Alibrandi Palace

We needed somewhere for one night, and it was okay for that. The building is old, as expected, and there’s no elevator, so we had to haul our bags up two flights, 27 steps. There’s no staff on site; they gave us a phone number to call, which isn’t much use if you can’t make calls. We arrived two hours before check-in and still got someone to let us into the room. It also took us a while to work out how to get back out, since the doors and locks aren’t like the usual ones in the U.S. Ask the staff to show you how to open both main doors from inside. The room could use fresh paint, but it was clean and dust-free. The mattress was hard, though the pillows were soft and the sheets clean. Our room faced a pedestrian-only walkway and got noisy until late, but we were too tired from our flights for it to bother us. Breakfast wasn’t in the dining room shown on Expedia. Instead, they gave us a handwritten card for a free pastry and coffee at the bar/cafe next door.

The location is central but still quiet, and it’s an easy walk to the cruise terminal. We found the rooms spacious, the beds comfortable, and breakfast plentiful. The staff were incredibly helpful. We stayed three nights and couldn’t have had a better experience. I’d definitely stay again.

We were a group of six adults in two rooms with two bathrooms, and the place suited us perfectly. It was clean, well located, and the staff were helpful. Having air conditioning was a real relief, and breakfast being included was nice too. An elevator would have been handy, though I didn’t expect one in a guest house. It’s not a five-star hotel, so I’ve rated it accordingly, but I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a real Italian experience.

At €140 a night, this was disappointing. There was no parking, despite it being advertised. The bed covers and pillows were old and smelly, the shower drain was clogged with other guests’ hair, and there was no hot water first thing in the morning. The staff seemed inexperienced, though they were ready to help.