Carlina Palace by Varental

We found the apartment modern, clean, and comfortable, and the price felt fair for the location. The corridors and outdoor areas were clean and practical too, and there's a handy elevator. We visit Turin every year and have paid more for places that were further from the centre and less modern and clean, so we'll definitely come back. The central location made it easy to enjoy Turin, with bars and restaurants only metres away and a small, well-stocked CRAI supermarket nearby. My wife had a course at the Egyptian Museum, just a five-minute walk away, while I worked comfortably in the room using the free, fast, stable Wi-Fi. We stayed four days for work and tourism. The apartment was new, with a large shower and a comfortable bed, though it was low. The kitchen suited a short stay and had a microwave, dishwasher, and coffee maker. Communication was quick and easy over WhatsApp, as there was no reception. Parking was straightforward in nearby secure lots; we found a space in the paid lot below the building for €19 a day, about the same as a blue zone.

The host was warm, quick to respond, and ready to help, which made the stay even better. Inside, the apartment was clean, roomy, and just as described, so it felt like home as soon as I arrived. Its spot in the heart of Turin made exploring on foot easy. Restaurants, museums, galleries, and the main squares were all close by. I'd happily recommend it and return on another trip to Turin.

The apartments are new and the location is excellent, but staying there for two months for work was stressful because of the poor cleaning and management. There's no reception, so everything was handled over WhatsApp. When I arrived, the apartment was dirty and dusty. They said they hadn't had time to clean properly after another group of workers had stayed in the residence, though it looked to me as if the apartment hadn't been opened for a while. Cleaning happened once a week, and I repeatedly had to ask for the floor to be mopped. Even then, it wasn't cleaned. I also asked them not to switch off the refrigerator using the external switch on the kitchen counter, but they did it anyway. Dust was never dealt with, and they left the moka pot on the dish rack unopened because they couldn't open it, with the coffee grounds still inside. I reported these problems through WhatsApp and was told they'd contact the cleaning company. I left still wondering whether a cleaning company had ever worked there. For a short visit, you might not notice so much. Over two months, though, having to keep chasing them about cleaning became exhausting.

We had a positive stay and would definitely come back next time we're in Turin. The apartment was spacious, comfortable, functional, and spotless. The staff were kind, helpful, and professional, and replied promptly on WhatsApp. The location was a big part of the appeal: everything was only a few minutes away on foot. There's covered parking next door, and the parking staff were really friendly. A few ideas for improvement, though they didn't spoil our visit: towel rails by the shower and sink, plus a shelf for toiletries, would be useful. Non-slip flooring on the mezzanine stairs would help too. The stairs are well made, but the wood gets slippery, especially going down without slippers or when distracted. It'd also be convenient if the property supplied recycling bins instead of leaving that to guests. We could hear people in the street, cars, and other guests, sometimes late into the weekend nights, since the apartment isn't soundproofed.