San Francisco

The room was cute and had an amazing view, and they were very nice about letting me check in early for my one-night stay. I actually liked breakfast: fresh fruit, eggs, sweet pastries, nuts, ham, and that same lovely view. It was noisy, but I travel with earplugs, so it didn't bother me much. The cleaning was awful, though, both in the room and bathroom. The toilet smelled strongly of urine and had stains on the seat, so I cleaned it myself with alcohol wipes because it made me feel sick. There was black hair around the bathroom and room, sand and stains on the ottoman, and the floor looked like it hadn't been mopped in ages. If I'd stayed longer, I would have asked them to bleach the bathroom. The dirt really ruined the stay, and honestly shocked me. Three stars because it was a good deal, but next time I'd probably pay more for a clean room elsewhere.

I booked a second-floor single room with breakfast for £100 a night, but the toilet hadn't been cleaned or disinfected before I checked in. It smelled like a public restroom and looked as though someone had just wiped it with a dry cloth. The lack of any fresh or bleach-like smell gave me a headache. The room faced what was described as a sea view, but across the street a restaurant played extremely loud music outdoors from after 10pm until midnight. The hygiene and late-night noise should be reported to the Comune di Viareggio health and safety authority. I also think the hotel's licence to operate this way should be questioned. I often had to wait a long time for my key. Once, the receptionist was busy explaining things to a newly arrived couple for ages. Breakfast was included, but there was no plain yogurt or tomatoes, so I bought both at a supermarket for the next morning. How can you not have tomatoes in Italy? The beach is mostly private, and they charge you to put a towel on the sand. The sea is so shallow that swimming is impossible; people just stand in it. An older German couple beside me were arguing about this. They hadn't heard of private beaches charging from 30 to 150 euros for a towel spot or a sunbed with an umbrella. I chose the hotel through booking.com because of its good reviews, but my stay was very bad. I reported the problem to customer service. Davide F replied rudely, with an exclamation mark, that I should have reported it earlier, even though I'd already spoken to reception. There was no acknowledgement or apology. I'll be asking for a refund.

Breakfast was very good, with lots of fruit and homemade banana cake, and there were options for vegans too. The room was lovely, with a balcony and a sea view. I could safely leave my bicycle on the balcony. Even though the hotel is right on the main street, the windows shut out a lot of sound. The walls were thick enough that I couldn't hear every word from the neighbors, unlike at some places in Italy. I still bring earplugs wherever I go. One of my best stays at a three-star hotel in Italy, and I hope to come back.

The hosts and service were exceptional, and breakfast was great. My room was modern, very clean, and nicely furnished. The bedrooms, bathrooms, and reception all felt fitted out to a high standard. A lovely hotel in a great location. I'll book here again when I'm back in Viareggio in October.