Hotel Il Palazzo

Finding the entrance was a frustrating start. There wasn’t a clear sign from the main road showing how to get to the lobby, so I ended up walking around the whole block. The facilities look good, but that first impression was disappointing. There was also nobody answering the reception phone. No physical phone was provided in the room, and the barcode for using the room phone was tucked away in a corner. At check-in, nobody told me where it was. I found a phone in the communal area and tried reception, but got no answer. When I went to the desk in person to ask for what I needed, the staff couldn’t understand my English and gave me the wrong item. The service was really poor. Instagram-friendly facilities don’t make up for service that felt like 0/10.

We stayed for eight days and still enjoyed the breakfast, which had plenty of variety. The hotel is chic, clean, and comfortable, with good hospitality. There are lots of great restaurants nearby too, so planning dinner was easy.

The lounge was a real highlight of our package, with access from 7:30 in the morning to 9 at night. It had buffet items as well as dishes made to order. The food was fresh, tasty, and nicely presented, and they refilled things quickly. The staff were friendly and professional, including Japanese and Indian team members. Most spoke English fluently, and check-in and checkout were both smooth. Our modern room was comfortable and matched the hotel’s stylish interior, with bold red and green accents. Housekeeping was especially thorough: each time we came back, the room looked as though nobody had used it. The hotel is by the river and conveniently between two stations, so getting around was easy. Its exterior also stands out.

The stay was pleasant, with spacious rooms, friendly and attentive staff, and a nice buffet. The bathtub takes up a lot of bathroom space, though, while the showerhead is tucked into a corner. Getting inside felt like a scene from Game of Thrones, when Arya enters the Arab Baths building. There are two entrances, and first-time visitors might miss either one. From there, a dark passage leads to a lift down to the basement for check-in.