Hotel review: Mercure Bologna Centro

100   Recommended
September 7, 2019 by

 Map | 2 Reviews | 50% Recommended
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Mercure Bologna Centro
 Map | 2 Reviews | 50% Recommended

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Share
Liked:
Location
Service
Food
Amenities
Room
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Check In

I arrived at 2pm and my room was ready. I had booked a standard room with double bed and I received a privilege room with double bed. A voucher for welcome drinks was given proactively without need to ask for it. The check-in agent was very kind and she gave a good first impression of the hotel. I felt welcome.

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Main entrance.

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Lobby.

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The famous keys.

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Lobby bar.

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The lobby area and bar looks quite nice actually.

Room

Well, what can I say. I think I have never stayed in a hotel room that has been as dated and worn. It was quite small (20 sqm), dark and musty. Wallpapers were cracking here and there, ceiling had signs of a leak damage and blackout curtains had a hole.

There was only one socket. It was challenging to charge a laptop and two smart phones. That one socket was also needed when using a Nespresso machine (yes, there was one with six capsules – yay).

Minibar was complimentary and it was stocked with four bottles of water, both still and sparkling, two sodas and one juice. Pretty good!

Bed was okay, not the best, not the worst, but pillows were too firm to my liking.

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Ancient corridor. 

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Curtains were closed when entering to room. 

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Dated privilege room.


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Privilege room.

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Privilege room.

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Blackout curtains in the privilege room.

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View from a French balcony.

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Amenities of the privilege room.

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Complimentary minibar.

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Cracking wallpaper.


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Ceiling.

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Bathroom.

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The compulsory bidet.

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Bath amenities.

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Decent amenities.

Loyalty treatment

The drink voucher was good for anything expect millésimes, champagne and spirits. We used for Aperol spritz at the quite cosy lobby bar that also had some seats in garden.

A welcome gift wasn’t given spontaniously so I discretely asked at what time it’s usually delivered. The friendly check-in agent said she doesn’t know and went to back office to ask. Soon she returned telling that the hotel has ran out of stock and asking whether we would like to have a bottle of wine. Yes, please! It was unpredictable and thoughtful.

When we returned in the evening we found a nice bottle of Sangiovese in our room.

I requested a late check-out at 5:30pm and again that wasn’t a problem at all!

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Welcome drinks.

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Welcome gift.

Service

The service was superb and made our stay. Except housekeeping.

Although we were two guests, the room had been prepaired for one person only. There was one dental kit, one bathrobe and one pair of slippers.

When I requested the missing amenities a housekeeper told that ”usually we give only one”. Oh, okay. Are guests supposed to share the same toohtbrush?

Amenities were anyway better than at Mercure in Florence. The slippers were of higher quality, similar to Sofitel but with Mercure logo, and they also provided body lotion.

Dining

I only had breakfast which was decent, considering it only costed 12€ (even cheaper if booked in advance). It included all what I needed, such as a few cold cuts, cheese, strong coffee, many kind of sweet treats, fresh fruits, plain yogurt, honey, and jams. Scrambled eggs were of poor quality, though.

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Basic hot and cold option were available at breakfast.


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Only some of the many sweet treats.


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On top of these there are fresh fruits (bananas, apples(!), and oranges in the entrance.


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Yogurt station.

Location

The hotel is located perfectly next to the railway station. The location and the service are the best part of the hotel.

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The hotel seen from railway station.

Overall

Based on the previous review I knew what to expect and lowered my expectations. Did I punish myself by taking the risk? Would I advise to stay away from the property? No and no. Had I not known how the hotel is like I probably wouldn’t be as positive. That said, I would most likely stay here again if my travels takes me back to Bologna some day.

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