Grace Forum Hotel

Breakfast was decent, the best of the four other hotels I stayed at in Armenia, and when we were missing a set of quilts and towels, the staff helped quickly. Still, for the same price I'd choose somewhere else. The bed was the hardest I've ever slept on, and the Wi-Fi didn't work in the room. There were lots of small annoyances. You need to reserve a time to use the pool, so I couldn't use it. I could smell pool chlorine in the room. An extra pillow for reading would've been nice, as would a bedside lamp on both sides and an outlet near the bed for my phone charger. The fridge was noisy, and there was no kettle. The toilet was so close to the wall it felt like a sailboat, and the wardrobe was so close to the bed that I kept hitting my toes. At breakfast, the tables had odd plates hanging underneath at knee height, which I bumped into when sitting down.

We stayed three nights across four rooms. The rooms were good, and the hand spray fitted beside the toilet was a notable plus in Armenia. Overall, though, the stay was just okay. Breakfast was a real letdown. Pork was mixed into most dishes, so there were few halal choices. The eggs and pork sausages were even set beside each other, which put us off. The few halal items available weren't tasty either. I wouldn't recommend this hotel if halal food or an enjoyable dining experience matters to you.

Apart from the small sauna area, I didn't find much to enjoy, and I don't understand the hotel's high rating. I suspect some of the reviews may be false. I booked a suite and expected more. The bed sheets weren't changed, the air conditioner didn't work and made a tractor-like grinding noise, and breakfast often included food that seemed several days old. They also didn't serve local food.

Breakfast had lots of variety and was great. The hotel is a great price for how close it is to the city's sights, local shops, and restaurants.