Hotel Donatello

The bed dipped in the middle and wasn’t very comfortable to sleep in. Still, the hotel looks lovely, and its location is perfect, close to almost everything. It’s by the train station, within walking distance of most attractions, and also near the airport. I stayed one night.

The evening attendant at reception was polite and helpful, but we didn’t find the other staff especially cordial or willing to help. Housekeeping knocked early, putting pressure on us to leave so they could clean, and the staff spoke loudly in the linen room beside ours, which was quite disruptive. Breakfast was a letdown too. Reception gave us the wrong hours, saying it ran until 10:00 a.m. when it actually ended at 9:30. That’s already early for travellers who need some flexibility. When we got to the breakfast room, every table was dirty, with dishes and cutlery left behind by previous guests, and no one promptly tidied up. The room itself fell short: the mattress was extremely uncomfortable, the bedding was poor quality, and the towels were thin and worn. The hotel is visibly old and needs renovation. Even adjusting the shower temperature was unnecessarily confusing. We left dissatisfied. The hotel needs major improvement in its organization, building, and service, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for comfort, quiet, or a minimally welcoming stay.

The place could clearly use a refurb, but as a budget option in Bologna it was solid and I’d happily recommend it. The location is superb, and my room was clean, tidy, and spacious. Staff were always around and super helpful, and the breakfast selection was as good as I’ve come across. I’d seen plenty of negative comments, but honestly couldn’t find anything to criticize during my recent, admittedly short, stay.

Really good value for the price, and the staff were very nice. It’s perfectly placed for walking into downtown. My single room had a small bed and a mattress that wasn’t very firm, but overall I was happy with it.