Villageio Conca Specchiulla, Otranto, Italy | (251) 219-4428
Peaceful natural setting in a wooded area near sea cliffs
All rooms have a small outdoor patio with a table and chairs
Free shuttle service to a lovely private beach
Outdoor swimming pool with a shallow end for children and a swim-up bar
Tennis and volleyball courts on-site
Small outdoor playground for kids
Rental bikes available
Fee for mandatory club card (access to the beach shuttle, the pool, and tennis courts in the daytime)
Basic rooms with outdated bedding
Removed from other dining options, commerce, and nightlife
The family-oriented, budget-friendly Hotel Solara is set in the pine forest near seaside cliffs a 20-minute drive from the port town of Otranto. It consists of a low-lying structure made up of no-frills bungalow-style rooms, each with its own private patio area with a table, chairs, and a parasol. A hotel shuttle connects the property to a private beach, a cove set amongst the rocky cliffs characteristic of this part of the coast. There are tennis and volleyball courts, a playground, and a big outdoor pool with a swim-up bar all on-site.
Scene
Ranch-style hotel on a country road
Hotel Solara is surrounded by lush, Mediterranean nature. It is made up of a ranch-style, one-story structure, meaning the outdoors are never far away. The lobby features a fairly eclectic though not unpleasant mix of outdated posters and 60s-era mirrors. The property is laid out around slightly disintegrating concrete tile walkways surrounded by roses, cacti, and white flower planters; the feeling is almost that of a relaxed family summer camp. Because of its remove from city life, it is a popular destination for families and those seeking the calm of a country setting. The property also occasionally receives groups and family reunions.
Location
12 kilometers from the town of Otranto, which is accessible via public bus
The hotel is located on a rural road a 20-minute drive or bus ride from the port town of Otranto, on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The property is set in the woods, near cliffs overlooking the sea; the proprietors run a free shuttle bus to a beach about 10 minutes away. The Brindisi airport is an hour’s drive from the hotel.
Rooms
Simple, functional rooms with little furniture
Dated bedding doesn’t seem to bother many of the guests who stay here; natural wicker furniture rounds out the dated aesthetic in rooms with tile floors and a bungalow feel. Each room has a walled-in patio with a table, chairs, and parasol. All rooms have air-conditioning and a small tiled room reserved for the shower, which is separate from the rest of the bathroom.
Features
Conference rooms, a pool with a swim-up bar and shallow end for children, and a choice of outdoor activities
A club card gives access to a variety of self-initiated outdoor activities, including daytime tennis (lit courts at night are available for an additional fee), volleyball, and table tennis. The pool has a children’s area as well as a swim-up section that gives access to the adjacent bar. The private beach accessed via shuttle bus is set in a cove at the base of rocky cliffs.