VERDERAME Rooms & Suite in Lucca

The owners communicated well and responded when needed. The room-to-room sound insulation was poor, and breakfast wasn't good.

We spent three December nights in room 5 with our baby, who was only a few months old. The place worked well for a short stay: our room was roomy, bright, nicely decorated, warm, and fairly quiet. There was an extra electric heater that we could put in the spacious bathroom, and the shampoo and shower gel smelled lovely. No proper wardrobe, just a rail with hangers, but that was enough for a few days. I also made use of the armchair for the portable changing mat. Coffee and tea were provided, parking was free, and the owner was kind and quick to answer my questions. If you're driving, the location is handy; walking into the center takes a bit longer. The privacy could be a real plus for a romantic trip. We personally missed having breakfast on site or a common space where guests could meet the owners and chat. Everything is very independent, which suits some people, but we enjoy getting to know others and found that a little disappointing. We chose to eat breakfast out, so I can't comment on it. A few practical things caught us out. We'd requested a crib but were given a playpen that wasn't usable for our baby. Since it was quite large, it did at least work as a barrier when the baby was on the far side of the bed. I'd suggest offering a proper crib beside the bed. Getting a baby up two flights of stairs was awkward, though I should have mentioned the baby sooner, before the room was assigned. There's no lift, so keep that in mind. More towel hooks and toilet paper, plus a few extra toiletries such as slippers, shower caps, and bidet soap, would help. The TV could use a bracket to reposition it, and a little more choice in the coffee and tea would be nice. We asked for barley coffee, but they didn't have any. Still, most of these are small things, and we had a pleasant stay.

We arrived to find the room in a seriously poor state: dust everywhere, dirty towels and sheets, and food bits and crumbs left on the kitchen counters. The shower drain was broken too, which made even basic bathroom use difficult. We asked straight away for clean linens, and staff replaced them. That was the only response, though. Nobody checked back to see if things had improved, and there was no sign that the cleanliness problems had even been acknowledged. The lack of professionalism and respect for guests was deeply disappointing.

We had a really good stay, and the room was comfortable and practical. It was clean, modern, spacious, nicely furnished, and welcoming. For one night, two of us paid €80 for a room meant for three. Breakfast wasn't included, but there was a coffee maker with pods and some herbal tea. There weren't basic items like toothpaste, though. The room access took some getting used to. A button lets you open the gate from outside, but the rooms only lock from inside. To lock one from the outside, you have to reach in awkwardly and crouch around. Still, everything else felt functional.