Alexander Palace

The theatre was a highlight for us during the performing arts festival: a big stage, comfortable seats, and changing rooms, with nothing to complain about. The pool and loungers were clean and pleasant. Swimming caps are required; staff address it if people ignore the rule and bother other swimmers, and caps are sold at reception. Our room internet worked well enough to watch YouTube without interruptions. The blankets were in the wardrobe, which made sense with it being +28 C outside. The hotel’s interior isn’t up to date, but it still feels like a palace, with natural stone tiles, leather couches, giant chinese vases, murals, ceiling art, chandelliers, and a white and gold color scheme. Most of all, the staff made the stay perfect. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful, the reception team was professional, and the restaurant crew greeted us with a smile each morning. Special thanks to Maria Teresa for being so caring and sweet, and to the housekeeping ladies for their daily work. If you need anything, just ask.

The food at lunch and dinner was good, and the staff were kind and helpful. Still, this hotel doesn’t feel like a four star place anymore. Maybe it did 40 years ago, but little seems to have been updated since. I was there for a conference for five nights, and the stay was okay overall, though I felt a bit embarrassed in front of my foreign colleagues as an Italian, given how we talk about living in a country full of beauty and then present ourselves like this. In my room the AC couldn’t be controlled except through the electrical panel, and the wifi didn’t work at all. The toilet barely flushed, the shower was very narrow and falling apart, and there was no way to signal that I was in the room, so cleaning staff tried to come in while I was working or on a call.

We enjoyed our stay and the hotel’s services, and the location made it easy to head out and see sights in northern Italy. The food was freshly cooked and very tasty, with breakfast and dinner included. Staff were helpful and friendly, and at dinner they paid attention to the children by preparing another dish they could eat. Room service didn’t clean the rooms very well, and the swimming pool could have been cleaned more thoroughly.

The meals and drinks were delicious, and the service from that team was excellent. Parking was handy and check-in went quickly, which we appreciated after a long trip. Staff were friendly and tried to help despite the language barrier. Our room, though, was dirty and dated, and the bathroom had a major problem: the toilet barely worked.