Castel Santa Maria Holidays from £225

I can't speak highly enough of our trip to this resort. It really is a small village that has all the amenities you need. It is very family-focused where I would think most, if not all guests were families with young / teen children. It is pet-friendly, plenty of guests with their dogs which was lovely to see. The staff were remarkable, helpful everywhere we went and serviced us with care. The place has a great community pool, fit for all ages, has a shallow end for the little ones, a medium bit for older kids, and a deep-end for the stronger swimmers. They have a private beach area, already setup with chairs and umbrellas. There's staff on the beach as well to assist. On the beach is a seaside restaurant. Reservations are required but it was lovely sitting on the patio, overlooking the sea. The cottages themselves fit our needs. We are a family of 5 so we got the two bedroom. A little kitchen, dining area (although we had most meals outside on the porch), master bedroom for the parents, one bedroom with two beds, and a bed in the lounge. Bathroom was nice and modern. There was always entertainment happening throughout the day and evening which was included. There are small shops and restaurants that come with an extra cost but you also have the option to go off resort to shop or eat as long as you have a vehicle.

Strange service interaction at breakfast. Apparently I did not sit at the "designated" table for my room. There were number cards on some of the tables but I did not see at first. I can't imagine why this is even neccessary. I travel for business 3 months a year and have never seen such a system for hotel breakfast. This was a very big empty dining room with many tables and few guests. When one of the employees saw that I apparently did not sit at the very specific table, she made me pick up my food after I began eating and walk all the way across the room, maybe 25 meters to another table. What kind of service is this? Was that neccessary? Is it how you properly treat a guest? I'll remind you that the giant room was nearly empty from the time I arrived and left. She did this in a cold manner. Throughout the rest of the 20 minutes that I sat at the "correct" table, never saw another employee to ask for coffee. This is not anywhere near the level of service I would expect from a 4 star hotel and for this price. Will be certain to avoid this hotel when I return.

Very pleasant stay, location. Room with tv and fridge. Two free complimentary 1/2 litre water bottle. Staff extremely helpful. This is my second stay here.

amazing helpful staff, lovely and clean hotel

Our stay at the Grand Hotel Palace in Ancona was simply excellent. We were a group of five people, staying in two rooms, and everyone was extremely satisfied with the experience. The service was outstanding from the moment we arrived. The staff were professional, friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help with a smile. Our rooms were spacious, spotless, beautifully decorated, and very comfortable, with a wonderful sea view that made our stay even more enjoyable. Everything was exactly as we had hoped. The hotel’s location is perfect—within easy walking distance of the port, the historic old town, and many restaurants and attractions, making it an ideal base for exploring Ancona. Breakfast was excellent, with a wide variety of fresh, high-quality options to suit every taste. Overall, we had a fantastic stay and would gladly return. I highly recommend the Grand Hotel Palace to anyone visiting Ancona and looking for comfort, quality service, and an outstanding location.