Butrinti Apartments

When we decided to re-visit Corfu after less than impressive trip in 2007, we thought it a good idea to try and tick another country off our list and make a short two night visit to Sarande in Albania (since it is only 40 minutes away on the fast passenger ferry). When looking for a place to stay, this hotel looked like the sort of place we would choose, the clean and modern lines, a pool and sea views. I was though a little put off by the low rating this hotel has on TripAdvisor. It did seem that a lot of the reviews were not recent and the photos attached to the reviews did not match with those on the booking site. Upon arrival and now having stayed at hotel, Butrinti Hotel should definitely be rated in the top five of the area. It's easily the most imposing of all of the hotels on the bay, it enjoys and elevated view and looks well maintained, very clean, and arranged in a way that ensures a relaxing stay. Except the main entrance did not appear to have any disabled access, yet inside there was a chair lift from the reception level to the lifts. How this hotel isn't rated no.1 in Sarande I do not know. I really liked the decor of the public areas and will attach photos as this hotel deserves to have itself shown in it's true light compared to the other traveller photos currently showing (these must be pre-renovation photos) We were allocated room 205 which looked out over the front driveway, road and sea as well as the bay of Sarande. The room was a twin and was a little small, but more than adequate. The beds were comfortable, we had air-conditiong which came in very handy, a safety deposit box, which we couldn't work and a mini-bar which was stocked, but had space for a few of our own drinks. The prices were very reasonable as far as mini-bars go. Our bathroom was small and compact with shower cubicle toilet and sink with a lighted vanity mirror. All very modern and impeccably clean. The cleaning staff were very friendly, and even when asked not to clean, they insisted on bringing fresh towels. We were there only two nights! The pool area is quite large and features a good variety of shaded and sunny spots to sunbathe in single beds or larger Balinese style beds. The pool was very clean, had a children's splash section as well as a swim-up bar. The outside bar had an extensive terrace with views over the bay. Seating at tables and chairs as well as sofa style seating. The pool area offers freshly made pizza from the oven right by the bar, these are exceptional value and very tasty. The wait staff are efficient, but they seem very task-focussed, there doesn't seem any interaction in any kind of informal way. I wasn't rude however. I thought the pool area and bar terrace were a great asset to this hotel. A fantastic spot to sit for sundown or "Golden hour" with views over the Corfu. The breakfast which was included featured an extensive range of continental options and fried or scrambled egg with hot-dog style sausages. It was fine, and

Our recent stay at this hotel was far from satisfactory. A particular incident marred our experience, involving the minibar charges. Despite only consuming one Coke and one bottle of wine from the minibar, we were inexplicably charged double the price. Despite explaining this oversight to the staff, they remained unyielding in their stance, insisting on the inflated payment. Regrettably, it seemed that other guests had encountered similar issues. On a positive note, our room offered a nice and clean environment with a lovely view of the sea. Amidst the challenges, it's worth noting that one staff member was notably friendly and helpful. However, the overall unfriendly attitude of the staff and the absence of essential supplies like first aid items underscored the lackluster service we received. Such occurrences are incredibly unprofessional, particularly in the context of a 5-star hotel. These issues undoubtedly impacted our overall perception of the stay. It is my fervent hope that the hotel management treats these concerns with the gravity they deserve and takes substantial steps to rectify these shortcomings. Ensuring a more enjoyable and seamless experience for future patrons.