Aubrey Fan

Review of Star Hotel Metropole

What would have otherwise been a pleasant last nig...

What would have otherwise been a pleasant last nights stay in Rome was ruined by the petty nickel and diming we faced regarding an overpriced 8 breakfast. Petty to the point where we were told the woman who checked us in would have to pay for our meal, and petty to the point where I believe we were overcharged in taxes to compensate...unless there is a justifiable reason why starhotels charges 6 apiece for city tax, whereas all other hotels -including those in Rome- were far less than 5.

What bothers me most is the attitude taken with us on checkout, as though we were trying to scam them when it was clearly a deep seeded communication error that had us at a complete disadvantage. When we booked online, the website indicated that breakfast was included with our stay. When we checked in, we were told to come down between 6:30 and 10:30 - checkout at 12. When we came down, we were told that some food - the cold plates only - were a part of the complimentary continental breakfast, but that if we were to eat the hot food, that would be a charge. Then when we checked out, we were told to pay, that we should have booked with them directly, and then finally, that the kind woman who checked us in would have to pay out of her pocket for what was ultimately a few cups of crummy, overpriced coffee, some cold cuts and a dry croissant.

We stayed at a range of hotels in Italy- from sketchy looking 3 stars to brand new, top of the line 5 star places, but this was the only place where the disappointment far exceeded the experience of being in Italy.