The bed was big enough with some extra pillows, but the room itself wasn't that big, so after putting all our luggage in there, we had to stay on the bed all the time. The decor and furnishings were a bit warm, and not like the design-conscious efforts we've seen so far. We couldn't adjust the air-con so we were quite cold. This was also the first hotel out of the whole of Europe we stayed in that had no bidets!
Rating - 3.5
This was a 3.5-star hotel, but the facilities were nowhere as good or everything as nice as Hotel Admiral. They did have 10 minutes of free Internet though, which, while good, you can't really do much with. Having a lift also helps.
The reception staff were so-so, polite, but not friendly. Who I had a problem with though were the breakfast ladies. They spoke no English but did manage to be rude! They were really slow in getting the food replaced, so people were constantly waiting, they told me off for using the coffee machine which was supposedly broken but there was no sign up telling you not to use it. Of course we had to ask for cappuccino, and they reply with a rude, "room number", that's it. They advertised that breakfast was supposed to start at 7.30 but of course when we got there they weren't ready, in the Italian way.
Rating - 2
This was extremely hard to get to, we needed to catch a few connecting buses as well as walk a long way from the bus station to get there. Luckily Milan's public transport system works relatively well most of the time. I think this is best if you have a car.
Rating - 1
Despite my discontent at the breakfast ladies, at least there was a bit of variety (when you can get it, you basically have to pounce on the food when it comes out) besides the usual fares. There were some coddled egg dish and other pastries we hadn't try before. Those cappuccinos that was so hard to get tasted quite good though.
Rating - 3.5
65 Euro for an out of the way place with a smaller room and nowhere near the quality of Admiral. Still, out of all the hotels we've stayed at, this one is reasonable for the price.
Rating - 3.5
Via Scialoia 3,
20161 Milan
Phone +39 02 6461646
Website
The room was very nice and comfy, decked out in period furniture. The bed was very comfy, with good pillow and blanket. The room was big with a huge balcony. Too bad when you get out there it's really noisy!
Something you probably didn't know, and probably doesn't affect you in any way, but they are the home of the James Bond Fan Club. The lobby is decked out with all sorts of 007 memorabilia.
Rating - 4.5
This was a 4-star hotel, so facilities were excellent, or would've been if wireless internet wasn't broken. They had a mini bar - which meant a fridge! The toiletries were also quite nice, with all the extras besides the soap included.
The staff were quite funny because they didn't speak much English. Otherwise they were quite helpful. At breakfast though, we didn't get asked for cappuccino by the ladies again, but we really couldn't be bothered because there was a huge group at breakfast and we didn't want to wait.
Rating - 4
Not that close to the city centre, but very close to public transport. There's a tram right outside, the train station is about a 7 minute walk away. I guess that's why it's cheaper.
Rating - 3
The standard fare was present, i.e. tarts, pastries, cakes...etc, but the quality was better. They had some good muesli and fruit. I'll be quite glad not to have to eat Italian breakfasts anymore.
Rating - 4
Excellent! For only 60 Euros a night. Too bad we didn't get to stay long enough to really enjoy it. We actually wanted to book 2 nights but they were fully booked out.
Rating - 5
via Domodossola 16,
20145 Milano
Phone +39 023492151
Website
A pretty big room with a big bed and firm pillow, plus extra blankets. Decor wise, things could be better. There was no carpet but this worn green lino thing on the floor that had little pot holes. The furnishing were all very worn.
Rating - 3
This was only a 2 star hotel, so everything was very basic. The worst thing was that we weren't allowed to use the lift so had to lug our suitcases all these giant staircases. Our room was basic, by that I mean no TV, phone, iron...etc, but all we really needed was a bed, chairs and table really. At least they cleaned the room and we had towels everyday! I was there was a fridge or Internet though.
This was a family run place so they were very friendly and helpful. Over our 3 nights stay we met most members of the family. Slokky had a big football and F1 conversation with them too.
Rating - 2
Right in the heart of the city centre, it was also about 10 minutes walk from La Spezia station. There's a lovely park across the street and the ocean is not too far away either.
Rating - 3.5
You pay for the location I guess. This place served its purpose, but could be cheaper. I think because of the Easter holidays we were charge peak season rate.
Rating - 2.5
Via Felice Cavallotti, 31
19121 La Spezia,
Italia
Phone +39 0187 735164
Website
What a change, we went from the biggest room we had, to the smallest, yes, even smaller than Japan. There wasn't really enough room to do anything in this place, especially with our 2 huge suitcase. We were only here for 1 night so we didn't bother unpacking anything. Decor was very very simple of course, but the setting of the Tourist park is quite nice.
