Hotel Parco Degli Aranci

We spent two weeks there as a family in the last week of August. The room was clean, and the staff were consistently available, often going further than expected. Still, the stay got off to a rough start: after check-in we were sent to the restaurant for lunch and met with a horrible, rude reception from the waiters. Feeding our baby was a problem because the stove was in use, and we were told it could only be used at set times. No one had mentioned that when we called. There also wasn't a choice of first and second courses for the older kids, though even very basic places serve pasta with sauce and a cutlet. After talking it through, we did find a way to sort out meals for the little ones. The shuttle goes to the partner beach, Lido Marechiaro, but once again the staff didn't seem to know where it was. The entertainment was another big disappointment. It was two young men, perhaps on their first job and not very keen on it. They made no effort to bring in guests or children, and sometimes seemed to do the reverse. Guests ended up organizing beach football and games at the hotel themselves. They weren't popular, even with management, because they showed so little enthusiasm. The property could use an update, and the rooms don't have regular refrigerators.

The breakfast was a highlight, with so much sweet and savory food that it was hard to decide what to try first. We stayed August 6th to 18th and found the place peaceful and relaxing, with a magnificent view between Rodi and San Menaio. Our room was spacious, and we were glad they welcome four-legged friends. The staff made us feel at home: always smiling, warm, and ready to help. There's a shuttle to the private beach, though we chose the public beach, just a short walk away. We'd recommend staying here, especially with the new management doing such a good job.

The pool is a bright spot: large, lovely, and clean, with loungers and umbrellas. The bathroom was clean too. Towels were replaced every day, while the sheets weren't changed daily. The rest of the building feels dated, from the facades to the room furnishings. Some old bedside lamps didn't work, and the only power outlets were the ones for those lamps. Wi-Fi worked only in the lobby, among its several reception areas with comfortable sofas, and not in the rooms. The reception and restaurant staff seemed gloomy, perhaps because of their age. A livelier, younger team would fit the feel of a vacation better. The food was the really upsetting part. We tried full board and found it awful, unlike anything I've experienced before. The basic pasta dishes came without even simple seasoning like garlic, parsley, or oil. For seafood, they'd drain pasta or rice and put thawed clams or mussels on top. The side salad was just a few leftover tomato pieces. One night there was tiramisu, then the next day dessert was one sugared tarallo per person. If you got the tablecloth dirty, too bad. The management needs a generational change, and the place needs modernization and restyling, including a new chef.

I was there back in 2012. It's a decent place if you don't expect too much: there's a pool, plenty of parking, and the property is very large, though it was due for renovation. Breakfast is generous, and the staff are friendly and helpful. The food is simple, typical guesthouse fare, but very good. Prices are reasonable too.