Hotel Savoy Palace

We all know that feeling, when the expensive holiday you've so been looking forward to, begins to go pear shaped. Sometimes it's a series of minor disappointments, sometimes it's something far more significant. Both are these are true when it comes to the Hotel Savoy Palace. We had been to the Gardone Riviera (different hotel) before and loved it, so decided to return. How we regretted it. It wasn't the growing list of hotel failures that got to us: cramped room with poor clothes storage (we'd paid for a deluxe, just one grade below their best!), inadequate air con, poor tea/coffee making facilities (ie no cups, no coffee), lack of information about dining arrangements, incredibly loud evening entertainment, no changes of towels or sheets in seven days, dining al fresco in a heat wave (no option given). What really made this stay unpleasant was the attitude of the Maitre D' in the restaurant. He was surly and rude, and seemed determined to make us feel as unwelcome as possible. We had paid for half board, hence didn't have the option to dine out (and why should we?) Hotel staff are there to give great customer service to their guests, not to treat them as an irritating inconvenience. We have stayed at many hotels in Italy and have, up to now, been delighted with the way we've been received. People have been so welcoming and friendly. But here we felt like actors in some bizarre Luis Bunuel film: victims of a bullying head waiter. And frankly it was so absurd, it was almost comical. Mostly though it was simply distasteful. We searched online for reviews and found many that highlighted this precise problem: the antagonistic MD. So it wasn't simply personal to us. Why would a hotel retain someone who treats guests in such an unkind and unprofessional way? And why in all these years have they never done anything about it? The reviews we found also warned about checking the 'extras' bill, for guests found at the end of their stay that they were being overcharged. Forewarned, we kept a close tally on everything, and, surprise, surprise, we discovered we'd been overcharged by Euros 120! These items included an a la carte meal, and after dinner cocktails, that (of course) we'd never had, and were accompanied by forged receipts. I really don't know what's going on at this hotel, but it's deeply concerning. There were some positives. Most of the staff were polite, often the lowest paid, such as the cleaners. The location is good (every one of the four stars must have been awarded for this, for in so many ways it does not deserve this rating). The view from our room was pretty, and some original Art Deco features are attractive. Unfortunately the negatives pretty much ruined this holiday for us.

On arrival we thought this privately run hotel looked a little tired, its exterior looking like a freshen up was required. Inside was a different matter. A large room with comfortable bed was immaculately serviced by friendly efficient staff. A good breakfast again with great staff and likewise dinner. Conveniently situated this lakeside hotel will loose its view if the large trees are not reduced..