Cala della Torre

That lovely, well-kept beach is what lifted the stay for me. There were plenty of loungers, and the little train to the beach was a nice touch, though there were no toilets or beach bar. The location is good for the nearby town too, with restaurants and an evening promenade. Still, Cala della Torre feels short of the quality its four-star rating suggests. The atmosphere was relaxed but noisy, with lots of screaming children, and most of the entertainment was in Italian and aimed at kids. If I hadn't been with friends, I'd have rated it lower. I wouldn't suggest it for a quiet, comfortable break, but it could work for a bigger group that isn't after luxury. Rooms need renovation and feel old. Ours had a decent shower, and the beds were comfortable, but some friends were put in dark, noisy basement rooms that smelled damp. The rooms were cleaned daily. Staff struggled with English, and at times it seemed Italian guests got better treatment, even over small requests like ice. One bartender was especially friendly and helpful, and knew a few Polish words. Finding reception at night was tricky, and hauling heavy bags up the stairs at the back was a pain. The pool is small and crowded. Meals were chaotic, with loud guests and food running out quickly. Breakfast was repetitive, the coffee undrinkable, and there were no hot drinks at dinner. Some dishes were tasty, but potatoes were often undercooked and meat overcooked. Desserts were a bright spot. Afternoon snacks were only sweets, not much use if you'd missed breakfast. The hotel feels more like a three-star place to me. I've stayed in lower-rated hotels in other countries that were much better.

We had a wonderful week in mid September. The weather helped, but the restaurant deserves special praise: the chef put together a great menu for every meal, with excellent quality and everything tasted amazing. The cleaning was great too, and the staff were friendly and always ready to help. Five stars all around.

The sea was beautiful, and most of the people at the hotel were nice. Our family room was very clean, but the beds were awful, especially the double. I've never slept that badly in a hotel, not even in mobile homes. For a four-star place, that's unacceptable and seems like an easy thing to fix. The children's activities were almost all in Italian. English would have been good, though we're used to this by now. The food was okay, but I've had enough vanilla pudding for a while. Overall, the hotel was okay, but in our view it doesn't earn four stars or the price.

The service was great, with polite, helpful staff everywhere, and we had a really good stay. The bathroom smelled a bit, though it was in good condition. The rooms were a little bare and the included food could be better, but that's about all I can complain about. There weren't many crying children around, perhaps because they were kept entertained late into the night. I'd happily come back.