Riva Di Reno 76 in Bologna

The room itself looked clean and tidy, and getting the keys was less than a five-minute walk away. But I booked through Agoda, and for what I paid this felt more like an Airbnb than a good-value stay. My room was on the fourth floor. The host suggested walking from Bologna Centrale, though with luggage I’d take the bus, just three stops. It’s around a 5-10 minute walk to the old town plaza. There were a few things I found hard to live with. The shower space was tiny, even for my size L body, with barely room to bend or turn. The towels were rough and worn, and the face towel didn’t absorb water, more like pillowcase fabric. At 9 pm the lift area and walkway were completely dark, so I used my phone torch. Renovation drilling in a neighbouring unit started at 9 am and went on until about 5 pm. The living room’s automatic light switched off while I was still at the dining table, the curtains didn’t cover the whole window, and the water heater took ages to warm up.

I paid 100 euros a night, and after I booked through Booking.com, the property messaged me on WhatsApp to say the price would be much higher. I wouldn’t recommend it.

There’s a small balcony and a washing machine, and the place is clean and roomy. Great stay.

The apartment was comfortable, clean, and nicely modern. We had to leave our bags and go back out when we arrived around 1 pm, because the owner said by email we couldn’t check in until 5. He said that time was in the listing, though we hadn’t seen it there. He was kind about it. The first night I felt a bit cold since the place hadn’t fully warmed up after cleaning. I’m very sensitive to cold, and my partner was fine, so that’s just my impression. The rest of the stay was warm enough. Hot water was about enough for two people showering one after the other, and the pillow was very flat, which may come down to preference. I’d recommend the apartment.