Given the sketchy reviews, I was a little concerned with staying here. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

The room was quite large - a little old, but pleasant. The hotel throughout could use a major carpet cleaning. There is carpet in the breakfast area that has more coffee spills on it than you can count.

The reception / staff were very helpful at the front desk. They gave some great meal suggestions. Walking around Trani (and getting lost ) is a delight!

It was a good stop from Rome and allowed us to see some places in Puglia like Alberobello.

The best thing about this hotel is the view of the harbour and cathedral opposite from its waterfront rooms. If you have such a room you can forgive much.

The hotel is new, built in an old monastery. The rooms look attractive on first look but you have to stay in them to discover that it is unlikely the designer every stayed in them and that the fittings are poor quality. Shower fittings are broken, the large shower heads will not stay in place when water is turned on but fall on unsuspecting bathers, chairs creak and are falling apart. The toilet flush takes forever to refill and on our last morning didn't fill at all.

Sizes of, and fittings in ,the rooms vary.

This has a Four Star rating, yet doesn't proved glasses (only thin disposable plastic beakers) one tiny soap per room, and there is no internet access in the hotel, unless you want to dial up from your room.

There is no restuarant or cafe; the breakfast room regularly runs out of items such as fruit, bread and butter. before breakfast service is over.

The promised health centre with its steam shower and massage rooms is not ready and there was no sign of any work taking place to get it finished while I was there.

This hotel needs a good boot up the backside.

If intending staying here, ensure you get a harbour facing room or consider elsewhere. One of the rooms on the side has a balcony with a partial view..

(note:- I was on a group tour, I saw other peoples rooms and problems with the showers and toilets affected many of us.)

The stay at the Hotel San Paolo took place in September, 2004. The hotel is beautiful and the location is very picturesque overlooking the port and with the Norman Cathedral visible in the distance. Our bedroom was large, comfortable, clean and well appointed.

Unfortunately, though, the hotel does not have a garage or private parking - we were told that they used to but they had recently given it up because no longer convenient - so we were encouraged by the young man at the reception to park our car in the street, practically in front of the hotel entrance. The day after, around 6 am, our car was gone. The lady at the reception who had done her night shift, told us she hadn't seen or heard anything. So we went to the police to report the theft and then we went back to the hotel.
Since our stay was for one night only, at about 11.30 we were reminded that checking out had to be done by 12, what we did; our feeling, however, was one of disappoinment, since we did not receive any offer of help from the staff nor a bit of compassion. Perhaps in that town a stolen car is no big deal but for us it was a shocking experience that put us off the holiday we had just started and any other holiday to be had in the same area.