I booked this lovely old monastary through icastelli.com and everything went smoothly. This facility had old world charm yet modern conveniences and a friendly staff. Definitely request a sea view and you will get it. We stayed in this small town of Giovinazzo (Bari) because it was 10 minutes from Bari (Palese) airport. We were able top walk to the center of the town from this hotel. We had a great seafood dinner near the piazza and enjoyed being on the adriatic. Thanks.

I urge all travellers to give this dark, dank and just plain creepy hotel a miss. My husband and I booked a room in this hotel for 7 nights during the "Festival of Madonna" in August. We lasted only 2.

Location is about the only thing this hotel has going for it as it's situated in Giovinazzo's beautiful coastal "old town". When it came to everything else, this hotel really took the biscuit.

Upon arriving at the hotel, late in the evening after a long flight, my husband and I were greeted with a grunt. After checking in we took the world's slowest elevator (which I was to soon find out only worked half the time) up to our third floor room, which was so small you couldn't even swing a cat. The shower was dirty and there was no toilet paper. When I asked for some I was given two rolls and told that should be enough for the entire stay. I laughed thinking the housekeeper was joking. He wasn't.

Breakfast however WAS a joke (by the way,stale croissants DO NOT a breakfast make!). My husband asked for some milk to have on our cereal, as the main table had run out, and was given the smallest jug, half filled, barely enough for himself. When he asked for some more for me, it was like a scene out of Oliver Twist. This behaviour from the manager, no less.

This same manager we saw later in the day, yelling at a couple at the front desk in full view of staff and other guests. The poor woman he was towering over was in tears and the gentleman with her looked like he was doing everything he could to stop himself commiting a murder. Wouldn't blame him. This I found absolutely appalling behaviour.

My husband and I immediately set out to find altenative accommodation. We stayed the second night (out of necessity rather than choice ) and informed the manager the next morning that we would be making an early departure. Well, did he launch an attack!! My husband and I were so truly disgusted that when he overcharged us for our stay we couldn't even be bothered arguing, we were so desperate to get out of there.

The manager even had the audacity to tell us we should be ashamed, as we were the third couple in as many days to up and leave early before our booked departure date. If this clown had half a brain he'd put two and two together and realise there was a pattern emerging for a reason!

Anyway, we booked an apartment at the Riva Del Sole which had a full kitchen, lounge room, balcony and was beachfront for less than the S. Martin. It had a huge pool, lovely restaurant, pizza bar and it's own lido and the hotel staff were AMAZING! The manager in particular was an absolute gentleman. The hotel is located just outside of town so they offer a free shuttle into and out of the main square and Bari airport which I thought was fantastic.

The S. Martin needs to clean up its act, and it could start by taking a leaf out of Riva Del Sole's book.

We stayed in S. Martin Hotel in March 2007 for two nights. The hotel is a wonderfully renovated Benedictine monastery built in the Middle Ages.

Our room (with A/C) on the third floor (there is an elevator) was rather small but furnished with pretty italian antiques. The bathroom (with sea view!) was very nice, too, with a modern shower. Everything was very clean.

The staff was friendly but it is quite useful to speak a few words italian or have a travellers guide with some phrases ready at hand. Only some of the staff could speak English or German.

We cannot say much about the breakfast, as we rather had a lie in (the beds are comfortable :-)). However friends being with us said that it was quite nice (considering being in Itlay, where breakfast is usually rather simple). In high season there is also a restaurant in the hotel.

Giovinazzo itself is a small town on the Puglian coast with a great old city. Lots of small alleys and nice restaurants guarantee a lovely italian feeling.

We asked for prices via the hotel's website by email and even got a reduction of the official rate. So it was 100 euro per night for a double.

It is helpful to have a car in this area. As the hotel is located in old city there are no parking spaces. But it is only a 3 minute walk from the public parking area.