Nautilus Beach

We stayed at Cala Ponte Hotel, Marriott Bonvoy Collection in Polignano a Mare. The property is beautiful, with a great pool and nice breakfast if you include it, but overall it felt expensive for what it was. Check-in was fine in the end, though at first they couldn’t locate our reservation which was stressful. One night we were kept up until 3 a.m. by a red light in our room (part of the fire alarm), which I reported the next day. The hotel itself feels more like a solid four-star rather than a five-star luxury property. It’s missing the resort-like touches you’d expect at this level: more restaurant options, entertainment, transportation to and from town, and even a small convenience shop with essentials like sunscreen, snacks, or first-aid items. Transportation in particular would be a huge benefit, since parking in Polignano is a nightmare. Overall, Cala Ponte is a beautiful spot with potential, but it needs more services and amenities to justify the price point.