Il Borghetto Resort & Spa in Tropea

If all you want to do is switch off your brain, lie at the pool, listen to boring piped music all day long, then Il Borgetto may be exactly what you are looking for. The so called ‘Breakfast included’ includes basics like pineapple and melon, granola and very badly made coffee with artificial milk. We waited 50 minutes for a cappucino one morning. To our surprise the omelettes we had were chargeable separately when we were leaving. The staff at the small tightly fitting kitchen were well intentioned but clearly not trained. We were alarmed to see two rats running out from under the old kitchen. They were not chargeable however.
The two rooms we had were ‘sea-facing’ with the sea well camouflaged by beautiful trees and shrubbery. But you can’t have everything. Perhaps most surprising in the bedrooms was the placing of the toilets on the other side of the open showers so that to use the toilet after showering we had to dry the floor with the towels. No drinking water is supplied, no tissues and worst of all no coffee maker. Those old fashioned little packets of dreadful Nescafe granules reminded us of the 1970s. Quirky yes but regrettable as the coffee at the so called kitchen was mediocre.
If you’ve looked at the Il Borgetto website you may see a reference to ‘Casa Romano’ giving the impression that this is the dinner restaurant. Click on the ‘Menu’ and ‘Wine list’ buttons and you will get nothing. That is because Casa Romana is an excellent restaurant but almost two miles away in the centre of town and owned by the Romano family who also own Il Borghetto. In fact there is no dining room in Il Borgetto. While we were at breakfast two chairs broke, the coffee machine broke with all giving the impression this is a good sun tanning location that is reaching beyond its competence.
The staff at reception were fantastic, helpful, kind, responsive and readily apologising for the shortcomings of the hotel. Be warned about the people-carrier taxis – owned by ‘Taxi Tropea DAVIDE’ whose number is supplied by the hotel and which seems to be a team of bad-mannered, gruff and indifferent drivers who complained that we were not willing to stand in the scorching sunshine to save them having to drive into the hotel grounds. Some days we were charged €15 and some times €20 for the very same trips into town, the utterly beautiful Tropea.
In summary then 5 stars to the front desk staff. 3 stars to the rest for trying. And one-star to the owners who could do so much to improve the operation with so much potential.
Casa Romano was the best restaurant we visited and deserves 5 stars. Fantastic menu, wine list and staff.

Overall experience of Il Borghetto ia 3 out of 5.

Il Borghetto management asked us not to post any suggestions for improvements on Google or Trip Advisor but to email them separately.
We wonder why!!

We absolutely loved everything about our stay at Il Borghetto. The staff were lovely and attentive, the grounds are immaculate gardens, the room was beyond perfect. We will definitely be coming back in the future. This place is a total paradise.