Hotel Ristorante Alcide

We chose this place so we could walk to the eye clinic, which seemed to be the reason most guests were there that day. Our room was dated and quite small for two, but very clean. We had no trouble with noise or finding free parking nearby, and the hotel also has its own lot. Breakfast was good. The restaurant was fantastic, especially the delicious fish and scrumptious desserts. Hotel guests get a discount, so it was very good value overall.

The restaurant was very good, but checking out at the front desk was the worst experience. I arrived just as a staff member came over to talk with the receptionist. I handed her the room key and said I wanted to check out. She didn't react or even look at me, and didn't say “one moment please”; she just carried on a long conversation with her coworker in Italian. After waiting a bit, I asked, “a posto cosi?” (is it okay like this?), and still got no answer. I got impatient and started to leave. Two steps away, they called me back and asked, “Hai pagato?” (have you paid?). I said yes. The receptionist told me to wait while she checked, but didn't do so until she'd finished talking with her coworker. I stood there feeling like an idiot while they verified that I had paid for my stay. Of course I understand that hotels check whether guests have paid, but this was the first time in my life, across four continents, that it was handled this way.

The staff, from the hotel team to the restaurant, were lovely. We had delicious food with live piano music, and I appreciated how quiet and peaceful the rooms were. I was staying with a travel group, so the location wasn't a factor for me. Wi-Fi was a real problem. I couldn't keep a connection well enough to stay in touch with my family back home, and eventually had to tell them I'd wait until we reached our next stop. The room's condition and cleanliness also gave me some concern. Older fixtures and decor don't bother me, but I do expect them to be clean and intact. The faucets, bathroom shelves, and shower fixtures didn't look very clean. The sink faucet still worked, but was missing its top piece, so I tried to use those fixtures as little as possible. The side tables were coming apart a bit, too. At least the bed was nice and clean, which made me happy.

I've stayed here three times for work, and the staff have been fantastic each time, always helpful and friendly. The restaurant food has been excellent, and there's a good breakfast selection. It's my number one hotel in town. I'll be back soon.