Hotel Maggiore Bologna

After two weeks in Europe, we spent one night at Hotel Maggiore before heading home to the States. The hotel had a pleasant Italian look, modern with a rustic touch. The staff were helpful and friendly, and the rooms and downstairs lounge were clean. Breakfast is served in a nook on the lower level. It's a little far from downtown Bologna, but taxis and Uber are available.

The staff were very friendly and went out of their way to help us. The hotel was clean, felt safe, and the internet worked well. Our room was fairly small even by European standards, but it did have a refrigerator. There's not much around, apart from a couple of nearby markets for snacks, and the hotel overlooks a busy highway. It's a little outside the main tourist area. Walking to the old town takes about 30-40 minutes, or roughly 15 minutes by bus. I bought bus tickets but could never get the scanner to read mine, and no one checked them.

My room on the eighth floor was very quiet, with a good bed, and I slept well. The city view from the window was especially nice at night. I stayed at Hotel Maggiore for three nights during the first week of May. The hotel isn't very central, but the bus into Bologna's center is only two minutes away. There's also a giant supermarket nearby and two really good restaurants, so I didn't feel I was missing anything. Being away from the bustle was a bonus for me. It gave me a chance to see a real local neighborhood, not only the tourist side of Bologna. Everyone working at the hotel was very polite, helpful, and sweet. Breakfast was good, and I liked the outdoor smoking area and the free bookcrossing library.

It's about 40 minutes on foot from Bologna city center, so the hotel is a bit far out. Still, it's very clean, the staff are friendly, and breakfast is really good. They make delicious coffee. We ordered pizza to the room and enjoyed it, and there was a kettle and snacks in the room. The hotel provides everything you might need, even sewing supplies. The nearby hospital was the only downside for me. If you're a light sleeper, ambulance sirens could wake you at night.