Akropolis Hotel

I had a pleasant one-night stay in a clean, small, tidy room, and the espresso in the morning was excellent. Some of the nearby streets seemed unsafe, and it's about a 20-minute walk to the modern shops and activity. Unless more comes back to life around the area, I probably won't return.

The decor was rich and indulgent, and I loved the experience. The room was comfortable, clean, and tastefully done, with a modern bathroom. The receptionist was warm, friendly, and super helpful. The hotel turned out to be even better inside than I expected. I couldn't have asked for more.

The staff were friendly, the coffee was decent, and the shower had a good supply of hot water. Wi-Fi worked in the room and lobby, though it was only 3 mbit down and 0.4 mbit. Ask for the access key. The air conditioning also kept the room comfortable. The old town location felt insecure, with the surrounding streets giving an uneasy impression, though they do have a rustic charm and real southern Italian street life. Our room was dated and small, the mattress uncomfortable, and the bathroom cramped. Minibar prices were triple what the shop around the corner charged. Breakfast was disappointing: stale bread and cheese sweating from lack of cooling. After my feedback, the staff responded, which I appreciated, but the cooling problem and dried-out bread hadn't been fixed yet.

The staff were very friendly. We had first booked San Andrea Degli Armeni, but it was closed in Summer '13, so locals brought us to this hotel. It's a beautiful place in the middle of the old, run-down town and island of Taranto, a bit like Naples. Be ready for a very authentic, southern Italian neighborhood.