Two nights, October 2011, mature couple. Yes, its immaculate, rooms bed and en suite large,quiet (but for rain on and a bit of light through a fixed skylight with no blind). The place is certainly comfortable, welcoming and very good value. But you need to know and be prepared for a couple of downsides.
There are no 'hotel' facilities, no public rooms. The website photo of two chairs is not indicative of anything but the two chairs you see outside, on the public landing, slightly misleading! The 2Euro breakfast is a coffee and sweet biscuit at the nearby restaurant (Vasco, the steak house much praised on Trip Advisor). Our view was business car parks.
If you're there like us for tourism, Its too far for walking to the historic centre (best part of 2 miles), even too far for walking if you arrive by train (best part of 1 mile). The arterial road is unpleasant, but the hotel is away from it in a courtyard. Half hourly buses stop at 2000 generally, last one in to town 1940, you need to know where to change. Taxi from station 7Euros, from town (radio taxi has to be called) 12, slightly offsetting the good room price. Buses needed a prepaid ticket (about 1Euro), good for 60 minutes riding (information hard to find in advance, and receptionist steered us wrong and out us at risk by telling us we could get it on the bus - you can't.
Interested to hear about nearby restaurant discounts offered. We were only offered one in town, but did (fed up with the transport problem!) nervously try the unknown (to us), not very inviting from the street, La Bruschetta on the main road two hundred yards towards town and found the food fantastic, style slightly upmarket, service friendly and helpful.
In sum, very fair decent place to sleep. We wouldn't use it again because of the distance and limited transport to what we were in Mantua to do, but recommended for anyone not bothered by that.
- Albergo Meuble Abatjour Mantova
