Tirana Square Hotel

The bathroom in my first room still had wet paint, and my eyes burned. It felt toxic to breathe, yet they wouldn’t move me at first. There were no towel rods in the toilet, no water, and no glasses or spoons. After I posted a Google review and complained through the app, they moved me and promised I wouldn’t have to switch rooms again the next morning. I’d already unpacked, packed, and unpacked once. Then the receptionist asked me to pay extra for the room change, saying Booking.com had charged less. I showed my bill and she went quiet. Do their room rates keep going up as you speak? The next morning, the manager texted rudely that I had to empty the room. In the lobby, he said I had to move and that his word was final. I asked to see the room first. He told me to leave if I didn’t like it, even though I’d paid in full. That room was filthy, with stained sheets and hair, a terrible smell from the sink drain, and mould everywhere. The shower was right over the toilet, with no room to stand. There wasn’t even a chair or bedside table. This place needs to be shut down. How is Booking.com promoting it? It’s a health hazard, and the manager is a goon.

The location is the one good thing I can say about this place. I paid £64 for two nights, and it was one of the worst accommodation experiences I’ve had anywhere. It was wildly overpriced and misleading, and I’m embarrassed to call it a hotel. There were no windows, and a nightclub outside played music all night, so sleep was impossible. The room felt like a damp garage or storage cupboard, with visible damp and a smell of mould that made it feel unhealthy to stay there. There was no hot water, so we couldn’t shower. The boiler banged all night and sounded ready to explode, constantly waking us up. The bed was awful too. The sheets wouldn’t stay on, the pillows were rock hard, and the mattress was uncomfortable. The door lock barely worked, which felt unsafe and sketchy. They provided a kettle but no cups, glasses, or water. Avoid this place like the plague unless you enjoy misery.

Being just 100 meters from the city center was a big plus, and the stay was excellent value for money. The staff kindly took my luggage up to my room and gave me useful tips for getting to some of Tirana’s best restaurants and popular sights. It was a very pleasant experience.

The soundproofing was practically nonexistent, so I could clearly hear noise from the hallway and other rooms. On top of that, my room was cramped and had a strong, unpleasant fecal odor. The door was defective and wouldn’t shut properly. This stay was extremely disappointing and frankly unacceptable.