Kristall Palace Hotel

I don’t hand out five-star reviews easily, since I have high standards and usually spot things that could be better. This hotel surprised me in the best way, especially after some of the reviews I’d read. We needed somewhere convenient after a rather disastrous holiday in Italy left us without accommodation, so we brought our flights forward and found this little gem. It was quiet on Monday night, though it was clear there’d been an event over the weekend. The staff were incredibly helpful and polite, which wasn’t what we’d typically experienced in Italy. Our room was spacious, with everything we needed, and the beds were amazingly comfortable. We always check for bed bugs and found none. The hotel and room were clean, including the bed linen, towels, and headboards. The shower had strong pressure and no temperature problems, and the air conditioning worked well. We had a lovely balcony but sadly didn’t get to use it. The bar is open all hours, with comfortable seating and a good range of drinks. Service there was great, and the prices were very reasonable. Breakfast was included. At first I thought it was just a croissant and some packaged toast and jam, but when I asked for ham, tomatoes, cheese, and juice, they brought so much food I was overwhelmed. Ask for something more substantial and they’ll provide it. I don’t speak Italian, but staff had a translation app ready, unlike at many of the other hotels we stayed in. The tea was very good too. We also ate in the hotel restaurant and I’d definitely recommend the food: simple dishes cooked well, generous portions, and very good prices. There’s a cover charge, a little higher than elsewhere, but it includes bruschetta, bread, oil and balsamic, water, and fruit. At other restaurants those were add-ons, apart from the bread. It was a peaceful, relaxing stay, and I really have nothing to complain about. They gave us a late checkout, and staff were again very helpful with our bags and other assistance. Thanks for ending our holiday on such a positive note.