Swindler Basilio 55
Hello, fellow travelers! I would like to share my experience to warn other tourists about a possible scam that we encountered in Rome. Unfortunately, it happened where we least expected it — at Basilio 55 Rome, located at Via di San Basilio, 55, whose owner is Marco. I am attaching a photo of the hotel exterior only, as we never actually stayed there. The only time I entered the building was the following day when I went to speak with Marco about what had happened. Before our trip to Rome, I booked and fully paid €328 for a premium room at Basilio 55 Rome. I chose this hotel based on its reviews, central location, and the level of comfort it advertised. On the day of our arrival, my family and I headed to the hotel after a long and tiring train journey. On our way, we were greeted by Marco himself. This made a very positive first impression, as it seemed that the owner personally cared about his guests. However, instead of taking us to the hotel we had booked — Basilio 55 Rome at Via di San Basilio, 55 — he escorted us to a different hotel, L'Hotel Cinquantatre, located at Via di San Basilio, 53. Marco explained that Basilio 55 Rome and L'Hotel Cinquantatre were essentially the same hotel. Since the two buildings are located next to each other, and we were tired after traveling, we did not question this explanation and checked in. Only later, after we had rested and gone out to explore Rome, did we realize that we had actually been accommodated in a completely different hotel — a three-star hotel instead of the premium property we had booked and paid for. The next morning, I met with Marco and told him that I considered this to be misleading and deceptive. He responded by saying that I had only booked a large bed with additional sleeping arrangements and that he had provided exactly that. I explained that I had not paid merely for beds, but for accommodation at a specific hotel located at Via di San Basilio, 55, not Via di San Basilio, 53. Unfortunately, it was almost impossible to prove anything on the spot. The situation gave me the impression that this may not have been the first time such a practice had occurred. I also requested documentation from the management of L'Hotel Cinquantatre confirming that we had stayed at Via di San Basilio, 53. However, I was told that all documents were handled by Marco. The only document I received was a service receipt, which does not serve as official proof of accommodation and cannot be used to formally confirm that we stayed at a different address. I am attaching photos and videos. My purpose is simply to warn other travelers that situations like this can happen. Please be careful when checking in and always verify that the hotel name and address match your reservation, even if you are personally greeted by a representative of the hotel. I would also like to mention the booking platform Ostrovok. Unfortunately, they have been unable to assist us. To investigate the complaint, they requested an invoice or official proof showing that we stayed at a different address. I cannot provide such documentation because it was never given to me. In my opinion, situations like this deserve greater attention from booking platforms in order to better protect travelers from potentially misleading practices. Please stay vigilant and carefully check all documents when checking into your hotel. I'm leaving my review here because Ostrovok did not publish either my review or my 1-star rating of the hotel. Apparently, it didn't pass moderation due to the low rating, even though I submitted it back in late June.
#1186
