Avoid, Hotel Misery
Where to start? Holidays are costly and everyone hopes to go away with happy memories. We certainly don't expect holidays to be unpleasant. But UNPLEASANT was most definitely our experience at the Savoy Palace, Gardone, and it was down, largely, to one member of staff, the restaurant Maitre D'. We had paid for half-board, thus dined at the hotel restaurant every evening (except one). The MD was the most surly, contemptuous person we have ever come across. He seemed to be doing everything he could to make us feel unwelcome. His attitude was inexplicable. We are peaceable, easy-going folk who are grateful for the hardwork and effort put in by hotel staff. What on earth had we done to arouse such rancour? By the third day we went online, searching for reviews of the Savoy Palace. Lo and behold, we found plenty that complained about exactly this issue: a rude, disagreeable Maitre D', who cast a dark shadow over their entire dining experience! The odd thing is that this man also had his favourites, on whom he showered attention. He was operating like a typical bully, victimising some guests, flattering others. Why would a hotel employ someone in a public facing role who has this disgraceful attitude? The main job of any hotel, surely, is to make their guests feel welcome and comfortable? Great customer service is the foundation stone of such businesses, they flourish by word of mouth. We have been to Lake Garda many times and have always been made to feel like superstars. Our best ever holiday was at a different hotel in Gardone. Thus, to be treated with such contempt at the Savoy, came as an incredible shock. The other reviews also warned about checking the 'extras' bill, as several guests had been overcharged. We kept a detailed record of all extras ordered. And indeed, on checking out, we were presented with a bill for 125 euros more than it should have been. Oddly these came from an a la carte meal we had never had, and after dinner cocktails that we'd never ordered. Now, it's true, mistakes happen, but we have never before been charged for anything, at any hotel, that we have not genuinely ordered. Going by other reviews of the Savoy Palace, mistakes of this kind aren't rare here. And how odd that one of these phantom purchases came from the restaurant. At reception we were shown the signed chits, obviously forged, with a signature nothing like ours. These experiences made our stay at the Savoy Palace deeply unpleasant. Many of the negative reviews we read (from at least 2017 to 2023) had been responded to by the owners of the hotel, stating they were sorry etc and would implement staff training etc. Well, it's obvious this response is just lip service. Nothing has been done, and I doubt anything will ever be done. I just feel sorry for unsuspecting guests of the future whose holiday will be ruined by this unkind, manipulative man.