San Giovanni alla Vena Vacations from $1,173

We booked 3 nights at the hotel and found the location to be excellent. Within a 15 minute walk to all the major attractions. What we were disappointed in was the staff and accommodations. I asked for directions to the nearest bank ATM and you have thought I was asking for national security codes. We went to the rooftop bar twice in one evening and were told that the outdoor seating had been reserved, for 4 hours at a time. There several other couples that had been told the same thing. We proceeded to dine outdoor across the canal and could see the roof top bar from where we were sitting. We observed the tables not being used for at least 1.5 hours during that 4 hour block. When we back to the hotel after dinner and proceeded to the roof top bar again. We were told the same thing and spoke with 2 other couples that had been told the same thing. When I went to the front desk to inquire about this, the front desk staff couldn’t believe that was going on. I was assured they would follow up with me once they determined what was going on. I never heard from anyone after that. Next morning at breakfast one of the other couples from the bar the night before advised that they had witnessed money being exchanged between the employees and the individuals the seating was reserved for. Very disappointing that we paid for amenities we never were able to enjoy.

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Staying here was a wonderful and truly unique experience. The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the challenges we had with the air conditioning in our room. That said, the staff really did make an effort to find a workaround for us. While it wasn’t a perfect solution, it definitely helped, and we appreciated how responsive and accommodating they were. The hotel itself is an old castle, and that alone makes staying here such a special experience. The property is beautiful, incredibly charming, and very well maintained. You simply can’t replicate the character, history, and ambiance that come with staying in a property like this. The setting and surroundings are beautiful. It was definitely one of those experiences that felt uniquely Italian and added something special to our trip. My only recommendation would be to visit when the temperatures aren’t quite as hot. Given the age and historic nature of the property, I can appreciate that modernizing certain things like the air conditioning may not be as straightforward as it would be in a newer hotel. During cooler weather, I imagine our experience would have been close to perfect. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and are glad we had the opportunity to experience such a beautiful and unique property. I would absolutely recommend it, just perhaps not during the hottest part of the summer!