOtranto was our favourite. The hosts were so kind and gave us lots of advice, and they made everything comfortable for us. After we left, our daughter was already asking when we'd come back. Thank you!

I loved how quiet this small BnB was. It's tucked into the south of Otranto, away from the crowds, but still only about a ten-minute walk, or 2,000 steps, to the centre. The pool is superb, and it was lovely to read there all day in peace. It's a great pool for somewhere so central, and there's ample parking. The BnB also made a good base for exploring the rest of Puglia. The rooms are spacious, polished, tasteful, and cleaned daily. The owner is a delightful gentleman and an architect, and you can see his sense of style in the design. My room had a fridge and safe, while tea-making things were available on request. The shower room was especially well designed, with natural light and a powerful shower. As someone interested in interior design and development, I found the rooms and shower room really suited a holiday stay. A housekeeper is there until around 3 and provides coffee in the morning and typical Mediterranean food. The croissants were warm and fresh. There isn't much right by the BnB apart from a pizzeria, but it's a short walk to the port, with a couple of places to eat there and then about 40 steps to the village itself. Otranto is small and must get difficult in peak season. There are plenty of restaurants, though convenience stores are up in the north of town, quite a hike away. Some ice-cream shops sell snacks and sodas, but a small convenience store in the centre would be welcome. A few things could make the stay easier. Wine glasses in the rooms would be useful, especially with a fridge for keeping wine. Some privacy plants on the terraces would help: my room overlooked someone's garden, so I hung towels on the balcony to avoid being seen. Tall artificial plants could solve that. Most importantly, there should be clear instructions for getting back in if you lock yourself out. I locked myself out twice and left my room keycard inside. The housekeeper and cleaner leave around 3, so after that I could have been stuck. The owner kindly said I could knock on his mother's door, which might work in the day but not at night. There are no staff there after about 3, and this needs to be addressed soon. A key safe for each room might help.

A lovely garden, a fantastic pool, and rooms that feel like a 4-star hotel. A great place to stay in Otranto, and I'd come back.