Hotel Baia Turchese

In our travels throughout Italy, we can confidently say that the nation's budget and mid-range hotels are some of the more vintage that we've seen -- and not in a good way. Case in point? The Hotel Baia Turchese. Yes, the bright blue color scheme has a certain tacky cheerfulness to it -- and is befitting of its name and seafront location. Continuing the motif, the front desk and walls of the reception area are painted bright blue and are surrounded by cushioned wicker furniture. When it comes down to it, though, this is an outdated hotel that banks on its location to draw its guests. Lovely Guitgia Beach is just across the street, a fact that draws plenty of domestic Italian tourists, despite the underwhelming style. It's all casual enough to make for a reasonably pleasant stay near the sea, provided expectations are heavily managed.

The hotel sits facing Lampedusa’s famous Guitgia Beach, a popular spot that can get busy in the summer. It’s within walking distance of several restaurants, bars, and shops, and about a 15-minute walk to restaurants on Via Roma and the rest of Lampedusa’s downtown. Otherwise, guests may want a car to explore the island. Lampedusa’s Rabbit Beach is a 10-minute drive, while it's 20 minutes to reach the popular Spiaggia dei Conigli. It's a 10-minute ride in the hotel's free airport shuttle to Lampedusa’s airport. 

Let's get the obvious out of the way: These rooms are dated. From the worn wicker chairs to oak veneer furniture, bedspreads, faded poster wall art, and linoleum-paneled closets, the style is beamed in from a cluster of earlier decades, none of which is particularly attractive. There is an abundance of sea-colored accents, ranging from soft greens and blues to bolder shades of both, plus a measure of turquoise for good measure. Floors are tiled and some larger rooms, like the Sea View Suite that we visited, have sagging sofa beds. Still, rooms are at least clean and bright. There are a range of categories available, including Junior Suites that have spacious terraces overlooking the sea. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, air-conditioning, and hairdryers. Wi-Fi is available, but comes at a fee. Bathrooms have colorful tile and curtained walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. 

While the hotel's location is undoubtedly the major draw here, there are a few features on-site to keep guests happy. The hotel’s restaurant serves mostly seafood dishes and has large windows overlooking the beach. Half-board packages that include a buffet breakfast and dinner are available, and food generally gets positive marks from guests. The space has wooden ceilings that would make the space dark were it not for the floor-to-ceiling sea-facing windows that bring in tons of light. The outdoor bar has lovely views and there's a small recreation room with a pool table. Parking is free and the hotel runs a shuttle to Lampedusa’s airport. There's also a gym with views of the beach and the hotel holds free outdoor fitness classes -- including pilates and spinning -- during the summer. The reception desk operates 24 hours a day and staff can help book excursions. Wi-Fi is available for an additional fee.