Hotel Magnolia

Terrible stay. The air conditioning doesn't work, and don't count on the staff to help.

The staff were helpful and friendly around the clock, and the price made the stay easy to recommend. The beach is beautiful, with comfortable loungers and plenty of room between umbrellas. It's a 7-8 minute walk away, and you can eat, have a drink, or listen to music there. Back at the hotel, our room was clean and decent, with a comfortable terrace and a bathroom that worked well. There’s a handy elevator, a small pool at the back, and indoor parking, though the hotel doesn't have enough spaces for everyone. There’s another parking area nearby. Breakfast is self-service, with a reasonable mix of sweet and savory choices, but don't expect a big international breakfast spread.

We called the agency within half an hour of arriving and arranged to move to another hotel. For a place rated four stars, we expected better. The rooms are roomy, but poorly furnished: our quadruple room had only a two-door wardrobe and two drawers, nowhere near enough space to unpack. There wasn't even a towel rail or a shelf above the bathroom sink. When we asked reception for something extra, they rudely told us to change hotels if we weren't happy, so we took that advice from our second night in Vieste. Dinner was good, but waiters turning up in their own clothes felt out of place for a four-star hotel. The property also needs maintenance, with worn doors and chairs and broken fixtures.

We had a great time at Hotel Magnolia, though after staying at several four-star hotels around Italy, I'd call this a very good three-star place. There's a noticeable gap compared with other four-star hotels I've visited. That's not to say we had a bad stay, but the category should be said plainly. The staff throughout, from reception and the dining room to housekeeping, were exceptionally warm, welcoming, and happy to answer questions. We chose half-board and had dinner at the hotel every night. There was a different surprise appetizer each evening, generous portions of tasty, simply prepared food, and thoughtful nods to local cooking. Sometimes there was so much food we had to leave some, which felt a shame. Fruit and dessert were served buffet-style. They set homemade extra virgin olive oil on the table, and you could buy tins to take home. Breakfast had plenty of sweet options but fewer savory ones. Our room was small and simple, but clean, with enough linens and detergent. It was tidied and cleaned perfectly every day, and came with air conditioning and a balcony. Wi-Fi was available on every floor, but it didn't work. The bedding was worn, with a few holes in the sheets and napkins, and the dining room chair covers were torn. There were no bathroom shelves or counter space, and the refrigerator leaked. The hotel sits among olive trees, around 800 meters from the sea, a 10-15 minute walk. Other hotels on the same road offer a free shuttle, but we found the walk manageable. The small elevator was especially useful with luggage. The outside could use better care. It's a shame the space in front of the pool goes unused, with umbrellas left closed and leaves everywhere. It could be a nice spot to sit for an evening drink, and might bring in extra revenue for the hotel. We had an agreement with Lido Oasi for an umbrella and two sunbeds at 28 euros a day. We were in the third-to-last row. The price seemed fair, and the beach was very well organized.