Xenia, B&B Soverato

The managers were exceptionally courteous and kind. The welcoming rooms were spotless, elegant, and efficient in every detail. I don't think you could ask for more. An experience not to miss, and one I'd certainly repeat.

I paid the full €435 on July 7 for three nights, July 25th to 28th, after booking directly. I found the room available for my dates on Booking.com, but when I called, the owners had it free. It seemed they preferred to avoid Booking.com's 18% commission, but didn't lower the price. The only charge they skipped was the tourist tax, which I believe cheats the Municipality of Soverato. On July 16th, Trenitalia told me the Rome Termini to Lamezia Terme train I'd booked for July 25th had been cancelled, as shown in the attached message. I asked the property for a partial refund because the cancellation wasn't my fault. They replied, and I'll quote their words: "Unilateral cancellation communicated a few days before the agreed-upon arrival at the property, when the contract has already begun to be performed, cannot give rise to any refund of the price of the stay. The property must be held harmless for the costs incurred by virtue of the booking, as well as for any loss of earnings, having blocked the room and additional services for the requested period since payment was received. In any case, the reason underlying the cancellation communication constitutes a personal reason that does not justify or legitimize the claimed refund." Leaving the legal language aside, since when is a cancelled train a personal reason? Hahahahahahaha. They refused any partial refund and gave me nothing. It was a terrible experience. I'd avoid booking here, or at least pay only a deposit instead of the full balance. If you have to cancel for any reason, you could lose the whole amount.

We were shocked to find that my girlfriend and I had paid €110 per night for just a small bedroom and bathroom. On Booking, in French, the listing said every apartment had a kitchen, living room, and balcony. When we arrived, the owner said the apartment had two bedrooms that we'd have to share with strangers, and we couldn't use the shared kitchen or living room. We'd already paid a €165 deposit, and the owner wouldn't let us stay even one night while we found somewhere else. We were told it was 8:00 PM, so we ended up at a bar with our bags, trying to find a hotel. The owner did nothing to help us. Thank you, Arianna, for your understanding and good faith! Now we're in a four-star hotel for less money, and we're glad we didn't stay or give this B&B our money. Be careful. A catastrophic experience I wouldn't wish on anyone.

The location made everything easy on foot, from the sea to the shops. The main street is 50 meters away, as is Via Marina. I stayed with my family in July, and everything went well from the welcome onward. The managers were always available, and the new, well-kept property had thoughtful details. Our room was cleaned daily, which isn't true of every B&B. It had a small balcony facing the city center, and the latest-generation windows let us sleep peacefully despite the summer bustle. There was a TV, air conditioning, and a very comfortable shower. A fridge was available in the main hall, and the bed was new and comfortable. We had everything we needed and will definitely return. Prices were average for the season and location.