The beds were kinda small and short, the bed spread was not very attractive and the pillow was very flat. We could control the temperature differently for the room and the toilet though, so that was great.
Rating - 2.5
Again, no kettle, but also no fridge, which was kinda bad 'cos we still had some cheese from Tuscany left - but then again - nobody seem to fridge their hard cheese in Italy, so we weren't too concerned. There was a shared laundry and an Internet terminal with a 10 minutes limit. It was enough so we could do some stuff. The shower had great water pressure though! This was a tourist park so I had very different expectations for its facilities, and what they offer more than met my expectations.
Staff were a bit colder, but they were efficient and effective, with very good English.
Rating - 3.5
Not located in the centre of town, but a few minutes drive away. It's quieter, and there is a bus that connects to the town. It seems to be situated in the middle of a field. The setting is typical tourist park, but unlike before, there is no view.
Rating - 2.5
This was only 44 Euros a night. Since we weren't there for that long and we only used the room for sleep, more than adequate.
Rating - 4.5
Via Romita 12/4 °A
40127 Bologna
Phone +39 051 325016
Website
Wow! That's all I can say. From the moment we drove up the dirt track to the cast-iron gate we were blown away by the setting. Perched on a hill, with a huge balcony space overlooking the Tuscan hillside. Incidentally, there was a wedding taking place so the place was decked out with flowers.
We were shown our attic space, up 2 narrow flights of stairs. I thought this was going to be a little space, but it was huge. The main area contained a bed, a huge wardrobe, dining table, a couch and a buffet. There was a separate area for a kitchenette and another for the bathroom. For such a huge space it could be heated up pretty quickly. For an attic it had small windows you could open to look out to the surrounding hills. The view from the bathroom was great! The furnishing was country style wood and very tasteful.
The bed was huge and comfy, with extra pillows :). I think I had the best sleep so far here.
Rating - 5
Again, there's a bit of beauty over function here. The kitchen had lots of good wine and coffee making facilities, but not much for cooking and preparing food. I guess you're only supposed to drink wine and eat already prepared food here, but actually whip up any Tuscan cuisine! The bathroom was in blue and white chic, with a bath tub and heated towel rack, but there was no screen (I guess that's not a good look) so when you have a shower you got water all over the floor. There was no internet or laundry but they did offer a cellar and wine room door as well as a Tuscan banquet on a night of the week.
This place is really a self-service apartment. Apart from the initial check in, you're on your own, which was great! The maid who showed us the apartment couldn't speak any English, but we got by by miming. All the staff were much more Italian friendly than the big tourist centres.
Rating - 3
The good news? You're in your own wine estate, a castle set in hectares of vineyards. The atmosphere is absolutely surreal and beautiful. It's quiet and secluded, a hideaway. The price you pay? Even though this place is in Greve in Chianti, it's still about a 10 mins drive into the town centre. (BTW, Greve is a beautiful Tuscan town).Being in the upper part of Tuscany, it's quite far away from some of the must-visit towns. Conclusion, a good place to go if you want to relax and enjoy the surroundings, but if you want to explore Tuscany, base yourself at a more central location, as the roads are windy and it takes awhile to get to the next town.
Rating - 4
I can't believe this was one of the cheaper places we stayed it, it was far and away the best place ever. We booked through Flight Centre (which I don't recommend at all btw), for 7 night stay, and 9 day car hire of a small manual car for $1291 Australian
Rating - 5
via Vicchiomaggio, 4
50022 Greve in Chianti (FI)
Phone +39 055 854079
Website
This place is basically just an apartment block of about 12 flats. The owner stay in 1 flat, converting some of their rooms into the B&B. They also have another flat on the floor below, where each room has been fitted with its own ensuite. All the other facilities are shared.
Our room was pretty big, but it was filled with furniture, a big wardrobe, desk and another bed so there wasn't much room to move around. The best thing was probably the little balcony we had with views of the mountains in the distance which was beautiful. There was also a clothes line on the balcony which was handy. Everything was kinda homely and simple though, so no designer furnishing here. The bed was comfortable enough, but not the best. The pillow was very thin but at least there was an extra so I could prop myself up. The walls were really thin so you can hear next door, upstairs, downstairs, basically everything. Luckily we shard our apartment with only 2 other girls - there could be a maximum of 8 people sharing the flat.
Rating - 3.5
The best thing about this place was the Internet and laptop that we were basically free to use as we liked. I got a LOT of catchup done. There was also a real big fridge which was great. We really were living in Suzy's house, so we could use her kitchen with all its utensils. So we got to boil our water ok. You could also get Suzy to do your laundry for the inflated price of 10 Euros.
