Passing through Parma for a quick overnight on the way to a tradeshow brought us to the Sina Maria Luigia hotel, part of a small group of hotels near and dear to our heart. Despite the mixed reviews online, we persisted with a reservation for romantic reasons. However, had this have been our first experience with the brand, I don’t believe there would be a second one. Nothing about this hotel even hinted at the local, refined, creative properties found in other Italian cities. The hotel was properly dated (as Italian hotels can be) and was furnished from scraps that fell off the back of a truck about thirty years ago. It was clear that the hotel carpets had not been cleaned in just as long and likely the key reason they keep it dark and dingy, as not to see the filth.

The lobby was ok, not much to report there. The restaurant that served a lackluster breakfast had staff that were more interested in eating their own breakfast and couldn’t even muster a hello. They certainly weren’t worried what room we were in, so if you’re staying in Parma, this would be a very easy place to wander in off of the street.

There was a small bar with no activity.

Then, the room. Oh la la! After an elevator ride for one, as it wouldn’t’ fit two), and passing through a dark and filthy corridor, you are greeted by a room so dark that a phone torch is required just to find the light switch. The windows were triple locked and double curtained despite it being mid afternoon, giving the room a very sad feeling.

The bath was small but manageable and surprisingly offered robes and slippers, even though the closet didn’t so much as have a single hanger.