„Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life.“ – Anna Akhmatova, Jesolo Summertrip
You know, I always honestly share my experiences with you here – whether it’s about restaurants, short trips, or long vacations. And that’s exactly what I want to do this time. Because this year’s summer vacation took me to Jesolo, specifically to the Bellevue Resort for a week. Sounds like sun, sea, and the Dolce Vita, right? From the outside, it’s actually a really nice spot – you can tell it was recently renovated. But as is so often the case, the devil is in the details. There were ups and downs, little highlights, but also things that really disappointed me. So, let’s start from the beginning.
The journey
– patience is required
From Vienna, Jesolo can generally be reached in about six hours – at least according to the sat nav. But honestly: Anyone who drives on Italian motorways in the summer knows that’s just theory. Traffic jams are simply part of the experience. This time, without any stops, it took us a good seven hours. I don’t know about you, but I’m basically done after a five-hour drive. That last hour dragged on like chewing gum.
Arriving in Jesolo, I was initially relieved. The Bellevue Resort welcomes its guests with a beautiful driveway and secure parking. I found it truly luxurious. That feeling of: Okay, now the vacation begins. That’s exactly what you want after such a long drive.
The first impression
– wow from the outside, well from the inside
The resort really looks impressive from the outside. Modern facade, chic grounds, clean lines. You can tell that money has been invested and that someone has put a lot of thought into it. I was really excited about our room. We had a superior double room on the second floor of the main building, even with a balcony. Sounds great, right?
Well, and then came the disappointment. I have to be honest: The room was a disappointment. Small, dark, with dated furniture and a bathroom that was more reminiscent of the 90s. The mattress? I’m not exaggerating when I say: the worst of my life. You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and think you slept sitting down because everything hurts? Exactly.
I realize that you don’t spend the entire day in your room on vacation—but it should at least be comfortable. Here, it was the opposite. Almost no light, a tiny wardrobe (which only fit my husband’s clothes), and zero storage space. The bathroom was overflowing with its own fixtures and furniture. Honestly, it looked great on the outside, but terrible on the inside.
Afterward, I checked booking.com. Surprise: no photos of the rooms. Now I understand why. So I post the pretty pictures here…
The grounds
– tennis, pool & private beach
The rest of the area, on the other hand, was really nicely done. There are two tennis courts (€20 per hour – not exactly cheap, but still a deal). The pool is large, and there are various sun loungers. And what I really liked: the resort has its own beach area, which was included in the price.
Now comes the but: This area wasn’t directly on the sea, but set back a bit. That was fine for us – we had peace and quiet and could leave our things behind without worrying. But I know that many people want exactly that direct sea view.
A bit of a shock for us were the prices of the loungers. At the pool: €10 per person per day. A small cabana: €40. The large cabana on the beach: €100. Lying right on the beach? €16 per person per day. Honestly, I thought that was a bit of a disgrace.
And in retrospect, we were glad we didn’t take any of them. Children screamed at the pool all day (which is okay, it’s a family hotel after all—but not exactly ideal for adults seeking peace and quiet). And on the beach: those typical, uncomfortable Italian plastic loungers. You probably know the ones.
Culinary delights
– between disappointment and highlights
Food on vacation is always a big topic for me. I love trying new things and think that good food really rounds out a vacation experience.
BREAKFAST
Breakfast was—how should I say it—very Italian. Meaning: small, manageable, not exactly the selection you’re used to in Austria or Germany. Cheese, sausage, a bit of bread, always the same basics. I quickly got the feeling: Okay, this is getting repetitive.
But: there was a huge selection of cakes. And yes, I dared to try a piece of cake for breakfast more often than I expected. After all, you are in Italy.
DINNER
Dinner was a little different than we expected. It wasn’t a buffet, but a four-course menu where you could choose from four dishes per course. Sounds great at first. The problem: The selection was very fish-heavy – and my husband can’t eat fish. So the whole thing was rather tedious for him.
The quality of the food, however, was surprisingly high. Truly fine dining, small portions, beautifully presented. I personally found the food tasty, even though we realized after the first few days that it wouldn’t fill you up.
But then came that one evening: Thursday. Truffle pasta and steak with truffle. Guys, that was the culinary highlight of the entire week. Finally, portions that fill you up, and the taste was a dream.
TRIP TO LIGNANO
One evening we skipped the hotel dinner and instead drove to Lignano – about an hour away. And what can I say: It’s bustling with life. Restaurants, bars, young people, and a great atmosphere. It quickly became clear to us that the next time we go to the area, we’ll head straight to Lignano.
Entertainment?
No
And that brings us to another point of criticism. The resort is beautiful, yes. But in the evening? A dead zone. No program, no entertainment, no small show, nothing at all. After dinner, it was simply over.
The hotel bar wasn’t exactly inviting either. Not somewhere you’d enjoy a glass of wine and wind down the evening. We really missed that. Jesolo’s famous shopping street—with its many bars, shops, and restaurants—is about a 30-minute bike ride away. In the immediate vicinity: only campsites.
That means: You either stay in the hotel and get bored after dinner, or you drive out yourself. To be honest, it was a negative for us.
My conclusion
– nice thought, but not finished
All in all, the vacation was okay. I had sun, sea, good food, and a few relaxing days. But the Bellevue Resort is a typical example of a beautiful exterior, but not well-thought-out interior.
The complex is modern, well-maintained, and truly pretty. But the rooms are a disgrace, the prices for loungers are almost outrageous, and we really missed the lack of evening entertainment. Would I go back? Not really. Maybe for a quick visit to take some nice photos. But a whole week? No, thanks.
My tip for you:
If you’re planning on going to Jesolo, think carefully about which hotel you choose. Jesolo is a beautiful place, no question. But you notice that a lot of it is geared toward quantity – not quality. If you’re looking for a bit more action, maybe plan a few evenings in Lignano. That’s where you’ll really get that Italian summer feeling.
In short
• Arrival: 7 hours from Vienna (with traffic jams).
• Hotel: great on the outside, flop on the inside.
• Room: small, dark, dated.
• Food: weak breakfast, fine dinner, but small portions. Highlight: truffle evening.
• Resort: beautiful, private beach, but outrageous lounger prices.
• Evenings: boring – no entertainment, bar not inviting.
Would I recommend the Bellevue Resort? No. It was an experience, but not one I need to repeat.
✨ And now I’m curious: Have you ever been to Jesolo? Which hotels or spots can you recommend? Feel free to let me know; I’m always looking for new tips for your next summer trip.
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