Residence Sabbia e Mare

There are a couple of little markets within walking distance, and in summer there’s a market and things happening in the evenings. The beach is only a two-minute walk, with sun loungers and umbrellas available to rent for your stay. We had a lovely week with friends. The rooms were clean and modern, with kitchen utensils and cutlery, and the small pool was just right for the number of people there. Just be aware you’re renting a room and need to bring everything, even hand soap, though sheets and towels can now be rented. The one thing I missed was a bar on site for coffee or a beer.

The reception girl was nice, and the beach isn’t far, but I don’t get why these apartments get such high ratings. Three stars would make sense, but five? We paid 800€ for four nights, plus 50€ for cleaning. The floor was so dirty my feet went black quickly, and the walls weren’t clean either. The couch was dirty too, so they covered it with a blanket for sleeping. The rooms felt like prison cells, dark with the windows facing a wall and no decor. We’d booked expecting an apartment with a terrace from the photos, but got only a balcony. Parking in the garage was tricky, so think twice if you’re not confident driving. Rosolina itself felt very boring and poor to me, though that’s personal preference. Having to bring bed linen and towels after paying 800€ for four nights isn’t what most people want on holiday. The bathroom sink water smelled so horrible that turning it on made me nauseous every time. On the plus side, there were no mosquitoes at the end of August and start of September. We won’t come back. We booked late because it had 10 points on booking com and 5 stars here, and I keep wondering what an apartment rated 7-8 on B. com must be like.

The apartment was a dream, minimalist but very nicely finished, and spotlessly clean. It had a fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, oven and cooker, along with cutlery, water glasses and plates. For wine, I’d bring glasses and buy it at a big supermarket, since finding good quality and familiar brands nearby may be difficult. Bring soap and detergent for laundry or the dishwasher too. Towels and sheets are available for a reasonable extra charge, but bringing your own is good advice. There are two little shops with fresh vegetables and fruit, plus one with a small butcher and bakery. Across from the hotel, IL GATTACIO is a great cafeteria with good prices, fresh coffee, sandwiches and croissants every day. There’s also an ice cream cafeteria across the street and four or five restaurants you can find on Google Maps. Book restaurants ahead, especially on weekends, because they were all full every night. The beach is a one-minute walk through the side by the pool. The beach bar is a lovely lounge with all kinds of drinks, including prosecco, cocktails and Champagne. The beach club costs extra and has a huge kids’ playground. There’s also a playground in the garden beside the pool. The pool is nice and we could always find a chair and umbrella. People were polite about taking their things with them when they left, so others could use the space. Wi-Fi worked excellently throughout the hotel, with no problems. The reception girl was very nice and friendly. There’s underground parking, which is convenient for bringing the car in, then taking all the bags upstairs.

Sheets and towels weren’t provided by default. It was probably mentioned in the terms, but that felt unusual. When I called, staff brought up some old sheets, pillowcases and towels. In the morning, I could smell cigarette smoke despite having all the windows shut.