“Pleasant and good value hotel outside the city center - July 2010”
We chose the Savoia Hotel Regency because it was outside the city center (where you cannot generally drive) but with excellent freeway access, has ample parking for our rental car, and was close to a busline going downtown. The bus stop is about 250 yards west of the hotel, and taking the bus was a very good way of going to the city center.
The hotel itself is situated on very pleasant and large grounds with a good-sized pool in the back. Our family (2 adults, 2 children) stayed in the fairly spacious 3BR suite (basically a larger room - not a true suite). The room was recently renovated with good modern amenities and AC. My only criticism of the room was the bathroom sink which had a poorly designed modern sink with a very elevated faucet (resulting in splashing).
Breakfast was included with the room, and was ample with fresh squeezed juice, mineral water, deli meats, mozzarella, assorted pastries, and coffees.
Although it suffers by comparison with the wonderful restaurants in Bologna (a high standard), the hotel restaurant is nonetheless well above average.
The hotel is one block away from a major road, but the area is quiet with little road noise. There are no other restaurants or shops in easy walking distance, but there is a large shopping complex about 1.5 miles NE which has a COOP grocery store.
The Savoia is a particularly good choice if you have a rental car and plan on going on day trips to surrounding towns (Ravenna, Ferrara, or even Parma).
Area recommendations
The historic medieval center of Bologna is beautiful and well worth exploring on foot. Compared with Firenze or Siena, there are virtually no tourists. There are also many wonderful restaurants where you can explore the foods that have originated in Bologna (tortellini, tortellacci, multiple meats).
Summer weather can however be very hot and oppressive. There are old towers that you can walk up although I did not attempt this in 98F weather.
