This hotel was the most expensive one we stayed in on our visit to Italy, and unfortunately we didn't get what we paid for.

I think the hotel description is misleading as to where it is located - we had stayed at the Duke hotel a couple of minutes away from here a few nights previously and had no problem with the location, because we knew about it before we arrived. We also didn't pay a city centre premium when we stayed at the Duke like we did here.

The staff were plain obnoxious, the worst customer service in our whole trip. No matter what else is wrong with a hotel you will usually forgive it, at least to an extent, if the customer service is good and the staff friendly and helpful.

Our room was outdated with one entire wall mirrored, and decorated in an interesting aqua colour. Our room was at the front, but we were lucky enough to be on the 5th flor so although we could hear the trams they weren't a huge problem. The location of the air conditioning unit was really stupid - in the window recess behind the curtains, so the choice is light streaming in at 6am, or being roasting hot... There was a safe, a well stocked mini bar (although at 8 euros for a fanta I would think twice) and a TV with a good selection of channels. The room had an integral door leading to the room next door if a family were staying in it. The bathroom was okay, but no tub, only a very average shower cubicle. And even though the booking was clearly made for 2 people there was only one robe in the bathroom. The marble sink was nice though.

The pool area was very nice, and the only time we saw good service was from the pool attendant. There is a nice bar area out by the pool, but we waited 35 minutes before a waiter took our order (despite asking the waiters who were standing around doing absolutely nothing in the restaurant - clearly it wasn't their job to help customers though), and were seriously considering going somewhere else for a drink by the time he showed up.

I can't tell you anything about the breakfast because it wasn't included in our £183 a night room. This was the only time it wasn't included in our whole stay.

If you head left out the hotel then head straight up for about ten minutes you come to a really nice area with lots of restaurants and lovely shops. We had dinner in a good restaurant up there where the service was second to none (they wouldn't have had to try that hard to impress me after the hotel, but they were very good anyway!).

In summary, I would save a bit of cash and stay round the corner at the Duke Hotel, or else if you still want to splash the cash pay for the location and stay right in the middle of the action.