Relais Valle dell'Idro

We stayed two nights while cycling around Salento and had a really nice time. The room was comfortable, and Raffaele and Elena looked after us well. They kept the coffee coming throughout breakfast. Recommended!

Breakfast was a highlight, with plenty of variety, fresh fruit, eggs and baked goods, plus helpful staff. The hotel has lovely decor and a terrace with a nice view of the Idro valley. Staff were accommodating, too: when we got confused about parking, they arranged a space in their private lot about 500 m away and helped us work out how to get there. We loved staying here, though I’m not sure it deserves a four-star rating. The rooms are nicely decorated but small, and ours could have used new towels, since one had a hole in it. The staff get 10/10 from us.

The team were wonderful, and a big thank you to Hanane for such useful advice about Puglia. Getting into town was an easy ten-minute walk, even for our mum with knee problems. There was free parking, though we didn’t need it because we found a closer place on the street. For what the hotel offers, we were very satisfied, even though it isn’t a five-star place. I wasn’t keen on having to pay for room service, which I hadn’t encountered before. I’d also have preferred a more standard Italian breakfast. The kitchen staff were lovely.

The staff were extremely nice and helpful, and the women serving breakfast were very sweet. Breakfast itself was just okay. I paid $250 a night for a small first-floor standard room with a tiny bathroom, and it didn’t feel worth that price. It was the end of high season, sure, but $150 would have seemed more reasonable. Overall, a very average stay. Like many hotels in Italy, it feels dated and needs a facelift.