Best Things Nearby:
Maratea offers amazingly well preserved historic center, beautiful beaches, footpaths for excursions and excellent resort on the slope of the San Biagio Mountain. The colorful Festival of San Biagio draws crowds of locals and tourists alike in mid-May.
Best Things About the Resort:
Overlooking the Tyrrenian sea, the Pianeta Maratea Residence is located on a slope of the Monte San Biagio and consists of 7 terraces located from 406 to 459m above the sea level. The mountain more frequently called the Redeemer because it is dominated by a gigantic, white 22-meter statue portraying Christ (at 623 meters above the sea).
Five things to do in Maratea:
1. Ascend the San Biagio mountain. The views that unfolded are spectacular.
2. Explore the caves on the mountain slope.
3. Walk into the streets of Maratea’s Centro Storico to find shops and restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets.
4. Visit the St Mary Chapel just below the Pianeta Maratea resort.
5. Make a daytrip to visit the Naples area (the Vesuvius Mountain, and Herculaneum or Pompeii).
As for the essentials at the resort - the pool, the onsite grocery store, and a great range of units with full/partial kitchens can accommodate all domestic needs.
Resort Experience:
Maratea’s most attractive sights are its beaches and grottos, its Old Town, its rugged coast and coves, its statue of the Redeemer on the summit of the Monte Biagio.
The beautiful medieval town of Maratea is 3km away from Pianeta Maratea. The train station is 8km from the residence (there is no free shuttle from the train station to the residence).
Third week of May, when we stayed, marked the opening of the 2004 season. The staff tried their best to do their best to get things running. What they could not fix was the weather, around 10°C/50°F at night, 18°C/65°F during the day.
There are 222 one, two and three-room apartments on the terrace-located villas for 4 – 7 persons. All apartments are provided with a weekly change of bed and bath linen, as well as with all kitchen utensils. In our one-bedroom apartment we had living-room, bedroom area, separated from the living room with thin plastic partition (Japanese style), kitchenette in the corridor linking the areas, bathroom and terrace with magnificent view. Yes, we had color TV with 30+ channels including the BBC World News (the only resort in Italy during our one month travel which offered an English speaking channel). Each unit has independent entrance and parking space.
There are many facilities: bar-restaurant, supermarket (good one), two swimming pools with sun umbrellas and sun loungers, open-air amphitheater for shows and concerts with a capacity of 800 people, daytime and evening animation, sports activities, kiddies and youth club and children's playground with lessons in aerobics, archery, swimming, water gym, muscular toning, Latin American dancing, tourneys, games, shows, cabaret and piano bar - all for the joy of adults and children alike.
The sister Grand Hotel up the hill is more upscale, but the whole complex has seen better days - for instance, don't expect either a waterslide or a connecting monorail between the hotels - they have both been trashed.
Below the complex, a sparkling, clear sea gently laps the pebble beaches (3km). Two free shuttle buses connect the resort with the beaches. Courtesy buses run from the residence every 30 minutes or so, excluding lunch time break (8:30, 8:50, 9:10, 9:30, 9:50, 10:10, 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, 11:50, 12:10, 12:30, 12:50, 13:10, 15:25, 16:10, 16:40, 17:20, 18:00, 18:40). Shuttle takes steep private road, arrives at the beach area 15 minutes later and returns after 5 minutes stop. Remember, you are in Italy not Switzerland and do not expect that a driver will follow the schedule. There is one public beach – Macarro - and three private ones. The beaches around Maratea are the best - secluded little coves and crystal clear water. Carry your own beach supplies if possible, as this public beach is expensive, renting umbrellas and lounge chairs for up to 10 Euro an hour! Another option is to spend a day at a private beach (for example, Ilicini) paying 6 Euro per person for a day.
- Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
- Activities: Very Good
- Amenities: Very Good
- Unit Satisfaction: Good
- Family Friendliness: Very Good
- Service: Very Good