From reading hotel reviews on Trip Advisor, it seems that a lot of people write that they reserved at one hotel, but on arrival were 'walked' to a sister hotel of lesser quality or in a less desireable area. This seemed to be more common in Venice than in Florence (the two places I'm currently researching, Rome is next...)

Is this practice really as common as it seems based on the T/A reviews?

I was “walked” to a lesser hotel in Rome in 2000. It was near the train station, not the greatest location in the city in any event. The last-resort accommodations were finally bearable (I survived), given that I was staying for only one night before a morning flight out, but it was unnerving to be “moved” as soon as I reached the front desk.

I don't know if it is "common" but I would certainly avoid any hotel reported to engage in this practice. I don't care how attractive the rate is.

In six trips to Venice (in different hotels) I've been walked to an annex once - a different building with a worse location but technically part of the same hotel. I wasn't happy but they refused to give me a room in the main hotel claiming it was full; I really don't think it was. I guess they were keeping their best rooms in case new guests (who hadn't paid in advance like me) wanted a canal view.

The only time this happened to us was in Madrid at the Hotel Europa and in all fairness to the hotel, part of it was because our train ran late and we didn't arrive until after 12. Still, we weren't too happy about it, but were tired and didn't have many options. I've never had this happen in Venice (or anyplace else where I had reservations...and I always print out my confirmations, which may or may not help avoid this from happening.)

I've stayed in five different hotels (three excellent ones, two I wouldn't go back to) in Venice and it hasn't happened to me though I have heard of it happening.

papagena: would you be willing to share the name of the hotel where this happened to you?

Hi G,

>Is this practice really as common as it seems based on the T/A reviews? <

No. People who had unpleasant experiences are far more likely to report them than those who had good experiences.

"Hi all. We reserved rooms at the Albergo and got the ones they said we would get," rarely appears.