Phi Hotel Canalgrande

The location right in the old city is fantastic, and the courtyard has been updated beautifully. The breakfast room downstairs is lovely too, with excellent service and good food. I only saw two rooms, so I can only speak for those, and I wouldn't give them more than two stars. They were clean, but the walls looked dingy and unpainted, the old carpet was unappealing, and the beds were extremely hard and smelled bad. They felt far below the four stars I expected. I hope they plan to renovate all the rooms.

Parking is available, and the location is great. We had a first rate breakfast and service, though the heat in our room barely worked. Even so, it was a nice place to stay.

For £200 a night, this was a deeply disappointing stay. The room's paint was peeling, a bedside bulb needed replacing, and the whole place smelled unpleasantly of cigarettes. The staff seemed listless and depressed. Outside, people shouted for hours from 3 am, and we could hear it all. Even the undrinkable breakfast coffee and ABBA music in the foyer added to the letdown. This old building and its location deserve much better. Avoid!

We liked the newly remodeled room and the hotel's architecture and furnishings, and it was quiet and comfortable. The old town location is convenient, less than a kilometer from the train station and close to attractions and restaurants. We booked one night, and breakfast was included. The concierge who checked us in was friendly and competent. When we asked for extra pillows, they arrived in about ten minutes, and the service was otherwise excellent. There weren't many outlets, though, and none by the beds. My wife had to charge her phone on the floor, while I found one behind the TV and used the desk. You'd think a recent remodel would have addressed that. The restaurant was closed Sunday, so we ate at a small place nearby. We had drinks at the hotel bar afterward, but it closed early, around 8 pm. Breakfast the next morning was very good, with plenty of savory and sweet choices. Checkout took a long time because the trainee at the desk struggled. Another staff member kept helping people who arrived after us, and seemed annoyed when we asked a question. That attitude is why I can't give the service five stars. Still, we'll definitely stay here again next time we're in Modena.