Grand Hotel Riviera - CDSHotels — Hotel in Nardò

A Perfect Stay - Highly Recommended

We stayed at CDS Riviera on a friend’s recommendation and it did not disappoint.

The hotel is lovely - spotlessly clean, beautifully maintained, and incredibly welcoming. The service was exceptional from start to finish.

We chose the half-board option, which worked really well for us. Breakfast was a fresh buffet style (with the most amazing croissants), and the evening meals were excellent - varied menus, great quality, and always something delicious for everyone. The chef even prepared special dishes for the children (like spaghetti bolognese), which they were very happy with. We always left the table with full, happy tummies!

We used the hotel as a base to explore Puglia and it couldn’t have been better located. In our 17-night stay, we visited places like Gallipoli, Otranto, Porto Cesareo, Pescoluse, Lecce and more - all easy day trips from the hotel. There’s convenient on-site parking, and it’s just a short walk to restaurants, shops, and the sea.

On the days we stayed at the hotel, the pool area was perfect: peaceful, clean, and a great spot to relax, the frequent watermelon offerings were one of many lovely touches. The snack menu was excellent, especially for lunch by the pool. The children (5 and 6) loved going to the kids club at 4pm, a lovely little preschool-style room just near the pool, perfect for escaping the heat. They did lots of crafts and always came out happy. A highlight for us was the BBQ night on Thursdays - fantastic food paired with incredible live music made for a fabulous evening.

The hotel is very authentically Italian, which we really enjoyed. The staff primarily speak Italian (as it should be), though there are a few English speakers and everyone is kind and helpful. It gave us a chance to really immerse ourselves in the local culture, food, and atmosphere. If you’re looking for a typically British or tourist-heavy resort, this isn’t that - but if you want a genuine Italian experience, it’s perfect.

After such a long stay, we can honestly say we’ve had a fantastic experience and would absolutely recommend CDS Riviera. We felt very well looked after throughout, and it was the perfect base for our...

We stayed for ten nights at the Grand Hotel Riviera in July. On arrival we were told that we had one of the best rooms in the hotel and it was spacious with a view of the sea. The positives for the hotel were the attentive staff, the cleanliness, and the beautiful tiled floors! We were very disappointed with the pool area which definitely needs an upgrade and didn't feel as clean as everywhere else. The boarded area on the rocks is fine but be aware that getting in and out of the sea is tricky with lots of rocks to clamber over. The sea was quite rough during our stay which meant either the red flag was up or it was even more hazardous getting in and out. There is a lifeguard . Another disappointment was the bar area which is in the foyer of the hotel with a few chairs on the patioed terrace at the front overlooking the busy road. We were half board and there is only one restaurant so dinner is served in the same place as breakfast. We were expecting fresh melon, pineapple etc but there was only tinned fruit although a melon platter was available to buy on the menu. There was fresh juice. Apart from that breakfast was sweet pastries, sliced bread and some continental hams etc. Dinner was often strange, a few good dishes but not many. There is a barbeque once a week on a terraced area near the pool which the staff work really hard at but the food was really poor which seems a shame. The area is very quiet, there are some bars/restaurants around a 15/25 minute walk away both left and right out of the hotel. We would advise hiring a car, there is a local car hire place but enquire before you go as we couldn't get one for 5 days. We visited Lecce and Gallipoli which were interesting but we weren't impressed with any of the beach areas that we visited. Overall very quiet area, would advise a short stay, hire a car and definitely shoes...

This is without one of the best hotels we have stayed in.|The point of difference about this hotel is the excellent customer service from all of the staff.|The manager Simone is always present, talking to guests to ensure they are happy. He is a real gentleman.|Also special mention to Alessandro on reception.|Check is was quick and efficient but importantly everything was explained to us.|The hotel is spotless throughout. The cleaning staff work tirelessly.|Rooms are cleaned twice a day.|Breakfast consists of pastries, fruits, cooked items, fresh breads, cereals and salads. Oh and fresh orange juice which is squeezed in front of you.|Dinner is served a la carte and you get a starter, a main course, a second course and desert. You also can have antipasti at the start. Each course consists of either a fish, meat or vegetable dish. The food was excellent and authentic. |The hotel has a great swimming pool with a life guard. Also has a terrace on the front overlooking the sea where you can sun bathe. Never had a problem with getting sun beds.|The room we stayed in (324) was spacious and had a sea view. Super comfy bed, great shower and toiletries are provided. |The hotel has a deal with a local beach at Gallipoli. We paid €22 for 2 beds and a parasol. Fantastic beach and free shuttle to and from the hotel.|The hotel offers various excursions. We hired a car from a car rental just 2 mins up the road. I would recommend hiring a car to explore Puglia.|Overall a wonderful stay at this fabulous hotel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.|We will definitely...