Hotel Birillo

Paolo was professional and calm with me, even though I was a difficult client. The location is great and the service is very friendly. The shower is extremely small, even for average or skinny people, regardless of what the hotel response says about larger guests having trouble. You can hear everything next door, and if you're unlucky like I was, sleep can be difficult. Reception closes at 10pm, but when I messaged the owner at midnight to ask her to get the other guests to keep their voices down, she replied immediately. It's expensive for what it is. I paid the same amount for a much better hotel in central Bologna over the long weekend on May 1st, with a lovely terrace, large bathroom, and full breakfast.

Hotel Birillo is in a perfect spot in La Spezia, within walking distance of everything. The staff were very friendly and spoke fluent English. Still, we have mixed feelings about the stay. The bathroom was tiny and in poor condition: the shower head kept falling off, the toilet flushed irregularly, and there was no window or ventilation. Mold was forming between the tiles and behind the water reservoir. The walls and doors are so thin that we heard everything in the rooms on the floor, even individual conversations, and our room was noisy day and night. We could have put up with minor issues, but mold is a health concern and unacceptable at 130€ per night.

The only thing this hotel has going for it is the location, about ten minutes' walk to the train station and five minutes to the pedestrian street. The room and bathroom are small, the towels smell moldy, the beds are uncomfortable, and the entrance smells bad too. Breakfast wasn't good either: cold coffee, warm yogurts, and expired biscuits. I have to say the people at reception were really nice and polite. Avoid it if you can find somewhere else to stay in La Spezia.

I really enjoyed the breakfast, and the staff were kind, friendly, and ready to help. The room was lovely and spotless too. Everything was just right, so I’ll definitely stay here again when I’m back in La Spezia.