iH Grande Albergo Delle Nazioni Mini-hotel

Extremely Disappointing Stay – Not Worthy of a 5-Star Rating

I recently stayed for three nights at the Grande Albergo delle Nazioni in Bari for a business trip, and unfortunately, my experience was deeply disappointing. Despite the impressive exterior of the building and its beautiful location, the hotel fell short on almost every other front.

Location and First Impressions
Let me start with the positive: the location of the hotel is excellent. It’s beautifully situated along the seafront promenade, just a short walk from Bari’s historic center. From the outside, the hotel appears stylish and modern — raising expectations that are not met once inside.

Check-in and Welcome
The check-in process was poor. I was asked to sign documents written only in Italian, and when I asked for an explanation in English, it was clear that the staff were unwilling to assist. For a hotel that presents itself as an international 5-star property, this lack of professionalism and hospitality is unacceptable and left me feeling unwelcome from the start.

Room Layout and Comfort
My room on the first floor was oddly and inconveniently designed. The shower and sink were located directly in the bedroom, without any form of separation or privacy. Water from the shower would spill into the room, soaking the floor — unpleasant and even dangerous.

Worse still was the bed. I had booked a large double bed but found two single mattresses pushed together without a topper. Each time I moved, the mattresses slid apart. A single sheet was spread over both, but this didn’t help much. If you were staying as a couple, it would be impossible to lie close together without falling into the gap between the beds. Incredibly uncomfortable and nowhere near what one would expect from a hotel of this level.

The cleaning service was substandard: towels were not consistently replaced, and the bed linen was not changed at all during my three-night stay. The small, built-in TV barely worked with the remote. Only two small bottles of water were provided for the entire stay — everything else in the minibar was chargeable. There was no coffee machine, only a kettle with low-quality instant coffee. For an Italian hotel, this is almost unbelievable.

Breakfast and Amenities
The breakfast was another disappointment. The selection was minimal, the quality poor, and there was no fresh orange juice available. The coffee was not freshly made but kept lukewarm in a container. In a country renowned for its coffee culture, this was particularly disheartening.

I can’t comment on the rooftop bar or swimming pool, as I didn’t use them — nor did I feel particularly invited to. The overall atmosphere of the hotel was distant and disinterested.

Value for Money
The value for money was extremely poor. This hotel may have five stars on paper, but in practice it offers the service and experience of a low-end three- or perhaps four-star property. Comfort, customer service, and attention to detail are clearly not a priority here.

Conclusion
I would not recommend this hotel — not for business travelers, and certainly not for couples or holidaymakers seeking a comfortable and welcoming stay. The location is stunning, yes, but that’s the only real positive. Everything else was a missed opportunity, and far from what one should expect from a five-star hotel.

Hi, I don't recommend this place at all, it's a ridiculous room, a ridiculous shower, and a tea maker. A refrigerator that can be placed in a wooden closet. The inside of the room is more like a Motel 6 than a five-star hotel. Attention, hotel manager or hotel organization, please don't say five stars here, or if you want, let me take you to a five-star hotel to see it.