Hotel Plaza e de Russie - Relais & Chateaux

Reception and housekeeping were excellent, and everyone was very kind. The room itself was clean, modern, and nice, though the shower pressure was barely more than a trickle. The breakfast was a real letdown for a five-star hotel. Eggs were powdered or boiled unless you paid an extra €10, and a lot of the food looked like it had been left over from the day before. I even spotted a rotten peach in the fruit basket. There aren’t amenities like a rooftop, bar, or pool, which they don’t claim to offer, but the beach partnership only gets you the row farthest from the sea for €30. It felt like we were mostly paying for a room, and the hotel wasn’t good value for money. I’m honestly not sure where the five-star rating comes from.

We loved it, seriously one of the best places in Italy for us. Our top-floor super-suite had three lovely rooms, a bedroom, dining room, and sitting room, plus a huge private terrace with a jacuzzi. It felt elegant and fun. Parking took a bit of negotiation with the staff, but it worked out. If you go, reserve parking! I’d swap the downstairs seating area for a martini bar, three cold draft beers, and some wine. I would.

The whole place felt relaxed, comfortable, and well looked after. The breakfast buffet had plenty of choice and was delicious, and the restaurant was spotless and inviting. The staff made us feel welcome right from arrival, and even had bowls ready for our dog, a thoughtful touch that meant a lot. We absolutely loved staying at this charming five-star hotel at the end of the promenade.

What should have been a special honeymoon stay at Hotel Plaza e de Russie - Relais & Chateaux turned into a really frustrating experience. Parking was the main problem. I circled the hotel for over 30 minutes and couldn’t find any public parking nearby. The booking information, website, and other communication only mentioned parking fees, which made it sound as if parking would be available. Nothing said it was extremely limited or had to be reserved in advance. I’d also called before arriving to ask about honeymoon packages, and no one mentioned the parking issue. If I’d known, I could have made other arrangements or reconsidered staying here. The stress overshadowed what should have been a memorable occasion. For a luxury hotel in the Relais & Chateaux brand, the lack of clear communication was unacceptable. I expected better and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who needs parking or clear information from the staff.