Cisternino accommodation from NZ$212

Beautiful place, friendly staff, location is ok, close to Cisternina, a small and beautiful town.

The photos of Angelita's home and the general information about the very charming and welcoming town of Cisternino do not do justice to this vacation rental! My husband and I and our two friends loved it! Overall, there is a serenity and a sense of place at Casa Cecca that is timeless. The high ceilings and cool tiled floors make it a perfect summertime outdoor/indoor space. The eat in kitchen is compact, yet workable, although a microwave would be a welcome addition to the stove top and toaster oven. There is only one washroom, but it is beautifully remodelled and has a luxurious rainhead shower. During the day and on fine evenings the long wooden table under a pergola in the backyard is perfect for apero and alfresco meals. There are plenty of chairs and loungers!The jacuzzi was not much in use as our mid to late September days were cooler and we were routinely touring all the notable "white cities" as well as nearby beach and historic towns. We travelled to Ostuni, Alborobella, Locotorondo, Bari, Porto Caesarea, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Lecce, and Matera. Phenomenal day trips, great food, and history lessons, galore! Staying in the area of those special structures, the Trulli, was a daily delight!Angelita was a very caring and responsive host, and always addressed any concerns or requests that we expressed. Overall, we had great Apulian wine and food experiences, met lovely locals, and enjoyed being a short uphill walk from our comfortable home to Cisternino.

On arrival no one advised regarding an issue with the swimming pool. We were shocked to go to it and find the pool bright green in colour. We enquired at reception and were advised the pool was being tested routinely and it was safe for guests to use. Staff advised it had been like that for 6 days and was due to grass cuttings blowing into the pool. We did not use the pool as we had safety concerns. The next day I asked to speak to the hotel Director regarding my concerns but he was not on site and reception staff did not know when he would visit next. I asked if the hotel had informed the ASL (local health authority) of the bright green pool issue and the fact that it was open for use but I did not receive an answer. I suggested the pool needed to be closed for guest safety, a notice informing guests of the issue and further testing for bacteria. Within an hour my suggestions were implemented and they starting to drain the pool. I never did get to use the pool during my 4 day stay and I never did get to speak to the Hotel Director about the issue. The hotel itself is in a beautiful setting and the guest facing staff extremely pleasant. Actions by Hotel Management in responding to the bright green pool issue was not to my personal standard as in my view guest safety is their highest priority. The trip was spoiled not so much by the lack of use of the swimming pool (mistakes do happen) but the response to the issue and lack of availability to Hotel Management.