Residenza Sant'Anna del Volterraio

The rooms are dated, and the staff weren't friendly. They charge an extra 30 euros for cleaning, and even toilet paper costs extra. It felt more like a hostel than a hotel. Lunch prices are like you'd expect at a five-star place, but the offering doesn't match. I wouldn't come here for a holiday.

The location makes a good base for exploring the eastern side of the island, with a beach in the bay and a few bars and restaurants nearby. The hotel staff were nice and helpful when recommending things to see. The rooms aren't especially modern, but they were perfectly clean and we had no complaints.

The layout is unusual: rooms and apartments run around the edge of the resort and face inward toward the pools and gardens. Little paths between them give it the feel of an old Italian town. There are two nice pools, one for adults at €5 a day and a free one for kids. Our apartment was okay and had what you'd expect, though it was a bit old and could've been cleaner. Still, for four adults and three kids, €1500 in July felt like good value.

The garden is green and well kept, though mostly empty, and the place is away from traffic noise and fumes. But neighbors in nearby apartments can make plenty of noise with music and loud conversations late at night. The apartments are old, with rusty bathroom fittings and a rusty cooker. The furniture smelled musty, and there was dust on surfaces you could easily see. In summer heat, using the bathroom boiler means choosing between a warm shower and an unbearably hot room. There's no air conditioning, and the terraces have no natural shade. The nearest beach has a spectacular view of the island's largest port, with cruise ships and ferries coming in. There are much better beaches and holiday rentals on the island. I'd choose one of those.