We met Suzy and her brother Nicola who ran the place. They were pretty nice people and quite helpful, but I didn't feel they were interesting or genuine. I think they were seasoned pros so just put on a fake front. Their true colours came out when they tried to rip us off at the end. (See value entry below).
Rating - 3.5
Relatively close to Sant 'Agnello station, a 10 minute walk down some narrow pathway. It was a good base for Sorrento and Pompeii, and also cheaper. The town itself is smaller and cheaper, with a more "authentic" Italian feel which I like. Just note that Sant 'Agnello is a small station so the trains and buses are not very frequent.
Rating - 3.5
Befitting a small B&B, the breakfast was all "homemade". There was not very much choices available, but it was quite acceptable. We were served some yummy fresh bread every morning, with a selection of spreads you use out of communal big jars. The spreads weren't very interesting or good quality, but the bread was so good I could eat it plain.
I was most disappointed with the cheese they served. In a country renowned for their fantastic cheeses, which were all reasonably priced, we were served plastic wrapped 'singles' cheese which tasted like nothing at all.
We got stovetop-made cappuccino every morning, allbeit with cheap coffee, but we only got chocolate cakes and hazelnut biscuits on the first morning. We were always the first people at breakfast since we always headed off early, however, on the last day we came back later in the day (around 9.30) to pay the bill, and saw that other people had much BETTER breakfast items served to them, including an Easter cake.
Rating - 2.5
Here is what I don't like about this place. What they advertised on the Internet and their promotional websites is definitely not what you get. The breakfast was described as very elaborate and half the items they promised was missing. They tried to rip us off when we paid the bill, trying to charge us an extra 10 Euros on top of the quoted 60 Euros a night. Luckily I kept all the documentation and was able to prove straightaway that that wasn't our agreed rate. They also said they accept credit card but it turned out they only accepted cash. It was only later, when we talked to the guy we met at the station who worked as a receptionist at a Sant 'Agnello hotel, that he told us we paid too much. If it wasn't for the lies this was quite an acceptable place to stay.
Rating - 1.5
Via Cappuccini 36
Sant'Agnello di Sorrento
80065 Naples
Italy
Phone +39 3389424111
Website
It's a case of style of substance. Everything was being renovated here so it was all new. The furnishing is of the Victorian period and very tasteful. The bed was quite spacious and comfortable, with nice doona and pillow that's not paper thin. It was warm enough in Rome to not need any sort of heating. However, the bathroom shower leaked and there weren't any hooks to hang up stuff. The drawers were beautiful antique like but required you to turn a key every time you want to open it, after awhile, it was just tedious.
Rating - 3.5
They had a fridge, yeah! But again, no kettle or water. I am confused again, what is it with Italian hotels and inconsistency? The 1st day we were there we got soap and shampoo, after 2 days, they stopped giving us anything. A few days later we got razors. Sometimes they don't line the bins. Alas, no Internet (which we really could've done with) or laundry (also really needed!)
The level of service we received from the staff was also very inconsistent. There were 2 people there who were really nice, and went the extra mile to get you information and other stuff you need, for example they recommended great restaurants, laundry and supermarket for us, but at other times, totally useless. When I told them we had a leak in the shower, they promised it would be fixed the next day. Needless to say, it wasn't so I went to find out why. It turned out that the person we told didn't even bother writing down our problem or passing it on. We then got told it couldn't be fixed for a few days because of the Easter holidays and we'd just missed the last working day opportunity. They didn't offer to move us to another room, and when I complaint they gave us some towels we could put on the floor to absorb the water. This only happened once though, afterwards we couldn't be bothered going specifically to get towels all the time and gave up all hope of the shower ever getting fixed where we were there, and just lived with a damp floor.
Got the useless guy again when we checked out. Luckily we did it early as it took them ages to figure out what was going on.
Rating - 1
It was close to Termini station and the Metro, which was good, but you get "bad" sorts here - homeless, beggars, gangs. It was also quite noisy with road noises. Because our house is next to a highway, the noise didn't really concern us, but if you're not used to it, you might not get a good night's sleep. They seem to do construction work at really odd hours.
Rating - 3.5
They serve a buffet style breakfast every morning. The selection is not as good as all the other places we've been to, and we were staying for 7 days, so got sick of all the stuff by the end of it. What's strange is that the selection is pretty different on different days, as in some pastries and cakes are not available sometimes, sometimes there's no bread, sometimes none of a particular jam. I think it's more a matter of inconsistency rather than them changing it for variety.
