Continental Resort

The staff were nice and accommodating, and the private beach access was a plus. The view from the beach is spectacular, though you have to pay to rent the chairs and sunbeds. There was a man there kicking people off chairs if they didn't have a paid ticket. We didn't use the pool. Breakfast was included, but it wasn't what I'd expect from a “4 star” hotel. There were some gluten-free options, which was nice. This definitely isn't a 4 star property and badly needs renovating and a new classification. It's not too far from Pisa, but the rooms smell old and moldy. The bedding, worn-out mattresses and old furniture all smelled as well. The shower is so tiny that we had to leave the door open to avoid feeling claustrophobic.

We had a first-floor room with a little backyard, which was a nice bonus for the kids. The rooms are a bit old, but clean, and the resort itself is quiet. On weekends, though, lots of people come to use the pool, so the parking gets overcrowded. The resort is very close to the beach, and the pool gives you another option for a day in the water. The food was delicious, and there's a restaurant near the beach. I'd recommend staying here.

The beach was within walking distance, which is the main reason I'm giving this two stars. They assigned us beach tents and said the front ones were reserved, but I never saw anyone using them. Check-in was okay, though we arrived during lunch and had to wait for staff to return before we could get into the hotel. I also think they could cut down on the three keys we needed. The beds were hard, and over our three-night stay the room was never cleaned or given fresh towels. We had to ask for toilet paper.

The sound of ocean waves at night was my favorite part. The location is great, with the beach, shops and restaurants all within walking distance. The apartment wasn't very clean, so be ready to clean it yourself from day one. Room service comes just once a week and only covers the basics, like making the bed, cleaning the shower and sweeping. They don't mop or take out the trash. Fresh towels and sheets come once a week, but there are no washcloths, so bring your own. We had power outages, too. The WiFi was better when I left than when I first arrived, but still needs improvement. Each device gets its own code, and only two codes are allowed per room. So if you and your partner each have an iPad and laptop, only two devices can connect.