Hotel Club Torre Marino — Hotel in Ricadi

A few years on, still going strong||This was my second stay in the hotel, and I loved both. The review is divided into segments mixing the information provided from the hotel with my observations and opinions; I will do my best to indicate them. I stayed two weeks with half-board.||Disclaimers:||I adore the country, the cuisine and mainly the way of life, so I can be a bit more tolerant/used to them. Furthermore, I have specific requirements for my holidays as I prefer staying off the beaten track and partially off the grid.||General information:|The hotel consists of the restaurant (where the dinners are served), the reception, the pools, the small houses (hotel rooms), and the bar (the breakfasts, lunches and refreshments). The complex also contains a small car park, and I assume a “picnic” area. It is located on the beach, literally. The beach is a part of the complex providing sunbeds free of charge (the number adjusted according to the visitors). Upon arrival, you are provided the basic information and list of offered services (the laundry service (€10) is not mentioned but provided). As for other services, the hotel provides “the taxi to Tropea” (€10) three times a day; don’t hesitate even if you are the only one interested, there’s no minimal number.|Besides, this place, in many ways, embodies how I imagine the successful application of modern technology without going mindless. It has fast and stable Wi-Fi, enough sockets (a power strip) and cashless payments. Furthermore, I appreciate that the design has not been influenced by contemporary (AI) trends as they copypaste endlessly (I get an eerie feeling/déjà vu anytime I enter a café). Therefore, I immensely appreciated an eclectic mix of colours and styles; surprisingly (actually unsurprisingly), the mix works much better.||The complex:|It is extremely well-designed. Even though, I assume, it can accommodate about a hundred guests, it never feels like that. The small houses form a few rows and are divided by natural barriers (winding paths, hedges, trees, window/terrace orientations and numerous nooks). Not only the greenery creates privacy, but it also softens/muffles the conversations and prevents overheating. ||The accommodation:|My house consisted of the bathroom and the main room, containing the double and single bed, wardrobe/closet, and vanity table with television. The design feels spartan, but sturdy and sufficient. I don’t require much from my holidays; I would even go without TV. Even though it feels tiny, I managed to lay my yoga mat and do all the asanas. The “terrace” is secluded and feels private. Several pieces of furniture are plastic, but the sand and salinity, I assume, preclude any other solution. God bless the owners as they avoided the decorations; I would have gone mad by watching New York in black and white, or over-saturated floral motifs (monstera in deep green, please no more). Dear AI slop, please, burn in hell!||The food:|The breakfasts and lunches are in the Beach Bar, the dinner/supper at the restaurant (by the pools). The breakfast is a buffet style with a sufficient variety of sweet and savoury options. My main complaint is the “coffee machine” providing the usual acidic robusta (I understand serving so many coffees so fast is impossible, but still). If you come in a huge batch, just ask a waitress to clean the selected table – she’s real quick. If you miss something, reach out – the owner, Michele, sits there the whole time and reacts also promptly.|I didn’t have lunch, but it works on the same principle like dinner. The dinners are ordered ahead, two courses and fruit. The first course is mostly pasta (al dente), occasionally risotto. The second course is either seafood or meat/fish, mostly with vegetable sides. The condiments are located inside the building. Due to the client requirements, the ketchup and mayonnaise are found there; I assume that those who requested or used/will use them ended/will end up in the deepest circle of Dante’s hell (for eternity).|As for the quality, everything is fresh, savoury and tasty. I was dissatisfied only twice; the first, I have been unlucky with pepper mussels (a double dose of pepper) and, the second, one “dirty” glass (a drop of sauce). If you are curious how fresh, I saw cooks chopping veggies just before the serving, so I got my crunch.||The way of conduct:|As already mentioned, the complex has a village-like vibe, so chitchats happen everywhere and all the time; a lot of guests reach out. I’ve “talked” to the Germans, Italians as well as Poles. The employees wave, smile, greet, reach out and/or chitchat.|What I appreciate most is the presence of the owners. If you need something, just go and ask; the problems are sorted out swiftly. I had a partially torn shower head, requested the repair, and had it repaired in a while (I reckon in half an hour). Also, the air conditioning died (unfortunately, at night). In the morning, I requested the repair. The owner, Michele, arrived, checked the remote and fuse box and called the mechanic. In an hour or so, the mechanic arrived and repaired it. No AI waffling happened. Here I need to apologise to Michele. As I didn’t receive the standard phrases "I understand how frustrating that must be" or "Let me take care of that for you", I “escalated” the ticket (I’m so used to standard scenarios that I’m not even thinking about it anymore). So, huge apologies, Michele.|On top of that, I travel with a wheelchair, so the transport annoys most people, BUT never the other owner, Maurizio. Every single time, he helped without any comments, funny looks, and/or hesitation. Furthermore, the wheelchair information was lost, but the situation was sorted out before arriving, without any remarks.|To sum it up, I must confess that the title of my previous review “Stay gold, gentlemen, stay gold” has been upheld. On top of that, I am not the only one highly satisfied, as I recognised several faces from my previous stay; obviously, they greeted me. ||THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND I’LL...

