Villa Rio Guest House Suites

The rooms were okay, but nothing special, and the service felt pretty bland. Be careful when paying: the hotel tries to scam you by switching the charge to your local currency without asking. That lets them add an excessive local conversion fee, plus another 5% service fee, without first asking which currency you want to use.

The rooms are huge, bathrooms included, and everything you need is provided. The continental breakfast is small. The pool looked tiny in the photos, but there's actually plenty of space, and it gets sun for most of the day. It did feel a bit crowded when two couples were there. The location was the best part for us. Boat trips, restaurants, bars, and supermarkets are all easy to reach, and the sardine festival was about a five-minute walk away.

I was unsure because the price was fairly low, but the stay turned out to be a lovely surprise. Bianca, our concierge, was so hospitable, and breakfast was fresh and delicious. Our room was spotless and spacious, with a high ceiling, double windows, and a balcony looking over the square. A simply wonderful experience all around.

The noise was the main problem. Cars and motorbikes revving woke us several times, and it felt like we were sleeping outside. The room we booked had only a ceiling window, so it felt cramped, especially for a five-night stay. We ended up leaving early and booking somewhere else. They credited us for the early checkout, but I don't think we'd book again. The room was clean, breakfast was nice, and the staff were helpful. The pool looked really nice too.