Hotel La Gioiosa

The location worked really well, with the beach about 200 metres away and a pizzeria around 100 metres away. Breakfast is included, there’s a small parking area and an elevator, and there’s a nice lounge with a TV and comfy sofas for rainy days. The rooms aren’t very big, but you’re not there to spend all your time in them. The hotel itself feels cozy, and the staff are polite, helpful, and usually in a good mood. Chiara deserves a special mention. There was just one downside for me: a constant machine noise coming from outside.

The rooms were very clean, but small and dated. The outdoor area and breakfast room looked much nicer. Breakfast itself had a huge choice, with more than 15 kinds of cakes, plus bread, biscuits, piadina, salads, yogurt and more. We also liked the gently sloping, heated saltwater pool, though it was a shame some kids were diving when it wasn’t allowed. That’s on their parents, not the hotel. The owners were especially accommodating with my gestational diabetes and got me plain yogurt without sugar. The hotel is handy for the beach and has special deals with a couple of beach clubs and restaurants. We only found the place by chance, but I’d highly recommend it.

We spent 10 days here and had a lovely time. Francesco, the chef, made fantastic food, and Adrian looked after us impeccably. Everyone was kind and courteous, from the reception team to the night porter. The rooms were a little small but clean, tidy, and practical. Reasonable prices and flexible hours were another plus. I’d highly recommend it.

The way the owner replied on another platform says more about them than about me. I described a bad stay honestly and politely, without twisting anything, yet the reply included an inappropriate “you deserved it.” Admitting that some rooms need serious renovation and promising to work on them would have made a better impression. My room certainly needed a major overhaul, and I don’t think it deserved a 3-star rating. The room and bathroom were small and in poor condition, with damaged fittings and very old furnishings. The property overall felt dated and neglected. The food was mediocre, although breakfast was good. The owner called my comments subjective, but that only applies to my request to leave a day early, which had little effect on my final rating. The rest of what I said was objective.