Criterion Hotel Perth

The location was top-notch, it was quiet, the lift worked, and the linen and towels were fresh and good. The room was a good size and the bed was comfortable. It was clean apart from food splashes on the wall, which needs wiping or repainting. The building feels a bit outdated, with cracks all over the walls from bathroom piping. The shower had almost no pressure, and the water was either cold or too hot. Inside the shower door there was no handle, just a bolt sticking out, and the exhaust grille was completely blocked and definitely needs cleaning more often. The customer service was really bad. Both receptionists were unfriendly, with no smiles and an aggressive tone. They looked bored and annoyed, which felt very unprofessional and set the mood as soon as we arrived. At checkout it was the same. We told the person their attitude wasn’t nice, and he clearly didn’t care. I’ll never stay there again.

The location is handy for the train station, bars and restaurants, but that’s about all I’d recommend. The room was clean, though dark and dated, and the whole place smelled damp as soon as we walked in. It needs a major upgrade. The receptionist seemed grumpy at first, then loosened up after we chatted for a bit.

The next day, the other receptionists were perfectly normal, so I think the problem was with that one older receptionist. When I arrived around 1 AM, exhausted after a delayed flight, he was rude from the start. I’d paid the full amount in advance, but they still wanted a 100 AUD bond. The POS kept erroring, and he blamed my card before telling me, “Just go to another hotel if you want to rest.” I said he shouldn’t speak rudely to a guest, and he insisted he was being polite. I hope the hotel improves how all its employees treat guests.

The online pictures gave a very different impression from what we found. The room was dirty, with stained bedding and streaks on the walls, and the whole place felt unhealthy. The damp smell hits you as soon as you arrive. For what we paid, this was disgraceful, with no sign of hygiene or respect for guests. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unless they want their stay ruined.