Unbelievable! This Perugia Hotel Will Blow Your Mind (Deco Hotel Review)
Unbelievable! This Perugia Hotel Will Blow Your Mind (Deco Hotel Review) - Or Maybe Not? (A Real-Life, Rambling Account)
Okay, so here's the deal. I just got back from Perugia, and my brain is still processing the actual experience of the Deco Hotel. The hype said "Unbelievable!" and, well, let's just say my expectations were sky-high. This is going to be a messy, honest, and hopefully, helpful review. Buckle up.
First Impressions (and a bit of a panic attack about Accessibility)
Alright, the Deco Hotel. It's in Perugia, which is already a win because Perugia is gorgeous. Cobblestone streets, rolling hills, the whole shebang. But here's where my perfectly curated Instagram feed starts to crack. I'm all for a picturesque hotel, but I need it to work for me, and I'm talking accessibility.
Accessibility: The website promised accessibility… but the reality? Look, finding a truly accessible hotel in Italy feels like finding a unicorn. The Deco Hotel does have elevators, which is a HUGE plus in a city built on slopes. But like, navigating the public areas? Some doorways felt a little tight with my luggage (and I'm not even in a wheelchair!). I'd suggest contacting them directly about specific needs BEFORE you book. ProTip: DEFINITELY inquire about adapted rooms and their layouts. Don't assume anything based on website descriptions.
(This is where I ramble about the existential dread associated with travel accessibility) Seriously, it's a minefield. You want a relaxing vacation, not a constant struggle to get around. Hotels, listen up: clear, honest communication about accessibility is a must. Okay, deep breaths… Moving on.
Check-in/out [express/private/contactless]: They offered all three! I opted for contactless check-in because, let's face it, I'm a millennial and avoid direct human interaction whenever possible. It was swift and painless. Score one for technology!
The Room: My Little Sanctuary (or Maybe Not?)
- Available in all rooms: This is where the hotel shines, the rooms are truly their strong suit.
- Air conditioning: Blessedly effective. Perugia gets HOT.
- Free Wi-Fi: YES, and it actually worked! (See more below about Internet access)
- Wake-up service: I didn't use it, because I'm a self-proclaimed master of waking up whenever I please, but it was available.
- Additional toilet: Always a bonus, especially if you're traveling with a… well, let's just say "a friend."
- Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Hair dryer, Slippers: The standard luxury touches that make you feel like you deserve to be pampered. I definitely appreciated the bathrobes; my skin felt so soft and cuddly.
- Desk, Mini bar, Refrigerator, Safe box: The essentials for any modern traveler who likes to work or just chill.
- Blackout curtains, Soundproofing: Crucial for getting a decent night's sleep, though I still woke up at 3 am convinced a rogue cat was tap-dancing on my roof.
- Window that opens: Fresh air is a luxury!
- Internet access – wireless (Wi-Fi [free]): The Wi-Fi was solid, not a buffering nightmare. This is important for a modern traveler.
- Shower: The shower was really great; the water pressure was fantastic.
- The room was clean, but I'm sure they missed a spot because there was a little dust on the high shelf
- Coffee/tea maker: Thank God, because as soon as I wake up I want a fresh cup of coffee.
But, now the imperfections… Looked, the rooms were well-appointed. However, I requested a specific view and they didn't quite get this right. Little things like this that knocked off some points for me. Still, as hotel rooms go, I could've done a lot worse.
Internet, Glorious Internet
- Internet access: They had the internet, and it was good!
- Internet [LAN]: I didn't test the LAN but it was available.
- Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas: Wi-Fi everywhere, and it was consistent. I could watch Netflix, browse the web, and, most importantly, respond to work emails without wanting to throw my laptop out the window. Priorities!
Things to DO (and Ways to Relax, Sort Of)
- Spa/sauna/steamroom: I didn’t dive into the spa, but I know it's available.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: If you felt like working, the equipment was available!
- Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: The view from the pool was stunning. I spent a delightful afternoon there, sipping Aperol spritzes and trying to pretend I wasn't slightly sunburnt. Pure bliss… until the sun went down, and I realized I hadn't applied enough sunscreen.
- Massage: They do offer, but I didn't try it.
