Hotel Ai Due Principi

The reception team did try their best to make things better, which is the only reason I’m giving one star. Still, I won’t be back. Our first room was so cramped we could barely move. The walls were dirty, there were mosquitoes, and we found a hair on the bed. After we complained, they moved us to a supposedly “premium” room. It was larger, but just as dirty and clearly hadn’t been renovated in years. Then my partner went downstairs to smoke and found a staff member asleep beside reception. The front door was locked, so he couldn’t get out. This was one of the worst hotels I’ve stayed at in a long time. I really don’t know how it got four stars; it barely merits two.

We ended up sleeping on top of the sheets because we were worried about sleeping under them. At least there were no bed bugs. When we arrived, there was hair all over every blanket and sheet, plus stains on the sheets and yellow marks on the mattress cover. We asked for clean sheets. A receptionist told us to leave while they changed them, so we went out. Four hours later, only the top blankets had been replaced, not the stained sheets. I had to ask for more clean ones and change them myself. The restaurant downstairs keeps pestering you to eat there, even after you say no, and they ask again whenever you pass. The bedroom door lock also takes what seemed like 10-15 seconds to engage when leaving, which made me uncomfortable.

The staff made us feel very welcome, and breakfast is available. We were just steps from St. Mark's Square. Our room was nicely furnished with a very comfortable bed, though comfort depends on the person. The balcony view was beautiful. Highly recommended.

The location is fairly good, but the canal-view room I booked looked onto the windows of other apartments instead. The curtain is see-through, so be sure no neighbors can see in if you use the bathroom. The attendant was the worst part of the stay, one of the worst I’ve encountered at a hotel. On arrival he said the city tax had to be paid in cash. We didn’t have any and asked about paying by card; he said cards weren’t accepted for that charge, so we had to call our bank to unblock the card and withdraw cash from an ATM. Once we had the money, he refused the 50-euro note for our 30-euro bill because he had no change, then made us pay by card after all. I’d have breakfast outside the hotel. You’ll likely get better quality, more choice and service, at a fairer price. There are extra charges you only hear about at checkout, and they aren’t listed on the website, so check carefully before booking. They charge €150 for cleaning if you bring food into the hotel, which I think is a way to push guests toward eating in their restaurant. There are fees here you wouldn’t expect, and I didn’t feel secure not knowing what I’d owe when I left. You can certainly find a better hotel for a little more.