L'Arco del Saracino

The food was good, though the appetizers and side dishes got a bit repetitive, and the sea is gorgeous as it is along this coast. The price was affordable. I stayed at the property as a hotel guest during the third week of August 24th, after working there for a year, and the holiday still fell short of what I expected. It was a good vacation overall, but I wouldn't recommend it if you're expecting a four-star place and service. The property feels dated and badly needs refreshing, especially the rooms and pool. They don't match what I'd expect from a four-star hotel or the online photos. The beach arrangements were another issue. There's no private beach at the property. Instead, they use a private beach with a special agreement, reached by shuttle, and that service could be better. It's much too far to walk with children, and much farther than the roughly 1 km I'd read about, which is the distance to Salve's public beach. The umbrellas are packed too close together, as happens on many of our beaches. I also had to book the front row because it was the last room available. Here, apparently, you can even pay extra for a lounger in the water at the first sign of waves. The kids' club staff were excellent, but there was practically no entertainment for adults.

The restaurant team was a real bright spot. The manager and waiters were professional and helpful, and the young entertainment crew were friendly and fun. The drivers on the beach shuttle were kind too, although the vehicles were old and the routes limited. The beach itself was dirty and crowded, with umbrellas packed so tightly that even walking through was difficult. The affiliated lido had dirty bathrooms, no foot rinse fountain, and cold showers that cost extra. The sea was beautiful, but that setup still reflects on the resort. Breakfast was disappointing, with little fresh food and just one waiter trying to manage everything. We spent 15 days there in August on full board. The shared areas looked dated, poorly kept, and unclean from the start. Our apartment wasn't clean when we arrived, and that continued during the stay. In the mornings the cleaners rushed us out, then only straightened the sheets and mopped indoors, never outside. We complained at reception after the first week and saw no change. There were mobiles that might have been great for our young daughter, but they were always dirty and neglected, so we never used them. For us, this isn't a four-star resort at present. We won't be back, especially given the price and how dissatisfied we were.

The sea is always a sure thing, and the train and shuttle service were excellent. I did notice the sun loungers are set too close together, though. The pools seemed even cleaner this year. This was our second year in a row, on full board, and we had another good stay. The food is consistently excellent, the restaurant manager is a lovely person, and the staff are always kind. At reception everyone is courteous, smiling, and ready to sort out any problem. The cleaning ladies are helpful and polite too. A special thank you to Loredana and Stefania in reservations for being so attentive and considerate. The entertainment was fantastic. We'll be back!

Lido Marini outside the property looked badly neglected, with rubbish along the streets. It felt a long way from the high standards usually associated with Puglia. We stayed at the end of July with the all-inclusive option. The resort layout was attractive, the room comfortable though a little dated, and the buffet was reliably delicious. Meals were generally excellent and the wait staff impeccable. The sea and the beach with paid umbrellas were lovely, and the train and shuttle made getting between the resort and beach convenient, though the vehicles could use attention. Some details were frustrating for a place rated four stars. Our room had stains, the shower was tiny, and its faucet could easily shift from the setting you wanted to boiling hot. They supplied just one small roll of toilet paper a day, so we had to ask reception for another. At breakfast there were only paper cups, no ceramic mugs. Oil, salt, and pepper were on the table during meals, but you had to ask the waiter for them.