Le Cale D'Otranto Beach Resort

The rooms were cramped and the furnishings dated, though the excellent evening entertainment, especially the theatre shows, helped make up for that. Finding a free place in the restaurant could be difficult, and at first I struggled with paying extra for sunbeds on the sandy beach. Still, the setting was beautiful, with privacy in a secluded bay and crystal-clear water. The food was good, with fish, fruit, and vegetables, and the staff helped create a friendly atmosphere. It turned into a wonderful holiday, and I'd highly recommend it.

The beach was lovely and the sea was amazing, with relatively few people there at the end of August. But the nice location couldn't make up for the rest. The stay felt overpriced for what we got, and the quality was below what I expected. Paying extra for all-inclusive wasn't worthwhile when the offer fell short and things cost less out of pocket: coffee was 1.50, cappuccino 2.50, prosecco 5, and a cocktail 6. I wouldn't return or recommend the hotel. I had filtered for four-star hotels when booking to avoid problems, but this place was listed as three-star superior and didn't feel like even that. It seemed closer to a two-star guesthouse or hostel. The room layout was awkward: steps down from the entrance, up to the beds, then down two more to the bathroom. At night, the floor became wet from a leaking shower and was a slipping risk. Furniture was very outdated, and the wardrobe was so battered we lived from our suitcase all week. The safe was rusty and unusable, potentially a health hazard, and the plastic switches and flush were yellowed and old. The reception phone didn't work. The tea and coffee setup was just a kettle and two instant coffee sachets, which felt unacceptable in Italy. The bathroom seemed neglected. Its fittings were battered, the toilet seat wouldn't stay in place, and the shower door didn't close properly, so using it flooded the room. Towels were changed daily but smelled of vinegar or an acidic cleaner. The shelf was rusty, and I found a centipede during the stay. The shared spaces weren't pleasant either. The only communal toilet near the bar, pool, and restaurant had a decaying door secured with a hook. Its tap was broken, so you had to hold it to get water while washing one hand. The food itself was good, but plates, cutlery, and cups were often dirty, and there was at least one item to swap at every meal. I had to search for a clean cup at the coffee machine. When I mentioned it to a waitress in Italian, she shrugged and put the dirty cups back for other guests. The resort advertises three beaches, but in practice there were two, if you count a small bay where people sunbathe on a pier. The supposed third beach was a rocky terrace with loungers. A representative confirmed it was technically meant to be a beach. That felt misleading. There was heavy use of single-use plastic, from cups to yogurt spoons, and no recycling bins. Everything seemed destined for landfill, although with the cleanliness problems the plastic wasn't entirely a bad thing. Guests should also be told ahead of time that swim caps are compulsory for the pool, rather than learning on arrival and being told to buy one there. The quality and environmental care fell short of what was promised, and the many hassles left me with no desire to come back or recommend it. All-inclusive didn't add value when the basics were lacking.

The setting is lovely, the pool is lovely too, and the staff are friendly. It was far too noisy for us, though, and staff seemed to have little room to make decisions since everything had to be referred up. The service and clientele didn't feel like a good match. My rating is mixed, so this is an average.

The place felt like a nightmare, and I really can't recommend it. The resort seems badly maintained and old-fashioned. Our bedroom was tiny with no window, just a small patio that let in the light, and the decor was awful. I felt locked in and claustrophobic. There was annoying music playing constantly around the pool during the day, and more at night. It felt like being at a disco, with no consideration for people who actually wanted to rest. It didn't stop until 1 a.m. The restaurant was large and the food average, but the noise made it feel like a fish market. This isn't a resort.