Stayed 2 weeks in Europe, in hotels from Prague, Venice, Florence, Rome, Hvar, and Dubrovnik. This was the worst stay.
It was an ordinary hotel, however it was the lengths that they went to to cheat you of electricity despite the high price of the hotel that were outrageous. I even had no hot water in the shower, and they never sent anyone up to check or repair it.
First, the A/C (Air Conditioning) it was there, running on a light (insufficient) amount, and the thermostat controls were blocked off. It was a muggy day in Rome, and after walking the whole day, I just wanted cold air. To get this, you have to ask the lobby host to adjust it from his computer. Despite multiple visits, and "you should feel it different in a few minutes" it never improved the entire 2 days I stayed there. This was absolutely about saving money at my expense.
Additionally, the elevator was the slowest I've ever encountered, couldn't help think it was a conspiracy to keep visitors from using it. And low and behold, after I stopped using it due to this, I noticed almost everyone else at the hotel was doing the same. Mission accomplished!
And lastly and worst of all, the shower in my room had no hot water, it would go from cold to almost luke-warm, but clearly the faucet was broken or misadjusted. I won't go as far as to say this was on purpose, as a colleague had another room that didn't have this issue. However when I complained about it, the host said, "Later today, we'll show you how to use it properly" despite me insisting it was broken and to please send someone up to look at it. A day later, and no one ever came to look at it. I complained again, and someone was supposed to go look at it later.
I was only ever able to shower in nearly cold water this trip, and ended up skipping it my final morning to use the sink instead to wash up.
Considering this was the most expensive hotel on my trip, the incongruence with my experience was most disheartening. Meanwhile, across the Adriatic, staying in cheaper hotels in Croatia, I have had all the air conditioning, hot water, and fast elevators I could ask form and free breakfast to boot... What's the issue? read more