La Spezia by The First

We took a boat tour from La Spezia and really enjoyed it. The room was great too, especially the most comfortable shower I’ve ever had, and the bed was comfy. It’s close to the city centre. If you’re taking the train to Cinque Terra, the station is about a 20-minute walk away.

The place is a little outside the city centre, but the room size and price made it worthwhile. It was a good standard, cleaned every day, and easy to reach the owner by phone. I’m not sure why so many people had a bad experience. The floor did get hot in a few spots, and a fridge would have been useful.

We never even got into the rooms, and I already know I can’t recommend this place. There was no way to reach reception. We called repeatedly and emailed for an hour and a half, then finally got a blunt email through the travel agent. Zero customer service. Starting your time in La Spezia this way just isn’t worth the hassle.

Our arrival at this so-called hotel was a horrible experience. It was an apartment building with a locked front entrance, and there was no phone number or sign explaining how to get in. A resident gave us the entry code. Our booking confirmation had no room number, so we picked an apparently spare room with keys hanging on the wall by the lobby. The next morning, a cleaner came in and handed us a phone. The owner was yelling that we had to pack and leave or the police would come. When the police arrived, he kept shouting abuse and wouldn’t let me explain that we’d received no clear instructions. I showed him the travel agent’s confirmation, but he refused to look at it or have a reasonable conversation. He called us illegal occupants and said we had no right to be there. My children were frightened and crying, and he showed no concern, just continued yelling. He told me the room was booked for someone else that night, so I assume it may have been double-booked. I wish I’d checked the reviews first, because it seems this has happened to others before. A travel agent arranged this stay as part of our five-week Europe trip, and I trusted the booking. Do not book this accommodation. You could end up out on the street in La Spezia. I’m warning people because this felt fraudulent and like a complete scam.