Elisa was a marvellously welcoming host, who was always available whenever we had questions before and during our stay! I sent Elisa several messages before placing a booking and each question was carefully answered in explicit detail. She has gone above and beyond to make our time in Bologna treasured.
We arrived at Bologna airport in the early hours of the morning during the taxi strike. There was no public transport available and we were stuck. I reach out to Elisa to let her know we would be arriving late and she arranged to pick us up from the airport, without us even asking! It was a very stressful time and thanks to Elisa's kindness and good heart we made it to her little home safely! It was such a blessing and a moment of humanity that I won't ever forget.
Borgo Bijoux is a beautiful small studio-style apartment! It’s situated in the heart of Bologna and nearby to some fantastic Osterias, wine bars, gelaterias, a pharmacy, supermarket etc. Local bus stops and the train station are well within 10 minutes of walking. In the evenings, the surroundings are lively with a gentle buzz from families and students. It is not a rowdy or unsafe environment, during our entire stay we experienced no safety issues/concerns, even on Friday and Saturday evenings. The apartment complex is very quiet and we enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep every evening during our 12-night stay.
Everything was clean and organised on arrival. There are surplus towels, kitchen equipment (washing machine, coffee machine, plates, cutlery), bathroom amenities, AC, WI-FI, pillows, blankets and bed sheets so it really does feel like home. The fixtures and fittings in the apartment are well maintained. Elisa provided us with coffee and more fresh towels halfway through our stay. The apartment contains a double bed futon and a double mattress located on a Japanese mezzanine that operates with a remote-control lift that is very simple to use. The building complex and apartment doors operate with a remote lock system that is controlled via a link Elisa provides, and connecting to her WI-FI. When the WI-FI temporarily cut out and we couldn’t get access to the apartment, Elisa responded to our call immediately and within 5 minutes arranged for a neighbour to provide a physical key. Other than that the WI-FI worked perfectly. Our stay was very comfortable, relaxed and peaceful, it really was a home away from home thanks to Elisa!
Elisa is always available via text and call. She would reach out to me to check everything was okay and that we were enjoying our stay. On the one occasion she wanted to come over to provide towels she messaged beforehand to let me know. She has a wealth of knowledge of the history and surroundings of Bologna, she’s always on hand to help and provide some fantastic recommendations! Elisa offered to have dinner with us and show us her favourite restaurant with her friends and neighbours, she is very welcoming! Honestly, Elisa has a warm heart, good nature and a very friendly personality. It was a pleasure to meet her and to live in her little home. I cannot stress how fantastic and accommodating of a host she was and I cannot wait to return to Bologna and Borgo Bijoux one day.