Cattolica, Hotel Venezia

Me and my partner stayed at the hotel venezia for 1 week and we had a really enjoyable time, apart from it being the last week of the season, which is down to the travel agent not advising us, so this meant it was very quiet and the resort was closing down.

We arrived at the hotel to be greeted by the staff who couldn't have been more helpful and welcoming. The next morning we met the person who works behind the bar during the day and did notice his attitude, but after speaking to him for a bit we realised it was just the way he was and took his sarcasm with a pinch of salt and ended up chatting to him every day, having a laugh and even got a photo with him with a big smile on his face. We understand the comment's that other reviewers have noted, but I think you just needed to over-look his moodiness and not let it spoil your holiday. We just played up to it and it was fine. Maybe it was because we are a young couple and didnt feel intimidated by him....

We also thought the food was good, and the portions were plenty - plus the buffet of salad was nice and refreshing.

The bedrooms were very basic but what more do you want when you use the room as a base and somewhere to sleep.

Hotel is situated right on the main street and it is only 5 minutes to walk to the beach.

Overall, the staff were extremeley friendly and we got on well with all of them.

We have even discussed staying there again but obviously at a different time of year when the resort is busier.

On first sight, all looks clean and well however, whilst the rooms are supposedly "cleaned" daily, everything is quite literally brushed under the bed - there must have been a couple of months worth of fluff and goodness knows what under our bed (including orange peel which was not ours).

Room otherwise was what I can only describe as adequate - there was just a basic bed, wardrobe and table in ours, no pics on walls or anything - oh, there was a TV but we found out at the end of our stay you had to pay to use the TV (pay for a remote control).

Bathroom was useable but again, not anywhere near as clean as you would expect from a hotel with a lesser number of stars - taps were covered in soap and scum.

Air conditioning - another extra - 10 euro's per night ...

Food, extremely basic - whilst it was okay, it was nothing like traditional Italian food - if you are planning a trip to Italy and expect to eat traditional Italian food in this hotel, you are in for a big disappointment.

There were only a couple of choices by way of meals and you had to decide what you wanted the night before - starter and main appeared to have been prepared on the premises but the desserts were bought in, pretty much as you'd buy frozen deserts from your local supermarket in the UK (in small plastic tubs) and not a tiramissu in sight.

Staff - well, what can I say - there was an Italian chap who served behind the bar - he was ignorant, rude and quite disgusting - to give you an example, my hubbie asked him about the weather one afternoon and he laughed in his face, looked at me and made an obscene gesture behind my hubbies back - I'm no prude but the gesture was disgusting.

On the leaving day, the same chap was asked "could I leave my valuables somewhere safe" ... he took them and threw them into a back room off the reception area - he was told when handing the bag over there was approx. £5 K worth of stuff in the bag and he just said "rubbish" and threw it to the ground.

The above incident was reported to a Thomas Cook rep - she took it up with one of the others he just threw his hands in the air as if to say he didn't want to know about it and it was left at that however, I will be taking matters up with Thomas Cook shortly.

So all in all, a good time in Italy but the Hotel Venezia, in my mind, is one to stay well clear of.

My wife and I love taking holidays in Italy. We decided to visit Cattolica as we had not been to this area before. On the travel agents suggestion we stayed for one week at the Venezia Hotel which is family owned. We were met at 2am by one of the staff (who I might add is English)our bedroom was very basic, bed and wardrobe, the aircon was an additional 10 euro per day, the TV was extra the hole in the wall which was a safe, again was extra. The towels were like drying yourself with sandpaper, we daily had to ask for soap. We found the bar staff during the day to be hostile, rude making obscene gestures behind guests back and having no respect for guests property. The food, well I did not go to Italy for a pork chop and mash. We were half board but chose to eat out most nights. Go back - never.

I have always believed that, when on holiday, use the hotel as a base to see the area around the resort. I had planned (and prepaid) for rail tickets to Ravenna and Bologna with the knowledge that our evening meals were provided. How I wish we hadn't bothered with half-board!!! Breakfast - not much kop (and I am a hotelier, so say it with some authority): dinner - prompt at 7.30, any later don't bother turning up at all and, despite being pre-selected each day, wasn't worth rushing back from wherever we had gone as it was nearly inedible! The "hidden extras" & "hostility" comments were well-founded, with air-con & TV charges making a large hole in the spending money that had not been planned for. We had chosen the Hotel Venezia for its name as we been to Venice several times: it bears as much resemblance to that city as London does to Milton Keynes (and I apologise in advance to the citizens of the latter for the disparagement). The resort was, otherwise, quite good and we enjoyed ourselves - but only after we got away from the hotel, and found a decent bar at which we didn't feel that we were disliked by the hosts.

Hotel Venezia is a family run hotel in a central location in Cattolica. We stayed for one week in May 2009. We paid a very reasonable price for the holiday through Thomas Cook, so bearing in mind the price paid the hotel was adequate. On the whole the staff seemed friendly and helpful, but for some reason we didn't feel totally at ease during our stay. There are many hidden extra charges, such as having to pay extra for air conditioning, extra was charged for use of the room TV. Water is charged by the bottle at meal times and coffee is not included in the evening meal, it has to be purchased after in the bar. The hotel doesn't have a pool, but is close to the beach. The beaches are privately owned and as such sun beds and umbrellas are charged for, (16 euros a day for two beds and a brolly).We paid 30 euros extra to have the use of a room for the last day of our stay as our departure was not until after midnight. We had to move rooms by 11.00am on the day of departure. (couldn't keep our allocated room as it was needed) We were moved to a very old and shabby room on the 4th floor, which was very poor value for money.

Just stayed one week at Venezia the rooms are basic but cleaned every day no entertainment except for karoke on a Monday night the worst part of the holiday was the food and staff. Could not watch english tv always had Italian channels on, they kept the remote, last of all the food was awful had to eat out some nights, would never stay there again.

Not sure if i would go back, i think there are better hotels in the vicinity with happier bar staff that know how to treat people.

We had a really great time in Hotel Venezia. It was a great base we travelled to Venice and Flornence. The food was lovely. The hotel was very clean.

We would definitely recommend this hotel to people. Had a fab time in Italy. Would go back to this hotel. Loved it

We enjoyed our break in this friendly family run hotel will go again in the future. Pool on the beach, as hotel not big enough to have one. But enjoyed our own exploring of the area.

I stayed at this hotel for 2 weeks and from the minute I arrived I was met by hostility from the male manager/owner he usually served behind the bar.or on reception. I asked for a cappucino in my best italian language, he was eating a yoghurt and he proceeded to give me a very surly look and slammed the coffee down in front of me. After that I felt very uncomfortable around him he gave me dirty looks and was very unfriendly I don't know why.

The food was awful considering I was in Italy it was more like canteen type food poor choice etc really horrible!

I was counting the days until home despite this being my main 2 week holiday, not relaxing by any means!

I would never ever recommend this hotel to anyone, he made Basil Fawlty look polite!!!