Hotel Sporting

We stayed a week, and the friendly staff were the only real positive apart from the balcony view. The noise made it hard to relax even out there. You could hear people walking upstairs and talking next door, and the pool area was loud because of an uninsulated pipe system. The bathroom was also far too small for a hotel this size. Housekeeping was poor. Even with three of us in the room, they'd leave just one towel, so we had to call for more. One cold night I asked for a duvet and got a stained blanket that hadn't been washed. I had to use it that night, then asked for a replacement. For a large four-star hotel, giving guests something that touches their skin in that condition is unacceptable. Breakfast didn't meet four-star standards either. It was the same items each day, and they weren't very fresh. A disappointing stay.

I've stayed in many hotels in Italy, and this was definitely my favorite. The sea view from our room was excellent, and the balcony was huge. I knew when booking that the sea-facing rooms were older than the renovated rooms on the city side, and that was fine. The room was dated but clean and well kept. The shower stall was quite small, and the pillows were uncomfortable, though that's true in about 90% of hotels. Great location and a generous breakfast. I'd happily return.

We were very happy with our four days here, traveling as a family with our two daughters and staying on half board. The rooms were pleasant, the pool in the east was beautiful, and the staff were friendly and professional. The location is fantastic, communication with reception was excellent, and the service was at a very high level. We'll come back on our next visit to Rimini.

The breakfast was heavenly, even by Italian standards, with everything from eggs and walnuts to sausages and yogurt. The juices could perhaps be improved. The beach is right in front, and umbrellas and beach chairs start at 20 Euro a day in low season. There must be a public beach somewhere, though it's usually best avoided. Kids will love the public playground, which is nice by Polish or German standards and incredible by Italian ones. The sea slopes down very gradually, so children should feel safe there. As for the hotel, the rooms aren't large and the furniture is nothing special, so you'll probably prefer sitting on the lovely balcony. The shower looks like something from the seventies, and there's no bathtub. We needed a kids' club, but they only have one in high season, which wasn't really clear from the website. We also needed an iron, and they didn't have one. The pool is quite small, though people probably don't come to Rimini to swim. In Italy, four stars are more like three to Northern Europeans.