Sina Centurion Palace

I booked my stay at Sina Centurion Palace via the Amex Hotel Collection website from 7/10/24 - 7/13/24. We arrived in Venice late afternoon. We had already planned to walk to the location since we were not carrying a lot of luggage and it was only a 25 min walk or so. Not knowing that Venice was going through a heat wave with what felt like 120% humidity. We still managed to walk to the hotel which is not near the vicinity of any of the popular areas. The hotel is very beautiful and is located literally by the water next to a beautiful basilica. When we arrived at the hotel, we were literally drenched in sweat and i must of looked like i was having a heat stroke, listen learned. The concierge while very eloquent and posh, looked at me like i had the black plague. I was trying to catch my breath and keep from collapsing. Nevertheless we checked in, they did offer us some water to drink, but the feeling that we were at the wrong hotel kept in the concierge faces, there were two. They just kept staring at us as if they were shocked that we walked and not come in by private boat, which a lot of the patrons did. However, what was the most insulting thing to me was that, we were not offered an upgrade per Amex perks. His reasoning was that our stay was too long and that there were no rooms available. Out of the three hotels i booked through the Amex hotel collection, the first being in London and the second in Paris, Sina was the only that did not offer the upgrade. Fine i said, you don't have it its ok, I'm sure the room will be great. Adding insult to injury, he offered me a coupon for a one free drink at their bar. Mind you, it was two of us, this is a very high class posh hotel in Venice, and his solution to an upgrade that would have probably cost Amex or the hotel i don't know how this works upwards of $600 was to offer me, just me a coupon for one drink. Not even, a full bottle or a dinner. But again, i proceeded with my check in as we were desperate to get to our rooms and shower. I had very high expectations of this place since it was very pricey. Once in the room, i was taken back by the simplicity of the room, nothing to write home about. It was cozy but roomy enough for the two of us and our stuff. There was a faulty light on the corner of the ceiling which kept flickering/flashing. We called it in and they sent one of the bell boys I guess is what you call them, he looked at the light and turned off the switch, his solution was, why can you just keep the lights off and use the only the lamps. At the prices I was paying I wasn't about the settle for that. I advise the gentlemen that it needs to be taken care of. They sent someone in the next day to fix the issue. Late that day, the light switch to the bath room was making like a frying noise, sparks were coming out the switch when i would turn on the bathroom light. I immediately called the front desk and they sent someone out right away. This gentleman's solution to the problem was to restart the main electrical component that was it. Of course the issue continued the next day so we just let it go. Unfortunately, the hotel with the highest expectations came is as the lowest performing hotel. Again, the hotel is not located near anything, you have to walk for 20 to get anywhere or take the water taxi to cross the river every time you want to reach the other side. But I selected the hotel for that same reason, i wanted to be away for the hustle and bustle that is Venice. But I just cant get passed the was they looked at us when we got there, it just felt like we were not suppose to be there, i felt like Leonardo De Caprio on the Titanic when they were sitting at the table having dinner. Not a feeling you want to have when you book such an expensive hotel, none of the other hotels make us feel that way, and we booked quite a few hotels rated 4 to 5 stars in London, Paris, Florence, Rome and Geneva, all were above and beyond experiences. Needless to say, i don't think i will ever stay at one of their properties again.

Make no mistake: this is a 3-star hotel at best. And I'm being generous. Amex should be embarrassed listing this as a "Fine Hotel property." The only redeeming quality about this hotel is the location. Rooms are small and feel cheaply renovated. Weird armoire / TV cabinet oddly positioned in the room making it nearly impossible to get around the bed. I booked through Amex Platinum and didn't get a room upgrade, didn't get free breakfast, didn't get a 4pm check out (I got a 1p check out). Hotel offered NOTHING complimentary: no water cooler in the lobby, no complimentary coffee, nothing. In fact, they charged you to sit down at a table (€5 per person at the bar, €10 per person at the restaurant... on top of €20 drinks and €300 underwhelming dinners). When I asked the front desk for water, they directed me to a public fountain in the street (lol). And don't even bother going to the restaurant on site. It was bland, overpriced, and underwhelming. I was granted a 1pm late check out. But the cleaning person just barged in without knocking around 11:45am. 12:50p comes around, and the cleaning person is banging on the door.