Hotel Buratti

Though the building's exterior is plain and unassuming, the interior is decorated in much livelier furnishings; marble columns are complimented by patterned ceiling plaster lined by purple lights. Just off the lobby is a lounge area with a white piano in the middle, under a large, striking chandelier and surrounded by red leather sofas.

This funky, modern style is continued in the garden area where white wicker pod-like chairs with blue cushions are set on top of artificial grass. Although this is a more adult-like atmosphere for guests to enjoy cocktails, a children's playground is adjacent. Thanks in part to the children's playground and pool, the hotel is popular primarily among traveling families; many guests return and know the friendly and helpful staff.

Hotel Buratti is located in central Italy, just a five-minute drive to the city center of Cervia. It's a close 7-minute walk to the beach, which has a long area of forest filled with pinewood trees. There are also multiple shops and restaurants surrounding the hotel.

For travelers with cars going to explore other areas of Italy, there are several cities not too far; Ravenna is a 40-minute drive; San Marino is an hour away; Bologna is an hour-and-a-half drive. Parking is free at the hotel for all guests with cars, but garage parking is only available for guests in the Superior Rooms.

The Federico Fellini International Airport is a 45-minute drive from the hotel. Staff will take guests to and from the train station and to the airport, but only for guests staying a week or longer.

Renovated throughout 2010 and 2011, the rooms at Hotel Buratti are all fairly modern with white-tiled floors and wooden furniture. Color schemes in earth tones are prevalent in the bedding, which is then set against headboards with connecting side tables, armoire closets, and desks. The Standard Rooms have minimal decor, but lovely chandeliers and colorful bathroom tiling are unique touches. Bathrooms have modern fixtures like rain shower heads and intricately-framed mirrors, and each comes with a basket of toiletries. Walk-in glass showers are very small.

The Superior Rooms offer the additional perk of free Wi-Fi, but there's not much of a size difference between Superior Rooms and Standard Rooms. They are soundproofed, however. Each room comes with a safe, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a balcony equipped with a table and chairs.

The crowning feature of Hotel Buratti is its heated outdoor pool, although it's fairly shallow; the nicely maintained stone deck is full of comfortable lounge chairs with personal canopies. The outside garden area features modern pod-like chairs and swings set on artificial grass. A shaded section has tables and chairs next to a foosball table on a wooden deck. Although the garden area is a relaxed setting, the adjacent playground with slides and a swing for children might make the area noisy.

The restaurant, which serves a breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner, often showcasing fresh homemade pasta and fish dishes. The restaurant has bright linens of beige floral tablecloths and white slipcovers for the chairs; this is in stark contrast to the funky red chandeliers that line the ceiling. There's also outdoor seating on a wooden terrace. The inside bar continues the bright pops of color with red leather chairs around the marble bar, next to a black piano.

There's both outdoor and garage parking, although the latter is for Superior Room guests only. The hotel is also accessible for disabled guests and includes an elevator entrance from the garage.