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Federica Battaglia
Oct 15, 2026
Awful experience from start
A rental agency slipped in an insurance charge I had already declined in writing, and then insisted it was non-refundable at return.
A rental agency slipped in an insurance charge I had already declined in writing, and then insisted it was non-refundable at return.
Our room was spotless, the bedding felt genuinely luxurious, and street noise never once reached us from the floor below.
Our flight was canceled with no rebooking offered, and I had to buy a new ticket on another airline just to get home.
Our tour guide handed out printed itineraries, backup data for cameras, and even sunscreen samples before the first stop of the day. After a mix-up on booking dates, the hotel manager personally sorted it and gave us a late checkout at no cost. An attentive flight attendant quietly brought extra water for anyone who looked unwell during the turbulent descent through a storm cell.
A fine hotel for one night, but I wouldn't stay longer because the room darkening curtains didn't actually block the parking-lot lights.
Our driver pointed out a hidden viewpoint, pulled over for photos, and refused the tip we tried to leave for the detour. I had a middle seat on a packed flight, and the person beside me offered the aisle because I mentioned a bad knee.
Our hotel kept a sunset-time card at the desk and texted guests twenty minutes before, so nobody missed the view off the rooftop. Our tour guide handed out printed itineraries, backup data for cameras, and even sunscreen samples before the first stop of the day.
A broken outlet in our suite was replaced within thirty minutes of my call to the front desk at eleven at night. I appreciated the shampoo being from a real brand instead of the usual mystery bottle that smells faintly of hotel laundry.
Our hotel had a lending library of umbrellas, chargers, and even board games, which saved us from a very rainy afternoon. A gorgeous ocean view greeted us at sunrise, and the balcony furniture made it the best morning coffee of the whole trip.
A sunrise balloon tour felt safer than I feared because the pilot briefed us thoroughly and the ground crew knew exactly where to meet. Beds were so comfortable that we ordered the same mattress once we got home, which has never happened to us before.
This airline served a hot meal on a two-hour hop and didn't charge for a drink, which felt almost old-fashioned. I had a birthday during the stay and found a small cake and sparkling juice waiting in the room that evening.
Chauffeur service picked us up in a clean sedan, waited patiently when our dinner ran long, and tracked us by phone unobtrusively.
Boarding was quick, the cabin crew were cheerful, and we landed slightly ahead of schedule which made the whole day easier.
I slept the entire red-eye because the seat reclined far enough and the cabin stayed dim with proper noise-canceling earbuds provided.
I was traveling with a service animal and nobody at the hotel, airport, or tour company made it feel like an exception. I was dreading the overnight connection, but the lounge had reclining pods and the staff kept the coffee hot the entire time. I had a long layover and the airline gave me a free city tour voucher I didn't even know existed until check-in.
Rebooking after a weather delay took one short phone call, and the agent even found seats together for our family of four. I was skeptical of the walking tour, but the guide paced it perfectly and we ended at a café she personally knew. A rooftop pool with heated water, a quiet bar, and no music after ten made it the best evening of the whole trip.
A simple booking app actually worked offline on the plane and saved me from a nasty roaming bill in another country.
An attentive flight attendant quietly brought extra water for anyone who looked unwell during the turbulent descent through a storm cell. A guided night tour of the old town felt magical because the guide dimmed her flashlight and let the lamps do the work. I had back pain and the hotel sent up a lumbar pillow, a heating pad, and an ice bucket within fifteen minutes of asking.
Loyalty points covered the whole stay including the resort fee, which honestly felt like the first time a program paid off. I needed a doctor at midnight and the front desk had one in the lobby within forty minutes with no fuss.
I was charged exactly the amount I was quoted at booking, with no mystery resort fee or city tax tacked on later.
I appreciated the shampoo being from a real brand instead of the usual mystery bottle that smells faintly of hotel laundry. Our room was spotless, the bedding felt genuinely luxurious, and street noise never once reached us from the floor below.
A full day tour with lunch, boat ride, and two museum entries was still cheaper than any single excursion in the city. Loyalty points covered the whole stay including the resort fee, which honestly felt like the first time a program paid off.
A cold brew in the lobby, free bottled water on the way out, and a loaner umbrella all showed real guest-first thinking. Our rental SUV had working AC, decent tires, under ten thousand miles, and a fresh interior that smelled only of soap.
