THE ONE - SUN 'n SEA ROOMS

The room felt secure, since you have to pass through two other coded doors in the building, and the location is great. The safe is a little small. There’s a desk-like table but no chair or other place to sit, which felt odd and uncomfortable. The worst part was a horrible cigarette smell, as if it was coming through the pipes. I don’t know whether someone was smoking in another room, but the odor lingered in the bathroom and by the room entrance. One night it got so strong it woke us up. The air conditioning also wasn’t very good, it was noisy and barely cooled the room.

It feels like the future. The staff are online and send you instructions to check in and enter using your phone. The place was modern and clean, with what felt like an invisible concierge since there’s nobody at the desk. The online staff gave us useful tips for exploring the area and finding a good place to eat. The front door can be a little hard to find when you arrive, and the arrival process could be improved. Still, it’s a very good address. There’s a Nexpresso machine for guests, and a blue light in the bathroom to enjoy.

Avoid this property. The building was in terrible shape, the room was dirty, and the area felt unsafe. The photos on booking.com are misleading. There’s no reception or staff, and check-in is only through a lockbox. The building is dark and poorly kept, shared with private flats, and felt abandoned and unsafe to walk into. We didn’t see any staff or other guests during our stay. We left after just one night and cut our trip short because the place was completely unsuitable. It doesn’t feel like a hotel, just a badly maintained apartment setup without support, and the hosts seemed unprofessional. When we raised our complaints, the hosts took a long time to respond. When they did, they dismissed our concerns and even said the photos we sent “could be in any hotel.” That was insulting and unprofessional. They now read and ignore our repeated emails and messages. Terrible customer service. This felt like a scam of a hotel, so avoid it.

Loved the room. The flats are brilliant, with a great price and location, and it’s only a five-minute walk to the train station for exploring cinque terre. This is the place to stay.