Emperador Hotel Buenos Aires

The gym is not open 24/7, which is horrible if you’re jet lagged and hoping to do something at night, when it isn’t dangerous. It’s also very poorly equipped, really old and small, and way too hot. Maybe that’s because the pool next to it needs to be heated, but if you try to exercise there, expect to feel like you’re in a sauna.

The room cost over $350, yet the window faced another building and there was no view. The TV and the hotel phone both failed, and there were no bathrobes or milk or powder for coffee. The bellman was quick and helpful, but the front desk staff were extremely unfriendly.

At 9 p.m. I was left searching for another hotel after the manager said my reservation would have to be canceled. I had prepaid in full, but they would not let me check in without a credit card to hold against possible damage. Other hotels with this rule have let me leave a cash deposit, but that was not an option here. The manager said she could do nothing. There was no loyalty from the staff, and this was certainly not five-star service.

The gym was almost comical: one of its two treadmills sat in an entryway, so running felt like doing it in a corridor, and an attendant handed out towels and made sure they were returned. The rooms are spacious, but old and barely furnished. The whole building seemed stuck in a style and state of maintenance from 40 years ago, and its Recoleta location felt awkward. After staying at Palacio Duhau the day before, the drop in satisfaction was total. We had to spend a night here as part of the Quack expedition, and I wish Quack hadn't partnered with such a low-grade hotel to start the trip. It reflects badly on the brand. By any international standard, this isn't even a three-star hotel.