- For the kids, Family/child friendly, Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal: I'm not a kid, so I didn't investigate this too much, but the hotel seemed well-equipped for families.
- Couple's room Available!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Food (and My Inner Food Critic)
- Restaurants: The Deco Hotel has a couple of restaurants. Breakfast was buffet style, with the usual suspects: pastries, eggs, fruit, and coffee.
- Breakfast [buffet]/Breakfast service: Breakfast was okay, and the availability of food was great, for sure!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Coffee was available.
- Bar, Poolside bar, Happy hour: The bar was nice for an evening cocktail, although the poolside bar was really where it was at during the day.
- A la carte in restaurant: I think they did, or could do, this.
- Alternative meal arrangement: You could tell them your dietary requirements.
- Room service [24-hour]: They had 24-hour room service, which is always a plus.
- Snack bar: They offered a snack bar.
- Asian breakfast/Asian cuisine in restaurant/Vegetarian restaurant/Western breakfast/Western cuisine in restaurant: They didn't have a huge variety.
- Cashless payment service: Yess, this is very modern.
- Bottle of water: They had bottles of water.
- Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: All things that you could try, if you wanted to!
Okay, the food. Let's get real. The breakfast buffet was… fine. Standard hotel breakfast. You won't be blown away, but you won't be starving. The a la carte menu at dinner was better, but the prices were a bit steep. I'm a bargain hunter at heart. Moral of the story: do your research and scope out some local trattorias. Trust me.
Cleanliness and Safety: Gotta Feel Safe, Right?
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: Okay, they were serious about cleanliness. A+ on that front. The whole place felt clean and well-maintained.
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Good to know in case of an emergency.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: Safety first. This is a well-protected hotel.
Services and Conveniences: The Nitty-Gritty
- Daily housekeeping, Elevator, Luggage storage: Essential services.
- Air conditioning in public area: Always a good thing.
- Airport transfer, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Taxi service, Valet parking: The logistics were covered.
- Concierge, Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: The convenience factor was high.
- Facilities for disabled guests: This is a general category that I mention in the first section, but it could be better.
- Gift/souvenir shop: They even had a gift shop.
Getting Around: The Highway to Perugia
- Airport transfer: Available!
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: Parking was available.
- Car power charging station: Bonus points for electric vehicles!
- Bicycle parking: Seems good
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this "itinerary" is less a meticulously crafted schedule and more… a drunken doodle on a napkin. We're talking about Perugia, Italy, at the Deco Hotel, and let me tell you, it's gonna be a wild ride. Prepare for the unexpected, the underwhelming, and possibly, the glorious. Here we go:
Arrival - Day 1: Perugia, Here We Come (Maybe)
- 12:00 PM (ish): Arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Ugh, airports. They're all the same, a symphony of screaming children and the smell of desperation wafting off delayed flights. Pray to the travel gods our luggage makes it. I'm already picturing myself waltzing into Perugia wearing nothing but that emergency yoga outfit I packed "just in case."
- 1:30 PM: Train to Perugia (assume it goes according to plan, which is never guaranteed. I once missed a connecting flight because I got captivated by a street performer juggling live pigeons. True story.)
- 2:30 PM (or likely 4 PM): The train. Pray for a window seat and a non-snoring seatmate. My train travel nemesis? The guy with the incredibly loud phone calls. Italian grandmas, I'm looking at you.
- 4:00 PM(ish): Arrive at Perugia Train Station - and pray the taxi drivers aren't trying to fleece you. Always bargain!
Settling In & First Impressions - Day 1 (continued):
- 4:30 PM(ish): Check into the Deco Hotel. Photos online looked amazing, right? Fingers crossed it's not a bait-and-switch situation. I've been burned before. Remember that "charming Tuscan villa" that turned out to be a glorified shed? I shudder.
- 5:00 PM: Unpack. This is the moment of truth. Did I pack too many shoes? (The answer is always no.) Did I remember the travel-sized shampoo? (Probably not.) The real question here is, will the hotel room have a functioning coffee machine? That's a dealbreaker, people.
- 6:00 PM: Wander around the neighborhood of the hotel. Just a short walk. Maybe find a grocery or a cafe.
- Anecdote: The first time I went on solo travel; I was intimidated by the locals. I spent half the time in a cafe watching other folks. It's a good day now.
