Norman-Swabian Castle of Gioia del Colle Tours and Activities

Overall, this is an average 4-star hotel that offers all the essential amenities. However, a few aspects could be improved to enhance the guest experience. One inconvenience is the absence of a hotel bar or lounge service outside of breakfast hours, which makes it hard to enjoy a coffee or a drink on-site during the day or evening. The bathroom is in urgent need of renovation, with visible mold stains near the sink and around certain areas. The shower is poorly sealed, causing significant water leakage—enough that it can reach outside the bathroom and even the room. Breakfast is generally satisfactory, with a nice selection of pastries, croissants, and cakes for those who enjoy a traditional Italian breakfast. Pros: - Good range of basic amenities for a 4-star property - Pleasant Italian breakfast with fresh pastries and cakes - Convenient for travelers seeking an uncomplicated stay Cons: - No bar or lounge service after breakfast hours - Bathroom needs renovation (mold, water leakage issues) - Shower not properly sealed, causing water to spread outside the bathroom

We stayed at Cala Ponte Hotel, Marriott Bonvoy Collection in Polignano a Mare. The property is beautiful, with a great pool and nice breakfast if you include it, but overall it felt expensive for what it was. Check-in was fine in the end, though at first they couldn’t locate our reservation which was stressful. One night we were kept up until 3 a.m. by a red light in our room (part of the fire alarm), which I reported the next day. The hotel itself feels more like a solid four-star rather than a five-star luxury property. It’s missing the resort-like touches you’d expect at this level: more restaurant options, entertainment, transportation to and from town, and even a small convenience shop with essentials like sunscreen, snacks, or first-aid items. Transportation in particular would be a huge benefit, since parking in Polignano is a nightmare. Overall, Cala Ponte is a beautiful spot with potential, but it needs more services and amenities to justify the price point.