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After staying two nights at Canne Bianche and loving our stay there (review here), it was time for one last stop in Puglia before a flight the next morning. I chose Hotel Orientale because it has a great location (near the waterfront and perfect for exploring). I also wanted to stay in Brindisi so that we would be close to the airport for our flight.
Anthony’s Take: We loved having our own apartment, but also the amenities of the nearby hotel. The apartment was clean, spacious, and perfect for our stay. We were just there for the night, but this could also serve as a good base for longer stays. It’s a bit confusing to find the parking, check in, and then walk to the apartment, but worth it in the end.
Booking
I booked the through Expedia. The apartments are a cool option at this hotel. I chose the Deluxe Apartment, but there are several others. The total cost was $215 including taxes and fees.
Transportation to/from the Hotel
We had our rental car and drove from the Canne Bianche to the hotel. The 32-mile ride took around 38 minutes.
To get to the apartments, you need to first check in at the hotel. The parking garage is not the easiest to find, but you will be directed to an assigned spot through the call box.
Once you are parked, you need to walk through several long hallways to get to reception.
The hallways lead to the lobby. It has plenty of seating and was largely empty during our stay.
Most of the hotel’s rooms are in this building. The apartments are a few blocks away.
Check-in
Check-in was quick and the agent explained that breakfast was down the hall from the lobby. The fitness center was also housed here. The agent told us how to walk to the apartments and explained the various keys and fobs needed for access. He also did not tell me that we had been upgraded from a Deluxe Suite to a Spa Suite.
After getting the keys, we walked a few blocks to the apartments. There are lots of restaurants and stores here. Everything you’ll need is just outside your door. The apartments are found down this alley.
They are labeled Palazzo Bellocchi. These can be booked independently of the Hotel Orientale.
Inside there is a fresco on the ceiling.
A tiny elevator is straight ahead. We used it with our luggage, but otherwise we took the stairs.
There is a separate reception area for the apartments upstairs.
This was not staffed during our stay.
A vending machine was located here (we didn’t use it as there is a grocery store a few doors down).
The entire building was really clean and well maintained.
Our suite was close to the entrance.
Spa Suite (01)
The hotel has 47 guest rooms as well as multiple suites and apartments.
The suite opens into the kitchen.
There was a microwave.
A sink for washing dishes
A small cooktop
A coffeemaker, coffee, cups, and condiments were on the counter.
The cabinets held dishes, pots, pans, and more.
A refrigerator was below.
A living are was just past the kitchen. It held a TV, console table, couch, table, and chairs.
The living area was a great size.
This TV was one of two in the suite.
The Palazzo Bellocchi branding continued throughout.
The bathroom was located between the living room and bedroom.
It held vanity with a single sink.
There were limited amenities on the counter.
A toilet and bidet were next to the vanity.
The glassed-in shower was next to the toilet and pretty close. There was not a lot of extra space in this bathroom. The water pressure and temperature were both fine.
The shower had some unlabeled products mounted to the wall.
A closet was located across from the bathroom.
The safe was here. I had an issue with it and maintenance came with in minutes to fix it.
The bedroom had a queen-sized bed, nightstands, and a jacuzzi tub.
We did not make use of the jacuzzi.
Liquid soap was found here.
I liked the little monkey nearby.
The second TV was mounted on the wall across from the bed.
This apartment also offered a nice balcony.
Breakfast
A breakfast buffet is served in the hotel’s restaurant. This is located in the main building. It offered a decent selection and provides plenty of choices. Service was lacking and it took a long time to get coffee even though there were only two tables occupied while we were dining.
The buffet lines the wall and has a large table in the center.
Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns.
Cheese and frittata
Focaccia and Hard Boiled Eggs
Meats and cheeses
Croissant sandwiches
Cereal
Pastries and cakes
Bread and a toaster for guest use
Yogurt and condiments
Fruit
Tea, milk, juice, and water
A coffee machine
Public Areas & Amenities
The hotel’s lobby has the seating shown above. Other than that, there is a small fitness center, Wi-Fi, and free bikes to borrow.
The fitness center had limited equipment and was kind of depressing. In Italy, the best workouts are had walking everywhere.
Overall Impression: Hotel Orientale (and Palazzo Bellocchi where we stayed) offer a perfect location and are well appointed. The apartment was clean, comfortable, and a place I would stay again when returning to Brindisi.
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
1 comment
Nice review. But would it hurt to put the hotel location in the article title?