Monthly Archives: September 2012

Best Western Hotel Firenze, Verona

The location

The hotel is situated within walking distance to the historic centre. Verona has a very refined feel to it: its streets are clean, although some of its many historic buildings could do with some renovation work. There is also wonderful food on offer if you venture beyond the tourist attractions. I recommend in particular wines from the nearby Alto Adige.

The room

My room was very spacious (about 26 square meters), with wooden floor, a large and comfortable bed (no duvet but no itchy covers), a desk and easy to access although slightly slow wifi. The bathroom was equally spacious, even though the shower could have had more pressure. The room, equipped with proper shutters, was also very quiet at night, although you could sometimes hear water noise.

The breakfast

Quite disappointing; you will have to catch up at lunch as it seems Italians do. Good espresso is of course on offer.

The price

Booking a couple of months in advance, I was able to get my room at about 150 euros a night. In expensive Italy, this makes it quite a good option.

Le Relais d’Auvergne, Saint Gervais d’Auvergne

The location

Actually quite remote, but this will ensure a scenic drive to and from the motorway and should be an ideal starting point for bracing walks in the very green countryside.

We arrived late but were treated to a warm welcome, despite having booked with a gift voucher.

The room

Very quiet at night; such a shame there is not a proper duvet to brave the cool nights. Spacious shower with sufficient pressure and soft water, although the bathroom and toilet are only separated from the main room by a curtain. Wifi is free and easy to set up.

The evening meal

A very nice welcome again. I, however, found the food to be fairly ordinary, although this was decent comfort food. I would also recommend sticking to the local wines, which are quite inexpensive.

The breakfast

A decent French breakfast, although proper juice, fresh fruits and cooked options would be a nice addition.

The price

We only had to pay for our wine, but the website tells me a room with half-board for two should cost about 120 euros. Not bad, although chains like Novotel or Mercure might offer a better deal at this price (more of which in October), without the added authenticity we got. Sometimes this sensation of stepping back in time to a France that no longer exists (and probably never did) is quite welcome.

  • Route de Châteauneuf les Bains 63390 Saint Gervais d’Auvergne France
  • +33 4.73.85.70.10
  • www.relais-auvergne.com