Emerald Central Hotel

The staff were friendly and helpful, and it’s close to the shops. Our room was clean, the beds were really comfy, and it was lovely and quiet with no outside noise.

The room was stifling hot when we arrived at 7 p.m., exhausted. Checking in through the security safe beside reception was easy enough, except it was unlocked and we didn’t need the code. There was a mining truck parked right in front of our room, and a broken chair dumped beside the door. Every time the door opened, its flaking bottom edge left wooden chips inside. We had to contact after-hours reception to work out the outdated air conditioning, and even once it was running, its position made it barely effective. Trying to close the curtains sent both rails crashing down, and the soap dispenser came off the wall. The only chair tipped over when I sat on it. One leg was broken and it couldn’t be used, so I put it outside with the other discarded chair. The door lock had been ripped off and badly repaired. The pillows were thin and lumpy, and the bed ensembles had strange reddish-brown flecks on them. The pool was green, murky and completely unusable. From arrival on, the whole experience was disappointing, like something out of National Lampoon’s Vacation.

There was no one on site to talk to, just a number to call, and our keys were in a key box. The room was old but clean, with a strong perfume smell. The pictured chair couldn’t be sat on and should be removed. The TV didn’t work, and although the guest information manual said there would be extra pillows and a blanket, there weren’t any. There was only one plate and one bowl for two people. The internet kept dropping out, so using our phone data was easier. For the high price we paid through booking.com, it was disappointing. Glad we only stayed one night.

A good location, but the bugs, running taps and lack of maintenance made this place not worth it. Cockroaches were waiting by the door when I arrived, and the room was stinking hot. The shower was running when I entered, and I couldn’t turn it off. They told me a plumber was coming to fix it, so they knew there was a problem, but no one came after two sleepless nights. The restaurant seemed to be permanently closed, and the pool was a lovely green, with rust and dirt on the bottom. Worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in.