Unpleasant experience at Covo dei Saraceni, Positano
Aug 28th, 2004, 07:19 AM
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Unpleasant experience at Covo dei Saraceni, Positano
Covo left a very bad taste in my mouth. We arrived there on August 13 for 5 nights. I had booked a Jr. Suite and a sea view double room. The first ?suite? they showed us was a complete dump, with 3 dresser drawers for clothes. We asked to see another room and were told ?there is nothing available
After much prodding we were shown another room, which was nicer and we settled for that. The sea view double for our daughters was frightening. The ?sea view? was not visible from the room, you had to go around a corner and walk out on a tiny balcony. Apparently there was a family with a screaming baby who cried all night next door who kept our daughters up most of the night. The story gets better. . . They have a ?beauty center? which offers one hour massages. The ?beauty center? is located next to the pool area which is loaded with screaming kids. I stupidly booked a one hour massage. What a nightmare. The massage was scheduled for 12:00. I arrived at 12:00 and was told it would be a few moments and they would come and get me. They came at 12:15. I was brought into what was a storage room with a curtain around it and a massage table in the middle. This totally crazy woman gave me a massage with noise from the pool, people coming in and out of the room, her leaving for a few minutes in the middle of the massage. The best part was when she was done she walked outside the curtain and started screaming at the young girl who worked with her while I was still getting dressed. I walked back to the pool and my husband said you are back already? It had only been ? hr. I went back to her and she said the massage is only 45 minutes, it was
60 when I asked her about it when I made the appointment. That afternoon we stopped at the front desk and told them the story. They were very nice about it. Later that evening my daughter and I were walking around Positano and the woman that gave me the massage approached me and started asking me why I complained about her and that I was mistaken about the time. I simply said I paid you for a one hour massage and you gave me ? hr. When we got back to the hotel my daughter told my husband what happened and he went to the front desk again outraged by this woman approaching a guest on the street and harassing me. The next day the hotel offered us a dinner at their restaurant, which was a very nice gesture on their part. Every day after that the crazy woman would be standing around the pool area that glaring over at us. We checked out on 8/18 and headed for Serenuse. When we arrived there and I began to unpack, I noticed 2 of my new bathing suits were missing from my things. I immediately called Covo and asked if I had left them in the room. (We always check every drawer and closet and under the bed before we leave anywhere). Nobody new anything about the bathing suits. I called several times inquiring about them and was told sorry we do not have them and ?no one on our staff would take anything?. When I asked them why am I missing two bathing suits they had no explanation and were extremely rude. We travel a lot and we have never had anything taken from our room. I find this to be very disturbing, first that they have someone who is clearly unstable working there and the fact that belongings were missing.
The only positive thing I can say about the place is most of the staff was very nice, the pool staff was outstanding. Maybe it was just a fluke about the bathing suits, but I find it hard to swallow.
After much prodding we were shown another room, which was nicer and we settled for that. The sea view double for our daughters was frightening. The ?sea view? was not visible from the room, you had to go around a corner and walk out on a tiny balcony. Apparently there was a family with a screaming baby who cried all night next door who kept our daughters up most of the night. The story gets better. . . They have a ?beauty center? which offers one hour massages. The ?beauty center? is located next to the pool area which is loaded with screaming kids. I stupidly booked a one hour massage. What a nightmare. The massage was scheduled for 12:00. I arrived at 12:00 and was told it would be a few moments and they would come and get me. They came at 12:15. I was brought into what was a storage room with a curtain around it and a massage table in the middle. This totally crazy woman gave me a massage with noise from the pool, people coming in and out of the room, her leaving for a few minutes in the middle of the massage. The best part was when she was done she walked outside the curtain and started screaming at the young girl who worked with her while I was still getting dressed. I walked back to the pool and my husband said you are back already? It had only been ? hr. I went back to her and she said the massage is only 45 minutes, it was60 when I asked her about it when I made the appointment. That afternoon we stopped at the front desk and told them the story. They were very nice about it. Later that evening my daughter and I were walking around Positano and the woman that gave me the massage approached me and started asking me why I complained about her and that I was mistaken about the time. I simply said I paid you for a one hour massage and you gave me ? hr. When we got back to the hotel my daughter told my husband what happened and he went to the front desk again outraged by this woman approaching a guest on the street and harassing me. The next day the hotel offered us a dinner at their restaurant, which was a very nice gesture on their part. Every day after that the crazy woman would be standing around the pool area that glaring over at us. We checked out on 8/18 and headed for Serenuse. When we arrived there and I began to unpack, I noticed 2 of my new bathing suits were missing from my things. I immediately called Covo and asked if I had left them in the room. (We always check every drawer and closet and under the bed before we leave anywhere). Nobody new anything about the bathing suits. I called several times inquiring about them and was told sorry we do not have them and ?no one on our staff would take anything?. When I asked them why am I missing two bathing suits they had no explanation and were extremely rude. We travel a lot and we have never had anything taken from our room. I find this to be very disturbing, first that they have someone who is clearly unstable working there and the fact that belongings were missing.
The only positive thing I can say about the place is most of the staff was very nice, the pool staff was outstanding. Maybe it was just a fluke about the bathing suits, but I find it hard to swallow.
Aug 28th, 2004, 07:45 AM
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I am sorry to hear that because the Covo dei Saraceni appears to be a good hotel. The fact that the hotel was fully booked might be linked to the fact that in Italy August 15 is the so called FERRAGOSTO which is typically THE peak summer day, when everybody is on holiday somewhere, and when all the hotels are marking their very peak point in bookings. That doesn't justify the screamings, the inefficiencies and the bad experience, I know, but I couldn't help noticing the dates... I hope you had a better experience at the Serenuse.
