Residence San Lorenzo

The photos don't give a reliable idea of what you'll get. Some apartments are decent, while others are horrendous, so make sure you check which one you're being assigned.

I expected more because this is run by the 3-star Hotel Mastino, but for the premium price it felt like a budget Airbnb. The apartment is an eight-minute walk from the hotel. The bed was mediocre, the pillows very thin, and the AC only cooled the living room, not the bedroom. There's noticeable dampness in the bathroom, so you need to leave the window open after showering to keep the smell down.

For our family trip of five over All Saints' Day weekend, check-in was at Hotel Mastino, very close to the Arena. They gave us a free round-trip transfer to the apartment, which was even more central. The staff were superb and recommended typical Veronese restaurants. Our apartment was spacious and had two bathrooms. Everything was perfect, and we'll be back!

Apartment 803 worked for us, with a few reservations. Its location near the historic centre is a real advantage: the Arena and the Adige River are right in front, and restaurants, bars, and cafes are easy to reach on foot. As a walker user, being close to the centre mattered most to me. The lift reaches the first-floor apartment after a seven-step staircase. At 82, I've travelled the world and can make do with the meagre kitchen equipment by improvising. The kitchenette is better avoided. There's no light over the two hobs and no nearby electrical outlets for the cooktop, so cooking is by feel. Coffee drinkers should go to a café, since the espresso pot leaks. The modern TV has no German channels, despite the housekeeper trying three times. Everything feels like it's showing its age. A warning about Apartment 809 on the ground floor: it was cold, damp, musty, and depressingly gray, behind a steel door that made me think of suicide.