Porto Bello Beach

Hotel Porto Bello. Honest Review (3 Stars, Not 4) Written at the airport right after checkout, so the details are still fresh. Overall, this hotel is decent but dated and in need of an upgrade and a bit of concept refresh. By strict standards, I wouldn’t call it a 4-star property as it feels more like a solid 3-star. Here’s why, followed by everything else worth knowing before you book. Why Not 4 Stars • No minibar: the in-room fridge holds only water • Safe costs €5/day: not included • No bathroom amenities beyond hand soap, bath soap, shampoo, and conditioner (no cotton swabs, shower caps, robes etc.) • No on-site gym — the gym is at the neighboring hotel and is run-down, with several machines out of order Things You Can’t Change (and They’re Mostly Good) • Weather: Perfect for a 10-day vacation • Sea: Cold in the morning, warms up a bit nicely by around 2pm. • Location: It’s a 35–40 minute walk into the city, and honestly there’s not much worth seeing along the way. There are also no sidewalks for stretches of the walk, so you need to stay alert, I wouldn’t recommend it with young kids or a stroller. Rooms • The hotel has only renovated the façade with most rooms and furniture are dated, scratched, or have flaking paint • Some rooms have very limited closet space • Our room had a persistent odor, likely from stagnant water or a drainage issue. Despite asking multiple times for cleaning or an air freshener, no real fix was offered , thus, I ended up covering the bathroom vent myself, which solved it a bit. Pools & Beach • 8 pools are advertised, but not all are open to regular guests, some are private • Pool hours are 10am–6pm; the main pool is quite salty • Beach towels can only be exchanged Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, tracked via a card system, you must present your card each time Kids Club Staff are very friendly, but the club is located at the back of the hotel with no air conditioning and limited equipment. Slide Area Decent, but food, drinks, and snacks are all pay-as-you-go. Spa The staff are exceptionally nice and caring, genuinely deserving of their own separate review. That said: • It’s located directly below the main restaurant, so you constantly hear chairs moving and foot traffic overhead, not very relaxing • The ceiling, decor, and furniture are old and could use a deep clean • No equipment for professional facials Food Generally great, though lunch and dinner menus sometimes repeat. Staff & Service • Kitchen and floor staff were wonderful throughout • Concierge wasn’t empowered to make decisions independently and frequently had to check with a manager. She also hadn’t visited the adjacent Royal hotel, so couldn’t answer questions about it • The senior lifeguard could use more empathy when handling crisis situations. ( A lady fell and injured herself and he was more focused and letting her know she will have to pay for a taxi herself to get to the hospital) A Few Practical Notes • Local taxes are not included in package pricing — you’ll pay these directly at the hotel (worth remembering for any trip) Bottom Line We had a decent vacation overall, and the weather, sea, and staff (especially kitchen, floor, and spa) really carried the experience. But between the dated rooms, limited amenities, and some service gaps, this reads as a 3-star stay rather than 4-star. Also. The food was never hot, often room temperature to cold as the hot plates they rested on didn’t work or were never in use.

Just came back from the best week way! Stunning beach and beautiful facilities. The entertainment team were wonderful, especially the lovely Daisy who was always attentive, super friendly and always smiling!

Just waiting for our transfer to the airport after an amazing week here at the Porto Bello Beach! Can’t fault the place one bit, the food is beautiful, the themed restaurants are lovely especially the à la carte Italian! We have a fussy 9 year old and there was plenty of options for her too, she never went hungry! The entertainment is spot on and the staff are amazing, especially Daisy from the Animations team, thank you ☺️ and Katerina from the pool bar, it was so lovely getting to know you. Honestly not a bad word to say about the whole experience it’s been amazing and we will definitely be back!

Just got back from an amazing stay, couldn’t fault the place, staff so friendly, clean accommodation, great entertainment and amazing food, so much choice and the best all inclusive experience we have had. Already looking to book again for next year. Thank you for such a great holiday.

I had the most incredible experience at the hotel, and a huge part of that was thanks to Diana. She works in the entertainment and sports team, and she is absolutely amazing at what she does. Her energy and dedication made my stay truly special. She’s a star!"