Well, after reading the reviews that said that this is the best hostel in Italy I must say I was disappointed, very disappointed! There is no fun here!After leaving Venice at 6am to get here in time for check in at 9.30, as the other reviews advised, we couldn't even get a shower or chill out. The hostel is up a hill, eventhough the view is nice, its dam hard to hike up there with a backpack, so a shower was needed. Advanced booking would solve that problem.The building is nice and clean but seriously run down and in need of painting. The gardens around it are lovely but you don't get much time to enjoy them. The staff were only ok and breakfast was average. Shower facilities are very good.Now, for the curfew!! verona is a beautiful city, by far the nicest I've been to in Northern Italy, but in the city of Romeo and Juliet, the classic lovers, you are expected to be in by 11.30! If you go to Gardaland, which is class, especially after 9 when all the young Italians head out there, you have to leave just when it starts buzzing. There is no common room, just the big, cold dining room. There is no atmosphere there and they want everyone in bed by 12.In reception there is a book for comments, none of which are highly complementary. I wrote mine and left this website address, so more people can say how they feel.I suppose its clean and efficient and you can get a good night's sleep there and breakfast, but if you want to meet people and have a bit more fun there has to be somewhere better in Verona.
21 of
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Anonymous
Copenhagen, Denmark
Best hostel in Italy.... 20 July 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 7407)
After having travelled around Italy this hostel in Verona was DEFINITELY the best one. Situated in such a beautiful area...The building itself, the location and the garden is reason enough for visiting Verona (which is also in my opinion the most beautiful city in Italy). Staff was very friendly. Showers clean and nice...and yes...communal...But what the hec. you don't pay Hilton prices....If I have to say something negative...Then the beds are in a big gymnasium...and if you run into some noisy inconsiderate backpaskers (like it happened to me)...then your good night sleep might be spoiled....:-(...Yet, alltogether perhaps thé best hostel I have ever stayed in.......:-)
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Anonymous
England
Cheap cheap cheap 12 July 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7408)
This hostel is beautiful. Situated up a hill not too far from central Verona, it has got loads of character. The hostel has its own little park attached and the church adjacent, whose bells ring on every half hour. The hostel itself is comfortable although the dorms are huge, single-sex: at least 28 or so, but separated into little cubicles of 4. Worst point of the hostel: communal showering, which I don't particularly want to repeat, but it isn't the huge struggle some people whined about. Also, they do great food here, an extra 7,50. Overall, a nice cheap place to stay in while exploring Verona (though, hostel-wise, you have no other choice unless you're female!).
20 of
21 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
England, UK
Communal showers, long lockout, early curfew an 15 June 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 7409)
The staff are ok. But is there really any need for such a long lockout( 9-5pm). I got caught in the rain and had to stay wet for the rest of the day. The curfew was a bit early too. And they turn the lights off at midnight.The room was clean if a little packed. Big cupboards for bag storage(need your own padlock). But horrible communal shower. There are certain things i want to keep to myself and displaying my nudity in front of strangers is not my idea of fun. Everyone hated it. What a stupid idea, it was obviously new as well.The laundry is good. And the grounds are pretty. Breakfast was rubbish and the tea looked like urine. Also a bit of a trek up the hill, not good for the unfit or disabled.From previous reviews i expected more, to be frank, i've stayed in better.
2 of
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Alejandro
Buenos Aires, Argentina
It's a nice place. 23 February 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Alejandro
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7410)
It's not true that it's far from the center and that you have to walk a lot... Verona is small and the hostel is not so high on a hill... Location is perfect. About the lockout: why would you like to be at the hostel between 9 and 5 PM? Better go out and see the city. And the curfew: there's not a big nightlife in Verona, so it's ok. Breakfast is ok, and the bathrooms are very nice and clean, and there are lockers. So, resuming, For spending 1 or 2 days in Verona the place is perfect, and very cheap for Italian prices...
24 of
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Anonymous
Melbourne, Australia
Want to go to boarding school? 10 February 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 7411)
If you are interested in visiting an amazing building then this is the place for you. The downside with this place is that you are locked out from 9 till 5 and on a cold winters day it can make one feel quite miserable. The single sex dorms are quite archaic as is the no alcohol rule (however you do get a glass of wine with your dinner, which for 7 euro 50 cents is actually really good). I can imagine that this place would be great in summer but in winter it is all a bit cold. PS being a prudish Australian I wasn't too fond of the communal shower (which were also cold).
2 of
10 people found this review helpful
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Hagai
Israel
good but can be improved 6 January 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Hagai
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 7412)
I stayed there for a couple of days besides the ridiculoushours of opening ,one arrogant guy of the staff didn't stop talking about Israelis and mainly against them, he also spoke against Americans, Japanese and other nationalities that he didn't like , I found it very offensive and I wouldn't return to that hostel,I must mention that his collegues were much nicer than him.
10 of
16 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Glasgow, Scotland
very relaxing and friendly 20 September 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7413)
The hostel itself is clean and comfortable but the best part is the gardens. You're locked out from 9 to 5 but can sit in the garden and enjoy the sunshine all day and at night we met lots of people sitting out there. Verona is beautiful and there is lots to see. The hostel has cupboards in the rooms for bags but you'll need your own padlock. There is a really good restraunt abot 5mins walk away by the river which we ate at most nights.
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28 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Oregon, USA
A tour of the building alone is worth the price 31 August 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 7414)
We stayed here in 1993 and found the building to be beautiful, the staff to be friendly and the prices very reasonable. Get there early to be sure you get in. Men and women bunk separately.
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15 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Amsterdam
What's with the lock out times??? 26 August 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7415)
Villa Francescatti indeed is a great hostel. Only... I had read the reviews before going there and then, I must say, It is a little bit dissappointing..The building is beautiful!! Wow!! It has this great garden as well, very large, grean and peaceful. The beds were fine, a little instable and squeking..but oh well..The showers were very spacious and hot, could have been a bit cleaner but on the overall I would give them an 8 on a scale of 10.Toilets were just fine.Breakfast was not great. You might as well skip it. There is only bread and jam and the bread is old. There is also (chocolate) milk which is poured into soup bowls for you. The free mineral water machine is great though.So are there down sides to this hostel?YES, there are!1. They lock you out from 9 to 5 during the day and the curfew is 11.30!! That is simply cruel!!Seriously..2. The location. It's a 15 min. walk to the centre, 30 min. to the station. Not terrible, but not ideal as well.Conclusion? We couldn't overcome the lock out times because it seriously doesn't give you much freedom. That is why we moved to the campsite (10 min. up the hill from the hostel) which had a curfew of 4.00. Great camping!However, Villa Francescatti is a beautiful villa and is great for if you are tired from travelling, it is without a doubt one of the nicest hostels I've been in. Therefore I highly recommend it. Hostel card is officially needed, but with us they settles for a university card. Perfect busconnection.
