Stanze al Mare

The property’s location is the one good thing, but the price doesn’t match the quality. We booked directly by phone after seeing the photos on Booking.com, and the place looked very different in reality. It’s quite old, even though it has been renovated. The towels were dirty, and after we asked for replacements, the new ones were dirty too. Small basics such as dish soap and a sponge were missing as well.

The one good thing was how close it was to the Fontane Bianche beaches. The rest of our stay, at the end of August 2021, was extremely disappointing. We were motorcyclists and arrived to find the room wouldn’t be ready until 6:00 PM, with nowhere to leave our luggage, so we had to spend five hours wandering around. That should have been made clear when booking. The host we found on AirB&B quoted €120 for two rooms without saying it was the price per room, which felt dishonest. The apartment was in very poor shape: no hot water, awful mattresses, a bathroom too small for four people, a ventilation window we couldn’t reach, and drains clogged with sand. The person we were told to contact acted as if it wasn’t his responsibility and sent questions to his supposed superiors. The homes are run-down, and I wouldn’t recommend staying there, especially given how badly the host and his assistant Elio treated us. Elio was completely useless and only seemed interested in collecting the tourist tax.

The apartment was clean and welcoming, with two bedrooms, one double and one twin, plus a bathroom with a window. It’s just two minutes from the beach, and the value for money is really good. Ilenia was a wonderful host who let us check in early and shared tips on beaches, restaurants, and places to visit. For breakfast, we recommend the little bar at the end of the street, outside the gray gate of the apartments on the right. Highly recommended!

The veranda outside the room was a lovely place to sit in the evening and hear the sea. The complex is right on Fontane Bianche beach, a beautiful but busy part of the Aretusa coast. The small apartments have different owners; I stayed in Lucia's, booked through Booking.com. Martina, who looks after it, kindly came to bring the keys even though we arrived early. The price is very affordable for the area and how close it is to the sea, but there are some things that need attention. Ants were getting into the room by the entrance, and there was an unpleasant musty, damp smell as soon as we walked in. The air conditioning barely worked, though at this price I could accept having none. I hope the owner takes this as advice, because the place has real potential. With those issues fixed, I’d come back every year.