On 24 September 2012 B&B Savoia reveiced this disappointed review at Tripadisor.
A short reply, without links and images has been posted to tripadvisor. A more detailed reply available below.
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Nothing to write home about by <>Efrat B
Chicago, IL
Recensito il 24 settembre 2012 NOVITÀ
My husband and I stayed at this B&B on our last night in Rome. Apparently, without its' owner, the Savoia is really not that great. We were welcomed by someone else into the room, got a key, were shown around, and that was that. There was no service whatsoever. Our wireless didn't work, but because there was no phone with which to call Augusto, we couldn't get it fixed. We also had a question regarding taxi service to the airport - again, without service there was no way to know. We also could not get our bill because we had to slide money under the door (as we had only paid a downpayment through the website when we came in). Breakfast was very meager, there was a yogurt and UHT milk in the fridge, plus a refrigerated pastry. We couldn't get the stove-top to work in order to heat up some water for coffee in the morning, and again - no way to contact Augusto. Also, the TV was filled with adult channels like Arab Babes XXX (yeah, very strange). Overall, very disappointed. I'm guessing that when Augusto is around, things are much nicer.
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>>>Begin of Reply
Good day, Efrat B.
and thanks for your feedback, always welcome.
I need first to be sure you know that "the service" (in the most wider meaning) we provide follows Italian low requirements.
Which means that when you refer to "money" and "presence", we act as Italian law asks.
Let's go for points:
1). "Service": Guessing that when you say "service" you may refer to "reception", I can confirm you that we at the B&B Savoia (as similar a 3 rooms, family B&Bs across Europe) we don't have any. Neither, we promote it. So, I'm confused. Why are you asking for this?
Also, I understand that when at my place, you had no "unanswered question". Which means that every question of yours had a proper reply from our Staff.
The B&B Staff spends most of the working day here at the B&B, while may be away at night or during the week-end. Of course, always on the place when needed or requested.
2). "Wireless": Shame you're wireless was not working. You could have get advantage of the working, free WIFI connection we provide to our guests, or just turn on the shared Workstation ("Desktop") we have dedicated to our guests use since 2007, free of charge as well. This is very well promoted on several web pages, and it's free of charge.
3). "Contact Augusto": My phone number is quite easy to find, on several web pages, on mail messages I send about B&B Savoia. Even in the very same tripadvisor page where you wrote you review. Even more, my phone number carved in brass is available at the entrance of B&B Savoia Building (the one you rang to get inside the B&B itself). Also, with the free internet connection we provide at .2), you can always reach me by mail, which is usually checked every few hours.
So, as B&B Savoia guest, you had several alternative solutions to contact me (or the staff) for free. Again, confused.
4). "Taxi": Each of our 3 rooms has an info-book we wrote, with many details for our guest, where guest can find a Service Directory, with many phone numbers like emergency , hospitals, council tourism info line, and a couple of taxi companies.
5). "Bill": Sorry you haven't received your bill I mailed to you the same day I received your balance. I've re-sent you same message a few minutes ago.
Important: please do note the bill you'll receive will expose the product you booked "Ciliegio Room" (our best deal room),
with no mention to the change of room.
In fact, we had the pleasure to offert to you a Free-of-Charge-Upgrade the Magnolia Room (our first choise), accepted by you. Apologise for not being able to describe that in your bill.
6). "Downpayment": I can't understand if you're complaining something here. Downpayment is very usefull for both us (we can keep the room you booked ) and you (you can have you room booked, without paying the complete total in advance, with a nice 15 days cancellation policy). Balance is due at checking, unless guest prefer to pay later. Since we have no reception (see .1), sliding balance under the door seems to work pretty well.
7). "Breakfast": In order to keep our rates affordable, as clearly described on our website, breakfast we provide is simple, still effective, and much more than you described here.
It's hard to imagine how we could only give "a jogurt" (do you really mean "a" = "1" in quantity ??? ). Again, I'm very confused.
Also, as you may remind, more stuff (fresh fruits, sparkling water, etc) for your breakfast can be booked during the reservation process as extra.
8). "stove-top": Our Stove Top is working fine.
Did you try and use the aside microwave? As the all equiped Kitchen, both of them are always available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, free of charge of course.
9). "no way to contact Augusto" : see .3)
10.) "TV": I thank you and take advantage of your valid feedback here, surely adding a "Warning message" at our info-book we mentioned at .4), and going and firewall TV channels. Apprecieted.
By this my reply, I tried to give more elements to be considered before the overall feeling of our guest, which - as such - I fully respect.
Always available for clarification you may need.
Kind regards
Augusto Fagioli
Owner of B&B Savoia in Roma, Italia
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