APP9 Bergamo

The reservation listed the wrong address and gave misleading details about a private bathroom, flat-screen TV, and towels in the room. The owners also gave us incorrect information and left my child and me without a key to get in. They then demanded cash for city tax, even though it had already been paid through Booking and children do not pay that tax.

I arrived at 10:30 pm to find the room hadn't been cleaned, so I had to move to another flat. When I asked for a discount for the trouble, the host said cleaning the alternative place would cost her more than I had paid, and called it a hostel-level price. She called me rude and a liar, threatened to cancel my reservation, and sarcastically told me I'd see Bergamo's real prices. There had been several places at €60 a night when I booked, though maybe not at 11 pm that same night. I was traveling alone as a woman. I lost my temper and called her a bad name, which I later apologized for. I shouldn't have said it, even though she was very unprofessional. She threatened to sue me and kept calling and messaging me to leave while my booking was still active. I've never encountered that level of rudeness. I wasn't the most forgiving person, but I wasn't rude to her, and her messages were completely uncalled for. There's more to the story, but this is already long. She cancelled the booking, and I ended up staying in the other flat for free, but that doesn't make up for the emotional damage I suffered.

The old town location is the big draw, with everything close by. We had room #2, which was spacious, and there was also a small kitchen in the apartment. Its bathroom was separate across the hallway, but that was fine. Two other apartments share the same flat. I'd choose this over the hotels near the main train station.

We spent hours waiting outside the apartment and eventually had to book somewhere else. I called the owner more than 30 times and got no answer. They sent three emails that didn't explain how to check in, instead of one useful set of instructions. Why list a phone number on Booking if nobody picks up? Avoid this if you want a hassle-free booking.