Aug 28th, 2004, 12:21 PM
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Interesting story.
I'm not sure that you can blame the hotel for a screaming baby. Some people have the idea that they can take their kids with them when they travel.
>The next day the hotel offered us a dinner at their restaurant, which was a very nice gesture on their part. <
A very nice gesture.
I'm not sure that you can blame the hotel for a screaming baby. Some people have the idea that they can take their kids with them when they travel.
>The next day the hotel offered us a dinner at their restaurant, which was a very nice gesture on their part. <
A very nice gesture.
Aug 28th, 2004, 12:55 PM
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The rest of the trip was wonderful, the highlight being Serenuse. I will post a trip report soon. And yes it is a humorous story, but I spent hours finding those bathing suits and the thought of someone entering my room and taking something makes me think twice before I leave anything of value around. Oh well, I guess there is crazy lady wearing my bathing suits!! I don't think they would fit her, but when you are crazy why would you care!
Aug 28th, 2004, 03:30 PM
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Surfergirl, you may be on to something.
Reminds me of the folks that just moved in next door. Three huge dogs barking up a storm all day and night. When confronted, they got pissed at us for being concerned about "a little noise".
Maybe some parents and dog owners just tone out the noise in order to keep thier sanity. Guess its easier than actively controlling the situation.
Reminds me of the folks that just moved in next door. Three huge dogs barking up a storm all day and night. When confronted, they got pissed at us for being concerned about "a little noise".
Maybe some parents and dog owners just tone out the noise in order to keep thier sanity. Guess its easier than actively controlling the situation.
Aug 28th, 2004, 06:25 PM
#10
Which is precisely why I bring my dogs indoors when I leave the house and would move my son (when he was little) immediately out of a restaurant before he could go into tantrum mode! It's a little respect for others.
Then again, I've heard worse from adults: couples screaming at each other in hotel rooms, drunks talking so loudly in restaurants that no one else can have a decent conversation, or those who yell at service people and act so childish that you cannot help but cringe.
But I think you are absolutely right -- some people don't know how to control the situation, because they never learned how to do it.
Diane, I'd love to hear where you went and at what hotels you ultimately stayed.
Then again, I've heard worse from adults: couples screaming at each other in hotel rooms, drunks talking so loudly in restaurants that no one else can have a decent conversation, or those who yell at service people and act so childish that you cannot help but cringe.
But I think you are absolutely right -- some people don't know how to control the situation, because they never learned how to do it.
Diane, I'd love to hear where you went and at what hotels you ultimately stayed.
Aug 28th, 2004, 06:40 PM
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Diane, that is funny, " when you are crazy, why would you care?"
Some people bring their crying babies, some people let their dogs bark, some people talk on their cell phones all the time or yell at each other in public.
I think we should start finding vacation spots where there are no people. Then we will all be much happier~
Some people bring their crying babies, some people let their dogs bark, some people talk on their cell phones all the time or yell at each other in public.
I think we should start finding vacation spots where there are no people. Then we will all be much happier~
Feb 7th, 2005, 06:02 PM
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My wife and I had the complete opposite experience at Covo dei Saraceni in May, 2003. Our room was sparse but well appointed (my wife loved the bathroom) and overlooked the beachfront and sea. Morning breakfast was great. Of course, we did not encounter any screaming babies, so I can see Dianel's point.
If staying in Positano, I'd recommend as restaurants Max and Hotel Murat.
On the morning we were to fly back to the states, the lock to our safe (containing of course our tickets and passports) would not open. In hindsight, it was quite funny trying to express our distress to the 2 night clerks, two elderly gentlemen, who spoke no English, and we, little Italian. Eventually, they brought to our room a shoe box full of master keys, and tried each one until the box opened. Worked on the third try, of course.
Anyway, I'd rate the hotel a 9 out of 10.
If staying in Positano, I'd recommend as restaurants Max and Hotel Murat.
On the morning we were to fly back to the states, the lock to our safe (containing of course our tickets and passports) would not open. In hindsight, it was quite funny trying to express our distress to the 2 night clerks, two elderly gentlemen, who spoke no English, and we, little Italian. Eventually, they brought to our room a shoe box full of master keys, and tried each one until the box opened. Worked on the third try, of course.
Anyway, I'd rate the hotel a 9 out of 10.
Feb 8th, 2005, 02:47 AM
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Hotel San Pietro in Positano found a solution for those who don't want to hear babies on their holidays: on their brochure you can clearly read that babies are not allowed below a certain age!!! (I can't remember what age!) ...maybe they have a storage room where you can put them meanwhile you enjoy you holiday ;-)
May 20th, 2005, 08:37 AM
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I happen to be staying there when you were there and remember you and your husband causing a scene. You and your family were very rude. I even sat next to you when they offered you dinner, and happen to notice that you took full advantage of them offering you dinner. If I remember you ordered a bottle of wine costing over three hundred euro. If you ask me, you and your family are the ones without any class.
I had a wonderful experience at the Covo. There are kids there, but it is a family hotel. Children only cry all night if they do not feel well. You might need to see someone for your problems in life...it seems they go pretty deep!!
I had a wonderful experience at the Covo. There are kids there, but it is a family hotel. Children only cry all night if they do not feel well. You might need to see someone for your problems in life...it seems they go pretty deep!!
