Residence Verde Mare

There are a couple of good restaurants nearby, and the staff were friendly and helpful. We found the beaches around there beautiful, and the cooking facilities had what we needed apart from an oven. The apartments felt drab, and we could hear the neighbors and a lot of traffic through the walls. The Wi-Fi didn't work indoors, and the old sockets wouldn't take standard European plugs. The biggest frustration was the added cost: linen, towels, and cleaning all cost extra. The pillows were uncomfortably thin. For one week, gas and electricity came to over £70, added to the bill at the end. They also charged extra if the cleaning or recycling wasn't done exactly as required, and checked it all carefully before departure. We didn't use the small pool because guests have to wear a swimming cap, with another charge if you don't bring one. It also closes for two hours in the middle of the day without any apparent reason. It's listed as a three star hotel, but with all the extra fees and cleaning guests have to do themselves, it doesn't feel like a hotel.

Rosie at reception was always friendly and ready to help. The accommodation was very clean, and we found the bed really comfortable. The pool was clean too, with plenty of sunbeds. We really enjoyed our holiday here.

Arbatax wasn't a nice city for us. The streets were full of grass and bamboo, with potholes, and it was hard to see where to drive. The beach wasn't clean either. You'll need a car, and seeing somewhere nice like the beautiful beaches at Cala Gonone takes at least 1,5h. You can also pay 40€ for a boat to see the coast and beaches from the sea. The residence really felt like a 2/5. With four people in the apartment, we could hear our friends snoring upstairs, and we could hear the neighbors talking, snoring, washing, and going to the toilet. It felt like living in the same apartment. We couldn't rest because the neighbors got up early and made noise. The bedroom and bathroom are upstairs. The bathroom is tiny, only one person can fit, and anyone over 80kg can't get into the shower. There were cats in front of the apartment, which isn't okay for people with allergies. At the end, you'll pay around 30-40€ per week for two people for towels, electricity, water, and gas, even if you didn't cook.

It's a fairly good apartment, and the lighting is good for reading in bed. The kitchen is well equipped. There are no services on site, though we knew that, with the nearest restaurant 500 m away and the supermarket 1 km away. Having your own car is useful.