Savoia Excelsior Palace

An absolute gem of a hotel and location is spot on. Our cruise ship literally docked right out the front which we could see from our balcony at the front of the hotel. Location is spot on with the palazzo just around the corner. The hotel is just superbly designed. Trieste is a beautiful town and way better than Venice.

This review is based solely on service because at the end of the day that is what really matters. A hotel can be beautiful but if you are belittled and made to feel a nuisance any superficial gloss is meaningless. The hotel itself is beautiful and in a great location across the road from the port. We came off a Cunard cruise and it was literally a stone’s throw away. On checking in we were told our junior suite would be upgraded to a suite which was a nice surprise. The room enjoyed a fabulous terrace overlooking the sea so we thought we would enjoy a breakfast in the room. I filled in the room service menu. There were only small boxes to tick if you wanted an item but you were asked to specify how many people it was for. I clearly specified two persons. Breakfast arrived the next morning - but only one breakfast. One egg, one tea, one yoghurt, one glass of orange etc. I rang room service but no response. Likewise despite various attempts I got no response from reception. I was obliged to get dressed and go down to reception whereupon the rather haughty receptionist said it was nothing to do with her but the restaurant and I could speak to them. I advised her that o had booked and prepaid in advance for bed and breakfast with the hotel so I would prefer to deal with her. She more or less dismissed me rather rudely saying ok she would speak to them. When I waited she said you can go. Nothing more was heard from her until we checked out. There she said there was nothing she could do other than void the 7 Euro service charge. When I pointed out we had paid for two breakfasts and only received one she said you must speak to the restaurant. Again I reminded her that my contract was with the hotel not a standalone restaurant. She picked up the phone, sighing and talking rather crossly to someone in Italian. At this point it was clear she felt I was a total nuisance and rather beneath her to deal with. She came off the phone saying there was nothing she could do. As we had to catch a train all I could say was that o found this unacceptable and did not appreciate her dismissive and unpleasant attitude. At no point was there any genuine note of apology or an awareness that this totally spoilt what should have been a relaxing morning. When we were leaving she said you could go to the restaurant and get the other breakfast now which was laughable. If she had suggested this an hour ago when I first raised the issue this might have been an option but not when we were leaving. As stated while this is a beautifully appointed hotel we would never return thanks to the dismissive and unhelpful service experienced

This hotel is absolutely beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed the stay here. The rooms are beautiful and immaculate and ours had a balcony which was lovely to sit at and read in the morning with the complementary espressos. We were also given a complementary bottle of wine and letter upon arrival in our room which was generous. The bathrooms feel honestly luxurious and offered good amenities such as a hairdryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bidet, bath robes etc. The room offers plenty of space and complementary teas, water bottle, and an espresso machine. On one of the days, the staff left a couple of heart shaped chocolates in our room which was a lovely surprise. We slept really well and I personally found the massive beds very comfortable. The pillows were lush as well. If you prefer certain types of pillows, you can request alternative ones from the front desk for no charge. The breakfast was absolutely delicious and there was a very wide range of food to choose from including rice, yoghurts, roasted vegetables, pastries, sausages, fruit etc. I highly recommend the smoked salmon, omelette, and the watermelon. You can also order freshly made waffles, pancakes, and coffees from the staff if you prefer for no additional charge. There is also a bar in the hotel which we used every night after we would go out for dinner. They offer a wide variety of drinks and the service is always really friendly and attentive. Overall, we had an amazing stay here in Trieste and I loved staying in this hotel. I would highly recommend this hotel for a truly luxurious stay and experience.

What a grand and imposing hotel this is. Built in 1911 and has served the elite of Trieste since then. Staying here was to be our special treat of our whole trip. Check in was simple and straightforward, no time wasted on a welcome. No mucking about and our car taken off to a parking garage for the time we were here was a great bonus. As we had had a long drive that day we had decided that we would just "eat in" that evening - problem number one: they had an "event" on and we couldn't get into the dining room! It was a pity that no one had warned us about this. So, we had to go out to find dinner, which probably turned out to be the better option, although we were both tired. Our room was good, reasonably clean and with a great sea view to watch all the happenings in the busy port and waterfront. The bathroom was not very efficient with the shower screen over the bath leaking water all onto the floor. Stepping in and out of the bath was extremely dangerous - we did get a mat to put in the bath which did help a bit. The housekeeping was not all up to standard with not even a glass washed or replacement tea bags left, etc etc, over the four days we were there. It was not all good to have a cup of tea from a paper cup - in a hotel of this standard? All in all I would say that our stay here was marred by the unfriendly and unhelpful staff. It was obvious that we weren't important enough to be greeted every day even with just a friendly smile - it seemed that the "event" that they had on was far more important. We never did get to eat in the dining room, so we can't comment on the food here. Even when we left it was not easy to get someone to come to get our bags - there was no where in the room that gave instructions as to how to call reception or the concierge. And then on settling the bill, I was asked if I would make a percent tip for the staff - I was shocked when I was told this would be E70 - of course my answer was no! I don't think we will be returning here and apart from the view, we don't think this hotel has much going for it.

The hotel is very well situated on the front in Trieste opposite the cruise terminal . The road is very busy but the double glazing is good. We were lucky to have a room upgrade to a residents suite which was amazing! The decor in the hotel is very trad and in need of a revamp . The front door which is small and revolving - needs replacing as impossible either luggage and carpet here is grimy and unloved. Breakfast is 28 euros. So we went somewhere nicer ‘MH