Sofitel Parma Grand Hotel De La Ville - Parma, Italy     

This hotel seems to be the only one in the Parma area claiming 5 stars. But frankly, it doesn't deserve them. At the most 4 stars! The restaurant (where we were the only ones dining on a warm Friday evening in July!) serves a horrible quality food. You're much better of in one of the many restaurants in the centre of town, where you can get on foot in just a few minutes. Your car is parked (by a valet service) in a nearby underground parking, being part of a shopping mall. The bar of the hotel offers live music on the terrace, also accessible to and used by non-resident people. Rooms are okay (again certainly not worth 5 stars), and we didn't have any temperature problems (although it was very hot outside). But overall we wouldn't recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Parma. And by the way, in case you're considering this: Parma doesn't have much to offer, except for some shopping. Don't plan a stay of more then 24 hours, so it's ideal as a stop-over between the North and the South of Italy. Nothing more than that!

My 4 nights stay at Grand Hotel de La Ville were so wonderful. Hotel staff were so friendly and hotel room was very clean and spacious and also very highly maintained which I liked very much. In front of the hotel there was the Christmas market which was very interesting. Shopping plaza and city centre is within walking distance from hotel. Parma is well known for food mostly for Barilla products such as pasta which is very very good! If you want to be a professional cook book the cooking courses at Academia Barilla which is just facing the hotel. Near hotel there is a posh spa which is worth to visit. Close to Parma there is Fidenza village which is a shopping outlet. Will look forward to be back and will recommommend GRAND HOTEL DE LA VILLE and the PARMA city centre to whoever I know.