We are going to start our trip with a few nights in Ravenna. However, due to a rather late arrival time at the Bologna airport, we think it best to sleep the first night in Bologna, then take the train early the next morning to Ravenna.

Can anyone recommend a clean, safe hotel very near Bologna Centrale for a quick night? Breakfast included would be a plus, but not essential.

I have read scores of reviews of the very close-by hotels. As soon as I think it have one, I read something very negative that sounds credible. We only need a place to sleep, but I don't want bed bugs, dirt, a brothel atmosphere, or crime. Any ideas, oh wonderful Fodorites?

If you really arrive late, the main problem could be the check in times.
I would first check that on booking.com or so.

You don't mention a budget range, so it's not clear which hotels have some "very negative" reviews.

There are three large hotels across the street from the station's main entrance... StarHotels, Mercure and UNA. All are chain properties and all receive very good to excellent reviews on booking dot com. The StarHotels property has a review score of 8.7 (out of 9) and about 200 rooms. You can check, but I don't think you'd have a problem with a late check-in at any of these three hotels.

Im not sure how near the station you want to be, but if a 10 minute walk is OK then the hotel Paradise is a great choice. the street looks a bit off-putting because there is a fair amount of graffiti. However despite its look it is safe with some nice shops and a wonderful restaurant around the corner where we had our best dinners in Bologna. The hotel itself has large, comfortable rooms that are spotless. The upper floor rooms have skylights if you like to see the stars from your bed. Hotel staff are helpful and go out of their way for guests.

We spent the night at the Zanhotel Regina two years ago and really liked it. We took a cab from the airport (28 Euros) because we arrived quite late and it was an easy (10 minutes or so) walk to the train station the next morning. The breakfast was very good.

Some reviews sites are not very reliable because anyone can leave a review, including the owner of the competing hotel across the street. I find booking.com reviews to be very reliable because only people who have booked with them and actually stayed in the lodging can place a review. A few days after the stay they send you a questionnaire.