Indipendenza Suite

Me and my partner were booked to stay here and unfortunately had a family emergency that caused us to need to return home and miss Bolonga. We booked through Booking.com and when we cancelled was still entitled to pay for the room. We contacted them and asked whether we could cancel and change our dates for two weeks later. We never had any reply after several messages and the next day the amount taken from our bank. Appalling customer service. They couldn't care less, not even to have the courtesy to email us. Wish we read the reviews where they've cancelled on guests only hours before they booked to stay there. Says a lot about the kind of people they are.

A mixed bag really. Great clean room with good shower, comfy bed, and A/C for the summer. Fantastic location being only ten mins from station and <5 from the main attractions. We didn't have bed and breakfast but there are so many great cafés nearby with food and a coffee for less than €5 that it wasn't a problem. The bad points: check in is a pain as you have to call up and they meet you there. We weren't warned about this and it took many attempts to get in touch with someone. Also this means there is no one on hand to help if you need info. The room was a bit noisy being on the main shopping street but I suppose that's to be expected. Bring ear plugs if you're a light sleeper!

My boyfriend and I visited Bologna for a long weekend in September. Knowing next to the nothing about the city, our main requirement was to be central. We struck gold with Indipendenza Suite, which was less than a 10 minute walk away from the train station and 5 minutes from the main square. The b&b has a shared entrance with other businesses, but there is no buzzer. Under the name is the floor number and an Italian mobile number which you need to call for the owner to meet you and give you the keys. I'm always a little nervous about booking accommodation in the "old" part of town and worry that it might be dusty or tired or less secure, but everything was just fine. The b&b looks newly refurbished (all painted white) and was very clean. Our room was a double with an en suite, and we had plenty of room. Having a sofa and desk were nice extras. The locks on the bedroom door are the old style Italian multiple locks, and we felt very much at ease. Being in an old building, the window was huge and was lovely to look out of first thing in the morning. It's so lovely to have that much natural light. We didn't even have trouble with noise, despite being on such a central road. We could hear the odd scooter go by and usual evening movement, but it wasn't ever enough to keep us awake. Breakfast is a coffee/cappuccino and a croissant or pastry from a small bar down the road. Not huge but yummy and enough to set you up for the morning. I wasn't thrilled at first when I realised we had to leave the b&b to get our breakfast, but it's only across the road and it got us up out of bed, so looking back it suited us perfectly. Very good value for money. I would definitely recommend!