B&B Zahra

A good deal: the rooms were quiet, even though the place is close to the centro storico and harbor. There’s a wonderful Terrasse here too.

The host was friendly, though her English is very limited.

We were shocked by the whole experience. We arrived at the “reception” and were sent to a different property from the one we’d booked, in an apartment too far away to walk to the city center. It was filthy, shabby, old, and smelly. The sheets and towels had yellow stains, the bed was just a plasterboard panel instead of a proper base, and the bathroom was shared with other guests. There was no privacy, though at first we were alone and the other two “rooms” were empty. Then at 8:00 AM, new guests turned up, used our bathroom, and even tried to get into our room, as if it were a shared house. We left after the first night, cutting the stay short and losing part of our deposit. The owner didn’t provide the services we’d agreed on and came across as dishonest, arrogant, and presumptuous, trying to grasp at every straw. He offered a room at the nearby B&B, the one Booking.com sends people to based on its reviews. Absolutely not recommended, even to our worst enemy.

The rooms are close to the center, which is an excellent location. They’re a little dated, with some slightly broken furniture, and look newer and more welcoming on the website. Bathrooms are shared. There’s also a lovely covered terrace, and the kitchen has just a microwave, coffee maker, and washing machine. For the price, it’s okay.