Though this is our 6th trip to Europe it was the first time we booked our hotels through the internet. The hotel San Marco was our fist stop and we had booked a double room for 2 nights. The location was perect for us and only a 7 minute walk from the Tremini station. The room we had was large enough to have our luggage on the floor. It was clean and well furished. The bathroom was also better than other hotels we have stayed in europe, with nice hot showers. The area had resturants handy (in fact we ate just downstairs). Though the streets were noisy when we had the window open. once closed the room was nice and peaceful and we enjoyed an interupted sleep.

We booked online for 3 nights, 8-10 Dec 2006 at the San Marco. We booked through GTA hotels. There were 6 of us and we reserved 3 rooms. We paid by credit card online at the time of booking. We booked the San Marco on the basis of online reviews, because it had a bar and it was on a relatively quiet street.
However, when we arrived to check in on 8 Dec we were told that the hotel was full and we had been allocated to another hotel, the Siracusa. This was on via Marsala, directly opposite a side entrance to Termini Station, and in consequence very noisy at any hour of the day or night. Neither did the Siracusa have a bar and generally we had the impression that it merited a lower ranking than the San Marco.
The San Marco told us that the agency, GTA hotels, had said that it was okay to move us. If the agency did so, it was without consulting us and it is hard to ascertain who is at fault, the agency, the hotel or both. In any event it is unacceptable to be treated in such a high-handed way and to treat a contractual arrangement for a particular hotel as though it was a movable feast. Based on our experience and to avoid disappointment I would suggest that anyone using this agency or hotel should be very clear as to what the actual contractual arrangement is.

Pat Nolan, Dublin