Pros

  • Walking distance to the center of Bologna
  • Soundproofed rooms with wooden laminate floors and some hot tubs
  • Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Sophisticated bar with classic leather and wood furniture
  • Fitness center free to all guests
  • Car parking available on-site
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Rooms can be dark and general decor looks outdated
  • Wi-Fi is spotty
  • Charge for parking
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Bottom Line

This three-and-a-half pearl hotel has 106 rooms over eight floors and is within walking distance to the main sights of Bologna. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood and there’s lots of facilities at the hotel too, including a restaurant, bar, fitness center, and parking. The hotel’s rooms hint at old-fashioned glamour, but they look a little worn in places and could do with some updating.

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

Grand Hotel Elite

Scene

Traditional and a little worn

The covered entrance to this 1970s hotel is well signposted and easy to find. Inside, the lobby has a marble floor with mirrors and brass handrails. Slightly worn leather armchairs and sofas suggest the property might benefit from some modernizing. The lobby is often busy with guests making use of the strong Wi-Fi signal. Dark wood floors and wall panelling throughout the hotel give a feel of Italian tradition and elegance, although it does mean that communal areas and the hotel rooms can be quite dark. 

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Location

Outside the city walls, but well positioned

The hotel is well located for getting around on foot. The walls of the Old Town are just 500 meters away, and from there guests can easily walk through the streets of Bologna to find the main sights. The Piazza Maggiore, the two towers, and Piazza del Nettuno are around a 15-minute walk. The hotel is ideally placed on a bus route too, so a direct bus can take guests to the city centre in around five minutes. A bus or taxi will also get passengers to the train station in about 10-minutes or the airport in 20-minutes. The Grand Hotel Elite is also ideal for those who are driving as it’s easily accessible from the motorways and ring roads, and parking is available on-site for a daily fee. 

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Rooms

Dark and dated, but spacious and comfortable

Although the Grand Hotel Elite is situated on a fairly busy road, all the rooms are soundproofed, so even front-facing rooms won’t be disturbed by any traffic noise. Rooms are spacious and even have a small bar area. Every room has air-conditioning, a minibar, a small flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi that can be spotty. As with the rest of the hotel, the decor in the rooms and bathrooms does feel quite dark and a little dated. The Superior room has a lot more floor space and a living area next to the bedroom with a small sofa, desk, and a small kitchenette. The bathroom in the Superior rooms is brighter too, with blue and white tiles and a bathtub and shower over the bath. There’s also a small balcony which gives an impressive view over the rooftops of Bologna.  

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Features

Good fare at the restaurant and a classic bar 

The hotel’s restaurant, Cordon Bleu, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A children's menu is available too for those traveling with little ones. The breakfast buffet has fruits, cereals, cheese, meat, and pastries on offer. It's worth considering for the convenience, but by venturing outside of the hotel, better value can be found at the local cafes. Room service is also available during limited hours. The bar at the Grand Hotel Elite has the feel of an old-fashioned gentlemen’s club. Shelving units cover the walls, displaying bottles of red wine, and dark brown button-backed leather armchairs are dotted around the room with small tables. A real plus-point of the hotel is the on-site parking on offer for a reasonable fee. There’s also a well-equipped fitness center which is free to all guests, and a conference space and meeting rooms for those on business. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Grand Hotel Elite

Scene

Traditional and a little worn

The covered entrance to this 1970s hotel is well signposted and easy to find. Inside, the lobby has a marble floor with mirrors and brass handrails. Slightly worn leather armchairs and sofas suggest the property might benefit from some modernizing. The lobby is often busy with guests making use of the strong Wi-Fi signal. Dark wood floors and wall panelling throughout the hotel give a feel of Italian tradition and elegance, although it does mean that communal areas and the hotel rooms can be quite dark. 

See More Scene

Location

Outside the city walls, but well positioned

The hotel is well located for getting around on foot. The walls of the Old Town are just 500 meters away, and from there guests can easily walk through the streets of Bologna to find the main sights. The Piazza Maggiore, the two towers, and Piazza del Nettuno are around a 15-minute walk. The hotel is ideally placed on a bus route too, so a direct bus can take guests to the city centre in around five minutes. A bus or taxi will also get passengers to the train station in about 10-minutes or the airport in 20-minutes. The Grand Hotel Elite is also ideal for those who are driving as it’s easily accessible from the motorways and ring roads, and parking is available on-site for a daily fee. 

See More Location

Rooms

Dark and dated, but spacious and comfortable

Although the Grand Hotel Elite is situated on a fairly busy road, all the rooms are soundproofed, so even front-facing rooms won’t be disturbed by any traffic noise. Rooms are spacious and even have a small bar area. Every room has air-conditioning, a minibar, a small flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi that can be spotty. As with the rest of the hotel, the decor in the rooms and bathrooms does feel quite dark and a little dated. The Superior room has a lot more floor space and a living area next to the bedroom with a small sofa, desk, and a small kitchenette. The bathroom in the Superior rooms is brighter too, with blue and white tiles and a bathtub and shower over the bath. There’s also a small balcony which gives an impressive view over the rooftops of Bologna.  

See More Rooms

Features

Good fare at the restaurant and a classic bar 

The hotel’s restaurant, Cordon Bleu, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A children's menu is available too for those traveling with little ones. The breakfast buffet has fruits, cereals, cheese, meat, and pastries on offer. It's worth considering for the convenience, but by venturing outside of the hotel, better value can be found at the local cafes. Room service is also available during limited hours. The bar at the Grand Hotel Elite has the feel of an old-fashioned gentlemen’s club. Shelving units cover the walls, displaying bottles of red wine, and dark brown button-backed leather armchairs are dotted around the room with small tables. A real plus-point of the hotel is the on-site parking on offer for a reasonable fee. There’s also a well-equipped fitness center which is free to all guests, and a conference space and meeting rooms for those on business. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pets Allowed

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.