OldWell Hotel

The terrace has an amazing view, and it’s a shame to see such a beautiful spot in this condition. We stopped at the Oldwell Hotel for a drink after visiting the beach in October, and I was glad we weren’t staying there. It feels old and neglected, with rusty loungers, broken things left around, and disgusting toilets. Older photos make it look like it used to be lovely, but now it’s a mess. If the outside and toilets aren’t looked after, it makes you wonder about the kitchen too.

We had a lot of fun at this little hotel. The staff were wonderful, the bar was nice, and there’s a great beach with chairs you can pay for at the bar. The rooms are simple but clean and have what you need. It’s a good place to stay if you’d rather not be in Tropea itself and just head there for the day or evening. The hotel has had a lot of renovation since the outdated photos were taken. There weren’t many English speakers, and it felt like a very European vacation spot. I’d book again for sure.

The hotel’s location right by the sea, with loungers and umbrellas, is a real plus, and the place is clean. The cleaners were thorough and kind, and the staff were friendly. Rooms are small and basic, though nice enough, and the bathroom was fine. Breakfast was better than I expected in Italy, with plenty of continental options as well as sweet food. The bar and restaurant cost more than other places in the village, perhaps because they’re by the sea. But the main problem was how often they got orders wrong. We ate and drank there many times over a few days, and every time something was missing or mixed up: food, drinks, only some of the drinks, or the wrong drinks. Once they forgot my main dish altogether. After I asked about it half an hour later, they said “Moment,” then checked their notepad and found the order. It didn’t seem like they had a proper system for who served which table, and they kept going to everyone’s tables and forgetting things. They speak only Italian, which seems to be an issue all over Calabria.

I’ve been coming to Tropea for 3-4 weeks every year, and we always visit Riaci beach for the scenery and good food. This time the meal was a real disappointment. The menu had changed, and the dishes made me think there was a new chef. The mussels had no flavor, and their sauce was watery and not even salted. The menu mentioned white wine and oil, but I couldn’t taste either, and the peperoncini on the shells hadn’t been cooked down in the sauce. The next course was just as bland, and the calamari wasn’t properly fried or crisp. When I asked about one of the longtime staff, they didn’t even know who I meant. My guess is there’s new management, with higher prices and less experienced staff.