I spent four hours on hold trying to reach customer service, and when someone finally answered they immediately disconnected without even calling back. A supposed airport transfer dropped us at a parking lot three blocks away because the driver refused to wait in a short traffic queue. I was threatened with a cleaning fee after one night in a room that already had stains on the headboard when I arrived.
A gluten-free guest in our group was offered a dedicated menu at breakfast, and the chef came out to confirm each dish. A quiet floor request was taken seriously because every door around us was propped open as a staff cleaning signal, never slammed. Housekeeping noticed my daughter had a cold and left extra tissues, bottled water, and a sweet handwritten note on the pillow.
A ferry transfer, luggage handling, and welcome drink were all included in the quoted room rate, which almost never happens anymore.
Housekeeping noticed my daughter had a cold and left extra tissues, bottled water, and a sweet handwritten note on the pillow. I had back pain and the hotel sent up a lumbar pillow, a heating pad, and an ice bucket within fifteen minutes of asking.
Early check-in was granted at nine in the morning without even asking, which gave us a full extra day to explore. The pilot came out before takeoff to shake hands with kids on their first flight, which my son will remember forever.
Our concierge made a dinner reservation at a famously booked-out restaurant and refused any tip beyond a sincere thank-you note.
I had bedbugs on the second night, saw them crawl on the sheet, and the manager tried to blame me for bringing them in. Our room had visible mold around the shower, a stained carpet, and a window that did not actually close against the street noise. I spent four hours on hold trying to reach customer service, and when someone finally answered they immediately disconnected without even calling back.
A guided night tour of the old town felt magical because the guide dimmed her flashlight and let the lamps do the work. Chauffeur service picked us up in a clean sedan, waited patiently when our dinner ran long, and tracked us by phone unobtrusively.
Our tour van had working seatbelts, air conditioning that actually cooled the back row, and a driver who never once texted.
After a mix-up on booking dates, the hotel manager personally sorted it and gave us a late checkout at no cost.
Smooth touchdown, friendly deplaning, and bags on the belt within eleven minutes of block-in, which is somehow still a rare win. I paid budget prices and still got blackout curtains, a firm pillow option, and a shower with pressure like a car wash.
Our room came with a small espresso machine, two bottles of still water, and a handwritten card from the housekeeper by name. I was traveling solo and the hotel staff checked in on me daily, which I appreciated far more than I expected to.
Our rental SUV had working AC, decent tires, under ten thousand miles, and a fresh interior that smelled only of soap.
Our rental included free second-driver registration, unlimited mileage, and a decent dash-mounted phone holder we didn't expect. Smooth touchdown, friendly deplaning, and bags on the belt within eleven minutes of block-in, which is somehow still a rare win.
A gorgeous ocean view greeted us at sunrise, and the balcony furniture made it the best morning coffee of the whole trip.
I use a wheelchair and the staff had the accessible shower bench set up before I even opened the room door. An honest tour operator warned us ahead of time that the main site was closed and rerouted the day to a better one.
A midday snorkel tour included fresh fruit, cold drinks, and spare masks for anyone whose rental gear turned out to be leaky. Breakfast had fresh fruit, real omelets made to order, and a decent espresso machine that was somehow never crowded. A full day tour with lunch, boat ride, and two museum entries was still cheaper than any single excursion in the city.
The pilot came out before takeoff to shake hands with kids on their first flight, which my son will remember forever.
Boarding music was pleasant, overhead bin space was plentiful, and the crew even helped shorter passengers lift bags without being asked.
A connecting flight was held for us by the gate agent on the radio, which I did not know airlines still did.
Priority boarding actually meant something because the gate agent held non-priority passengers back until our group had fully boarded. A gentle wake-up call, a hot shower with real pressure, and a strong coffee set the tone for the whole business trip. I needed a last-minute change and the booking site processed it with no fee because of a loyalty tier perk.
Our dive tour had small groups, newer gear, and a boat captain who treated safety briefings like he genuinely cared about us.
A rooftop pool with heated water, a quiet bar, and no music after ten made it the best evening of the whole trip.
Pool deck chairs never ran out even at peak hours because an attendant genuinely managed the space all day long. Priority boarding actually meant something because the gate agent held non-priority passengers back until our group had fully boarded.
I needed a doctor at midnight and the front desk had one in the lobby within forty minutes with no fuss.
Our shuttle driver insisted on helping with every bag and knew a backroad that shaved twenty minutes off the usual airport run. This boutique inn only has twelve rooms, and by the second morning the owner knew how we each took our coffee.
A damaged suitcase was replaced on the spot with no argument, no form to fill out, and genuine apologies all around.