Hotel Maestrale

The staff were kind and welcoming, and my room was always made up. The towels were changed when I chose to change them, as a sign in the room explains. I'd read complaints about cleanliness, but that wasn't my experience. The food and breakfast weren't made with much love or passion, though I always woke up full for dinner. I stayed for seven days and had a really good time. The half-board deal with beach service included cost €550 for the week, which I think is good value. I can't expect luxury at that price, but it certainly wasn't the dump some reviews made it sound like. The beach is 500 meters away, nearly a 10-minute walk. You can rent bikes if that walk worries you, though it's easy enough on foot. I liked the place and would consider it again for a future trip to San Benedetto. I don't understand the negative reviews. Maybe some people expect it to be on the same level as Barbieri, but it isn't.

The only bright spot was the beach service. The affiliated chalet was well maintained and had good service, though I heard other guests at our hotel had trouble getting umbrellas and sunbeds. Our package included an umbrella, a deckchair, and a sunbed. We stayed for two weeks and unfortunately didn't enjoy it. The staff did what they could, but the building is dated and management felt cheap. Two cleaners had to do the whole hotel in very little time, and the room and building cleanliness showed the consequences. The variety of food promised on the website and in the email was nowhere to be seen. For starters there was just one dish chosen by the chef, then either plain or tomato pasta or plain rice. The pasta was drained and served without oil or butter. The main course was meat or seafood, with mixed salad, the same for all 15 days in a row. I don't know, maybe they could have served two grilled vegetables. Dessert, so to speak, was watermelon, melon with what I think was yogurt sauce, or a plum with a pineapple ring in mint syrup. Those aren't desserts to me.

The family staff were courteous, friendly, and ready to help with requests. We stayed over New Year's Eve and were very pleased with the organization; the food and arrangements were good too. The building is dated and could use a refresh. Despite the staff's efforts, cleanliness in the rooms and the rest of the property could be better. If you don't need many frills, it's fine, but room cleanliness was the weaker point.

We came for three days over New Year's and found the place very respectable. Mr. Lello, the owner, was wonderful and did everything he could to make us comfortable. There were 43 of us, and everyone we met, from reception to the waitresses to the chef, was exceptionally polite. The New Year's Eve party with an orchestra led by Lello himself was splendid, and his sax solo was great! The food was excellent, varied, plentiful, and cooked beautifully by chef Giovanni, a person from another era. Our rooms were clean and comfortable, and the value for money was great. We'll be back, thank you!