Smart Hotel Binario - Self Check-IN

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this hotel to anyone from outside Switzerland unless perhaps you have a new mobile phone with an expensive international phone plan. The problem is that the hotel is changing to being a "smart hotel" and, in fact, already is a smart hotel after 6pm. With a "smart hotel", when you arrive, no one is there to check you in and the hotel is locked. The hotel assumes that they can send your phone the code to enter the hotel and the information to check yourself in but this is a very dangerous assumption to make. For example, suppose, your phone number is different between when you booked the hotel and the day you arrive because you use a different sim when abroad from at home. Or suppose your phone battery dies unexpectedly. Or suppose (like me) you cannot enter your correct phone number on a common hotel booking website because the website doesn't allow your correct phone number so you must enter a fake phone number to book any hotel at all. There is a message on the door of the hotel telling you to call a number or go to this other hotel if you have problems entering but this is useless if your phone doesn't work so you can't make a call and can't find the other hotel. Meanwhile, perhaps it is raining, it is late, you have lots of luggage and you don't speak Italian. This is a disaster waiting to happen and I want nothing to do with hotels like this. It's a shame because it is a very good hotel in many ways and I would particularly like to thank Samira for being very helpful with check-in and the wifi and for speaking very good English.

We had an awesome stay in this boutique hotel. Everything is very pretty and there is a lot of attention to details in the rooms and common areas. The bed is comfy and the shower great. The location is perfect if you come to Locarno with the train as the hotel is virtually by the station. Even though our rooms was facing the tracks we didn't hear a sound. The breakfast offer was very good and the staff absolutely lovely. It would be our first choice if we once come back to Locarno!