Find Guest house in Trieste

Location perfect, a little overpriced, but for one night, you will get over it

First of all it was so easy to get the train from the airport straight to the central train station, and it was a 5 minute walk from there to the hotel. We arrived late in the evening and I was worried that it might be a problem getting in as they don't have a 24hr reception, but they sent us instructions which were super-easy to follow. The staff, when we met them the next morning, were very friendly and helpful. The room was spacious, spotless and very comfortable. We were given a voucher for breakfast in a nearby cafe/bar, (Harry's), which was excellent. The location is great for visiting Trieste. It's a 10 minute walk to the Grand canal and the Piazza Unita d'Italia which are right in the centre, where all the shops, restaurants and bars are. I highly recommend this hotel.

Room was fine though the private bathroom being external to the room was not specified in the booking. And the key to bathroom was difficult to get into the lock. But hands down the worst customer service I’ve experienced. Receptionist when we arrived was completely disinterested and unfriendly. Not a word about the city itself. When we came back, the staircase was in darkness and door appeared to be closed, until a different receptionist heard us trying to get in with key and opened it. We had to catch a bus at 9.30am the next morning so planned to pay and leave at 8.30am. There was no one at reception, we waited for five mins thinking they’d be back from somewhere but it was clear there was no one on duty. We left the key on desk and put the room charge plus city tax inside a note and left it behind the keyboard. It was €13. We were conscious that we shouldn’t leave without paying. A couple of days later, I saw I was charged for the room on my ccard which I’d used for the booking. So I paid twice through no fault of my own. Unsurprisingly, Smart Room ignored my email message and only responded when Booking.com contacted them on my behalf. They said they never got the money...which I don’t believe. Even if someone had taken it, it’s their fault for not having someone on reception in the morning. Terrible customer service when we were staying there and afterwards. Stay away.

You can check in at certain time, I was arriving 1 hour later and I had to call them. It was difficult to communicate with the person. I had to send them information at theis website in Italian using translator. They never replied, one day before arrival, I had an Italian guy to call them to see how to get in, they answered that they will wait for me. Good thing is at the common WC they provide antiseptic to clean it.