Hotel Baia del Capo

We were there for three nights for a local wedding, in early October, and didn’t spend much time at the hotel. The staff were so friendly and everything was clean. They have two adorable cats, plus breakfast and dinner buffets, though we only ate there twice. There’s a shuttle to the beach, and the convenience store and restaurants are just a short walk away.

The sunset over the Eolian Island is something special, and the view of Stromboli is breathtaking. There are also lots of wonderful beaches nearby. A fun detail: the rock along the coast on the right is the one shown on the typical Vecchio Amaro del Capo digestif bottle. This felt like the essence of Calabrian Dolce Vita. I loved the whole place, from the beautiful garden and views to the location, delicious food, spotless surroundings, and lovely staff and service. Such a great family hotel!

The sea was beautiful and clear, but whether this hotel suits you depends on what you want from a holiday. It felt very much geared toward seniors, with few young people and nothing for children, no playground, and a deep pool. Our room was basic, humid, and had no air conditioning unless you paid extra. There were lots of mosquitoes around. The area felt like the end of the world: no shops or restaurants nearby, and nowhere much to stroll in the evening. The station was a 30-minute walk away; the hotel bus could take you for 3 euros each way. The nearest supermarket was a 20-minute walk, up and down hills. The beach was 30 minutes on foot. A hotel minibus serves the beach, but it was crowded with umbrellas. The water there was crystal clear, though we preferred walking another 30 minutes to a different beach. We were told the minibus ran every 30 minutes, but during some hours the schedule had changed to once an hour, and once it didn’t come while we waited because the time had changed. Breakfast was yogurt, croissants, cheese, ham, and bread, with no vegetables. Dinner had a pretty good buffet, mostly cooked and roasted vegetables, tasty but with not much meat, plus two plated courses. Those could take a long time to arrive. Some plated meals weren’t very good; once they served us cold canned tuna as a meal, so we mostly ate from the buffet. Water at dinner cost extra, which our travel agency had told us. Keep checking your bill at reception, as they tried to charge us for things we hadn’t ordered, like a beer. We also refused still water after ordering sparkling, but the waiter brought the sparkling and both waters ended up on the bill. If you don’t tip a waiter, expect to be served last.

The special dinners are unforgettable. The Calabrian evening and Cena di Gala were sublime, and we felt treated like a king and queen. Every guest seemed to feel just as special. The local themed nights, with traditional food, music, and wine, are part of what keeps bringing us back. This is our third holiday at Baia del Capo hotel, and our children already call it our second home. We’ve stayed a wonderful month each time. As a mother of three young children, one still an infant, I find it a blessing: the food is high quality and varied enough for even demanding tastes, and one of Italy’s best beaches is close by, with its salinity and iodine concentration. The whole team is kind and professional. Our apartment is clean, towels are spotless and changed daily, and the toiletries are good quality. The gardens are very well maintained, and the blossoming plants smell lovely. The sea is amazing and changes every day, with beautiful natural scenery. It feels as if time has stopped, and people can still enjoy a simple, healthy life. This is the best place we’ve visited by far, somewhere to find your own peace if you prefer quality over commercial things and enjoy subtle flavors. We’ll be back every year, for as long as we can, because it has become our second home.