Borgo Giustiniani - San Martino di Venezze, Provincia di Rovigo

Kathrin Wirthl

We know the property from a previous holiday, but this holiday was really bad. Nobody can be blamed for the bad weather. Nobody expected storms and cold in early September, so it is all the more important to have a comfortable, clean and warm house. Unfortunately none of that was the case. In our 25 years of experience in Italy we have never come across anything like it. The entrance to the actually charming Borgo is via the winter garden, which was just full of dirt, leaves, manure, green algae, stains, cobwebs, mould, I don't even know what else, and the windows hadn't been cleaned for months, you could still see through them from the side but you could only guess at the sky. The kitchen, including the dishes, oven and fridge, was good. In the living room we didn't sit on the sofas once, they are dirty, greasy and worn, and sitting down without a fresh throw is not recommended. The shower trays are completely mouldy and stained. Cobwebs everywhere and to top it off there were countless creatures around the bed in the bedroom. The house was freezing cold and there was no heating, which made it doubly uncomfortable. We contacted the owner, who wanted to send a cleaning crew, who never came, and to pay me back part of the not exactly small rent, which didn't happen either. Only the heating was turned on on the second day, which saved us. The sun finally came out on Friday and Saturday, and you can imagine what the pool area looked like. Our photos speak for themselves!! We live in an old town house ourselves, understand a lot of things, are not picky at all, the landlord's promises basically made us feel conciliatory, but empty promises, dear Lodovico, are not acceptable, that really makes me angry. Best wishes, Kathrin

Christine Amundsen

Horrible experience – Misleading, unhygienic, and poorly managed!

Our stay at Borgo Giustiniani was a huge disappointment, and we’re sharing this to help others make an informed decision. We booked the "Pero" apartment expecting a clean, comfortable, family-friendly environment, but encountered the opposite.

Main issues we faced:

1. Mold smell and filthy conditions: Right from the moment we were shown the apartment, there was a strong smell of mold, and it was clear the apartment hadn’t been properly cleaned. The outdoor areas, including the entrance and patio, looked nothing like the inviting photos on the website. The patio was covered in dirt and leaves, and there was even an ashtray with old cigarette butts on the window sill – definitely not ours! This was far from the well-maintained property advertised.

2. Insect infestation: Initially, we noticed a few ants and bugs, but by that evening, we were dealing with a severe infestation of carpenter ants and small black insects all over the apartment. They were in the beds, on the furniture, and even in the air conditioning units (see pictures).

Our 6-year-old couldn’t sleep in her designated bed due to black specks from the insects (photo included). We had to squeeze into two single beds in one room, making for a stressful and uncomfortable first night.

3. Non-functional amenities: The air conditioning, which was crucial in the summer heat (our stay was in July 2024), didn’t work at all, adding to our discomfort. Additionally, the internet was non-functional, despite being advertised as available. This made it impossible to settle in comfortably or handle any online needs during our stay.

4. Untrustworthy and unprofessional management: After a dreadful first night, it became clear we couldn’t rely on the management for a safe and clean environment. When we reported the issues, we were handed a vacuum cleaner to “deal with” the ants ourselves that night. The next day, they asked us to vacate the apartment for several hours so they could spray ant poison, with no guarantee it would solve the issue.

Given our experience so far, we lost all confidence in their ability to address the situation, so we decided it was best for our family to leave and request a refund.

5. We had to push for a solution: It was up to us to insist on a solution, and by then, the only viable option was to leave and request a refund. Lodovico, the owner, agreed we could leave and assured us we would receive a refund for the remaining 13 days of our stay. This was confirmed on multiple occasions, and we left with that understanding.

6. Broken promise of a refund: Despite Lodovico’s repeated assurances, we have yet to see any refund months later.

Giulia, our main contact, has occasionally responded, saying she would pass our messages on to Lodovico, but he has ignored all follow-ups and provided no resolution. This lack of response feels unprofessional and dishonest, and we’ve read that others have had similar experiences with Lodovico.

7. False advertising: The condition of the property was far worse than advertised. There was visible ant damage in the ceiling, leaving dust on the tables below, and the pool area looked poorly maintained and nothing like the inviting images on their website. The entire place felt neglected, dirty, and very different from what we were led to believe. The advertising is clearly misleading and doesn’t reflect the actual state of the property.

In conclusion, our experience at Borgo Giustiniani was extremely disappointing. We were misled by the advertising, dealt with unacceptable conditions, and are still waiting for the promised refund.

If you’re considering Borgo Giustiniani, I strongly advise you to look elsewhere. Our family vacation was ruined, and we hope others can avoid a similar experience. The pictures speaks for themselves.

Udo John

Ruhe pur