Maison de Charme Balbi, Venice, Italy

My wife, two daughters and I stayed here for a weekend in May 2010 and it was a nightmare! We booked directly with the owner. It was meant to be a 50th birthday treat for my wife. I emailed the owner before I booked to ask if breakfast was included in the price and what it consisted of. He emailed back to confirm that is was included and that it was a continental breakfast was served with croissants, rolls, jam, butter, cappuccino, tea, etc. He also double-booked our room so we didn't get the four poster bed we booked. On arrival, after his son finally turned up after an hour to let us in, I asked when and where breakfast was served. He said we had to make it ourselves and pointed to a tiny basket on the night table in our room which had a few sachets of Nescafe and tea bags plus one cellophane wrapped plain roll to share between us. At first I thought his was joking - but alas he was not! The room our daughters were given smelt to high heaven and they had to sleep in our room the first night (which wasn't what my wife and I had planned!). The next morning, the owner's son arrived and demanded that I pay for the two nights in full in cash there and then, even though I had already paid a deposit for the first night in advance. He marched me around four banks for over an hour until I found a cash machine that actually worked. He demanded that I pay him for both rooms for both nights or he wouldn't give us the key to the alternative room he had prepared for my daughters. Desperate to salvage what was left of my wife's birthday treat, I handed the money over. I texted the owner to complain, but he replied that he was boarding a flight to Sicily (to visit other members of his "Family" no doubt!) and that I shouldn’t be such a complainer! Don't be fooled. This is NOT a Bed & Breakfast/Guest House/Hostel, but a few rooms in an apartment block shared with ordinary residents, who don't seem to be aware that there is holiday accommodation in their apartment block as we were challenged by a resident asking why we were in the building! It claims to be in a quiet area of Venice. However, the floating version of a rubbish collection lorry grinds away directly below the rooms from 7:00 - 10:00 a.m. every morning collecting all the rubbish from local shops and restaurants. It claims to have a private canal water deck. It does not exist! Beware of the Maison de Balbi which is distinctly lacking in "Charme"!

Overall

1

Location

1

Cleanliness

3

Value

1

Facilities

1

Service

1

KingArthur stayed here in May '10