- 7:30 PM: Dinner. Okay, this is where things get serious. I need a recommendation. Google Maps is your friend. The Pasta Question: Will it be al dente, or will it be a soggy mess? This holds my fate, I think. I'm talking something traditional, Umbrian. Maybe a truffle pasta? I can't decide!
- 9:00 PM: Stroll through the historic center, maybe see the fountain. Then, back to the hotel. Bedtime.
Day 2: Perugia Deep Dive - The Chocolate (Part 1), and the Art
- 8:00 AM: Wake up and have Italian coffee (if the coffee machine in the room is working. If not, I'm marching to the lobby with a look that says "Coffee, NOW.")
- 9:00 AM: Visit the Perugina Chocolate Factory (Baci!) - This is a MUST. I'm talking a full-blown chocolate experience. I'm going to drown myself in the Baci kisses. I'm going to shove my face in the chocolate fountains (not really, but you get the idea). I'm going to buy enough chocolate to make myself sick. No regrets. Seriously, I am 100% ready.
- Impression: The sheer smell of chocolate! You walk in, and you're transported to Chocolate Heaven. The factory tour, even though it's a bit corporate, is still fun. You get to see how the Baci kisses are made, watch the automated machines churn out these little treats… and think how much work it takes to get from my head to my mouth.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. We're going to get some tasty pizza.
- 1:30 PM: Visit the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria. Art. It is what it is. Will I be blown away? Will I be bored? Is it all just religious paintings of saints looking mournful? Probably. But you gotta do it, right? I'll try to appreciate the art. I'll try to look cultured. I'll try not to start yawning after the first five minutes.
- 4:00 PM: Wander the streets. Find a gelato shop. Try all the flavors. It's a scientific imperative. I need to know which is the best - chocolate, pistachio, stracciatella? The research must be done!
- 6:00 PM: Aperitivo time. This is the Italian version of an early evening meal, which will probably involve delicious snacks and a good wine. Look for the place with the most locals. That's usually a good sign.
- 8:00 PM: Dinner. Explore another restaurant. More of them.
Day 3: One Last Hurrah! - The Chocolate (Part 2) and Departure
- 8:00 AM: Last breakfast in Perugia. More coffee because caffeine is important.
- 9:30 AM: Final Chocolate Fix! That's right, another visit to Perugina! Buying some souvenirs, for the family.
- Emotional Reaction: "Goodbye, Baci!" The heartbreak as you pack up enough chocolate to last you through a dark winter. It's bittersweet.
- 11:00 AM: Quick stroll through the old town while the memories are fresh.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. Because you always need lunch.
- 1:00 PM: Head to the train station.
- 3:00 PM: Train to Rome another train.
- 4:00 PM: Arrive in Rome.
Hotel Deco - Overall Impressions (In the Style of Scattered Thoughts):
- Ambiance: Hopefully, it's not too "hotel-y." I like quirky. I like character. I don't want a sterile, bland experience. (Did I mention I like quirky?) It's the little things, right? A comfy bed, a working shower, a friendly staff… those can make or break a stay.
- Location: Hopefully, it's not too far from the main attractions. I'm not the best walker.
- The Food: Fingers crossed for a decent breakfast spread. Eggs are always a plus. And strong, good coffee. Because, as I've established… coffee is life.
- Overall: This trip is all about the sensory experience. The smells, the tastes, the sights, the sounds… Immersing myself completely.
Final Thoughts
This isn't a rigid itinerary. It's a suggestion, a framework. The point is to be flexible, to embrace the unexpected, to get lost and wander. To eat too much pasta, and to laugh a lot. To let myself be charmed by Perugia, even with its imperfections. To come home with stories, not just photos. And, hopefully, with a suitcase full of chocolate.
Ciao, bella! Let the journey begin… or not. Who knows?
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Unbelievable! This Perugia Hotel Will Blow Your Mind (Deco Hotel Review) - FAQ, Basically
Okay, spill it. Is this Deco Hotel *actually* as amazing as everyone says?
