Hotel Brescia

We booked months in advance as a group of 14, then the hotel cancelled the night before and said they were overbooked. Leaving fourteen people to find another hotel at the last minute is truly unprofessional. This hotel can't be trusted. They might cancel your booking at the last minute too.

The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the bed and down duvet were extremely comfortable. We were there for two weeks of therapy at the European Therapy Centre, after booking what was probably a discounted package through the centre. There isn't a spa in the hotel itself, but one is within 100m, where the Therapy Centre is located too. The spa is relaxing and good value. One tip: take the underground passage to cross, which saves a lot of time waiting at the traffic lights. Our full-board meals were consistently good, though the dessert selection felt a bit limited over a two-week stay. The rooms were clean and comfortable, but the decor was a little dated. For value, though, this three-star hotel deserves five stars.

I rented a bike for half a day. The bike itself was good quality, but the service was awful. There was no mini pump or tire kit to rent, and the bike had no bottle holder. I had it for 2.5 hours, from 11:00-13:30, but they charged me for a full day instead of a half day. Then, when I wanted to keep riding for the rest of the afternoon, they said I couldn't take it back out once it had been returned, even though I'd been made to pay for the full day. It felt like they thought tourists were stupid. I rented elsewhere for the rest of my vacation, where the other bike rental shops in the area were much more customer-friendly.

The rooms are old and need renovation, but the owners and staff are wonderful, and the restaurant food is superb. That made the stay pleasant despite the dated rooms.