Residence Il Gabbiano Punta Fram

The sunsets from the terrace were stunning, and the setting is beautiful and full of charm. The place had opened early after a long closure when I visited, so a lot of amenities were still missing. I’d happily come back, though. For what I paid, I could overlook those shortcomings, and with a bit of improvement this could have been a five-star stay.

The rooms are lovely and spacious, and the pool is the one bright spot. The buffet barely exists: canned corn and chickpeas were the only things I found acceptable. The food was poor, sometimes even spoiled, and the service was awful. The tennis court and entertainment couldn't be used, and there's an unused section of the building beside the main one. The local people and scenery are fantastic, which makes this a real shame. It would take a little work to change things: redo the bathrooms and hire trained staff, including a chef. I'm only posting two photos to give an idea. The other nice photos are already online.

I stayed in August 2017 and wouldn't go back, even in my dreams. The hotel is very old and needs renovating, but the bigger issue was how badly it was cleaned. The bathroom fixtures were yellow with limescale, and although cleaning and descaling products are easy to find, they clearly weren't being used properly. The toilets and sinks should have been sparkling, but the cleaning felt superficial. The restaurant room was dirty too. Over six days, the walls and seats around the tables weren't cleaned, and there were hairs here and there. The food was extremely poor. I don't recommend it. Dirty!

The staff really did their best to make our holiday memorable, even with some guests complaining about the pool's hygiene and trying to boycott the resort. Everyone was helpful, from housekeeping and the kitchen to the entertainment team, lifeguards, and reception. The food was delicious and varied. Since the pool couldn't be used, Aurum suspended charges for drinks, which many guests appreciated. The place could use some maintenance, but that feels in line with how little the stay costs. Pantelleria is spectacular, and Aurum always makes us happy. I highly recommend it.