Hotel Terme Helvetia

The pool was lovely, with an indoor section that connects to the outdoor one, and we used it every day. We stayed five nights for a conference nearby and were comfortable. The room ran a little warm: the air conditioning seemed more like a fan, so we left the bathroom window open at night. I’m not sure how that would feel in hotter weather. Breakfast had a good range, and most staff were helpful, though one man was rather officious. They also lend out bicycles for free, which was a nice touch.

The dining was the worst I’ve had at a hotel in all my travels around Europe. I was on half board for three nights, and breakfast was disappointing and below standard. The strawberry jam pump didn’t work, they had the wrong size cereal bowls, and I didn’t like the scrambled eggs. On the first day, the frittata at lunch was absolutely disgusting. My assigned table wasn’t prepared on the second and third mornings, and breakfast items from the night before were still there until I asked a waiter to clear them. On my first night at Hotel Terme Helvetia, I woke at 03:00 with back pain because the mattress was badly worn and sagging. I spent the rest of the night sitting on a chair in the reception lobby. The room wasn’t comfortable, and the staff weren’t as courteous or helpful as I’d expect at a four-star hotel in Abano Terme. This was a terrible stay, one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve had.

The pool was really pleasant, but there was no staff around. I had to walk through the whole hotel in my dressing gown to find someone. The barman was kind to us, though, and deserves a special thank you. I stayed one night at Hotel Helvetia with my girlfriend and enjoyed it, but the room was dirty, with hair, dust and mold on the walls. The TV was off to the side, so it was hard to watch. The check-in staff were very rude, and my girlfriend speaks perfect Italian, so I couldn’t see a reason for it.

Marco, our restaurant waiter, was the best. The staff were friendly, though they could use some English, and the services were fine. We had a nice stay, but breakfast could use more variety.