This hotel was a complete dump. Before I list the things that were wrong, I am a well-travelled woman (I've stayed all throughout Central America, Asia, North America and Europe in a wide range of hotels, hostels and homes) and this is the first time I have ever been so appaulled by a place to write a review.
THE GOOD - Upon arriving there, it was only 5 minute walk away from the train station and metro, my boyfriend and I noticed that there was construction all on the outer face of the hotel. It is in a fairly loud neighbourhood as it is and at first we just figured that it would help keep us out of the hotel room for as long as possible. The receptionist at first was very kind and as we got our key for our room I noticed that it looked like there were only 3 or so other rooms being rented at the time.
THE BAD - We then crammed our luggage into the elevator (which was very unstable and shook as we went to the second floor) and walked along the hallway to our room. We at first couldn't even open our door as the key was faulty and had to be pryed into the keyhole to work. The door did not close properly and seemed to be warped and could be easily broken. At first look of our room we noticed they stuffed 4 beds into our one room (we were told we got a double room) and the room seemed to be not very clean. The room was actually not even level... either the room wasn't or the bathroom, I still am not sure which one it was.
The bathroom which "has a shower" had a pitiful excuse of a shower which was just a drain in the bathroom floor with a shower curtain hung on the ceiling. It seemed dirty in there and I knew that if I had to shower I would be showering with my flip flops on.
Considering all the free rooms avaliable, it amazed me that the lady had chosen to put us facing the construction workers which meant we couldn't open our window all the way (as they were working right outside it) and since there was no A/C it was ridiculously hot in there. My boyfriend and I decided to just lie on the beds and read/play cards until we were hungry enough for dinner (we arrived in the evening but had ate on the train). I was wearing shorts (while he was wearing jeans) and about an hour after lying on the bed my legs started getting bites and became incredibly itchy. The bedsheets seemed to have bed bugs or something on them so we left to go get something to eat while we waited for our travel agency to open in Canada.
We went down the marble (at least I think it was marble) staircase and I was shocked to see cigarette butts on the ground. The hotel has obviously had no upkeep as it could be a great hotel with some TLC. My boyfriend decided he needed something to drink and after having the machine eat 4 euros, we went to complain to the receptionist. As soon as we started trying to tell her the machine was broken and if there was any way to get our money back, she 'couldn't speak English.' The receptionist who spoke PERFECT English to us earlier.
We ended up leaving frustrated and cranky, and once we got a hold of our travel agent they did wonders for us --- they are still trying to refund the 4 remaining nights we had there but they found us a hotel that for the same price but was amazing (it had A/C, TV, a phone, clean sheets, and a bath tub! Yipee :P )
When checking out, the (now man) receptionist asked us if there was anything wrong. My boyfriend just said it wasn't up to our standards but I figured it there are bugs in the room that they need to be sprayed so as I was saying that I had gotten bit all over my legs from lying on the bed he rudely said that "if I have a reason to complain then I can come back and see him tomorrow" --- As if I was coming back tomorrow!
Overall the location may be good but the staff is unfriendly, the rooms are filthy and the hotel is falling apart.
