We stayed there is June 2006. Two couples, neither of us liked the staff or service. They were very greedy, padding the lunch and dinner bills buy increasing the coperti to 44 Euro for lunch! That means just to sit at the table was over $50.00 , something like a cover charge. Amazing. We also had some meal portions reduced... more

This place was a big disappointment. Having stayed numerous times at Relais et Chateaux, we felt confident on arriving at Ferrara that this would meet the standards previously experienced. While it has some old world charm, the comfort levels were disappointing and the evening meal was average. The breakfast was well below average with a pan of cold scrambled eggs... more

I had a one night stay in the Duchessa Isabella with my wife and my son, 7 years old. The staff were very wellcoming and helpful. Our room was called "la Stanza della Torre", and, despite a "puppet style" pink wallpaper, was lovely, and extremely large (2 stories high) with a little sitting place with a second TV on the... more

Last month (May 2006) I was in Ferrara for a week long conference. I had a great stay in a small bed and breakfast close to the center of town--one night, however, I visited the Duchessa Isabella Hotel for a 'banquet' that was held for conference attendees. The tickets were about $90 a piece, but based on some of the... more

We stayed at the Duchessa's sister hotel which is around the corner but ate here in the supposedly 5 star restaurant one evening. Even though our hotel had made the booking the welcome was non-existent. The dining room was basically an attractive room spoilt by poor quality things thrown in with antiques - it was strange. There was a cover... more

We had high hopes for this hotel, based on its affiliation with the Relais & Chateau group, but we were disappointed by the level of service. The building is attractive, I'll admit, but the bedrooms could do with an update. and basics like linens were below par. The staff in general seem over-worked, and on one morning I had to... more