Absolutely the worst hotel I have ever stayed at. The hotel should be embarrassed to call themselves a hotel club. I had to stay in 3 separate during my 2 week stay. We had issue after issue during our stay and I'm going to let anyone that is thinking about coming here know what kind of business they are and show you proof. First we were told the WIFI was everywhere at the location and well that is a lie,it doesnt work in the rooms at all. ||Now on to the rooms, first room was completely filthy and room needed to be cleaned again before we could stay in it. Then when we finally got the room cleaned again, we went to get a drink of water and it tasted completely disgusting and like salt which made us go ask if there was something wrong with the water. First the reception told us the water could be drank and after knowing we had infant and needed to make bottles with it they said "no". We had to buy water for drinking during our stay. They didnt even have signs showing the water couldnt be drank and could have lead to a serious issue. On a few occassions the water even came out yellow. Then in the same room the AC broke so they moved to another room for what was suppose to be one night so the AC could be fixed( things break so we tried to understand and work with them for both of our benefits). In next room we the sewer was backing up in the shower and the doors would not secure. We had no other option but to stay in the room due to no other rooms be available and having a baby. They ensured us that the next day the AC would be fixed which it wasn't and had to stay a couple nights in the room with a sewer problem and a door that would not secure. Eventually a 3rd room became available where everything was suppose to be working. In this room the shower head was broken and the water was not going down the drain. We eventually went to one of the owners which they stay on the property. They seemed to care less about our concerns and when they were addressed we were told we could leave and pay the entire bill for the stay. They also accused us of writing a review on a fake account. This was completely ridiculous expecially due to the fact I couldnt wait to finish my stay and pay the bill so I could give the review they deserve. During this time was a holiday and all hotels were booked well in advance and we couldn't believe they said such things in front of other guest. We have never been treated so bad by a establishment and owners. Through our stay we met several families with similar issues and complaints and that were completely dissatisfied with their stay some even were from the Italy and were going to file complaints when they got back to their home towns. It even went so far as them placing another person in our first room where the AC was still broken and told them they didnt know it was broken. ||For our 2 weeks stay it was issue after issue from them telling us that the locker in the room were extra when it states on their website it is included, to them even telling us that our credit card an American Express wasn't working. When I contacted my card company they ensured me it was working and the the merchant didn't accept American Express even thought they expressly told us in a email that they did as well as the reception staff telling us the same. During our stay they took our towels and never replaced them and had to wait several hours to recieve them. ||The establishment had a life guard on duty but he was really responsible for selling umbrellas and parking to individual's not staying at the hotel for cash. This place said they accepted dogs but because the owners had 3 dogs that they let run free and were aggressive toward other dogs our dog had to stay in room most of time.Their electricity also went out at hotel for several hours and several times.||My family is absolutely appalled at this establishment and the way they treat their guest. Every complaint was taken to the reception. Don't be fooled by any response by management of the business which will attack the customers that expose their inadequacies. The worst of all they refused to accept my American Express even though they said they accepted and it forced me to have to get cash from ATMs and pay additional fees. As I originally stated they should be embarrassed of their service they provided to their guest. Will never go here again and will write a review everywhere I can about this establishment and...

Absolutely the worst hotel I have ever stayed at. The hotel should be embarrassed to call themselves a hotel club. I had to stay in 3 separate during my 2 week stay. We had issue after issue during our stay and I'm going to let anyone that is thinking about coming here know what kind of business they are and show you proof. First we were told the WIFI was everywhere at the location and well that is a lie,it doesnt work in the rooms at all. Now on to the rooms, first room was completely filthy and room needed to be cleaned again before we could stay in it. Then when we finally got the room cleaned again, we went to get a drink of water and it tasted completely disgusting and like salt which made us go ask if there was something wrong with the water. First the reception told us the water could be drank and after knowing we had infant and needed to make bottles with it they said "no". We had to buy water for drinking during our stay. They didnt even have signs showing the water couldnt be drank and could have lead to a serious issue. On a few occassions the water even came out yellow. Then in the same room the AC broke so they moved to another room for what was suppose to be one night so the AC could be fixed( things break so we tried to understand and work with them for both of our benefits). In next room we the sewer was backing up in the shower and the doors would not secure. We had no other option but to stay in the room due to no other rooms be available and having a baby. They ensured us that the next day the AC would be fixed which it wasn't and had to stay a couple nights in the room with a sewer problem and a door that would not secure. Eventually a 3rd room became available where everything was suppose to be working. In this room the shower head was broken and the water was not going down the drain. We eventually went to one of the owners which they stay on the property. They seemed to care less about our concerns and when they were addressed we were told we could leave and pay the entire bill for the stay. They also accused us of writing a review on a fake account. This was completely ridiculous expecially due to the fact I couldnt wait to finish my stay and pay the bill so I could give the review they deserve. During this time was a holiday and all hotels were booked well in advance and we couldn't believe they said such things in front of other guest. We have never been treated so bad by a establishment and owners. Through our stay we met several families with similar issues and complaints and that were completely dissatisfied with their stay some even were from the Italy and were going to file complaints when they got back to their home towns. It even went so far as them placing another person in our first room where the AC was still broken and told them they didnt know it was broken. For our 2 weeks stay it was issue after issue from them telling us that the locker in the room were extra when it states on their website it is included, to them even telling us that our credit card an American Express wasn't working. When I contacted my card company they ensured me it was working and the the merchant didn't accept American Express even thought they expressly told us in a email that they did as well as the reception staff telling us the same. During our stay they took our towels and never replaced them and had to wait several hours to recieve them. The establishment had a life guard on duty but he was really responsible for selling umbrellas and parking to individual's not staying at the hotel for cash. This place said they accepted dogs but because the owners had 3 dogs that they let run free and were aggressive toward other dogs our dog had to stay in room most of time.Their electricity also went out at hotel for several hours and several times. My family is absolutely appalled at this establishment and the way they treat their guest. They should be embarrassed of their service and probably attack...