Dimora Porto Contessa

The staff were attentive and made us feel like family. They had great suggestions when we asked, which made the stay even better. Getting around by car is essential, though a tuk tuk can take you places if you don't have one. We loved the homemade focaccia, and the garden was a relaxing place to stretch out in the evening. There's also a patio for meals and a terrace with views all around. The bathroom is modern and cosy, with the essentials, and the whole place feels tidy, clean and up to date while still keeping its local character. It has a more personal feel than a typical hotel. This is the kind of place that makes you look like you know all the good spots!

The sleeping arrangement was the biggest problem. I booked a suite for three young adults because the listing named a Bedroom 1 and Bedroom 2, and I checked beforehand that the second was separate. In reality, its bunk beds were tucked into a corner of the open kitchen and dining area, with no privacy for the third person. When the sliding door to the main bedroom was shut so people could sleep, the kitchen area got very hot, and it had neither air conditioning nor a fan. I would not have booked if I'd known what the layout was actually like. We paid nearly €1000 for three nights and found the property very different from the photos and descriptions on Google, Trip Advisor and Booking.com. I'd imagined a resort-like place near the beach, but walking there meant going over a kilometre, partly along a main road without a sidewalk. The outdoor area was odd and neglected, with broken things, unfinished walls and pipes, discarded items and overflowing bins by the entrance. The bed base was peeling, and the outdoor furniture was coming apart. There were smaller issues inside too. A kitchen cupboard was broken, so I had to hold it open with my head to get the dishes out. The kitchen curtain fell down and nearly caught fire while I was cooking. I have lots of photos, though I can't seem to add them all here. I'm sorry to the lovely host, who became ill on our last day, so I didn't raise this with her directly. I hate leaving a bad review, but we were so disappointed that we checked the photos again to make sure we hadn't imagined the difference. I don't know when the website pictures were taken, but the place doesn't look like them now. Some online reviews, including ones from the week before our arrival, described it very differently, so I do wonder whether they're genuine. This was an experience, just not the one we'd expected or planned. It is absolutely not five star. :(

Flavio was a perfect host, and the breakfast was really good. I didn't meet the landlady in person, but she was attentive to what we needed too. The rooms were cleaned every day, and the lovely property is near a small, nice beach that's great for children. I'd come back.

We really wished we could have stayed longer. Emilio and his wife made the visit wonderful, and their homemade brunch was probably the best I've ever had, all made with local products. Emilio picks up fresh cheese each morning, and his wife bakes delicious pies. The rooms are spacious, private and impeccably clean, with air conditioning that works perfectly. There are two patios where you can enjoy brunch, and the location is just a four-minute drive from Polignano and San Vito. I'll definitely return if I visit Apulia again. Thank you so much 😊