Too expensive for what it is!

14 August 2025 at 07:06:34
his is our third consecutive summer holiday in Vignola. After careful consideration, we booked the last week of July at Baia Blu La Tortuga, expecting it to be ideal for our four children aged 4 to 10. The price was €1,756 for four nights including bed linen and air conditioning. At €439 per night,... by far the most expensive camping experience we've had. As a well-traveled French family, we were willing to pay a premium for quality. At least, so we thought.We arrived close to midnight due to a delayed flight and were welcomed warmly by a friendly security officer who showed us to our mobile home. The campsite boasts direct beach access, a well-stocked supermarket nearby and restaurants within walking distance. No car needed. The grounds are generally well-kept and the pool area is fantastic with multiple pools and slides that our kids loved. Note: swimming caps are mandatory for pool access, so bring your own or buy one onsite.However, despite these positives, our experience was deeply disappointing given the steep price. Our assigned mobile home was located right at the campsite entrance, squeezed between reception and a busy access road. Despite prior emails expressing concerns about noise and safety for our young children, nothing was done to accommodate us.The next morning, the receptionist (Julia i think) was very understanding and found a more suitable unit for our family. She assured us there would be no extra charge beyond a €50 cleaning fee for moving after one night and promised a callback within a couple of hours as they needed to arrange cleaning. When the call finally came, we were shocked to hear from the manager, Laura, that the move was denied unless we paid an additional €500. Having already paid €1,700 for four nights, this was unacceptable and contradicted everything we had been told. Attempts to negotiate were flatly refused displaying a level of customer service we’ve never encountered before.The mobile home itself was basic and under-equipped, no microwave and very limited cutlery and cookware which is unacceptable at this price point. After a brief but heavy rain, water flooded our balcony due to clogged gutters indicating poor maintenance. For such a premium rate, higher standards are expected.Finally, we discovered check-out was at an unreasonably early 9 a.m. We requested a late check-out, which Laura grudgingly allowed until 10 a.m. Despite no subsequent booking, she reprimanded us harshly when we were just 10 minutes late as we were managing four kids getting ready.Overall, this was a profoundly disappointing family holiday. Baia Blu La Tortuga charges exorbitant rates but falls short on both amenities and most importantly, customer service. We share this review not to discourage travel but to highlight serious issues that future guests should be aware of.
Find out more