Hotel Terme La Bagattella

very good

We stayed there for 3 nights, group of 10 people (3 families). The rooms are outdated, had a strange odour - even to the point one family had to change rooms. The breakfast is one of more undesirable that ALL of us have ever witnessed (all frequent travellers). The pool was OK, location was in the tranquil area. Reception staff should take a course in hospitality, outside bar staff very welcoming and lovely. Overall I don't understand the 4 star this hotel has, properly 30 years ago, in all honesty there are a lot of other options available, I would not recommend this hotel.

I have stayed in many hotels over the years but the few that I have checked out of early could be counted on the fingers of one hand. La Bagatella just made that list. This is some completely new definition of what constitutes a four star hotel. Let me explain. The main complaint is that it is shabby. The room is "clean" to a point, but could do with a proper deep clean. The public areas are poorly lit and desperately need a coat of paint. Everything is just a little bit grubby. The staff are friendly, but have not the slightest idea of what constitutes good service. Everything is done by the book - and the book was written in 1970... There's a "spa" - which shuts from lunchtime until 7pm. There's a pool - which has the filtration turned off, resulting in a sheen of sun tan oil and a small sargasso sea of dead bugs and tree debris swirling around you as you try to swim. Oh yes, swimming... Don't you dare try to do so without a swimming cap... Food? Yes, that's an interesting one. We tried to have breakfast there - once. The coffee machine was broken, and nobody seemed in the least bit interested in fixing or replenishing it. God help you if you came down partway through service - once it's gone it's gone, and no amount of asking results in anyone lifting a finger to refresh the tired and sweaty-looking buffet. Ten minutes after complaining a cup of coffee was produced. Just the one, for both of us. I can honestly say in thirty years I have not had a bad cup of coffee in Italy - until that one. Dinner? Oh no, not if you haven't booked in advance. Drinks from the pool bar? It took the waiter three visits inside to serve a simple glass of white wine and a campari soda (pre-bottled, no ice...) Nobody actually cares. When we checked out less than halfway through our planned stay not a question was asked, not a word was said. We are only customers, after all. Just one word of advice sums up La Bagatella. Avoid.