Hotel San Marco

We didn’t feel comfortable walking back to the hotel at night, so I wasn’t happy with the location. It’s outside Verona’s historic centre, and I found the surrounding area unpleasant. The hotel also fell well short of what I’d expect from a four-star place in cleanliness, upkeep and service. I wouldn’t stay again or recommend it to anyone looking for a real four-star experience. In my view, it was closer to a two-star hotel, and I’ve never stayed in one of those, but I bet some could be better. The first impression inside was poor. The lobby looked dated and messy, and housekeeping carts were often left in view. Reception was just as underwhelming: when we asked for a city map, they handed it over without advice or recommendations. The staff came across as indifferent throughout our visit. Our standard room felt old and unattractive, nowhere near four-star quality unless you paid to upgrade. There was no free water, coffee or tea, and the minibar only had a couple of bottles of water for sale. Bathroom supplies were sparse too, with no shower cap and almost none of the little items you’d expect. The towels looked worn. The cleanliness worried us most. After a bubble bath one evening, we drained the tub and saw black particles and debris floating in it. It gave us the impression that the plumbing or bathtub hadn’t been cleaned or maintained properly for quite a while. Breakfast was disappointing as well. Staff cleaned and dragged chairs around the dining room while people were still eating, making unnecessary noise and disrupting the meal.