Tl;dr – Cala Ponte, a hotel in the beach town of Polignano a Mare joins Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio.
Marriott has recently added the Cala Ponte Hotel to its portfolio. The property is located in Polignano a Mare, an Italian beach town in the province of Bari on the country’s southern Adriatic coast, right on the top of the heel of ‘the boot’.
If you’re unfamiliar with Polignano a Mare, it’s known for its beaches, such as the white-pebble Lama Monachile, also known as Cala Porto, and an old Roman bridge dating back to 110 AD – the Ponte Borbonico. The town is also known for an infamous restaurant located in a natural cave.
This part of Italy doesn’t get a lot of love in the points hotel game. Further down the coast, you’ll find several Mrs. and Mrs. Smith properties, but I can’t in good conscience consider those legitimate points hotels until Hyatt and Mrs. and Mrs. Smith fix the redemption rates. Accor also does have the intriguing Borgobianco Resort/Spa Polignano from its MGallery Collection. I thought this opening might be worth covering, as the news of this opening was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me. I visited Polignano a Mare several years ago and had some memorable experiences. Ok, let’s dive in.
Cala Ponte, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
The Cala Ponte, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is a 58-room affair. The rooms are spread across the main building and four “islands” surrounding the pool, with 12 rooms each.
The hotel’s architecture “recalls that of a typical Apulian village, with low houses immersed in green spaces punctuated by ancient olive trees.”
For dining, there’s Hedoné Restaurant, a farm-to-table seafood-focused Mediterranean spot. There’s also the Otium Pool Bar and Otium Lounge for waterside snacks and libations.
In addition to the hotel’s pool, there’s a state-of-the-art fitness center featuring Technogym equipment, a tennis court, and an on-site spa equipped with a sauna, Turkish bath, hot tub, Kneipp path, emotional shower, Scottish shower, and ice cascade.
And because I know I’m not the only one who said ‘WTF’?
“An emotional shower, also known as a sensory or experience shower, is a spa treatment that uses water, light, and aromas to create a multi-sensory experience designed to positively affect a person’s physical and mental well-being.”
…and…
“a Scottish shower is a hydrotherapy technique that involves alternating between hot and cold water during a shower. It is also sometimes referred to as a ‘James Bond shower’ due to its association with the fictional spy.”
Italy’s a super popular tourist destination, and there’s an ever-important battle as to how to thoughtfully manage the high tourist numbers (which is a strong part of the economy) while also preserving some of the quaint spaces that make Italy what it is. Soft-brand hotels play a good role in this. At their best, they provide distribution and structure for existing independent hotels, allowing them to retain much of their style and ‘sense of place’ while also helping them achieve the necessary numbers. For travelers, it’s helpful to have familiar, comfortable places to stay, and it’s especially a bonus when you can book them using points.
My Thoughts
I visited Polgino a Mare back in 2016 and spent a few nights in the Seaside town. I arrived in town to a laughably small, hot (no air conditioning) Airbnb after a long, uncomfortable, regional-city train ride from Milan on my birthday. Shout out to Mrs. Blackbeard for the planning on that one. Later that evening, we sat in the town square, watching all the townfolk, from octogenarians to youngsters and in between, converse, play games, and go about their lives, even as the clock closed in on midnight. Despite the less-than-ideal journey there and not the best accommodations, I can remember there was a tangible, vibrant energy in that moment, and it still stands out as one of my favorite birthday memories.
As far as the town, it’s very quaint. The beach is a fun scene. You’ll see a lot of locals climbing the rocks to launch themselves into the sea. Although it can get crowded, if you arrive at the right time, it’s not too bad.
The restaurant, Grotta Palazzese, is absolutely terrible. It’s the trappiest of tourist traps, which is always a shame in a place like Italy, where good food abounds. Yes, it’s a restaurant built into a cliff. And that’s very fitting, as you’ll want to toss your meal off that same cliff after taking a bite. You were warned!
If a hotel like the Cala Ponte, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, makes it easier to experience some of those special travel moments like the one I did several years ago, I’m all for it.
