BB San Francesco

The only downside, which is perfectly acceptable given everything else, is that all the windows face a tiny internal courtyard. The home is clean, antique-style, and very welcoming, and the owner is extremely kind and helpful. It’s conveniently located near the train station and right in central Parma.

I waited a week to write about the little mishap my wife and I had in Parma because at first it didn’t seem like a big deal. After talking with family and friends, though, they convinced us people should know, so others don’t end up in the same situation and so the market rewards people who work hard and care, and penalizes those who’ve lost, or never had, a real sense of hospitality and only care about money. It’s a real shame. They’d be better off doing something else in life. We chose B&B San Francesco because it’s fairly central in Parma and was the most affordable option compared with the others, especially hotels. The owner, Elena, offered us a room with breakfast for €70, or €60 without breakfast, which suited her better at the time. We understood and accepted. Looking back, choosing the cheapest option can be a big risk. The apartment had a living room and kitchen shared with guests in the neighboring apartment, which they also managed, plus a spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The furnishings were old-fashioned, “grandmotherly,” if you like, no offense intended, but acceptable. It’s hardly modern. After a day walking around Padua, with another day of walking in Parma ahead, all I wanted was a good night’s rest. I could have overlooked anything except not being able to sleep well. I think that’s what anyone booking a night in a B&B is looking for. After a pleasant hot shower, I found that my side of the double bed wasn’t level. I sank down around hip height and kept sliding toward the edge. When I lifted the mattress, I saw one central slat was missing and two others were badly positioned and couldn’t be put back in place. Three of the bed’s central slats weren’t doing their job. That led to a very unpleasant, almost sleepless night. I kept having to shift around, and that sometimes disturbed my wife too, even though she was next to me. In the morning, we were so angry and disappointed with our choice of accommodation that we could talk about nothing else. What a wonderful holiday! I wrote everything to Mrs. Elena and said I’d have appreciated at least a small discount on what I’d paid her husband in cash the evening before. I don’t know whether it’s standard practice, but everything was strictly in BLACK, and they didn’t take our names, so it was invisible to the Police Headquarters and the Tax Office. Mrs. Elena’s reply shocked me. She knew at least one slat was faulty but hadn’t warned us, and had offered us a bed that wasn’t in good condition. To me, that was BAD FAITH. She also said, if I posted about it on “social media,” as I’d told her I was entitled to do, “do what you think, I will do the same.” Honestly, that makes me laugh. I can’t see what she could say in her defense that would be different from what I’ve written here. Facts are facts, and I don’t believe I’ve changed them at all. She’ll have to deal with her conscience, even if she lies. A comfortable night’s sleep at a B&B isn’t an optional extra like a reserved seat or breakfast on a low-cost flight. It’s EVERYTHING. It’s a given. If it doesn’t happen, I think compensation is only fair, so to speak. Mrs. Elena wouldn’t hear us on that, so I’ve come to the conclusion that anyone so attached to money that they lose sight of hospitality, as someone who’s practiced and offered Couchsurfing for over 15 years, is better off dedicating their life to something else. Travelers forewarned are forearmed. ;-)

I’d tell anyone considering this place to take their chances on a station bench. At least they’d know they had somewhere for the night. My room had been confirmed, then I was told it wasn’t available seven hours later. The staff were rude and the organization was awful.

It’s an older place, but it has what you need for an easy stay, and the price is reasonable. We were greeted warmly after booking and sorting things out by phone. If you want to criticize it, you’d need to be willing to pay more and stay somewhere else. Otherwise, it’s just being fussy.