The offering included cereals, tea, coffee, chocolates, apricot tarts, chocolate marble cake, bread, yoghurt. I really could have done with some fruit. Unfortunately, all the food were of the cheapo variety. They didn't have a real cappuccino machine, and the juice was sugary and cordial like. Also, they never refill the breakfast offering, so once it's gone, that's it. This didn't affect us as we always had an early breakfast so we could head off, but if you're a late sleeper, this could be a problem.
Rating - 2.5
At 85 Euro a night, it was not as bad as the Venice place. There wasn't much cheap accom in Rome so it was passable. I hope the accommodation in the smaller towns will be better from now.
Rating - 3
Via Amendola 7
Roma 00185
Italy
Phone +39 (0)6 48901248
Website
Hoorah! The room was big, tastefully furnished and decorated. Everything was functional! The beds were extra wide and comfy, but the pillows were quite flat and there was no extra blanket.
Rating - 4
The staff were very efficient and very entertaining. When I went to check out, the guy chatted to me about visiting Sydney and surfing at Bondi, as you would. The only gripe I had was that at breakfast we weren't offered cappuccino but everyone else dining there was. It did look like everyone else were regulars though.
They offered the usual facilities befitting a 4 star hotel:toiletries , gym (that I didn't have time to use), internet. They had some great tasting lollies at reception but no kettle either.
Rating - 4.5
I think one reason it was cheaper was that you cannot reach the hotel without a car. To their advantage they have plenty of free parking and they are close to the Verona Fairground - where most of their business seem to stem from.
Rating - 3.5
Absolutely wonderful, they put out a spread of cakes and pastries, breads, cereals and milk, fruits, yoghurts, cold cuts, cheese, eggs, potatoes, bacon. They even had a separate biodynamic section. And the coffee when we got it? Excellent.
Rating - 5
At 80 Euros a night, including that fabulous buffet breakfast, a bargain!
Rating - 4.5
Via Zannoni 26-8
Veneto,
Verona 37136
Italia
Phone +39 458204485
Website
I didn't know it at the time, but this was to be the worst hotel out of the whole trip, I guess at least it was good that my expectations were lowered. I was quite charmed by the outside, a two storey building. Inside, everything was decorated nicely, but nothing was as I expected.
Our room was on the first floor. Seeing this was one of the most expensive places we were staying at, imagine my dismay when we could hardly fit both our suitcases in there. (I had a peak at the other rooms though, and the one next door to us was heaps bigger, so maybe we were just unlucky. When I went to check the website, I realised they actually put us up in their "single" room as our exact room showed up in the "single" room photo, but they charged us the double room rate). The bed was also tiny, the pillows were FLAT, which were already bad signs... The blankets was thin and you could only turn the heat up a little bit. I had to sleep with a jumper on.
Rating - 0.5
This was our first and only hotel where we had to share bathrooms, and I don't think I ever want that experience again. The bathroom itself was nicely decorated, but there was a lot of waiting around to use it. It was also very inconvenient if you wanted to use it at night because it was so far away. The shower didn't drain properly and after one person had a shower, the whole bathroom floor would be wet and filled with soap suds. The cloth hand drying dispenser ran out and wasn't replaced.
There was a cappuccino machine and tea and coffee making facilities (with a dirty kettle!) out in the hallway, but the cappuccino machine didn't work and wasn't fixed, and they gave you small plastic cups to make your coffee in, so whenever you poured anything into it, you got the melted plastic taste.
Apart from getting no toiletries items or even a cup to use for the bathroom, the towels were just cloths, and weren't replaced either.
At this stage, we weren't used to the Italian way yet, so I didn't know that when the office said it was opened at 8.30, they actually mean 9.00. We waited around for 2 days waiting for them to open, but when nobody showed after 9.00 on both days, we decided to take off. On the last day we had no choice but to wait, and the office ladies didn't come in under 9.10. When we finally got to meet her, she was pretty friendly, but not nearly as nice as the Japanese.
Rating - 1
Venice is funny to judge on location 'cos it depends on your needs. For us, pushing our luggage over the least amount of bridges was the priority, so crossing only 2 bridges to reach this place was an advantage. However, this place is far away from the main tourist area around San Marco, which didn't bother us at all but other people might find inconvenient.
Rating - 4
80 Euros per night, what a complete rip-off! As well as having a small room and shared bathroom, the supposed "breakfast" was a basket that kept diminishing every day.
Rating - 0
The price was supposed to include "breakfast", but what we got was a basket filled with (on the first day anyway):
Rating - 0
Sestiere Di Santa Croce 642
30125,Venezia,
Italia
Phone: +39 0415242719
Website
