To have changed my hotel booking after reading bad reviews?

[solotravelconundrum]

I’m going on a solo trip to Rome next month. I booked with a package holiday company and all was well. The reviews on the website were great - 5 stars, great location, average rating of 4.9 out of 5.

I was finalising my excursions last night and wanted to check the distance from the hotel to the pantheon. On Google maps the reviews revealed a different story - items being stolen, a stolen passport from the safe, a bad area to walk in at night, housekeeping coming into the rooms at 8/9/10pm.

I’ve cancelled my hotel reservation through the package company and booked a Hilton, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to feel safe in the original hotel. AIBU? Everyone I speak to thinks I’m being really reactionary and probably would’ve been fine.

If you think you wouldn’t feel safe then that’s fair enough but I would probably say that Rome is a major city and known for pickpocketing etc. it’s part and parcel of a big city and I wonder whether wherever you’ve changed to will be significantly better.

Rome Is wonderful. You’ll have a great time.

I don’t think Hilton hotels will have staff knicking things out of bags?😂

I would likely have done the same, especially if the reviews were recent. Better safe than sorry. Did the Hilton have good reviews itself? Being part of a big brand doesn't guarantee anything.

It does. It’s in a really good area too

Why wouldn’t the Hilton necessarily have staff robbing as opposed to any other hotel- it’s the staff member that is the thief, nothing to do with where they work!!

Did you lose out on money by changing your booking? I usually take reviews with a pinch of salt unless it’s about safety and stealing, so you did the right thing.

I wouldn’t stay in a hotel with those sorts of reviews so YANBU to change your accommodation.

Does your package allow you to change hotels though?

I get a refund but it’s not clear how much. To be fair, the entire package was £450, so I’m just going to look at it as expensive flights and swallow the cost.

I can cancel the hotel and the flights remain active

YANBU, particularly as a lone female traveller. And even if nothing happened at that hotel, it would hinder my enjoyment because it would be on my mind.
I do have a bit of Rome/Hilton envy though. Maybe that’s what the other people you’re talking to have too, they’re jealous. Have a great trip!

It's up to you, once I stay in a place I reread the reviews after I stay there ans they never seem to be close to what I experience

I just don’t think I’d be able to relax. I’d either need to carry my valuables with me all (laptop etc., which I’m taking for Netflix in the evenings), or buy a million AirTags to stick to them all

To be fair if it was stuff like air con not working I’d probably look past it, but this is really serious safety stuff that I just can’t ignore as a solo traveller.

Don’t bother taking your laptop for Netflix in the evening. You’re in Rome!!!!! Some of our best walks were at night. Or get early nights so you can get up early in the morning when everyone is still asleep.

Never go by the hotel website reviews. Always check independent ones like trip advisor or Google.

You also said "To be fair, the entire package was £450"

What's with all the being fair?

I’m talking like 9/10 at night after my excursions are done 🤣 I’ll neec some downtime

What’s with being rude for the sake of it?

Why does it matter what people you know think of your hotel choice, a little strange that you're telling everytou speak to about it in the first place imo anyway

It's your holiday, how could it be unreasonable to do what you want to do and stay where you want to stay? Have great time, watch netflix in the Hilton if that's what makes you haply

I'm not really seeing why this is a dilemma tbh

As a lone traveller I’d have done the same. Hope you have an amazing time in Rome!

Fair question.

How many people have you spoken to between last night and 6:45 this morning, about your change of hotel in Rome?

A few people, mainly family (I know it’s a foreign concept on here but we actually get on well and discuss things like this!). What’s with all the nitpicking this morning?

We did similar - staying in San Francisco for a couple of nights next year and never been to the city, don't know many people who had. Booked one Hilton which appeared very central, then looked at reviews which said it was right on the edge of a dodgy area. So we changed it.

Rome is a wonderful city but there is low level crime just as there is in London, Paris, Madrid.

Will you be able to get Netflix abroad? Surely not.