Serlio 24

The rooms were noisy and very dirty. Dust was caked onto the lamps, the kitchen furniture was so greasy you stuck to it, and there was mould on the shower curtain. The beds were poor quality.

If you're young and don't care about luxury, this place could suit you. The owner was really nice, and once I got in touch, responsive too. The place was clean and in a good location. Booking through VRBO was a nightmare, though. They didn't reply until I was at the airport, about to travel 5,000 miles, and only then confirmed the booking. I'd sent a lot of emails and got no response, so I had to sort everything out myself.

The only handy thing here is the onsite parking. It's around 20 minutes from the city centre, and the area doesn't have much in the way of services. At night it's very noisy, with loud music from a nearby bar. If I'd read the reviews first, I wouldn't have booked. The apartment was handed over with urine splashes in the sink, on the floor and around the toilet, and it smelled like a public restroom. The kitchen was dated and sticky, with no dishes, utensils or dishcloth. The walls were dirty, even marked with footprints, and there was hair and fur on the floor. The sofa was stained, the furniture dilapidated, and the sofa bed sagged.

One apartment had a huge terrace, great for sunbathing or eating outside. The price is unbeatable compared with the competition, and there was free parking too. I rented three apartments in the building, and all were lovely, comfortable and well maintained. The owner was hospitable, kind and accommodating, with that typical Romagna style. My experience was completely different from the negative reviews. Everything was very clean. If you want top-level service, a five-star hotel is probably a better choice, but you won't get the comforts of an apartment there. Sometimes it's best to make up your own mind instead of trusting other people's opinions.