Blu Tropical Resort in Zambrone

I traveled alone with my son and, unfortunately, our stay at this hotel was far from what we had hoped for. From the moment we arrived, the service was disappointing. We requested an extra sheet as the bed was only made with a double sheet, but the owner refused to provide one until the next day, claiming he had no access to storage. Even when we suggested taking one from a vacant room, this was denied. The next day we finally received an old, torn sheet. On the second day, our room door was suddenly opened without warning by two men who didn’t speak English and couldn’t explain how they had access. They turned out to be staff sent to repair the landline. I have never experienced hotel staff entering a room without knocking or prior arrangement—this felt both intrusive and unsafe. Housekeeping on day three forgot to replace towels and left us with none. We requested new, and were given towels worn out and falling apart. Our room (104) was located right next to a generator running 24/7, despite the hotel claiming soundproof rooms—this was definitely not the case. The pool area was nicely designed, but the hydromassage didn’t work. The minibar was empty on arrival and never refilled. I had contacted the hotel before booking to ask if the area was suitable for travelers without a car, and I was seriously misled—without a car, this location is extremely inconvenient. A round-trip taxi to Tropea costs €50. We were supposed to stay for a week but decided to leave after just four days. The owner showed no concern when we checked out early and insisted on full payment. Other important details: - Breakfast is very basic—more like a simple B&B. - The pool are also 300 meters from the hotel and closed daily from 12:30 to 15:00. Yet the pool was often dirty, with sand, cigarette butts, and plastic bottles left behind. - The restaurant serves overpriced, mediocre food with a very limited menu, mostly seafood. - The beach is not suitable for small children as the sea gets deep just two meters from shore. Although the staff seemed well-intentioned and work hard, the lack of service, comfort, and quality means I cannot recommend this hotel—especially not for families or travelers expecting a true 4-star experience.