Alright, alright, settle down. Look, "amazing" is a strong word, right? I mean, I've stayed in places where the sheets felt like sandpaper and the "continental breakfast" was a sad-looking croissant and half a glass of orange juice. This… this was *different*. It wasn't perfect. (We'll get to that later, trust me, I’m *dying* to tell you about the leaky faucet.) But the *vibe*? The pure, unapologetic *Deco-ness* of it all? Yeah. It's pretty darn close. Think Wes Anderson meets Italian grandma chic. And I'm totally here for it. So, in short: Yes, it's pretty damn amazing, BUT...
What's the *one* thing you remember most about the hotel? (Besides the "amazing" part, obviously.)
Oh, god. Okay, this is going to sound ridiculous, but… the light. Seriously. The way the sunlight poured in through those stained-glass windows… It was like being inside a kaleidoscope designed by a genius. I’m not even kidding. I spent a solid hour just *staring* at the play of light on the patterns on my ceiling. Okay, maybe I was still a little jet-lagged, but still. It was magical. Utterly, ridiculously, Instagram-worthy magical. I took, like, a hundred pictures. Most of them were blurry, because, you know, camera phones. But still… the light! (And, honestly, I'm already dreaming of going back just to experience it again).
Right, so there *had* to be a catch. What was the biggest letdown? Be honest! Spill the tea!
Okay. Buckle up. Here’s the real dirt. It was the leaky faucet in my *gorgeous* Art Deco bathroom. I mean, the bathroom was a *dream*. Giant soaking tub, the whole shebang. But that darn faucet! Drip, drip, drip… all night long. It was like a tiny, insistent torture device! I tried everything! Turning it on full blast, turning it off completely… nothing helped. I even, in one particularly sleep-deprived moment, considered duct-taping the thing shut. And the worst part? I *almost* didn’t mention it at reception. Because I was so afraid of looking like a whiner, or, even worse, some sort of uncultured swine who couldn't appreciate a bit of character. But, the insistent dripping eventually defeated me, and I complained. They *did* fix it immediately, bless their cotton socks. Still, that leaky faucet is burned into my memory like a painful, yet oddly amusing, tattoo.
The location: Good? Bad? Somewhere in between?
The location was *mostly* fantastic. Perugia itself is just stunning, right? Nestled in those hills. Anyway, the hotel was perfectly positioned – close enough to the main square (a definite bonus, for gelato reasons, obviously), yet somehow quiet. The only downside? The crazy hills. Seriously, Perugia’s a leg-burner. Be prepared to feel the burn, people. And wear sensible shoes! Trust me on this. My aching feet are still thanking me. I was constantly tempted to just hail a taxi, because my calves were screaming in protest.
What about the service? Were the staff friendly?
The staff... well, they're like that perfectly awkward friend you have. They *try* really hard, and generally succeed. They were polite, helpful, and spoke pretty good English (thank god, my Italian is practically non-existent). There was a minor hiccup with my breakfast order (I *thought* I'd ordered the pancakes, but apparently, I'd just pointed at the picture of them longingly and muttered “mmmmm"), but they sorted it quickly and with a smile. I got my pancakes! Victory. They even remembered my name after the first day, which made me feel, you know, *special*. It's the little things, right?
Okay, the breakfast. Was it worth the hype? Was it actually *good*?
Ok, breakfast. Hmmm. It wasn't the *worst*. It wasn't the *best*. Let's put it this way: the presentation was gorgeous. Think tiny pastries arranged with the precision of tiny, delicious works of art. The coffee was strong, which is essential, and the fresh fruit was actually *fresh*. But, I need to be honest here... I’m a pancake snob. And the pancakes, when I *finally* got them, were… fine. Fluffy-ish. A little bland. The chocolate croissants however, were *divine*. So, yeah, breakfast was a mixed bag. Pretty to look at, mostly tasty to eat. But, maybe lower your expectations slightly if you’re a true breakfast fanatic (like me).
Would you go back? Be brutally honest!
Absolutely. Leaky faucet and all. Honestly, I’m already plotting my return. The minor imperfections were part of the charm. It didn't feel like a sterile, soul-less hotel chain. It felt… alive. And I’m obsessed with the light! And Perugia itself is so beautiful, I think I could happily spend a lifetime exploring it. So yeah. Go. Book it. Just maybe, bring your own duct tape, just in case… and wear comfortable shoes. Seriously. You (and your legs) will thank me. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Google flights to Perugia...again.
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