Mazzini 16 Downtown

We arrived at Pisa train station around 9pm and hoped to be out and eating by about 9.30 because we knew it was only a short walk to the accommodation from there. However, by 11pm I had lost my appetite and patience because of the poor organisation and service of this place. Our catalogue of disaters startew with we couldn't find it. We were on the right road according to the address we had and our map and I even asked two locals who confirmed it but there was no hotel/hostel there. So my friend phoned them. They didn't seem to know we had a booking but eventually conceded and said to wait and someone would be with us in '2minutes'. We assumed it was with keys to an apartment as we'd had a similar apartment elsewhere but no. Another phone call and a half hour wait later, a very sweet man turned up, stressed and apologetic at least but with no explanation and took us in his car to another destination practically next to the train station. I don't understand how they could have been so disorganised that they couldn't have updated their address on booking.com and saved us a journey through town late in the evening for no reason. On arrival, whilst freshly painted and clean, it wasn't finished and shouldn't have been open for operation. There was a big room which might eventually be a common room or kitchen but it was currently being used as a dumping ground for dirty and clean linen, building materials and general waste. There were 2 bathrooms but one didn't look quite safely finished enough so I used the one which looked finished but like a family bathroom and a dozen shampoos and shower gels lying at the bottom of the shower. Finally, our room. It was tiny and not fit for purpose as a rented room. There was nowhere to hang anything, or nowhere to sit apart from the bed. The bed was new and comfortable but it was the only thing which could fit. There was a shiny new TV but it didn't work, even with tech savvy people trying to work it and no internet access as had been promised and there was masonry dust on surfaces having not been cleaned properly. The next day someone called for cash payment but I regret paying for it as it wasn't worth it. Just be aware if you do book this that they have moved. It's now a very short walk from the train station so get the proper address or you will go through the same unnecessary rigmarole as we did. Ideally, don't go there at all. There is something sneaky and underhand about the way they operate and don't really deserve the clientele until they improve the service!

There was no sign on the hotel and the bell didn't work. I rang the hotel and was told to wait and I would be picked up and taken to another address as the plumbing was not working. I was taken to a slum near the train station where it seems they had renovated a flat and sectioned it in to several rooms. There was no electricity and therefore no wifi. There were no other guests. I booked another hotel and handed the keys back. I had booked Mazzini 16 because it had wifi and it is in a good location I was taken to a poor location with no electricity. Disgraceful.

As we arrived into Pisa last year for my girlfriends birthday, we got a taxi straight to the door of Mazzini. A little nervous given this was the first hostel we had either stayed at, the door was opened for us into a beautiful little, homely reception by the loveliest woman. She was so excited to see us, to help us and to let us know just about everything there was to know about Pisa, including the best, real restaurants away from the tourist snares! We had been upgraded to the Attic room, right at the very top of the building, so we climbed the stairs, as the elevator was very slow, and opened our sliding door to find an eloquent modern yet rustic room, with a large double bed, with mood lighting underneath, large ballast beams for the roof and charming brick walls. We felt like little runaways experiencing the true romance and excitement of Italy, our little den was so well accustomed, that our expectations of hostels was forever raised. In all, if you are a travelling businessman, expecting the bells and whistles of a neo Ritz, then this is not the place for you, but if you are one of those after my own heart, a romantic adventurer, then you may be quite surprised by what you find through that little door to No.16 Mazzini Downtown