La Sommita Relais

La Sommita Relais, a Michelin Key Selected property nestled in the historic "White City" of Ostuni, Italy, consistently earns high praise for its exceptional service, stunning design, and prime location. Housed within a beautifully restored 16th-century palace, it offers guests a tranquil and luxurious escape with magnificent views and a renowned culinary experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for La Sommita Relais is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "exceptional," "wonderful," and "memorable." The hotel consistently receives high scores for cleanliness, staff performance, comfort, and facilities, underscoring its reputation as a top-tier luxury boutique hotel.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of La Sommita Relais:

• Impeccable Service: The staff's attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine hospitality are frequently highlighted as a major draw.
• Prime Location: Perched in the pedestrian-only historic center of Ostuni, the hotel offers an ideal base for exploring the town's charming streets, while also providing a sense of sanctuary. Many appreciate the "sanctuary atop the town" feel.
• Exquisite Design: The hotel is celebrated for its elegant blend of historic architecture with contemporary design, featuring vaulted stone ceilings, natural stone, and a serene palette of white and cream tones.
• Gastronomic Excellence: The on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, Cielo, is an obvious highlight, offering sophisticated Apulian cuisine.
• Luxurious Amenities: Guests enjoy a beautiful wellness center housed in a former olive press, complete with massages and Turkish baths, as well as a plunge pool and serene courtyards with daybeds. Many rooms and terraces boast stunning views, some extending to the Adriatic Sea.

3. Room Quality

La Sommita Relais offers 15 luxurious rooms and suites, each a "wonderful mix of old and new" with rampart walls and vaulted stone ceilings alongside modern features. Rooms are minimally decorated with luxurious furnishings, including king-sized beds, and are equipped with flatscreen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and minibars. The spectacular bathrooms are often a highlight, featuring wood, marble, and stone, with some suites offering standalone bathtubs or even indoor jacuzzis and private terraces. While generally comfortable, one guest noted an issue with a broken air conditioner in a duplex room, leading to an excessively hot upstairs area. Luxury Italian toiletries, such as the Etro brand, are provided.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at La Sommita Relais is a significant draw. The hotel's Cielo Restaurant holds a Michelin star and is praised for its exquisite and unique reinterpretation of Apulian flavors, utilizing farm-fresh, high-quality local ingredients. Guests consider it one of the finest dining experiences in Ostuni.

Breakfast is consistently described as wonderful and delicious, with a well-laid-out spread offering ample choice, including freshly baked bread, croissants, homemade jams, creamy ricotta, and cooked-to-order eggs. Local products like olive oil and seasonal fruits and vegetables further enhance the morning meal. There is also a Garden Bistrot for lighter fare in a relaxing setting.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at La Sommita Relais receive near-universal acclaim. Guests repeatedly use words like "impeccable," "exceptional," "attentive," "kind," "helpful," "accommodating," and "professional" to describe their interactions. Specific staff members, like Cinthia and Vanessa at the front desk, have been singled out for their excellent recommendations and assistance with reservations. The concierge service is available to organize private airport transfers and various activities. A complimentary shuttle service is provided for guests to and from the affiliated parking lot and the regional Ostuni train station.

6. Location & Accessibility

La Sommita Relais boasts an "excellent" and "ideal" location in the heart of Ostuni's historic center, a charming pedestrian-only area atop a hill. This position allows guests to easily explore local attractions such as the historic cathedral and Piazza della Libertà on foot. However, due to its location in a no-traffic zone, it's noted as not ideal for those requiring more assistance with mobility.

The hotel offers a free shuttle service from its private parking lot (a 10-minute walk away, costing €18 per night) and the Ostuni train station (3 km away). The nearest airports are Brindisi (35km away, a 35-minute drive) and Bari (70km away, approximately an hour's drive), with private transfer services available. Beaches are also a short taxi ride away. The hotel serves as a good base for day trips to nearby towns like Alberobello and Martina Franca.

7. Value & Pricing

While representing a luxury experience, guests generally consider La Sommita Relais "well worth the money." One source even suggests it offers "exceptional value for money" compared to the average hotel in Ostuni, despite its luxurious amenities. Rates typically range, with Deluxe rooms starting from approximately $280-$345 USD, Deluxe rooms with a view at around $375 USD, Suites between $400-$536 USD, and the Master Suite ranging from $590-$900 USD, depending on the season and specific booking details.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor criticisms have been noted:

• The tasting menu at the gastronomic restaurant was perceived by one guest as "a bit overpriced."
• An isolated incident of a malfunctioning air conditioner in a duplex room caused discomfort due to heat on the upper level.
• One guest expressed a preference for better quality and a wider choice of fruit juices at breakfast.
• The parking lot can be challenging to find, and a minor initial miscommunication regarding the shuttle service capacity for luggage was reported.
• The hotel's location in a pedestrian-only historic area, while charming, means it's "not recommended for those needing more assistance."

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