Mercure Villa Romanazzi Carducci Bari

The Mercure is a nice, clean, restful place to sleep in a beautiful setting, and the staff are friendly and competent. The breakfast buffet had a good selection, though the cornetti were pitiful and the cappuccinos poor for an Italian hotel. The smaller details let it down. We were on the third floor, where the WiFi kept dropping and reconnecting. That's not acceptable in a Mercure in 2025. The paintings weren't hanging straight, and water marks stayed on the shower glass instead of being wiped away daily. The shower itself was spacious with great pressure. A four star hotel needs to get all those details right, not just the big picture.

Reception and breakfast staff were lovely. They helped us arrange taxis, get around Bari, and sort out our questions about the stay and invoicing. The room and bathroom were spacious, and the hotel's setting is really nice. It's a 10 minute walk to the train, though Bari's old town takes about 30 minutes on foot. The service is good, and the amenities are reasonable. There aren't many great hotels in the area, so it's probably one of the better choices, but it doesn't feel like a four star property. The room decor is dated, and the spa badly needs renovation. The pool was closed for the season. The Aircon wasn't working, though it was cold enough that we didn't need it. There's no bathroom fan, and the rooms aren't soundproof, so we could hear people talking in the hallway and other rooms. Loud parties somewhere outside went on every night, from evening until early morning, and we couldn't block out the music.

The spa was good, with a sauna and jacuzzi, and I appreciated being able to use it for over an hour. Getting in required a separate key card, which wasn't very intuitive. The hotel was generally fine and clean. Breakfast was chaotic, and several guests were complaining. I thought the staff were understaffed and doing their best in difficult circumstances. The issue seemed to be organization and capacity, rather than the employees' attitude or effort. The stay was okay, but clearly overpriced for what's offered. At a lower rate, my expectations would have been better matched.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the hotel is nice. The bar and restaurant were good, but not great. The rooms were okay, although the walls are thin enough that you can hear TVs in other rooms. The location is convenient for the train station, but not close enough to walk to the old city every day. At the same time, it's not far enough away to make the €22 flat Uber fare or long wait for a called cab feel justified.