Hotel Masseria Fabrizio

The room was small and basic, but for the discounted price of 60 EUR in September 2024, it was good enough for one night. I booked room 23, perhaps 23-C, through booking.com. Masseria Fabrizio is a beautiful former local farm turned guest house, close to Otranto and easy to reach by car. I noticed the window had a broken pane and the bathroom floor was slippery, with no mat to help prevent an accident, but I didn’t complain about either. The entrance gate was left open overnight without anyone watching it, reception was closed, and there was no manager on site in case of an emergency. Then a very strong, windy storm woke me. I got up to shut the window, but the old wooden frame wouldn’t close fully, so rain blew into the room and soaked two large towels. Both outside blinds were stuck, and I ended up completely drenched. That went on for 30-40 minutes and ruined my sleep and mood. In the morning I explained what happened at reception. The manager seemed very sorry. I asked for a refund, and he agreed, telling me to have breakfast. Breakfast was very good. But the refund never came. I emailed to remind them of our agreement and got neither an answer nor my money back. I can only assume the manager changed his mind because I was a one-night guest who wasn’t likely to return. I wish he’d said so at the time instead of agreeing. Perhaps he meant the breakfast to settle things without saying so. I can also only guess that things might have gone differently if I’d booked an apartment for several days rather than the cheaper one-night room. It’s up to future guests to decide whether to stay at Masseria Fabrizio.

Comfortable beds, a nice bathroom and air conditioning, all for a very good price. The surroundings are peaceful, there’s an infinity pool, and Otranto is a short drive away. If I’m back in South Puglia, I’ll book here again.

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The rooms in the main building have an almost monastic feel, and stay wonderfully cool. It’s a real out-of-the-way spot, surrounded by fields, with an infinity pool and excellent breakfast. You feel right at home. The only small downside is that they don’t serve dinner.