Grand Hotel Riviera - CDSHotels in Santa Maria al Bagno

We’ve just got back from this hotel after a short visit for my Special Birthday! Lovely location within walking distance to lovely harbour and 2 small towns! Room was ok but after paying for a upgrade thought it could have been a better view and balcony, (very small)
Food was very orthentic but would have been nice to have more variety! Staff in restaurant very helpful but my husband tried to organise flowers and a cake through the reception but was met with a negative response which was disappointing! Mostly a pleasant experience!

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 family holiday.

If you're looking for the perfect vacation spot, we found it! The staff are so good; we had an issue on our last day with transportation and Federica from the front desk helped us navigate our way! Food was incredible with lots of options (gluten free, dairy free, etc...). The resort has private chairs right by the sea.. it has an incredible pool and is nestled between many restaurants if you choose to eat off site (it's a beautiful 15 minute walk to the strip with restaurants). Definitely recommend this place and will be back!

Great Place, top service.
Nice Beach in front of the hotel with rocks.
5min to drive to Caipirinha (Sand) Beach. Special service for hotel guests.

Loved this hotel, it was spotlessy clean and the staff were super nice. Bicycles on site free of charge. Pool was quiet enough. Breakfast buffet had a good selection. It's situated between two towns within walking distance.

Absolutely amazing experience. Spent 3 nights here on our family’s Italy trip and will 1000% be returning. Everything from the staff, to the scenery, location, cleanliness, food, and rooms were absolutely incredible. Just don’t make the same mistake my family did and make sure to pre-book transportation to and from the hotel in accordance with local customs. Nonetheless an absolute 5 star experience, couldn’t have asked for a better time. Highly recommend!

We loved Santa Maria al Bagno and this hotel is a short walk from the centre. We had a comfort room so no view of the sea but the room was spacious, comfortable and cool. Great breakfast selection. Staff very courteous and helpful. If you have anyone that has difficulty walking ask for a room near the lifts and some rooms have quite a long walk

We stayed at Grand hotel Riviera for 9 nights. We had 2 rooms side by side and travelled as a family of 5 (children aged 11, 14, 15). The hotel was perfect. Brilliantly located with a beautiful outdoor pool and private area on the beach front. Both with lifeguards.
Most staff (restaurant, reception and housekeeping) were so accommodating and friendly, speaking excellent English.
Taxis in the area are extremely difficult to get and expensive. We were lucky to find a fabulous Italian gentleman, on the Internet, who we communicated with through WhatsApp. Hotel transfers were cancelled on two occasions which was disappointing.
This area is an unspoilt gem and I would highly recommend for anyone seeking a quiet, relaxing and authentic Italian vacation. The beaches are beautiful and while busy, never overcrowded. The sea is so clean as is the whole area in general. I would not hesitate in returning here.