With our Aer Lingus flight arriving into Brindisi quite late in the evening, we decided not to risk trying to race to a car rental desk before closing time, and booked a one-night stay at the Grande Albergo Internazionale Brindisi.

From everything we saw online, it looked like the best combination of good value, great location, and somewhere we could get to and from the airport relatively easily, in order to go and pick up the hire car the next day. Given it was to be a quick overnighter, we didn’t splurge on a particularly fancy room, and opted for the ‘standard double’. So, how was it?

First things first, Brindisi downtown generally is extremely close to the airport – so there is probably no ‘downtown’ hotel too far from the airport.

Secondly, and this was the bit that caught us out; it would seem that plenty of roads downtown become car-free during certain periods of the day, including the roadway right outside the hotel. As a result, our driver had to drop us off a good few hundred meters from the actual entrance – cue a long walk with our luggage along the footpath and cobblestones along a very busy promenade late at night.

The Grande Albergo Internazionale can’t be missed – well, once you know what you’re looking for as it wouldn’t exactly be plastered in signage – sitting proudly right on the promenade facing the water opposite. I don’t know why, perhaps it was the time of night, but to us it looked eerily quiet.

Check-in was handled very quickly by the sole receptionist, and we were dispatched to our room with our key (literally) in-hand.

From reception, there’s a staircase and lift to the right just after the desk, as well as a (surprisingly good value) vending machine and toilets.

Upstairs, getting to our room involved passing a large almost court-like grand conference hall, looking out over the sea. Again, late at night and in darkness, passing this room seemed altogether very bizarre, coupled with the sheer quietness of the property at all times.

Certainly, and I mean this is a nicer way than it probably sounds, but it felt like a hotel that was once the jewel of Brindisi’s accommodation scene and still doing its best to hang on.

Our room was clean, practical and spacious. There was plenty of space to set our suitcases down without tripping over them, a table, TV, and two beside tables.

Of course we didn’t realise this until the next morning – this might have been frustrating on a long stay, not so much for our one night – but our view was not exactly particularly desirable; facing an internal courtyard and what looked like some kind of water pump machinery.

In the bathroom meanwhile we had a single sink, shower cubicle, toilet and bidet. If I was to level any criticism here, it was that the towels felt quite end-of-life and akin to sandpaper; while the shower consistently had issues staying at the desired and selected temperature. It jumped around from hot to cold with incredible randomness, leading me to be permanently ready to jump out at a moments’ notice.

Overall though, the bed was comfortable and we both woke up well rested, and ready for a busy day walking Brindisi before heading to Masseria Messapia later on that day.

Our rate included breakfast, which is served in the large room directly opposite reception from 7 to 10am. There are several seating areas, including tables right by the window. In terms of offerings, it is almost entirely cold food – breads, salamis and meats, cakes, yoghurts, etc.

Drinks (incuding water), slightly oddly, are dispensed from a single dispenser near the coffee machine. Confusingly, there was also a price sign at the coffee machine which caused me to stall for a few moments wondering whether I needed to pay to use the machine or what. Thankfully a staff member let me know that you only need to pay if you want the coffee made fresh at the bar.

After another hot-and-cold shower, it was time to check-out and we were able to store our luggage (in a large meeting room next to reception) for the day while we went out and explored town.

Overall, this was a very quick one-night pitstop that did the job, although the hotel felt very empty and bereft of any real character or life during our stay. As I alluded to earlier in this review, it felt like a once-great hotel left plodding along based on reputation, awareness and lack of equal alternatives. I’d stay again if in Brindisi, but there’s no doubt I’d be a little more dedicated to getting a room with a sea view.