Hotel Brenta

Breakfast had a great spread, with loads of thoughtful touches. I especially liked the homemade cakes they serve each day and the fruit salad. They ask each guest what they’d like for coffee or tea. My single room, camera 27, was compact but comfortable, especially the bed. It had a wardrobe, desk, big TV, fridge, and a tall shuttered window. The bathroom had nice tiles and a powerful toilet, with a hairdryer available on request. There’s no window, but a fan comes on with the light. The sink and faucet had a slightly odd design, and a shelf sat right where you’d normally lean against the wall, so I couldn’t. Hotel Brenta is an excellent base for exploring beautiful Parma and good value for money. I booked directly on the website. It’s close to the station, even quicker to reach than Google Maps suggests, and also near the centre, shops, and restaurants. As a woman travelling alone, I felt safe. The lobby is nice and the staff friendly, though reception isn’t always available. At those times the main entrance is locked, but you can get in through the next door using your phone, which was easy enough. There’s no lift, but the stairs aren’t too steep. After checkout, you can leave your bag in the hallway.

I wouldn’t recommend staying here. The walls are so thin I could hear the alarm clock in the next room, and there were ants and a fly on my bed, which was nasty. When I showered, the air vent fell out of the ceiling with its cables still attached and nearly hit my head. That was a major safety hazard. I showed the staff what had happened, but they just laughed it off and pushed the vent back without properly fixing it. Far too expensive for what you get.

It’s 1 AM as I write this, and I’m regretting staying here. The stairwell and hallways carry every sound, doors keep slamming, TVs are blaring, and groups of men loitering in the street below are loud. It feels like nobody around here sleeps. There’s no sound insulation. This is my fourth night in Italy, and so far I haven’t managed to sleep since arriving. It seems like it’s like this everywhere. I didn’t expect this on my dream European vacation, and I’m hating Italy so far.

The Wi-Fi wasn’t working well, and the sound insulation was poor. I could hear neighbours zipping their luggage, blowing their noses, and using the bathroom. A neighbour dropped something in the middle of the night, and it was loud enough that I thought I’d dropped my phone. People talking below the window were easy to hear too.